Charles Markel
Councilmember
e-mail cmarkel@tocny.org

Charles (“Charlie”) Markel began serving the Cheektowaga taxpayers as
Councilmember on January 1, 2008. He is a lifelong resident of Erie County and
has lived in the Town of Cheektowaga for the past 23 years.
He has worked in a family-owned business in Western New York for the past 16
years. He is one of the co-founders of the "Ryan’s Hope Foundation," a cause
that offers low cost CPR training and raises funds to increase awareness and education. He is also currently the president of the West Seneca Kiwanis Club.
He has been married to his wife, Sandy, for 23 years and has 2 children,
Amanda and Ryan; and enjoys hunting and the outdoors.
When he took office in 2008, he brought with him an agenda of efficient
government and reducing the tax burden on Cheektowaga residents.
He currently serves as chairperson of the following Town Board committees:
Systems and Technology; Building inspection and Housing; Community
Development; and Planning & Zoning. He also serves on the Environmental
Quality Review; Library & School Liaison; and Volunteer Fire District
Committees.
Accomplishments to date include the following:
1. The elimination of distressed properties. He has assembled a plan to
increase the frequency at which these properties are repaired or
demolished and has been successful in dramatically reducing the cost of
demolition. While the process is constantly evolving, town neighborhoods
are already beginning to see some stabilization, one street at a time.
2. Working with Captain Tom Rowan of the Cheektowaga Police
Department, he was able to implement a town-wide wireless
communications system, resulting in savings of upwards of $50,000
annually in taxpayer money, while increasing the speed and efficiency of
an older system that was no longer in use.
Councilmember Charles Markel prides himself on his accessibility to Town
taxpayers and his involvement in the community.