Town requests appraisal of Mennonite building
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Back and forth ... and back and forth has been the saga between People Inc. and the Amherst Town Board about the use of the Mennonite Meeting House.

First, the lease between the two fell through, and now a proposal to buy it has opened several new doors.

People Inc. told the Town Board that it wished to purchase the building at Main Street and North Forest Road instead of leasing. The organization wants the structure to house its Museum of disABILITY displays.

Attorney Tom Jones advised the board to have an appraisal done before moving forward.

Since People, Inc. voiced an interest in purchasing the meeting house, so has another business. The town received a letter from Paul Iskalo, of Iskalo Development Corp., located next to the house.

Once an appraisal is complete, the town will face additional issues, as the meeting house is listed as a historical site, Council Member Dan Ward said. He questioned the ability to sell it in the first place but was not given an answer.

It was also recommended that the town send out a request for proposal to understand how the building would be used if it is sold.

Council Member Bill Kindel supported People Inc., saying the organization had been working with the town on this project for more than a year.

The board voted to send a request to the Assessor's Office for an appraisal and to the Comptroller's Office to identify a funding source.

Rhonda Frederick, chief operating office for People Inc., said the organization remains interested in purchasing the building.

"The agency believes our museum would be the best use of the building," she said, adding that People Inc. had submitted a purchase contract Sept. 12, which has been put on hold for the appraisal.

The board also approved Supervisor Satish Mohan's resolution addressing the removal of trans fat from town restaurants.

The idea was first introduced by Amherst resident Jordana Geist at the Sept. 17 meeting. Mohan drafted the resolution, which asks for action from the Erie County Department of Health to implement a program to ban the use of trans fat in Amherst.

An amendment, suggested by Council Member Shelly Schratz, was added to also contact the WNY Restaurant Association for their concerns and comments. Schratz owns a restaurant in Snyder.

Geist said the action would be a step in the right direction.

"Amherst has positioned itself as a progressive place to live," she said. "People are looking for healthier places to eat and live."

She said demand for alternatives to trans fat is increasing, which should lower the costs and thus not have an effect on restaurants.

Geist added that the change isn't noticed in the food or preparation but will hopefully be seen in the future with a decrease in heart disease.

In other matters:

• The board approved the proposed local law to provide an assessment exemption for certain residential property rehabilitation. This was designed to encourage "sinking homes" owners to repair their homes.

• A proposed local law to create an Amherst Committee on Disabilities was approved.

• The next work session will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9 and the next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, both at Town Hall, 5583 Main St.