[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6386180,"mediaKeyId","2118453-f844e8a9e12d18cb3939d3f4cb8e7d38","parentId",2118453,"title","Split town board rejects tax-cap hearing, approves 1% spending reduction resolution amid public tax concerns","audioSeconds",2801,"startMs",2648000,"endMs",5449000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2118453-f844e8a9e12d18cb3939d3f4cb8e7d38&start=2648&end=5449","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2118453-f844e8a9e12d18cb3939d3f4cb8e7d38/thumbnail_2648000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6386180/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Split-town-board-rejects-tax-cap-hearing-approves-1-spending-reduction-resolution-amid-public-tax-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6386180-adfc365a75f9feeabaf1f032d2e791f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445310&Signature=gMRqknAhp6PacC~x2J1oOfHRo6waJl1Kqs1Uc5rBoov0zBRaBlrbMeQZ9lNuRIBcr-i4a30W4Y842cPjtYOjfK1xy~aDA32uwNDOItMe-4SZCqS-0cD2fBVtCAkwur8A0O5qfExROeK9Yq0zbPqeQCKwnaLXZCQAhgkOxpAX9QkoBR0YRwrByLIXRXhld3HX1OXURjsjIu~dv5Md2AbEK0N6lUrPTyJSRo-xlK~7UnnMgsbu3uNjcYziJZTbchIKGFTx4nufory1QnjsAf35-S4BCrsGFBFdgMV5vrOhB5Ctqi1gxe~qUQAQTrYCm-S0IvR4ZWy-G8P3VmnfYzYNMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cheektowaga Town Council","date","2025-01-14T00:00:00Z","article","The Cheektowaga Town Board split Jan. 14, 2025, over whether to begin a formal process to exceed New York State's property-tax cap; the board voted down a resolution calling for a public hearing on potentially exceeding the cap but later approved a separate resolution directing the budget officer to prepare a tentative 2026 budget that reflects a 1% reduction in total expenditures.

Supervisor Brian Nowak introduced Resolution 2025-5, which would have set a Jan. 28 public hearing on a local law authorizing the town to impose a property tax levy in excess of the limit established by state law. \"This resolution calling for a public hearing ... is more an opportunity to start this discussion early in the event this is necessary,\" Nowak said. Council members split on the motion; the roll-call vote was 2 in favor (Gerald Kaminski and Brian Nowak) and 4 opposed (Barbara Bukowski, Michael Jasinski, Anthony Filipsky and Vernon Thompson), so the motion failed.

Public comment that night was dominated by tax and budget worries. \"The citizen of Cheektowaga cannot afford another tax hike,\" said Pat Rapini, a resident who urged the board to put town expenditures and income online and to review raises and bonding. Joe Weaver, another commenter, said his taxes had risen sharply in recent years and opposed any further increases.

Council members debated salary and personnel resolutions that accompanied the budget conversation; several pay-related resolutions (2025-13, 2025-14, 2025-15) were tabled for further review after members asked for more detail and a chance to compare raises across departments. During debate, Director of Administration and Finance Brian Krause (by phone) said the management/confidential staff increases were generally in the 2.5-3% range and were weighed against projected union increases.

Later in the meeting, a separate resolution (2025-49) sponsored by Council member Michael Jasinski and seconded by Council member Vernon Thompson directed the budget officer to prepare a tentative budget reflecting a 1% decrease in total expenditures from the 2025 adopted budget. After extended debate about the practicality of achieving 1% cuts across an approximately $110 million town budget, the board approved the 1% reduction resolution 4-2 (Yeas: Bukowski, Jasinski, Kaminski, Filipsky. Nays: Thompson, Nowak).

Board members and residents discussed operational areas where savings might be found, including travel reductions, Board of Assessment Review costs and procurement rules. The board also tabled several other financial resolutions pending additional information, and members said they would pursue a line-by-line departmental review to identify savings before presenting the 2026 tentative budget.

