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Seniors press Amherst board over center rules; residents urge changes to sidewalk enforcement and wastewater mitigation
Summary
During public expression at the July 6 meeting, senior-center members criticized new management policies (cameras, restrictions on money-based card play), residents from Snyder described concentrated sidewalk citations and asked for clearer standards, and neighbors asked the town to address noise and odors from a wastewater plant. The board pledged follow-up on sidewalks and wastewater mitigation and defended senior-center rules on safety.
Multiple Amherst residents used the public expression period at the July 6 town board meeting to press elected officials on neighborhood and senior services issues.
Carmen Vela, speaking for the Pinochle Club at the Amherst Senior Center, said long-running club activities were disrupted by recent administrative changes and argued those changes had harmed members. "...which violates the 14th amendment to the constitution, Which states that no state shall deny what is legal in your residence," Vela said, urging the board to revisit the center's policies and restore a welcoming atmosphere.
Several other senior-center attendees recounted loss of access to familiar club activities after the center installed camera surveillance in one card room and changed room scheduling rules. Robert Sommer described members finding the center "unwelcoming" after a camera was installed in the card room and said members felt targeted when staff monitored games. Older members, including veterans and disabled residents, said scheduling changes and enforcement of game rules had caused distress.
Supervisor Lavin responded that the town's priority is a safe, welcoming senior center and that money-based gambling will not be allowed at the Amherst Senior Center. "For the members who feel that you are inconvenienced because you can't put money on your card games, I'm sorry for that," Lavin said, and he reiterated the town routinely updates rules to protect safety and decorum.
Sidewalk citations: John Jacobs (Snyder) and Ryan Lynch described a recent surge of sidewalk violation notices in Snyder neighborhoods. Jacobs said notices came after two complainants submitted lists of addresses, and that the notices often leave homeowners only four weeks to remediate. He asked the town to publish clear compliance standards and to engage the town arborist when tree roots may be a factor. Lynch said he had to pay $18,000 after a sewer line collapse and asked for guidance because tree roots cause repeated damage.
Lavin said the building and highway departments and the town attorney will work on a solution and acknowledged the complaints; he asked affected residents to provide documentation so staff can follow up.
Wastewater treatment plant concerns: Joanna Smith and other nearby residents said they have endured humming noises and odors from the wastewater treatment plant for years and asked the board to inspect mitigation plans. Lavin said the town recently secured a $5,000,000 New York State grant to update a cryogenic oxygen machine and that he would work with the town engineer to explore additional mitigation efforts.
The board heard other communications about missing agenda attachments and advocated restoring a second public-expression slot at the end of meetings.
Provenance: Public-expression remarks and complaints span segments introducing the public-expression period (SEG 952–SEG 959) through extended comment exchanges and board responses (SEG 958–SEG 1741).
