While the most notable topics of the year in Amherst and Williamsville were propositions to downsize the Town Board and dissolve village government, the underlying concern in both municipalities was cost savings.

As The Bee enters a new year, the staff looks back at the events and issues at the forefront of the news in 2010. The following is a review of the top stories in Amherst and Williamsville during the past year:

Town of Amherst

As the year began, the town’s Budget Forecasting Committee estimated that there was nearly a $9 million gap in the budget that would have to be filled through intensive cost-cutting measures.

From January through November, the Town Board sought multiple ways to decrease its spending. Officials worked to cut as much costs as possible without eliminating services, such as by merging the Youth and Recreation departments, which the board approved in June.

During the next several months of budget preparation, board members worked to eliminate 14 employee positions that were not filled following retirements and increased revenue by $2.1 million from 2009.

One of the largest tasks undertaken by the Town Board included privatizing the Amherst Museum.

In February, Supervisor Barry Weinstein began discussing privatization of the museum as a way to enhance its future.

Museum Director Joe Weickart said the museum’s autonomy will open new opportunities for the facility and save the town approximately $350,000 per year.

Following nearly 10 months of negotiations, the board approved privatization of the museum on Dec. 6.

While the Town Board implemented cost-saving strategies throughout the year, in November, residents voted to decrease the size of the council by two members.

The first seat will be eliminated on Jan. 1, 2011, with the second to be removed by Jan. 1, 2014.

The outcome, however, voided election for the vacant board seat, which was sought by Richard Wojtowicz, a former council member, and Richard Woll.

The board had been operating with five council members since Jan. 1, 2010, when the post once held by Supervisor Barry Weinstein was left vacant.

In addition to the town government cutting spending, school districts in Amherst and Williamsville worked to achieve balanced budgets despite receiving smaller amounts of financial aid from the state.

As a result, employees were eliminated in the Amherst and Sweet Home districts, and the Williamsville Schools did not replace retiring faculty members with new hires. Voters in all three school districts approved the budgets in May.

Village of Williamsville

Discussions about dissolving the Williamsville village government dominated the first eight months of 2010. A citizens’ group, formed late in 2009 to investigate the benefits and drawbacks to dissolving the government, held its first of four informational sessions in February. Government reform activist Kevin Gaughan began circulating a petition in March to force a referendum on the topic. The petition was submitted in June and the referendum set for Aug. 17.

Prior to the referendum, Gaughan held a series of public forums. A group that formed to oppose the dissolution of the government also held a forum.

The proposition was defeated overwhelmingly, with 1,546 no votes and only 309 yes votes. Under the law governing petition driven dissolution referenda, a new petition cannot be circulated to dissolve the government of the village for four more years.

In December, the Village Board voted unanimously to enter into negotiations with Iskalo Development Corp. to redevelop the Williamsville Water Mill. The village hired architectural firm Flynn Battaglia earlier in the year to develop a site plan for the mill and to oversee the request for-proposal process.

The village also received a $244,820 stabilization grant from the state Historic Preservation Office. The village is still responsible for essential stabilization and maintenance until the property is transferred to Iskalo.

(Amherst Bee Reporter Kate Mockler contributed to this report.)