Unsettled contract costing $1 million

I attended the Amherst Town Board meeting held on July 2 and was shocked to learn that the taxpayers of Amherst are paying $50,000 a month more in health insurance for the Highway Department than we have to for the other employees. Apparently, the union employees have been working under their old contract for more than a year and a half. If my math is correct, that adds up to $1 million. I was somewhat confused when Supervisor Satish Mohan stated he was negotiating the contract himself.

I was at the board meeting several years ago when our new personnel director was introduced. We were told he was a highly qualified labor lawyer and how lucky we were to have "hired him away from Cheektowaga." I presume Supervisor Mohan is a well-qualified college professor. However, I would like to know his qualifications as a contract negotiator.

Daniel Helmbrecht

Wehrle Drive

Williamsville