TONAWANDA, N.Y. — Albany lawmakers have passed a new bill that sends a direct message to the owners of the Amigone funeral home and crematory on Sheridan Dr. in Tonawanda.
Relocate, or shut down.
The bills were sponsored by Senator Sean Ryan and Assemblyman Bill Conrad in their respective legislative houses. This new bill follows a similar measure passed in 2021, one that was signed by Governor Hochul, that allowed Amigone to relocate the facility as one operation.
"We passed a law back in 2021, to allow them to move as a combo to another location," said Assemblyman Bill Conrad. "That did not happen. I set a deadline of when that needed to happen by and following through with my work."
Amigone opened the crematory and funeral home just before a 1998 law was enacted that no longer allowed funeral homes and crematories to operate under one facility.
The Sheridan Dr. facility owned by Amigone was grandfathered over when that law was signed more than 25 years ago.
The funeral home and crematory was shut down by the state in 2012 after it had violated environmental law. The facility reopened in 2018, but was shut down again after black smoke was seen emitting from the chimney of the crematory.
Ultimately, Amigone settled with the NYSDEC, paid a $7,500 fine, and reopened.
But ever since the crematory opened, homeowners and lawmakers have fought to have it shut down--mainly due to its proximity to residential neighborhoods.
"It's right in a very congested area of the town of Tonawanda," Senator Sean Ryan said. "They've had problems with spilling smoke and toxic debris in people's backyards."
Conrad and Ryan say the passage of this bill is a final notice to Amigone.
"For the sake of the community, we need to finish this conversation," Senator Ryan said. "They have a great reputation for their funeral parlors, they're very held in very high regard in the community, but the crematory is a big black eye for the business."
2 On Your Side reached out to Amigone for comments about the bill being passed, but have not received a response.
The bill will now be sent to Governor Hochul for signing. If the governor signs the bill, Amigone will have 180 days to move or shut down the facility.