Ending: The Jan. 14 votes leave the town without a public hearing on exceeding the tax cap but with an explicit instruction for staff to draft a 2026 tentative budget that reflects a 1% cut in total expenditures; members said further meetings and audits will be used to refine where cuts will be made.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cheektowaga Town Board Meeting 1.14.25","oneSentenceSummary","The Cheektowaga Town Board voted down a resolution to call a hearing on exceeding the state tax cap (Resolution 2025-5) but approved a separate resolution asking departments to prepare a tentative budget reflecting a 1% reduction in total expenditures (Resolution 2025-49). Several salary and budget resolutions were tabled for further review.","taxTitle","Cheektowaga, Erie County, New York","taxId",56246,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6386184,"Public hearing on draft cannabis rules draws neighbors seeking spacing, zoning and hours limits",856,2680000,3536000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2118453-f844e8a9e12d18cb3939d3f4cb8e7d38&start=2680&end=3536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2118453-f844e8a9e12d18cb3939d3f4cb8e7d38/thumbnail_2680000.jpg","/articles/6386184/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Public-hearing-on-draft-cannabis-rules-draws-neighbors-seeking-spacing-zoning-and-hours-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6386184-43930b1dda75684041805ca06f00a9e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445310&Signature=hwEVfJDWsPJRB11Gcdj6DGzg~pafpG0AU~swBGLCl4461kUpyM1ql~O~HQBmxTFALafl79842hqK9PQ7haXQ78S2hPUngI2QoukmQpYuWtcxw3Zm1Kji0423gLOoR4q9LefbzNwgZ-egLsVj325xPvlz38LVxCs-ZVqrIjy1KWI7yLD-Bgq1k4Sg-qjFFfEZfSWHSa~3RY7~Gd67mnur2tQzM6uusRs5jCcp0nYDjZ94X7OD9yYcAtKxd3BnXr1pO1LVLmO6924-xzQ~-3HXceTSoU6~gQab7yFHz2cOhBYVCqoiPZ7aciNb~~jUMyn4NsrVQ6Yk1t9Pk84w3H7doQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cheektowaga Town Board opened a public hearing Jan. 14, 2025, on a draft local law to regulate cannabis establishments and heard several residents urge stricter limits on where and how dispensaries and cannabis lounges may operate in town.

\"One of them I noticed is, possibly add a paragraph in there or a sentence saying, no such cannabis use or dispensary should be 1,000 feet of another existing cannabis facility,\" resident Diane Benczkowski told the board. Benczkowski recommended zoning limits that would exclude dispensaries from residential zones and asked the board to add provisions for \"showcases and lounges,\" signage restrictions, fencing or screening and limits on drive-through service.

Resident Dawn Fialipsky likewise suggested distance buffers from schools and other youth-focused uses, telling the board she had noticed dispensaries in close proximity to local schools and asking for a 1-mile buffer from schools, parks and day cares.

Several commenters also asked that the town limit hours of operation. \"Why not Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ... and then Sunday, 12 to 4, the day of worship?\" Benczkowski asked, noting the draft law the board circulated contemplated 70 hours weekly.

Town Attorney Tom Fowler and other staff told the hearing the draft law served as a starting point for discussion and could be amended after public input. \"This is not a set in stone local law. That's why we have these public hearings,\" the town attorney said, inviting comments and suggesting the board and staff would consider changes.

Board members expressed general agreement that some draft distances should be increased and that more specific zoning controls were appropriate. At one point a town official said there were approximately 17 commercial cannabis-related applications in circulation, a count that drew comment from board members and the public.

The public hearing opened after the board read a prior call for comment (Resolution 2024-770). Several speakers addressed the draft law during the hearing; the hearing was then closed by motion and vote. The board did not adopt the draft local law at the Jan. 14 meeting; members said they expected to circulate amendments and return a revised draft for consideration at a later date.

