The Town of Lockport welcomed two new town board members this week and unanimously appointed residents to special boards to fill vacant seats.
The swearing-in of newly elected board member Jesse Snyder and newly appointed town board member Patrick Weidel set off a cascade of appointments that shifted sitting zoning and planning board members to new roles.
After accepting Weidel’s resignation from the town’s zoning board of appeals and recreation committee, Tom Sy, the now-retired town coordinator of economic development, was appointed to the zoning board of appeals.
After accepting Snyder’s resignation from the town’s planning board, Scott Walker was appointed to fill the seat until the end of 2027.
“This is the biggest, most significant change in the board in the last 12 years,” said Paul Siejak, now deputy supervisor, referring to changes in two seats. “If anybody thinks this job is easy and you can learn it in a week, they’re wrong. This morning, I reviewed $1.4 million in bills. This position is serious. There’s a lot to it. We serve a population of 20,000.”
Weidel, who retired in 2022 as chief deputy of administration for the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, fills the board seat vacated by Tom Keough.
Weidel said his role with the sheriff’s office involved working with budget processes and making hard decisions.
“I think those things help with these types of roles,” he said. “I think I have a lot to offer in that respect. We have a super highly functioning board already in the Town of Lockport. I think they’re on a steady course and I can bring steadiness to an already steady board.”
Weidel has resided on Sebastian Drive since 1990.
Dr. Charles Fetterman was appointed to alternate on the planning board, filling Walker’s vacated role. James Slowey was appointed a regular member of the zoning board of appeals, having served as an alternate.
Kristina Tracz was appointed secretary of both the town zoning board of appeals and the town planning board.