Amherst Times

There are two Amherst Town Board meetings held every month. They are usually held on the 1^st and 3^rd Monday. The public are allowed only three minutes each, to speak during these meetings concerning town issues. This must change.

During the meetings, following the time when council members give their reports, there should be public response time. At this point residents ought to be allowed to ask questions about the reports that were just delivered.
Presently the only time the public can voice their thoughts on Town concerns is during the period called Suspension of Rules. It is at this time when a person may speak on any topic related to the Town. They often ask questions of Town officials on the stage. Town Board members do not respond for several reasons: they don’t know the answer(s); they don’t want to give the wrong answer(s); they don’t have any idea what the speaker is talking about; or most importantly they want the meeting to end quicker. If they were to respond, meetings might run long.
*Answering the questions the public ask would help clear the muddy waters this Town Board has created about many town projects.

Taxpayers must never forget that the Town Board is responsible to them and their questions must be answered, not pushed aside.