Village Board Passes E-Bike and Dirt Bike Rules, Pauses Roadside Cameras

The Alden Village Board approved four new local laws at its Oct. 13 meeting, including tougher rules for e-bikes, dirt bikes and UTVs and a six-month pause on cameras in village rights-of-way. Every recorded vote was 5-0, according to the approved minutes.

The camera moratorium, Local Law 6, runs for 180 days. Assistant Village Attorney Trapp said cameras placed in the area have raised constitutional concerns, and the pause gives village attorneys time for more research.

Local Laws 7 and 8 amend Chapter 177 and replace Chapter 93 of the village code to cover electric and gas-powered vehicles and devices. Code Enforcement Officer Czechowski said the changes cover UTVs, dirt bikes, e-bikes and scooters and specifically restrict riding on sidewalks. The Sheriff's Office and State Police will have the option to seize and impound vehicles, and penalties go up with each offense. Czechowski said riders have become dangerous and deliberately reckless, and that parts of the law come from communities where enforcement has worked.

Local Law 9 covers where the village clerk and treasurer may live. An earlier law let the village hire from anywhere in Erie County but listed only a combined clerk/treasurer title, Mayor Retzlaff said. The new law adds the counties bordering Erie and names Village Clerk and Village Treasurer as separate positions. Trapp also plans to seek a state law allowing the village to fill those jobs from outside Erie County, to be submitted when the Legislature returns in January 2027.

Fiber internet and a well cleaning

The board authorized the mayor to sign a lease with Empire Long Distance Corporation, known as Empire Fiber, to provide internet service in the village. The company may put equipment at the Main Street sewer plant and run fiber along village streets.

Frey Well Drilling was awarded the cleaning of Well #3 for $39,500, on the recommendation of the village engineer.

The board also gave Alden Village Estates Mobile Home Park until Dec. 30 to finish required drainage work. The park asked for more time after changing engineering firms.

Ambulance, sidewalks and a playground

Fire Chief Gossel wrote to the board about buying an ambulance. The board will look at it in next year's budget.

At a hearing on Community Development Block Grant money, which can be used only south of Broadway and is income-based, Trustee Prucnal suggested the sidewalk on the south side of Westcott for next year. The mayor asked Superintendent Czelusta to inventory every sidewalk in the village before winter.

Carissa Couts, who lives next to a small playground on Maple Ridge, said one of her young children wrote the board asking that it be fixed up. The mayor said he wants to include the letter and photos in the village's proposal for upgrades.

Resident Doug Becker asked about the statewide salt shortage and whether selling salt to the school would benefit the village. Czelusta said the school can also buy from the town. Becker also asked whether the promised village newsletter would ever come out. The mayor said he will submit a directory to the Chamber of Commerce, as he was directed. Treasurer Liz Naumovski said the clerk's office puts together an information sheet with each water and sewer billing.

Dates to remember

• Trick-or-treat: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Nov. 2: Last day to pay village taxes before unpaid taxes are re-levied to the county.
• Nov. 1 to April 1: Winter parking ban. No parking on village streets from 2 to 6 a.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 12: Garbage pickup moves because of Veterans Day.