Town Board Meeting 2/26/24 Video Clips & Key Takeaways

“I’m going to say something! I’m getting tired of hearing about God!

SHE DOESN’T BELONG, talking about Jesus!”

Feb. 26, 2024 – Amherst NY Town Board Meeting Summary 

Click Blue Underlined Items for Video Clips

Good Board:

• Shawn Lavin kept his laptop closed/at home.

• Brian Kulpa answered some questions after the first public expression session.

• The Board listened to two public hearings of the many residents asking/fighting for historical preservation of their neighborhood house and voted YES to do so.

Bad Board:

• The Town Board, thanks to Kulpa’s scheme of Planned Unit Development removing public hearings and input for Westwood, passed a lease agreement with Randall Kramer’s theater company for a near exclusive lease for 30 years, majority paid by town debt and money. The Board voted YES for this with no resident public hearings and included a non-compete clause for no other theater companies in the universe to perform indoors on 171 acres of public land.

• Marinucci spoke only 17 seconds of the 3 hours 33 minutes & 37 seconds.

• Lavin didn’t speak at all, once again.

• Berger was unhinged, had offensive outbursts attacking residents and religion, and was more worried about the bell to tell people they are done talking rather than listening to what people are saying.

• Kulpa looked like being at the meeting was beneath his duties, head-in-hand much of the time with his classic smirks and eye rolls towards the residents.

• Berger and Kulpa spent a long-time passing notes back and forth to each other like middle school kids rather than listening to residents during an important public hearing.

• Brian Kulpa only spent 8 minutes and 30 seconds of 3.5 hours answering questions and concerns of taxpayers.

• Brian Kulpa got sassy at the end of the meeting hinting that only the neighbors HE talks to are important.

The 6th meeting, highly populated Amherst town hall chambers once again and had the following key moments.

1)     Public Hearing: 22 Chateau Comes to a Conclusion with a YES vote

The Town Board voted YES to historically preserve 22 Chateau, in-line with Kulpa’s wife’s desires who is Vice Chairman on the Historical Preservation Committee. Residents had their 2nd public hearing to express their desire to have 22 Chateau a historical preserved property, after Benderson Development illegally began demolition and tore down the garage completely. Supervisor Brian Kulpa had them fined $500 and some fees, however that is not a material punishment or deterrent to someone like Benderson. Residents demanded the Board take action to make Benderson restore what they illegally destroyed, but the Board and Kulpa seemed to not care.

• Residents also spoke regarding their desire for more single family homes instead of more unit housing, because many believe home ownership helps people build investment, worth, and importance in a neighborhood.  

• Another resident agreed that the Board (like Benderson) is not transparent, feeling betrayed by the Amherst Town Board, & that they do not represent the communities and neighborhoods first.

This all led up to the most absurd moment in the last 3 months (which is saying A LOT)…

Most Embarrassing Moment - Supervisor Brian Kulpa loses control when Jacqui Berger Attacks Resident & God

A resident was pleading with the Town Board to vote in favor of the people’s desires and be more transparent. The recent Gleason’s development vote against residents’ will and other projects give residents valid concerns that the Board is more interested in their wishes than taxpayers. When Kulpa this time hinted, he was going to vote in favor (unlike when he teased the same for Gleason’s only to vote twice to make sure the developer won) the resident said quickly to the side “Thank You Jesus you’re going to vote for it” in celebration that the Board will do something good for the community.

That’s when all chaos erupted from Councilman Jacqui Berger, who grabbed the mic and yelled “I’m gonna say something. I’m getting tired of hearing about God!” and “She doesn’t belong, talking about Jesus!”. The entire Board looked embarrassed and had to call a 5-minute recess due to the out-of-control board member. This attitude and demeanor have been encouraged from Supervisor Kulpa’s outbursts and antics for 3 months (6 meetings) and Michael Szukala calling residents’ beliefs “irrelevant” twice!

2)     Public Hearing: Budget “Transparency” Law

After the Feb. 5th meeting that adjourned the “transparency” law presentation due to a “filing error” proposed by Shawn Lavin, the town attorney Martin Polowy made a less than stellar presentation. Shawn Lavin didn’t speak to anything regarding his proposal. It has been concluded that the proposed law is not transparent in itself and if anything it is a save face attempt of actions the Board is already required to do and should do as being elected officials and adults.

• One resident came to speak about how the law proposal process is not transparent in its own demonstration, with the Board hiding deletions in the materials like removing citizen involvement.

• Another resident noted, the board should not need a law to simply do their job the right and ethical way.

• The board has changed from releasing the budget openly and transparently before elections to hiding it until after and kept quiet from residents.

3)     Public Expression:

• Town Attorney Martin Polowy Got Sassy

  Public expression began again by the town attorney scolding residents on how to behave, as the town board officials continue to behave like children. The attorney got smart with residents, saying “I have the microphone”, that are sick of being treated in this manner while the unprofessional and rude elected officials get away with childish behavior.

• The Town may not be following Town Code on Public Participation and Transparency

  A resident brought attention to town committees that promote inclusion of citizens and transparency not meeting for years and that the board appears to not have been in compliance with financial disclosure forms, which raises concerns about conflicts of interest amongst members.

• Women feel threatened from Brian Kulpa and Joe McMahon’s Intimidation Attacks

  A resident brought to light how Brian Kulpa tried to make up a racist attack to push through his agenda and get people to hate each other. She also mentioned how Kulpa and his assistant Joe McMahon have been attempting to intimidate women to stop speaking.

• Town Attorney was Called Out for Misleading Residents, General Town Tax increase 38.7%, and “Secret” Agreement between Kulpa, IDA, and Benderson for the Blvd. Mall

In conclusion, the “Irrelevant” residents have HAD IT, and this is just the beginning of residents working together as a community to take back their town from an Amherst Town Board that only care about themselves and their political allies.

P.S. Michael Szukala was absent… but that’s irrelevant.

Full meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6yT-4iQyaQ

The next town board meeting is Monday, March 11, 2024, 7pm, at Amherst NY Town Hall. It’s free, open to the public, & a great way to meet new friends & neighbors.