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Tonawanda honors veteran of the month; public and council members deliver farewell remarks
Summary
Mayor John White presented Ronald Crowell as veteran of the month; public commenters and council members offered praise and farewell remarks to outgoing officials. Council Member Christopher Fisher also raised a public complaint about a prior meeting and questioned whether the council president should resign.
Mayor John White presented Ronald (Ron) Crowell as Tonawanda’s veteran of the month, outlining his 1966 Army enlistment, Vietnam service as an infantry squad leader and long volunteer work with the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
The meeting’s public comment period included former city attorney and judge Joseph Saab, who praised the council and urged a "Tonawanda first" approach. Multiple council members and members of the public offered gratitude to outgoing members and retiring staff; speakers recounted community programs and local events and thanked volunteers and businesses for supporting city festivals and programs.
During public comment, Council Member Christopher Fisher sharply criticized the council president over a prior incident in which the president called police. "Council President, you cast this city in such a way that you always make us look shameful and I ask you to either stop it or resign," Fisher said, adding that he had been forced to call police to council chambers in the past and questioned whether the police chief failed to take action. The council did not record an immediate reply from the council president or the police chief on the floor.
Speakers also discussed administrative details including a perpetual veterans plaque (the mayor said one final name must be added before ordering) and upcoming holiday events. The council concluded with adjournment for the holiday recess.
