Cheektowaga board previews agenda items; council member opposes call for tax-cap override hearing

The Cheektowaga Town Board reviewed its work-session agenda following an executive session, including a planned call for a public hearing on a proposed local law to permit consideration of overriding the property tax cap as part of early 2026 budget discussions. One council member said they would not support calling that hearing.

The board president opened the work session by listing resolution items the board will consider at its regular meeting, including appointments to the police department and multiple boards and committees, a transfer of funds, a warrant, a second call for public comment on the 2025–2029 consolidated plan, notices to bidders for demolition and temporary fencing, site-plan review for 777 Indian Road, procurement and reinvestment policies, salary schedules for town officials and part-time positions, meeting dates and holidays for 2025, designation of an official newspaper, tax credits for the Village of Depew, and a series of personnel hires for parks, IT and youth and recreation programs.

The agenda also lists a “call for public hearing on local law number 1,” which the board chair described as a step to “start the discussion” about options that may arise during 2026 budget planning. During that exchange, a council member opposing the hearing said: “I don't think we should be admitting defeat to say that we can't correct this ship that is heading towards the financial ruin that we're being told it is. But I think there's many measures that can be taken to, correct that. So I am not looking to support this one.” That speaker also asked whether calling the hearing was the intent of the resolution.

Board leaders framed the item as an early effort to “get the discussion going sooner rather than later” while the board considers the 2026 budget. The work-session preview included numerous routine consent items — bids, appointments, hiring authorizations, memoranda of understanding, and event permits — and reappointments to planning, zoning, veterans and library bodies.

The meeting record shows the board exited executive session on a motion that was seconded by Council Member Kaminsky; voices in the room indicated assent. At the close of the work session the chair moved to end the work session and received a second from a council member; that vote was not recorded in the provided transcript.

No formal vote to call a public hearing on local law number 1 is recorded in the supplied excerpt; the item appears on the work-session agenda for the regular meeting where members may take formal action.