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Cheektowaga approves several personnel moves, schedules hotel‑tax hearing and defeats storm‑sewer contract
Summary
The board approved multiple personnel appointments and retention of outside counsel, set a public hearing on a possible local hotel occupancy tax (pending state approval), approved a shared‑services DOT agreement and rejected a $28,000 storm‑sewer equipment-and-operators contract after debate about scope, safety and bid documentation.
At its meeting the Town Board approved several personnel appointments and routine business items, called a public hearing on an enabling local hotel‑occupancy tax and authorized a shared‑services agreement with the New York State Department of Transportation, while knocking down a contested contract for storm‑sewer equipment and operators.
Personnel and counsel
The board confirmed appointments made under suspended rules earlier in the meeting, including dispatch positions covered by Resolution 2025‑703, and appointed Mark Biederfield as provisional senior code enforcement officer (Resolution 2025‑704). It amended the effective date of a motor equipment operator appointment (Resolution 2025‑706) and retained the law firm Lipsis Mathis LLP to assist on labor and employment matters (Resolution 2025‑714).
Shared services and hotel tax
Under Resolution 2025‑713 the board authorized the Highway Superintendent to execute a shared‑services agreement with NYSDOT under General Municipal Law §99‑r, subject to town‑attorney review. The board also set a public hearing (Resolution 2025‑715) to consider a local hotel occupancy tax if the enabling state law is signed by the governor; the town awaits state action before adopting a local law.
Storm‑sewer contract defeated
The board considered awarding a contract to CMH Company for furnishing equipment and operators for storm‑sewer repairs (bid tab totaled roughly $28,004.92 and the overall scope covered three projects). Members debated whether the town’s highway staff had adequate training and equipment to perform such deep excavations (trench boxes, certified training), whether doing only one of the three bid projects changed the scope and required rebidding, and whether last‑minute contract documents were available for review.
Council members urged caution on safety and urged additional bid documentation; one sponsor said the contract could be limited to a single priority project if the board preferred. After multiple amendment attempts, the board defeated the award on a roll‑call vote (Resolution 2025‑716 defeated). Several other resolutions on paving lists and capital street work were pulled for further review.
Votes at a glance
- Resolution 2025‑703 — Appointment of public safety dispatchers: approved under waiver (names and residency conditions recorded). - Resolution 2025‑6‑28 — Local sewer-law amendment: approved (covered in separate article). - Resolution 2025‑713 — NYSDOT shared‑services agreement: approved. - Resolution 2025‑714 — Retain Lipsis Mathis LLP for labor matters: approved. - Resolution 2025‑715 — Intro local law (hotel occupancy tax) — public hearing scheduled: approved (pending state enabling law). - Resolution 2025‑716 — Award to CMH Company for storm‑sewer equipment/operators: defeated.
The board ended the public portion of the meeting and entered executive session to discuss personnel and real‑property matters.
