Williamsville, N.Y. (WBEN) - In an about face following last week's special Village of Williamsville board meeting at which trustees voted to retain legal counsel to handle a $300 fine levied against the village from the Erie County Department of Health, the board voted 3-2 Monday night at its regular meeting to agree to pay the fine.
Deputy Mayor David Sherman, who was among the three votes last week to hire legal counsel, voted in favor of paying the fine while Mayor Deb Rogers voted against the action.
Rogers acknowledged the controversy the refusal to pay the fine has caused but again stated the fine itself was politically motivated. "It is nothing more than a targeted retribution issued as a result of the village board forcing civil debate over mandates," said Rogers before she voted no on the measure to pay the fine.
Deputy Mayor Sherman is expected to sign a measure and pay the fine sometime Tuesday.
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The fine was levied against Williamsville after sanitarians from the county health department reported violations at a recent board meeting. County Executive Mark Poloncarz has said Williamsville has 'repeatedly' violated the county's mask mandate.
