In response to concerns raised by Eggertsville residents, the Amherst Town Board

established an Eggertsville Task Force on Monday to address quality of life, safety and

economic development issues in the community.

"What I had in mind is not just crime," said Supervisor Barry Weinstein, who introduced the

resolution.

Weinstein described the purpose of the committee as addressing a number of priorities,

including: small business development and job creation, crackdown on property neglect and

graffiti, low-income grant opportunities, and promotion of youth and senior programs.

He mentioned the need to promote new district design standards for Eggertsville, as well as

the need to better utilize the Eggertsville Community Center.

Council Member Steven Sanders will chair the new committee, which will also include representatives from numerous town departments and community stakeholders. He said he is hoping for participation from all segments of the community and said anyone interested in participating should contact the Councilmembers office at 631-7013.

"I have high hopes for the concept," Weinstein said. "I hope they will complete this work

within the calendar year."

In other news, the board:

Reactivated the town's Deer Adaptive Management Committee in light of the increase

in deer-related accidents and nuisance problems in town. The committee is expected to evaluate

the town's existing deer management policy and make recommendations to the board.

After a number of years showing a decline in the deer-related accidents in Amherst as a

result of the Amherst Police Department's bait-and-shoot program, the town has seen an upswing

in deer-related vehicle accidents in the past couple of years.

In 2009, the Police Department recorded 504 deer-related accidents, up from 377 the year

before.

Reviewed potential changes to the structure of Amherst town government as

recommended by the town's Code Commission. The commission was created last year to look at the

town's governance structure and reassert power to the supervisor that was eroded by the courts

in 2007 and 2008.

Amherst last overhauled its governance code in 1976, giving the supervisor primary

authority over the day-to-day operations of town government.

John P. Lane, former State Supreme Court justice, former town attorney and former member of

the Town Board, reviewed the commission's changes, which correct technical deficiencies in the

old town code and reassert the supervisor's hiring and firing rights in the executive branch.

Appointments are still subject to board confirmation.

The code revisions also provide a new a mechanism to end deadlocks between the supervisor

and the Town Board regarding the filling of vacant offices or positions. A public hearing on

the changes will be held April 12. If adopted, the matter will go to public referendum.