Village Board minutes — February 17, 2026 (full text)

FEBRUARY 17, 2026 The Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Hamburg was called to order by Mayor Thomas P. Tallman at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Village Hall, 100 Main Street, Hamburg, New York. PRESENT: Thomas P. Tallman Mayor Laura Hackathorn Trustee Jeff Davis Trustee Holly Park Trustee Edward J. Murphy, III Village Attorney Jason Cozza Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer Mary McKee Deputy Clerk Marc Shuttleworth Supt. of Public Works Joshua Haeick Recreation Supervisor Richard Schara Police Chief Excused: Paul Gaughan Deputy Mayor 1. MOTION by Trustee Hackathorn, seconded by Trustee Davis, to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees held on Monday, February 2, 2026. AYES: Four NAYS: None CARRIED PUBLIC EXPRESSION: None this evening. CORRESPONDENCE: A) Character Council of WNY re: Request to hold the annual Character Chase 5K Run on Saturday, May 9, 2026 B) Hamburg Music Festival re: Request to hold the 16th annual Hamburg Music Festival on Friday and Saturday, May 29 and 30, 2026 C) Inspire Foundation re: Request to hold the annual Burgerfest on Saturday, July 18, 2026 D) Hamburg Alumni Foundation re: Request to hold the annual Hamburg High School All-Class Reunion in Memorial Park on Friday, August 14, 2026 TRUSTEE MOTIONS: 2. MOTION by Trustee Hackathorn, seconded by Trustee Davis, to transfer $45.00 from A.2770 Miscellaneous Revenue into the Police Equipment Reserve A.0878. This money was collected by the Police Department for copy fees and charges in January 2026. AYES: Four NAYS: None CARRIED 3. MOTION by Trustee Hackathorn, seconded by Trustee Davis, to transfer $3,285.00 from Parks and Playground Reserve A.0878 to Parks Contractual A.7140.400 for the purchase of sponsor sign at the Prospect Avenue playground. 85

FEBRUARY 17, 2026 AYES: Four NAYS: None CARRIED 4. MOTION by Trustee Park, seconded by Trustee Hackathorn, that the Village Recreation Commission recommends the Board approve the salary for the following Recreation Attendant PT for the 2025-2026 Fall/Winter season, effective 2/18/2026: AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM Abigail Cornelius $18.00/hr 65 Prospect Ave. AYES: Four NAYS: None CARRIED 5. MOTION by Trustee Park, seconded by Trustee Hackathorn, LOCAL LAW NO. 1 OF 2026 A LOCAL LAW to override the tax levy limit established in General Municipal Law §3-c. Be it enacted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Hamburg as follows: Section 1. Legislative Intent It is the intent of this local law to allow the Village of Hamburg to adopt a budget for the fiscal year commencing June 1, 2026 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the “tax levy limit” as defined by General Municipal Law § 3-c. Section 2. Authority This local law is adopted pursuant to subdivision 5 of General Municipal Law §3-c, which expressly authorizes a local government’s governing body to override the property tax cap for the coming fiscal year by the adoption of a local law approved by a vote of sixty percent (60%) of said governing body. Section 3. Tax Levy Limit Override The Board of Trustees of the Village of Hamburg, County of Erie is hereby authorized to adopt a budget for the fiscal year commencing June 1, 2026 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the amount otherwise prescribed in General Municipal Law §3-c. Section 4. Severability If a court determines that any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this local law or the application thereof to any person, firm or corporation, or circumstance is invalid or unconstitutional, the court’s order or judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this local law, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this local law or in its application to the person, individual, firm or corporation or circumstance, directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment or order shall be rendered. 86

FEBRUARY 17, 2026 Section 5. Effective date This local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State. AYES: Four NAYS: None CARRIED 6. MOTION by Trustee Davis, seconded by Trustee Hackathorn, to approve a request by the Character Council of WNY to hold the Character Chase 5K Run on Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Approval is subject to the submission of a facility use application and agreement, the approved race route, and the appropriate insurance. AYES: Four NAYS: None CARRIED 7. MOTION by Trustee Park, seconded by Trustee Davis, to approve a request by the Hamburg Music Festival, Inc. to hold the 16th annual Hamburg Music Festival in Memorial Park on Friday, May 29, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 30, 2026 from 2:00 to 10:00 p.m., utilizing both Memorial Park and the Peace Park/Village Hub. Approval is subject to the submission of a completed facility use application and agreement and the appropriate insurance. AYES: Four NAYS: None CARRIED 8. MOTION by Trustee Davis, seconded by Trustee Park, to approve a request by the Inspire Foundation to hold the annual Burgerfest in the Village of Hamburg on Saturday, July 18, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Approval is subject to the submission of a facility use application and agreement and the appropriate insurance. AYES: Four NAYS: None CARRIED 9. MOTION by Trustee Davis, seconded by Trustee Hackathorn, to approve a request by the Hamburg Alumni Foundation to hold the Hamburg High School All-Class Reunion on Friday, August 14, 2026 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. in Memorial Park. Approval is subject to the submission of a facility use application and agreement and the appropriate insurance. AYES: Four NAYS: None CARRIED 10. MOTION by Trustee Hackathorn, seconded by Trustee Davis, to authorize the payment of the Village of Hamburg Accounts for the period ending February 17, 2026. GENERAL FUND…………………………………............................$185,959.59 CAPITAL FUND………………………………………………………153,783.00 TRUST & AGENCY FUND……………………………..…..……......204,128.44 TOTAL ALL FUNDS………………………….…............$543,871.03 87

FEBRUARY 17, 2026 AYES: Four NAYS: None CARRIED STAFF REPORTS: Police Dept.: Police Chief Rick Schara noted that the parking ban is still in effect until April 1st and reminded residents that they need to have their vehicles off the street between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Recreation Dept.: Nothing this evening. Department of Public Works: DPW Superintendent Marc Shuttleworth said his crews are still clearing snow from the business district and asked that motorists be aware and be sure and give them space as they do their work. FURTHER PUBLIC EXPRESSION: Mark Wierzbicki, property owner at 50 Lake Street, reported back to the board that despite making a lot of phone calls and looking at alternative financing, he is coming to the realization that be may not be able to address all of the issues that the Village is requiring to bring his property into safety compliance. He has also had an offer from someone to purchase the building and he is asking the Board if he is free to sell the property. Mayor Tallman said that Mr. Wierzbicki can definitely sell his property, but the new owner would face the same issues, and would have to work to address them pretty quick. Mr. Wierzbicki said he understood and would let the prospective buyer know. The Mayor told Mr. Wierzbicki he should continue to speak with Dave Rice as he moves through the process and will also need to provide the Board with another update at their March 2 meeting. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Tallman welcomed the Orchard Park students in attendance, wishing them well in their senior year and beyond. The Mayor encouraged them to be involved in their communities wherever they go. The next Work Session of the Board will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026. The next Regular Meeting of the Board will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026. The meeting was adjourned at 7:14 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Mary McKee Mary McKee Deputy Clerk 88