New committee proves bone of contention with Village Board
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

A new committee to provide volunteers for village events has been established by the Village of Williamsville.

A mission statement and members were approved by board members at Monday night's meeting, though not unanimously on several counts.

During the meeting and the work session that preceded it, discussion lingered on how the creation of another committee would be useful to the village, even though the board approved formation of the Special Events Committee in October.

"I was hoping it would be more of a merger of committees, that there would be some overlap," said Trustee Brian Geary.

Geary's sentiments were echoed by Trustee Jeff Kingsley. Both noted that the village is strapped for volunteers as it is and that adding another committee would also tax board members who act as liaisons to existing committees. They both called for a consolidation of existing committees to create unity between them and to streamline government.

"At reorganization, the mayor declined any more committees," Kingsley said. "I think it's dubious forming the committee now."

Mayor Mary Lowther, who will oversee the committee, noted that only one proposed member of the committee was already on another village committee, and therefore the creation of the special events committee was bringing new blood into village government and possibly more people who would be willing to volunteer in other areas and on other committees.

The volunteers would only be used for events authorized by and budgeted for by the Village Board, such as the Village Volunteers Picnic, the garden walk and Music in the Parks. Volunteers for the committee will not be used for events that are sponsored by the Williamsville Business Association, such as Taste of Williamsville.

The mission statement for the Special Events Committee was passed by a 3-2 vote, with Geary and Kingsley voting against it.

Lowther also presented resolutions for seven people to be named to the committee and was once met with resistance from Geary and Kingsley on three of the proposed members, including formerly nominated Mill Restoration Committee Chairperson Sarah Sutcliff.

Sutcliff was removed from the Mill Restoration Committee at the Jan. 14 meeting after sending a politically charged e-mail to committee members and Village Board members.

"This sets a horrible precedent to allow people who have used committees for their own political agendas to be part of another committee," Kingsley said. "It sets a horrible precedent for what these committees stand for."

Kingsley and Geary voted against the placement of Lisa Fessard and Pat Siracuse on the Special Events Committee on the same grounds as Sutcliff.

Kingsley voted against Sutcliff's placement while Geary and Trustee Basil Piazza abstained. That left the count of one no vote from Kingsley, and two yes votes from Lowther and Trustee Brian Kulpa.

According to the New York Conference of Mayors, the majority of the board must vote yes in order to pass a resolution. Abstentions cannot count as a positive or negative vote.

In this case there were only two yes votes to make the appointment, so Sutcliff was not named to the Special Events Committee at the Monday meeting.

The other appointments up for approval, including Siracuse, Fessard, Denine Kavany, Kathleen Delaney, Paul Steinbruckner and Helen Klebes were approved and those people will sit on the committee.

The next regular meeting of the Village Board will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25 at Village Hall, 5565 Main St., Williamsville.