New Year’s resolutions
Village and town officials share their goals for 2007
by JILL SCHMELZER Reporter
T he countdown has been said and 2007 has arrived. People have made their New Year’s resolutions — whether it be shedding those 5 pounds or controlling their temper s.

But aside from personal goals, what are the elected officials’ hopes for the new

ye a r ?

The Village of Williamsville Board of Trustees face an election year for three seats — mayoral and two trustee positions.

Mayor Mary Lowther said she would like to control the tax burden for residents and businesses; complete the Community Plan, address improvements and zoning issues; and continue the village’s efforts to work cooperatively with other elected leaders throughout the area, enhancing village l i fe .

Lowther, like Trustee Bea Slick, also will be seeking assistance for the reforestation of Williamsville following the October Surprise Storm.

“To date, it looks like over 100 trees (were) lost in village right of way areas — not counting parks — which hasn’t been addressed, yet,” Lowther said.

Another big issue on the agenda of Lowther and Trustee Basil Piazza is beginning the restoration of the Williamsville Water Mill, at 56 E. Spring St.

“Once the Historic Structures Report is completed next month, we will have the tools to begin the efforts,” Lowther said.

Piazza took it one step further and said he would like to see the board successfully sell off the buildings adjacent to the mill, at 60 and 80 E. Spring St .

“We need to start fixing up the mill so it’s not lying there and being dormant” Piazza said.

Trustee Brian Geary looked back on his start in politics for the past two years.

“I am amazed at how slow things work (in politics),” Geary said, noting his goal is to practice patience and have appreciation for his life’s fortunes.

“Every year I come up with these crazy things. I quit smoking, and I come up with things that don’t affect other people as much,” Geary said. “After the storm, so many people had it worse than us ... Other people were left completely homeless. It makes you realize how fortunate we a re .”

The Amherst Town Board has its own political aspirations for the new ye a r.

Council Member Daniel Ward said he will try to maintain his near perfect Town Board meeting attendance. He said he missed one night in 15 years for a personal reason.

He, like Geary, wants to practice better patience with his fellow board members, noting that he needs to be more convincing to bring them into his way of thinking for passing re s o l u t i o n s .

“As a board, I think I would like to see them adopt more of my resolutions,” said Ward, who is running for the county executive office.

“One of the good parts about our board, even though it gets negative commentary, (is) we’re not united. We’re two-sided,” he said.

He added that some people want a board that always gets along, but having a municipality that disagrees

is what America is all about.

Another resolution of Ward’s is to run a successful county executive campaign.

Council Member William O’Loughlin, who is also running for county executive, has ambitions similar to Ward’s.

“I want to show the people that I am the best candidate for county executive,” O’Loughlin said.

As for the town, he seeks success in creating equality between the public and private sectors in terms of higher salary and health benefits.