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Tonawanda delays updated overnight docking-fee ordinance after publication discrepancy
Summary
An informal amendment to Tonawanda’s Gateway Harbor docking fees was approved in discussion, but the formal ordinance was tabled after the city attorney flagged that the version published Feb. 7 may contain incorrect fee numbers and needs republication.
Council members moved quickly Tuesday to revise Tonawanda’s overnight docking-fee schedule for Gateway Harbor but paused final action after a procedural issue.
In an informal session the council amended the proposed ordinance to set commercial-boat overnight rates at $60 per night with electric and water and $55 without those utilities, with size-tier adjustments for 25 feet and under, 26–40 feet, and 41 feet and over. Councilman Sheasley made the amendment and it was seconded and approved by roll call during the informal portion of the meeting.
The amendment’s language was carried into the formal record, but the city attorney told the council the ordinance “has already been published in this fashion, and it may have to be tabled to be republished with the correct numbers.” The clerk confirmed the February 7 publication included the chapter language and fees, and the city moved to table the formal resolution so the published record and the amended text can be aligned.
Why it matters: Local ordinances that alter fee schedules must be published correctly before taking effect; republication is commonly required when the version published differs from the final adopted language. Councilmembers signaled they wanted to avoid a legal misstep rather than risk implementing inconsistent rates.
What’s next: The council voted to table Resolution 3 so staff can confirm what was published and, if needed, republish the corrected fee schedule before taking a final vote. No new effective date was set.
