Justification of tree removal

Before a town board resolution is even considered who looks if civil constitutional and personal property laws are being violated? Attempting to legislate to erode citizen rights is becoming common place in town governments.

Does the office of the town attorney work for the town people or should the office be called town board attorney?

Perhaps a new legal office of constitutional, civil and property rights should be created if the property owners have no representation of town resolutions.

This follows the same creation of a new department of certified aborist who levies a permit fee for tree removal, for now and for trimming at a later date.

The government intervention of tree removal on property is a start of a dangerous precedence. There is government property and there is personal property, neither mix.

I did not read a resolution in the July 12 Amherst Bee article that states the Town of Amherst will pay $5,000 a year to property owners' for compliance of their tree removal resolution.

Mark Ribic Transit Road

Amherst Public safety is a top priority

As a former Amherst resident (and current Amherst Bee reader), I am appalled by the police situation. Be you a Democrat, Republican, or an Independent, you have to admit that public safety is at the top of your list.

The Amherst of today will not be the Amherst of tomorrow without a strong police department. Why do you think Amherst is the most desirable place to live, work and play in Erie County? Public safety is the answer. The police department makes Amherst one of the safest communities.

To Mr. (Supervisor Satish) Mohan, do you and your family want to be protected at all times with an adequate police department? Yes. My parents are town residents, and I want them protected at all times. Are you telling them that they should start to look over their shoulders every five minutes? I hope not.

I am led to believe that Chief John Moslow and the police department are attuned to their needs more than Satish. They are there everyday and are doing it on a 24/7 basis. Does he think that the police department can do more with less? How can the police patrol so many people and miles with the natural cycle of retirement decimating the department? The new hires need to be in place now. The cost of the new hires is miniscule compared to Editor the cost, for which there is no price tag, of murders, rapes, thefts and property damage.

I applaud the efforts of those who are taking the fight to Mr. Mohan for an adequate police department.

To the Bee caller who said the police department represents the "fat" in the budget, what do you consider to be the "muscle"? Any cosmetic surgery riders for employees? I hope you do not need their help anytime soon because I hear they are too "fat" to help you. However, they will help because of their level of professionalism.

James B. Johnson

Lancaster

To re-zone or not to re-zone

On June 29th the board conducted a public hearing on 287.17 acres of Amherst slated for re-zone in an attempt to bring these properties in-line with guidelines laid forth in Amherst's Comprehensive plan. The members of our planning department and the citizens of this community who worked so hard on this plan have much to be proud of and the rest of us owe them a debt of gratitude.

The parcels turned down for re-zone were slated to be zoned as a Traditional Neighborhood District, a new zoning distinction allowing for responsible commercial development and tax dollars on a smaller scale than monster Wal-Marts and foolish mega-malls. This new zone was only recently approved by the Town Board and, incredibly, recommended by the Planning Board itself! Yet, despite the board's desire for the zones creation, they apparently had no interest in actually using it where it is most needed.

Sadly, nearly all of the individuals who came forth to speak against the re-zones were either lawyers for the various land owners, the owners themselves, well-to-do developers or individuals involved in real-estate business. Their bottom line? Money. Who spoke to the need for re-zone, the need to follow our comprehensive plan, and the need to protect the residents of Amherst? The residents themselves. They were nothing more than Amherst citizens, our friends and neighbors, and they vastly outnumbered the hired guns.

The final vote belongs to the Town Board, men and women whose solemn duty is the safety and well being of the people of this community. I urge each and every Amherst resident to attend the Town Board meeting to ensure they do just that.

Mark Manna

Charlestown Road

Amherst

Business supports police department

I have been a Town of Amherst resident and businessman for a very long time. In fact, so long that I can recall when Herb Zimmerman was one of seven or eight patrolmen in the Amherst Police Department. Over the years, when a police presence was required, I, fortunately, was able to summon the Amherst Police.

I experienced first hand the comforting response, competence and dedication of that department. There are many towns larger than Amherst in this country, but none safer. It is clear to me why Amherst has been rated the safest town in the country. This great achievement is no accident and no small accomplishment and it certainly is not anything to tamper with.

All of the residents and businessmen I know are very appreciative and feel most fortunate knowing they can rely on the Amherst Police Department to respond when they are called. While I understand and support the Supervisor Mohan's goal of economizing and improving our town government, our police department is not the problem. The fact is, the Amherst Police Department is a perfect example of the success which the supervisor should strive to achieve for the rest of the town government.

We should be expressing our gratitude to and support for the Amherst Police Department for their dedication and service - not handicapping their operation. If ever there was a perfect example of the saying, "If it ain't broke don't fix it" - it is the Amherst Police Department.

Edmund Karnofsky

Amherst

Support for troops appreciated

Recently I began receiving the Amherst Bee subscription and today, I received the second issue that included the Armed Forces CD. That was motivating to watch and I enjoyed it very much.

The guys in my unit that reside in the Buffalo region and the others that have ties to the surrounding Amherst region have enjoyed the issues.

I want to thank those in the Amherst community for continuing to show support as it drives up our motivation. The slightest amount of support does wonders to help lift our fighting spirit that much higher and to make our time go much quicker until we return home next year.

My team give the community and the Bee Newspapers staff a hand salute.

Sgt. Zoran Smaic 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion,

101st Airborne Division stationed in northern Iraq