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Cheektowaga board approves bed tax request, generator change order and makes assessor appointment; several land‑use items tabled
Summary
At the meeting the board voted to request authorization for a bed‑occupancy tax, approved a generator contract change order, accepted an assessor resignation and appointed a new assessor (amended to exclude benefits). Two wireless‑telecom permit resolutions were tabled.
The Town Board approved several resolutions on municipal finance, contracts and staffing, and tabled multiple land‑use items for further review.
Key votes
- Bed/occupancy tax (Resolution 2025‑402): The board voted to request state authorization for a local occupancy tax up to 3 percent under Assembly Bill A8776‑A and Senate Bill S8269‑A. The resolution (sponsored by several council members) passed on a voice/roll call vote.
- Fry Electric change order (Resolution 2025‑403): The board approved change order No. 1 for Fry Electric Construction for additional electrical work related to a new emergency generator at the Police and Court Building. The change order is for $8,864.58 and will be offset by the contract’s $10,000 contingency; the board approved the supervisor executing the change order. The board said the original contract amount remains unchanged.
- Acceptance of resignation (Resolution 2025‑404): The board accepted the resignation of Alison Burke as acting assessor, effective immediately. The resolution passed unanimously.
- Appointment of town assessor (Resolution 2025‑405): The board appointed Tina Rodis of Batavia, New York, to the position of Cheektowaga town assessor at an annual salary of $80,000 with the amendment that the appointment excludes normal benefits associated with the position. The appointment was effective immediately and the term will expire Sept. 30, 2025. The amended resolution was sponsored by Council member Anthony Filipski and seconded by Council member Barbara Bukowski. After debate and an amendment vote, the final roll call was: Bukowski — yes; Benjkowski — yes; Flipsky/Filipski — yes; Jasinski — yes; Pularski — no; Thompson — yes. Motion carried 5–1.
Tabled items
- Wireless telecommunications permit and special use permits for a proposed 120‑foot tower at 2733 William Street (Resolutions 2025‑387 and 2025‑388): Council members moved to table the resolutions until the next meeting to allow more review. The motions to table were made and seconded; the items remain on the table.
Other notes
- A separate resolution about a mortgage settlement on a William Street property was also tabled for further review after questions about valuation and an appraisal request.
Why it matters: The bed‑tax authorization, if enacted by the state and adopted locally, would provide a new revenue source for the town. The assessor appointment addresses an immediate staffing need in the assessment office, and the generator change order allows completion of an emergency power project for police and court facilities.
Ending: The board approved the listed actions and asked staff and counsel to return with additional detail on tabled items at the next meeting.
