The evening of Jan. 19 found Williamsville Mayor Deb Rogers far outside the village limits. She was speaking at a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in Lackawanna to a receptive audience – a gun-rights group whose members have grown increasingly critical of Covid-19 safety measures – following an introduction by WBEN talk show host Tom Bauerle.
The board voted 3-2, with Trustees Eileen Torre and Christine L. Hunt and Deputy Mayor David F. Sherman giving approval to the resolution to pay the fine. Mayor Deb Rogers was joined by newly-appointed Trustee Matt Carson in voting no.
The debate over facts and freedom and rights and restrictions that has roiled the nation since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic has come to a one-square-mile community where complaining about traffic and parking used to rate as the biggest issue.
Williamsville Mayor Daniel O. DeLano Jr. is not seeking re-election, clearing the way for a challenger in June’s village elections. DeLano, who has held the job for 13 months, said he won’t seek a full, four-year term because he wants to devote more time to his family and new work prospects. The only announced candidate for the post is
When you’re a village trustee in Williamsville, population 5,235, it’s hard to hide from your constituents. “I get stopped all the time,” said Deborah L. Rogers, who is button-holed at Wegmans, school concerts and while walking her dog. Her profile gets even higher Monday, when she takes over as Williamsville’s mayor. The Johnstown, Pa., native worked in Pittsburgh and
County Executive Mark Poloncarz confirmed Tuesday that the village is the only local government to be formally sanctioned and fined $300 by the Erie County Health Department for actively and repeatedly flouting the mask-wearing rules.
