Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ethics Censure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cheektowaga board tables censure resolution amid calls for accountability and insistence on due process
Summary
The town board voted to table a resolution that would censure Councilman Brian Polarski over reports he failed to file nonprofit tax paperwork, after public commenters urged action and other members said investigations should conclude first.
The Cheektowaga Town Board on April 14 tabled a resolution that would have formally censured Councilman Brian Polarski for his role as executive director of the Senica Babcock Community Association amid reports it failed to file required IRS paperwork.
The motion, brought as Resolution 2026-236, was introduced after media reporting and public concern that missing filings had damaged public confidence. Council member Barbara Bowski said she had received numerous calls from residents demanding the board act, while several other members emphasized the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” and urged waiting for the outcome of ongoing reviews.
Supporters of the resolution argued the optics and trust issues were serious. Dan Colander, a public commenter, said the matter raised questions about “dereliction of duty” because an official who chaired the ethics committee appeared implicated. Rachel Ek told the board that “accountability should not be triggered only when something goes viral,” arguing officials owe the public evidence of prompt action.
Opponents — including council members who asked for impartial examination — said responsible governance required relying on the results of external inquiries. One member noted that multiple agencies were reviewing the matter and that disciplinary steps could follow established findings. The town attorney and outside offices have been engaged, board members said.
After extended debate that also covered consistency with past board responses to member conduct, the board voted to table the censure resolution and await the outcomes of the ongoing investigations. No formal sanctions were imposed at the meeting.
What happens next: Board members said they would revisit the resolution if outside reviews produce findings that warrant formal action. The town said investigators’ reports could take months; the board will not proceed with discipline until it has those findings.
