(Editor's note: Call The Bee at 632-0390 and record a one-minute comment on our Bee Heard line. It gives readers an opportunity to comment quickly and candidly on items of local or regional interest. Callers do not have to identify themselves and no callers' names will be used. In the interest of fairness and good taste, The Bee will not publish derogatory or insulting comments. All comments are by our readers and are subject to editing.

.I wonder why Amherst Supervisor Satish Mohan doesn't hold a press conference announcing that his administration has been unable to institute cost-saving measures with respect to utility bills at the town facility, and that the reason why is because he fired the town engineer who was about to implement those cost-savings measures and he did not have a Plan B. He did not do his research; he did not do his homework.

.Brian Ackley is brilliant! I want Joel Giambra to stay in office just to see Ackley make fun of him more! Hilarious!

.The town board voted for term limits for everyone, except themselves. Kindel got his grandfather clause amendment passed after Debbie Bucki changed her vote from the earlier resolution.

.I don't know who's responsible for painting the fire hydrant at North Ellicott and Eagle, but it looks beautiful! Thank you!

.I am outraged at the term limit law the town board enacted; there was very little public notice about this. This is a very important action to take without more public input. Furthermore, the town attorney did not say they could not hold a referendum; he simply said it was not subject to referendum. An advisory referendum could have been held. This was discussed at the town board meeting. They table everything all the time and they had to act on this Monday night. This is outrageous! The public should have had far more input.

.I am retired, and we own a home in the Village of Williamsville. I just heard they are going to charge us $50 for containers to curb the increasing rat problem. We pay higher taxes to begin with, and now they want to increase it by $50. It's about time we reform government in Amherst and cut expenses! We can't live here any more with all the increases.

.What was broken? Have we heard one word about the culture of what Amherst used to be all about? The arts, the diversity, the parks, the positives, the camaraderie, the pride, and the over-and-above services that we receive because we chose to live h e re ?

.After reading the supervisor's comment that he could not hire new police officers because during a 60-year period it would cost the Town of Amherst $22 million, I realized that was $366,000-plus per year even after the employee retired. I thought these numbers were absurd, so I called the supervisor's office and talked to his secretary, who said someone would have to get back to me. No one has gotten back to me yet.

.Naysayers, please think through the cuts to the police department, starting with the three unfilled positions. Police presence will be gone on the bike path, at the corners our children cross to go to school, at public gatherings, and at middle and high school events. Presence inhibits wrongdoing. No presence could promote delinquency. Kids respect the patrols. The absence of it would be detrimental. Don't take it away, for our kids' sakes and the town's.

.Now that the town board has voted for an eight-year term limit, I think they should do the same for all the various town committees.

.Satish Mohan rocks! Make people accountable for everything they do. We need more politicians like you, and I hope the county and surrounding suburbs follow this trend and elect people like you in November.

.Benefits are a normal part of any business to be negotiated and provided for its full-time employees. For a supervisor who wants to take away what is normal

of any business, whether it be private, a corporation or the government, did anyone consider the benefits that were negotiated by the supervisor, himself, prior to taking leave from UB that were brought out at last week's town board meeting? He is doing quite well by the university system. Don't jeopardize the loss of the people that have made Amherst the Amherst we know over an issue like sick time. Where I work, I get the same benefit. And it's not for the town or any large corporation. It's just smart business practice.

.A nice word about our fine Amherst Police. I am a woman who just returned from a nightly walk on Transit Road. Having stepped up my pace because I was feeling uncomfortable about someone following behind me at a distance, as I crossed the plaza near Sheridan Drive, an Amherst Police car pulled up and the officer asked if everything was okay because he noticed I was walking quickly and the man was following. I relayed my uneasiness and that everything was okay; the police officer drove away to speak to the man. Needless to say, I felt much more at ease.

.I was a committee member about six years ago with the Town of Amherst. I have never really spoken during suspension of rules at the board meeting, but if I did decide to speak, I do not feel that I would have to announce my affiliation with the town six years ago. That affiliation has nothing to do with what I would want to say to the board.

.The Town of Amherst has a Web site that has gross inaccuracies. Listed on the town board minutes is a list of meetings and court times; the court times are nowhere near what they are. The town clerk and Dr. Mohan should really check the Web site for accuracy.

.I want to complain about the town board voting for term limits. They are taking away my choice of who to vote for. This is not right. This is a democracy and they are infringing on my rights to vote for whom I want.

.I applaud Amherst's decision to go to garbage totes. Are they, at the same time, going to do something about the large piles of garbage bags in front of apartment buildings, etc.?

.We have all become increasingly aware of how dangerous the world is. Last week, an alleged terrorist group was residing and plotting in a typical home in Amherst. God bless Chief Moslow for participating in the Joint Terrorism Committee and being a very capable watchdog with invaluable experience that provides an insight into crime. Let's get the needed officers on the force to benefit from the senior officers before it's too late. Let's not be penny-wise and crime-foolish!

.For all the people complaining about the quality of life and services being reduced due to our supervisor trying to balance the town budget, would they let us know how they intend to solve the problem. Most people in the town are concerned about the ever-escalating taxes. Unlike individuals, the town can't put this on the credit charge. Let's start having the services we can afford; that's how you get responsible government. I know it's not the way things are done today, but it's the way to preserve our future well-being.

.All the attention that has been brought to finished basements in the last several weeks should maybe be looked at at a much greater level. Probably at least 80 percent of Amherst homeowners have done things to their basement, and didn't have permits. The people we consulted to do the work said if we have a permit, then we have to have a stairway access to the outside. Otherwise, you can't legally get a permit to remodel your basement unless you do that, and that would cost a lot of money. We didn't get permits, as well as my neighbors, so maybe Amherst should look at everyone's basement, not just the supervisor's. Maybe that's how we can get more tax dollars!