TONAWANDA, N.Y. — Governor Hochul has signed a bill that will force the crematory on Sheridan Dr. in Tonawanda to shut down within 180 days.
The Governor signed S8366 on Friday. The bill, sponsored by Senator Sean Ryan and Assemblymember Bill Conrad, removes the grandfathered status of the crematory operated by Amigone Funeral Home.
Changes to state law in 1998 mandated that crematories operate within the property of a cemetery unless they were previously existing businesses. Amigone was able to open the Sheridan Dr. location before that law was passed and at the time they were grandfathered over.
However, decades of complaints from the public who live near the crematory, and a push from lawmakers to have the facility relocated led to the bill being passed in Albany back in May.
"As a result of the bill being signed on Friday evening, the Sheridan Park crematory has 180 days from that signing to cease operation," said Assemblyman Bill Conrad. "This is the law going forward, and it's been that way for years."
Only the crematory has to shut down, according to the bill, the funeral services offered by Amigone can continue at the facility.
Sheridan Park, Inc., the non-profit entity where Amigone operates the crematory, was unavailable for an interview, but sent 2 On Your Side a lengthy statement:
"Sheridan Park Inc. is disappointed that Governor Hochul signed legislation which attempts to take away the ability of Amigone Funeral Homes to work in cooperation with Sheridan Park Crematory to serve its grieving families as we have for over 30 years.
It should be noted that there was no hearing in support to this legislation. No evidence was ever submitted or referenced in the bill or in the very limited legislative process by which the bill was passed, to suggest that the crematory has any negative environmental impact.
Mr. Ryan in the past has referenced “heightened levels of air pollution” but has not pointed to any evidence of such. The DEC has never determined that the operations of the crematory are dangerous to human health or the environment.
We consider this bill to be an unconstitutional taking and will pursue appropriate legal avenues to protect the interest of Sheridan Park Inc. as well as to preserve our ability to best serve grieving families throughout Western New York.
This development will have no impact on the operations of the Amigone Funeral Homes at our 13 locations around Western New York. Amigone will continue to serve the community and our clients with the same care and dedication we always have."
Amigone was forced to shut the crematory down from 2012 until 2018 for violating state environmental law. The DEC temporarily suspended operations and fined the company again in 2020 after it emitted thick black smoke into the neighborhood.
"I have to give credit to the residents, they've been persistent throughout this," Conrad said. "I think this is finally, the final chapter in this story."