Ending: The hearing made clear the board will consider spacing, zoning, hours, signage and screening restrictions after public input; no binding local law was adopted at the meeting.","At a Jan. 14 public hearing, residents urged the Cheektowaga Town Board to add distance buffers, zoning limits, hours caps and restrictions on lounges and drive-throughs to a draft local law regulating cannabis retail operations. Board members said they would consider wider setbacks and other amendments.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6386188,"Residents urge town to block solar panels on capped landfill; site-plan approval fails",3808,931000,4739000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2118453-f844e8a9e12d18cb3939d3f4cb8e7d38&start=931&end=4739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2118453-f844e8a9e12d18cb3939d3f4cb8e7d38/thumbnail_931000.jpg","/articles/6386188/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Residents-urge-town-to-block-solar-panels-on-capped-landfill-site-plan-approval-fails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6386188-5ca10dd526ca13717aca63fd72949f56/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445310&Signature=itvnVSjdPXdwN1HQPnAvUrIh9b3YkB3cMrFlzaKHFrRGTI-EvmIHIlh~QN~uzlbBBspBnI6ZHkNNrPjlVYMcU2QGjEd0mi9hT8HnA6GWSkboERvvTe~WoKUlfFjktrrkO8kc6BpdE48qk1KOh~MtP-zf91MNSfqM0k3oKWkcQy7Jl0vvURvc8fTaMGjCnlqp35VM3QSqXwiLaukuXw0KPDV9A2u7YaGzwFtCqXxD8z0ikLKnNdRo~zcqA1INOkIyoEhdPCdXvj~bX1dtbiQAUEQ04Y3ZHwM6mJSysV9rIaiJwUJfjs4AjULCrYBbQUzBKR6dtThcvjHv19s1Y21nlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents pressed the Cheektowaga Town Board on Jan. 14, 2025, to halt a proposed solar installation planned for a capped landfill at or near 777 Indian Road, arguing it would threaten the landfill cap, neighborhood wildlife and property values. The board rejected the project's site-plan approval later in the meeting.

The matter drew some of the longest public comment of the meeting. \"I'm here to speak against the solar firm that is directly behind my house,\" resident Dawn Fialipsky said during the public-comment period. \"We weren't even notified in our neighborhood to come and talk before the zoning board.\" Fialipsky said homeowners could see the project site from backyards and called the approa ch to public notice unfair.

Other residents urged the board to weigh environmental risks tied to the landfill cap. \"The landfill cap is a critical barrier preventing toxic materials such as methane gas and leachate from contaminating our air, water, and soil,\" resident John Warwick said. \"Installing these solar panels on-site risks puncturing and destabilizing the cap, which would directly impact our creek and harm our wildlife.\" Resident Tim Poziernicki, who said he had reviewed the site and comparable projects, urged the board to consider that the proposed site sits on a hill above a sealed landfill and warned of runoff and cap integrity risks.

Several speakers also raised fiscal and tax fairness concerns. \"As far as the pilot, that means I'm pretty sure that means that they're gonna get a tax break on this if this goes through,\" resident Dawn Fialipsky said, adding that neighborhood homeowners would continue to pay full taxes while the facility might receive reductions. Vicki Leiter, who identified herself as a firefighter, said the project threatened the \"quality of life\" for nearby residents and voiced concern about potential health effects.

The application referenced in the board packet was filed by Gina Wolfman of AC Power on behalf of BFI Waste Systems of North America LLC (local project number 2024-1534). The resolution that would have granted site-plan approval (Resolution 2025-9) was discussed by the board and an offered amendment to make state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) permitting a condition failed on a voice vote. When the final roll-call vote was taken on the original resolution, the board voted 1-5 with Supervisor Brian Nowak the lone yes; five council members voted no, and the site-plan approval failed.

Council members and staff repeatedly said state oversight and permitting remain relevant to any landfill work, but residents told the board they had not been adequately informed before the zoning-board stage and wanted the town to require stronger safeguards, fuller notice, or to move the project to different land such as industrial brownfields.

The developers and project documents asserted the installation complied with local review criteria in Chapter 260 (zoning), but neighbors said photographs in the applicant's packet show the project visible from adjacent yards. Several residents provided letters to the clerk for the record.

The town did not adopt any new restrictions or conditions on the project at the Jan. 14 meeting; the site-plan approval before the board was defeated.

Ending: The board vote leaves the applicant without town-level site-plan approval as of Jan. 14. Residents and at least one council member said they expect continued discussion about landfill-solar siting, DEC permitting, and whether the town should require additional setbacks, public notice or other conditions before any future approvals.","Residents raised environmental, health and notice concerns about a proposed solar installation on a capped landfill behind homes off Indian Road. The town board voted down the project\u0000site-plan approval (Resolution 2025-9).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Split town board rejects tax-cap hearing, approves 1% spending reduction resolution amid public tax concerns

Public hearing on draft cannabis rules draws neighbors seeking spacing, zoning and hours limits

Residents urge town to block solar panels on capped landfill; site-plan approval fails