Eggertsville community seeks reconstruction advice from East Aurora mayor
by TERRI MEDINA East Aurora Editor

A business owner in Amherst is sought for his expertise as a leader and improving his community.

East Aurora Village Mayor David DiPietro has learned plenty from working on the Main Street reconstruction project.

Most specifically, he's learned how to work with the New York State Department of Transportation.

The Village of East Aurora has worked closely with the department for the past five years hammering out the details of the project.

"Historically, people have found it to be next to impossible to work with them," said DiPietro. "Not because of anything bad, but because they are their own entity. If you don't give them your opinions before a project gets started, the DOT will do it their way."

The mayor credits his great working relationship with the department as the reason why he was recently asked by the Town of Amherst to work on the Eggertsville Community Organization's streetscape improvements project at the corner of Main Street and Eggert Road in Amherst, where DiPietro owns and operates a dry cleaning business.

"I was flattered when I was asked to be a part of the project," said DiPietro. "It's a tribute to my whole administration in East Aurora, and it shows that the work we have done here is paying off. We are the ideal on how to work with the state DOT."

DiPietro said he was approached by the organization to help work with the state department.

"People have seen the way we've dealt with the DOT since I've been in office, and they are impressed," he said. "I've found that the DOT is much more willing to work with a community that has a plan, and that was the case in East Aurora."

He said in the past he has even received calls from communities around the country who want to learn how to work with their states on such projects.

"I told Amherst the same thing I've told others - if you want something special, you have to let the DOT know," he said. "Otherwise, they may not do it to your liking, and then you have a problem."

For the time being, DiPietro will continue to aid the Amherst community in its streetscape plan at one of the biggest intersections in that town.

"I told them who to contact in New York State to make sure they had the right players present," he said. "Now they are getting what they need at that location."

e-mail: tmedina@beenews.com