by Christopher Caile and Deanne Bartha

A motion to push a proposal through for the Grand Island Town Center introduced by Supervisor James H. Pax raised such ire from the audience on Monday that several residents were systematically removed from Town Hall by police escort.

During consideration Island resident John Lexo had tried to speak. "Point of order," he said. "I have important information." "Do you follow Robert's Rules of Order?" Businessman John Simon demanded. Lexo echoed Simon's discontent, stating that the town's attempt to push an idea through without public input was unfair.

Pax, backed by Town Attorney William Wiles, ruled they were out of order. He instructed Police officer John Thompson to remove Them from the room. Shortly after, businessmen Jack Hugill and Rus Thompson joined the growing number of evictees mounting in the assembly area causing an avalanche of emotion at Pax's recommendations that accompanied the plan to utilize graduate students at UB's School of Architecture and Planning to Develop the first phase in a Town Center master plan. All Input to

be coordinated through Long range planning Committee, Pax stated in a letter appended to the UB proposal letter.

This embittered many In the business community who were in attendance who believed they had Just been excluded from the planning process. They had participated in the Business council's Town Plan Committee Which they felt initiated the process. Councilman James Sharpe’s plan was the result of their Work and enthusiasm. His plan bad included their participation as part of a Long Range Planning committee.

Pax said that his plan would be a Less costly" and a fundable alternative for only $5000-$6000.

No discussion from the floor was allowed on the fact that this was for Phase one only. No price tag had been given for the plans completion.

Thus adoption of Pax’s plan left in its wake as many questions as answers.

In an attempt to develop some consensus Monday night Sharpe did not introduce his original plan.

Instead he suggested a compromise of the two plans that would utilize the UB’s resources in conjunction with a professional planner and the Town’s Master Plan Committee. He noted that UB Professor Dr. Hiro Ham who bad submitted the University proposal had himself stressed the importance of enlisting a professional planner.

His motion for adoption was not seconded

It was at this point that audience members tried to speak.

Sharpe then made a motion to open the meeting to discussion, however, Pax said there had to be unanimous board consent. Again, no other council member seconded Sharpe’s motion.

“What are you so afraid of,” Lexo challenged. From the audience came boos and shouts of “cowards.” Unwilling to be silenced, it was at this point several, people were escorted out of the room.

Councilwoman Andrea Moreau reacted to Sharpe’s concern over planning board control of information. “It Is my understanding each of the students (as part of the UB program) will participate in local groups.”

“If you want to say what you said you better re-write It (Pax’s proposal) now,” Sharpe said.

After the votes were cast several people walked out. One said loudly “That’s disgusting.” Another outside In the lobby said, “It was a railroad. And Dick Crawford (Councilman and founder of-the new Business Council) and Moreau (also President of the Chamber of Commerce) just sat there. They represent us, and they just sat there.”

“The planning board will kill the proposal (Sharpes) dead,” Simon predicted. “They took our civil Rights away. How come Jim Sharpe Wasn’t invited to the meeting with Dr. Hata and Will Wiles two weeks ago?”

Meanwhile, also in the lobby Rus Thompson defended an accusation that he was anti-Pax. “I’m not anti-Pax, I'm pro Grand Island,” be stated.

Others, however, attacked the conduct of Lexo and others who spoke out. One said “that’s why we can’t work with you John.”

Government students covering the meeting as part of their senior class study came out of the room shaking their heads and talking amongst themselves.

“I don’t understand why they won’t let the people talk,” Dawn Wornick, 12th grader said. “We want to hear what they have to say about the matter.”

“They could have given them one minute,” Kelly Martin, also a senior said. “They were making a decision that we the people should have decided. They should have made the public more aware of it.”

Wornick stated that she “didn’t want to listen anymore,” while Martin added that she was “getting angry that they were ganging up on Sharpe.”

Pax’s plan as accepted could be interpreted as amending the Town’s 1994 Comprehensive Plan adopted and approved by the Town. The task of preparing a conceptual Town Center plan had been given to the Long Range Planning Committee as lead organization, not the Planning Committee.