Bee Heard

(Editor's note: Call The Bee at 632-0390 and record a one-minute comment on our Bee Heard line. It gives readers an opportunity to comment quickly and candidly on items of local or regional interest. Callers do not have to identify themselves and no callers' names will be used. In the interest of fairness and good taste, The Bee will not publish derogatory or insulting comments. All comments are by our readers and are subject to editing.

.Amherst is such a lovely place, but what I don't understand, when I pick up the paper, it seems almost daily the Amherst Town Board members are always battling each other. Can't grown people learn to debate in a civilized manner if not for the sake of our children, for the sake of getting things done? We have to have concessions; the art of compromise is the art of politics. Can we all learn to play nice in the sandbox?

.I've observed Town of Amherst Board meetings for the past three years. I am absolutely amazed they could pass a budget without understanding what was in it. I'm disappointed with Supervisor's Mohan's inability to lead the board, to understand the budget and to even propose a budget that adds up. Worse yet, when Bill O'Loughlin was elected, he indicated that he would spend round-the-clock time looking at the budget and offering his suggestions; this never happened. Fortunately, Bill is leaving the board. However, we are still stuck with the supervisor, who doesn't seem to get it. It's an embarrassment to be a resident of the Town of Amherst having a board that lacks leadership and doesn't seem to have any future.

.How very sad that our town attorney actually had to remind town board members that they should know what they are voting on. Remember, in two short years we will have another local election; when that time comes, let's get rid of Shelly Schratz and Satish Mohan. They embarrass our community.

.I agree 100 percent that driving with a dog on your lap is dangerous, but I am absolutely stunned that anyone believes it's more dangerous to have a dog in your car than driving while using your cell phone.

.I feel bad for the residents of Amherst. They believed the many lies that the Amherst Chamber of Commerce and the Buffalo Niagara Builders Association told about the $12 million bond for green space. Think about it. Would builders be for green space? The real losers are the future generations of Amherst. Wake up, Amherst; think before you vote.

.I just read the police blotter. To the resident who called the police to complain about cars parked overnight on the first night the law went into effect, I guess you're not very well liked by your neighbors. Why don't you let the police do their own job? If you have nothing else to do at night, I have a suggestion: read a how-to book on being a good neighbor.

.Amherst budget expenditures are on a unsustainable spending trajectory. No longer can town government depend on assessment increases and property taxes to fund a labor force that consumes more than 60 percent of the budget. Nonessential programs should be eliminated, the workforce reduced; employee wage and benefit packages should be reduced to comparable private sector employment.