OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Bill Barnes has resigned from the role of Silver Creek Village Trustee. Barnes, right, is pictured with Trustee Dwayne Haskins as they were officially sworn in.

SILVER CREEK — For the third time in four years, the Village Board has accepted a resignation from one of its members. Bill Barnes has stepped down from the role of Village Trustee.

“He was a very good contributing member of this Board. We’re sorry to see him go,” said Mayor Kathy Tampio. “We wish him the best.”

Barnes was re-elected to the role of Trustee in 2024. He is a lifelong resident of the village, and life member and past chief of the Silver Creek Fire Department. He is also a past member of the Emergency Squad.

Professionally, Barnes has spent four decades working in construction. His demanding schedule often caused him to miss meetings due to his obligations at work. Even when he missed meetings, Barnes stayed in contact with the Board. He provided insight to the rest of the Board whenever they asked his opinion, especially when it came to construction projects.

“I learned a lot from him,” said Trustee Sandra Lindstrom, who made the motion to accept Barnes’ resignation with regret.

Barnes joins Marv Cummings and Steve Romanik as members of the Board to submit their resignation over the past four years. Romanik was replaced by Kathy Tampio three years ago, who later assumed the role of Mayor this year. Cummings was replaced by Dwayne Haskins two years ago. It was unclear at the latest Board meeting who will replace Barnes on the Board.

Also of note, the Village Board approved the sale of its 2005 Freightliner street sweeper, previously declared as surplus equipment, in the amount of $7,500 to the Town of Clarence Highway Department. A bid for 350 feet of fence to be replaced on Buffalo Street was also approved, from Chautauqua Fence, in the amount of $9,800. It was the lowest of three responsible bids submitted to the village.

The Board also approved the purchase of t-shirts for the youth recreation program from Hae Jude Signs of Hanover at a cost not to exceed $1,300. Hae Jude provided the lowest estimated cost of three quotes obtained by the village. Registration fees cover the cost of the t-shirts. The village’s youth recreation program has more than 100 children participating this year.

The Board appointed Jonathan Valenti as a Motor Equipment Operator with the village’s Department of Public Works following a probationary period of employment with the village.

Autumn Ellis was approved for membership with the Silver Creek Emergency Squad as an Emergency Medical Technician. Four members were removed from active membership: Michael Crouse, Phil Erick, Melissa Pazderski, and Spencer Zentz. The Emergency Squad responded to 53 incidents in the month of May, including six motor vehicle accidents.

A resolution of support for the Williams Constitution Pipeline project, a proposed natural gas transmission line designed to transport energy from the Marcellus Shale region in northeastern Pennsylvania to support key markets across New York and New England, was tabled by the Board. Trustees will research the matter in the coming weeks before making a decision whether to declare support for the project.

The Board recently heard concerns from several residents, including flooding concerns in multiple areas around the village that have been impacting residences, as well as ongoing code violations of several village properties. Residents also criticized the presence of chickens owned in the village, which is against village codes.

The next Mobile Food Pantry event, sponsored by the Silver Creek Food Pantry, the Village of Silver Creek, and Feedmore WNY, will be on Tuesday, July 28, from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., at the village municipal parking lot. The event is free of charge to residents of Silver Creek and other nearby communities. The Village appreciates and welcomes all volunteers.

The next Silver Creek Village Board meeting will be on Monday, July 20 at 7 p.m.