Village of Williamsville
Kulpa named deputy mayor
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

The Williamsville Village Board held its annual reorganization meeting on July 2 to discuss various changes within the village government.

Among those changes was the renaming of the Mayor's Water Mill Committee to the Mill Restoration Committee, to which new trustee Jeff Kingsley will be the liaison.

"We wanted to change the name to let people know that we're going to start working on it," said Trustee Brian Geary.

Mayor Mary Lowther started the committee last year and named it. The decision to change the name and to appoint another trustee was made by a board majority.

Geary noted that since the mill was purchased more than three years ago, little has been done and the buildings have fallen into more disrepair.

The trustee also urged any residents who have relevant talent for the restoration project to contact the committee to volunteer their services so that the project may be completed.

"There are so many people with wonderful skills and talents in the village," he said. He noted that he hopes to have a large committee of volunteers with different talents for design and fundraising, among others.

According to Geary, putting Kingsley in charge of the committee and renaming it sends a message that the taxpayers' money will be put to good use starting as soon as possible.

"We're going to preach what we did during the election," he said. "Hopefully we'll have a lot of people to work with us, including the mayor. We're all just here to get things done."

As mayor, Lowther is an ad-hoc member of every village committee, meaning she may attend any meeting but not be a voting member.

"Throughout the last two years, I have sat in on every single committee several times and will continue to do so," she said. "My prior experience has been very helpful to committees and I will continue to offer my assistance."

In other reorganization news:

The mayor appointed new trustee Brian Kulpa as deputy mayor for the 2007-08 official village year.

Lowther will serve on the Personnel and Special Events committees as well as liaison to the Williamsville Business Association.

Geary will serve on the Parks Committee, Planning and Architectural Review Board, Beautification Committee, Tree Board and as a liaison to the Fire Department.

Trustee Basil Piazza was appointed to the Amherst Utility Cooperative, Insurance Committee, Environmental Advisory Committee, Senior Citizens board and liaison to the Department of Public Works.

Kulpa was appointed to the Glen Park Joint Board, the Traffic and Safety Committee, the Meeting House Events Committee and will serve as the facilities coordinator.

Kingsley will serve on the Youth and Recreation Committee, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Mill Restoration Committee, the Historic Preservation Committee and as the inter government agent.

According to Geary, committee chairs will be appointed as they come forward and are willing to devote more time and energy to the committee.

"It's not just going to be business as usual anymore," he said. "We need to get a synergy in the community going, and a person cannot be chair and not do anything. We need people to step up to the plate and make up for the shortfalls of the past couple of years."

All regular board meetings will continue to be held at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at Village Hall 5565 Main St., with a work session at 6 p.m.

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com