Cheektowaga board debates tabling multiple bid awards after residents flag incorrect property lists

Multiple residents and council members urged the Town Board on Dec. 10 to delay awarding several maintenance and snow‑removal contracts after public commenters and board members identified properties on bid lists that may have been sold or are being billed incorrectly.

Resident Wally Carriero said nine of 20 properties listed for maintenance appeared to be incorrectly included on a bid list and provided specific addresses he said were sold or removed from town assessment records. He asked who verifies that contractors performed work at the addresses shown and urged the board not to approve awards until those questions are answered.

Council member Jasinski and others echoed concerns about oversight and suggested a standard operating procedure for third‑party contracts and documentation. Council members noted contract language requiring invoices that detail the work performed, addresses, and, where possible, before‑and‑after photos, plus an inspector’s discretion to review sites.

Board members debated the tension between thorough verification and a hard calendar deadline for contracts that must be in place by Jan. 1. The chair said the board has another meeting on Dec. 30 and suggested reintroducing the awards then if the board tables them now. Multiple motions were made to table numerous bid awards pending review; several items were tabled and others were left on the consent agenda because they involve ARPA funding with year‑end designation timelines.

Speakers repeatedly raised the need for a fiscal watchdog (a town comptroller or equivalent) to audit invoices before payment and for improved public posting of bids and meeting minutes. The board agreed to a mix of tabling items, reintroducing awards at a later meeting and pursuing additional departmental follow‑up to verify addresses and scope of work before final awards.