AMHERST — Amherst City Council opened the new term Monday with a formal swearing-in ceremony at City Hall, followed by a Special Meeting and a Finance Committee meeting that advanced several major infrastructure and public safety items.
The evening began at 7 p.m. with Judge Zack Dolyk administering the oaths of office. Clerk of Council Olga Sivinski, Auditor Brenda Phillips, Council President Jennifer Wasilk and Council-at-Large members David Janik, Matthew Nahorn and Charles Winiarski were sworn in during the ceremony. Treasurer Kelly Miller declined to participate in the public portion of the proceedings.
Council convened its Special Meeting at 7:15 p.m., with all seated members present. The Fourth Ward council seat remains vacant. Mayor Costilow, Auditor Phillips, Treasurer Miller and Assistant Law Director Ward attended, while Law Director Pecora and Safety-Service Director Jeffreys were excused.
Following a prayer from Chaplain Janik and the Pledge led by Sgt. at Arms Dembinski, council began its annual organizational business. Members voted to appoint Sivinski as Clerk of Council for the new term, adopted the 2026 Council Rules and selected Janik to serve as President Pro Tem. Committee chair and vice-chair assignments were announced for the year, and no residents addressed council during the public acknowledgement portion.
Finance Committee Meeting
After the Special Meeting adjourned, the Finance Committee met at 7:30 p.m. to review four emergency measures tied to wastewater planning, public safety equipment and the management of city assets.
The first item, A-26-01, appropriated funds for the Water Pollution Control Center’s No Feasible Alternative Improvement Project. Mayor Costilow provided an overview of the study, noting that five possible approaches were evaluated before the city selected Chapter 5 as the most suitable option. Council members asked about the scope, the relevance of previous work and whether the study was reactive or proactive, with the mayor saying it contained elements of both. The committee voted 6–0 to send the measure to the full council with an emergency clause.
A-26-02, a companion ordinance authorizing the Safety-Service Director to enter into a professional services agreement with Verdantas LLC for the same project, was also advanced to council with a unanimous 6–0 vote.
The committee then considered A-26-03, a proposal to purchase upgraded tasers for the police department at a cost not exceeding $139,237.14, payable over five years. After a brief explanation from Mayor Costilow, the measure was forwarded to council with emergency status in a 6–0 vote.
The final item, A-26-04, authorized the Amherst Community Improvement Corporation to negotiate a new lease for the city-owned cell tower at 545 Gordon Avenue, where the existing agreement is nearing expiration. Winiarski requested to be recused due to his employment, and the committee approved the recusal 5–0. The measure then advanced to the full council with a 5–0 vote. Mayor Costilow noted that two CIC members may need to be replaced after relocating out of town.
The Finance Committee adjourned at 7:56 p.m., concluding the first night of 2026 council business.