Board debates future of comptroller, accepts Maple Road FEIS
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

O'Loughlin

Discussing personnel issues in public, holding two-hour resident comment periods on development and misunderstanding rules of order have been common themes this past year, and nothing changed in the final 2007 Amherst Town Board meeting on Monday.

(See editorial on page four)

Shouting erupted when Council Member Dan Ward presented his resolution insisting the posting of the comptroller position be removed from the town's Web site.

"I don't think this is appropriate. You are telling a man, just before the holidays, that he doesn't have a job," Ward said, referring to Frank Belliotti.

Ward had the support of the majority of the board, saying Supervisor Satish Mohan's actions - posting the position on the town's Web site and advertising it in the newspaper - were wrong.

The resolution passed, instructing the Information Technology Department to remove the Web posting.

"We have to change the way we deal with people," Council Member William A. O'Loughlin Jr. said. "How dare we do this. It should be done in executive session."

He added that employees should be told in private where they stand as their terms come to a close.

Mohan defended his actions, saying that terms are for two years and when the end approaches, the town should advertise the position.

"The current comptroller is free to apply, like two years ago the comptroller applied and she was appointed," he said, referring to Maureen Cilano.

Mohan added that the board is collecting resumes, and they will be put forward to the next board. Any member of the board can recommend a person for the comptroller position, which needs a board majority to be approved.

A similar fight occurred when Mohan refused to appoint longtime assessor Harry Williams. Board members were upset with how it was handled in public, saying such discussions unnecessarily embarrass employees.

Belliotti had been serving as an auditor and deputy comptroller for the City of Buffalo before being hired by the town in July 2006. He was appointed to serve the remaining portion of a term.

Appointments are traditionally made at the first meeting of the year. Mohan said he needs to advertise before that to be prepared.

When questioned about how he paid for the advertisements, Mohan said he didn't know which account, from what department, it came from. When he ran advertisements as supervisor-elect, two years ago, he paid for them out of pocket.

Other positions up for reappointment the first of the year are the engineer and attorneys.

In other board news, the Final Environmental Impact Statement was accepted by a vote of 4-3 for the Maple Road project, meaning the board accepts the findings of the State Environmental Quality Review. This moves the process forward.

Mohan, Ward and Deborah Bruch Bucki voted against the acceptance.

Benderson Development Co. is seeking to rezone a portion of Maple Road to build Town Centre, a multiuse development.

Several residents against the proposal once again spoke during the suspension of rules, which lasted nearly two hours.

The main concern regards traffic. Bucki said she wants another independent traffic study done on the area. Several residents said the first study didn't go far enough down the road.

The board has not said when it plans to vote on the rezoning.

The next Town Board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7 at Town Hall, 5583 Main St., Williamsville.

Work sessions will not be held on Dec. 24 or 31 in observance of the holidays.

In its final 2007 meeting, the board recognized the members leaving the board, Kindel, O'Loughlin and Michael G. McGuire.

O'Loughlin served just four years on the board, but he was a constant voice for several issues, bringing his expertise from the private sector.

He had been an advocate for the Police Department and recognized them after being honored by the board with a plaque. He said the members were some of the most professional people he has ever worked with and praised them for their service.

(Editor's note: articles relating to McGuire's tenure appear on page one, and Kindel was featured in the Dec. 12 edition of The Amherst Bee.)