Town board restores deputy highway superintendent title, says no salary attached for now

The Town of Cheektowaga board voted to rescind an earlier resolution that had abolished the deputy superintendent of highways title and to restore the title to the town's inventory, a move supporters described as a first step to address gaps in the highway department's chain of command.

Supervisor Nowak introduced Resolution 20 26-2, saying the measure would reestablish the title without attaching a salary or stipend and that any pay or appointment would require a subsequent resolution. "It doesn't include a salary or stipend or anything like that right now," he said, adding the intent is to provide authority for someone to act when the highway superintendent is unavailable rather than to immediately hire a paid employee.

Board members debated whether the position should be fully funded or whether alternate arrangements — including rotating foremen or a memorandum with the Town of Cheektowaga Supervisor Unit (TCSU) — could provide coverage without extra cost. Highway representatives and TCSU leaders told the board the deputy title is required under state highway law and expressed willingness to discuss how duties might be covered; TCSU president Mark Crystal later clarified the union had previously offered to assume duties and had renewed the offer in negotiations but that the board had declined.

The clerk called a roll‑call vote on the resolution; the chair announced the resolution was approved. The resolution as presented did not designate salary, stipend, or an appointee; the board discussed follow‑up negotiations with the union and potential amendments to the budget if the board later decides to attach compensation.

What happens next: By restoring the title, the board created the option of appointing a deputy in the future; any paid appointment, stipend or budget amendment would require a separate vote.