Town of Niagara thanks Teixeira for service to community

Article and Photo by Benjamin Joe

Town of Niagara Town Board members and Supervisor Sylvia Virtuoso said goodbye to Councilman Charles Teixeira on Tuesday at his final Town Board meeting.

“I want to congratulate you on your retirement as a Town Board member, and I wish you all the best – but mostly I wish you good health,” Virtuoso said. “Thank you for all your service throughout the years and, whatever you do next, I hope it all works out well.”

Councilman Johnny Parks, Councilman Michael Lee and Deputy Supervisor Marc Carpenter all noted Teixeira’s help. Lee thanked him for helping his own career on the board. Parks expressed admiration and said Teixeira was a “watchdog” for the taxpayer’s money.

“Hopefully this is not the end,” Parks said.

Teixeira thanked his family, the department heads in the town, police, volunteer firefighters and ambulance drivers, elected officials and the residents for allowing him to serve for 19 years.

“Not sure what the next chapter is, but we’re going to celebrate the season and we’re going to have lights across the street,” he said. “And while I know it’s politically not correct – you’re supposed to say ‘Happy holidays’ – but merry Christmas. Because this is the holiday you celebrate that Christ was born. And if I can do anything with the rest of my life – if I can let one other person know a relationship with Christ as their savior – it would be worth more than anything else I can do.”

In other news

•Water and sewer rates are increasing. Water rates are going up 30 cents per 1,000 gallons of usage – from $3.12 to $3.42 – and sewer rates were raised 25 cents per 1,000 gallons, from $4.62 to $4.87.

Minimum usage amounts were cut from 8,000 gallons to 6,000. A minimum usage price is $55.

•The Town of Niagara and Niagara Active Hose have renewed their contract. The Town Board voted affirmatively on the matter, authorizing Virtuoso to sign the contract.

The town will pay the volunteer fire company $496,000 for the 2026 calendar year, with all other variables remaining the same.