Proposed rules of order changes sent for committee review
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

The Amherst Town Board thinks that Council Member Dr. Barry Weinstein proposed changes to the rules of order need some fine tuning.

(See editorial on page four)

The board agreed to create a committee, consisting of two board members - Deborah Bruch Bucki and Guy Marlette, the town attorney, town clerk and two residents, to review the proposal and other ideas for change. Bucki has presented changes as well.

Weinstein said he would not serve on the committee, and he believed the board should be ready to vote on some changes.

"What I really want is to not have another committee," he said. "I want the board to read the proposed changes and respond."

Council Member Mark Manna accused Weinstein of thinking the only way to function was by his rules. He said he reviewed the meetings from 2007, and only four were recorded as going past 11:30 p.m., the end time approved in 2006 by the former board.

A few board members responded to Weinstein's comments that the board is dysfunctional, saying it's too early in the new year to use such a label.

Weinstein's proposed changes include splitting the public comment period in two, with one at the beginning of the meeting on agenda items and one at the end for other town concerns. He also wants to remove the public hearings from the regular meetings and hold them on the second and fourth Mondays. The regular meetings are on the first and third Mondays.

There was also discussion of reducing the time allowed during a public hearing from five minutes to three, which is the time allowed during public comment.

The committee was given 30 days to review and respond.

Supervisor Satish Mohan took some responsibility for the length and disorder of past meetings.

"I was hesitant to use my gavel," he said. "I will start to use it more now."

In another matter, the board discussed attorney Kevin Gaughan's presentation on the size and cost of local government, scheduled for the board's Jan. 22 meeting.

Gaughan had been told he could present at the regular 7 p.m. meeting. Usually presentations are held during the 3 p.m. work session.

The board considered allowing him only three minutes during the public comment period, but Mohan said Gaughan wanted 10 minutes to speak.

After a 20-minute debate, the board agreed to allow Gaughan to speak on Jan. 22, after all other town business is concluded. That is usually 11 p.m. or later.

Gaughan's study is available at www.thecost.org. He is speaking at towns and village across Western New York, saying that Erie County has more elected officials than any other like-sized area in America.

He will address the Village of Williamsville board of trustees at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28.