1818-2018

TOWN OF AMHERST5583 Main Street | Williamsville, NY 14221

(716) 631-7000

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Welcome toour new website

Welcome to the Official Website of the Town of Amherst, N.Y.

In an effort to provide accurate and timely information to the residents of Amherst as well as visitors, the Information Technology Department has undertaken a complete functional redesign of this website:

The new website incorporates new, modern technologies to provide a consistent and user-friendly experience. The new site incorporates a responsive site template. Responsive web design allows for the best user experience across a variety of devices, from desktop computers to tablets and smart phones. Users will be presented with content that “responds” to the device accessing this website. Menus, text and images will be resized and realigned to help provide an intuitive website interface.

This document has been developed to help website visitors better understand the site layout and menu options. In addition, the web page elements are annotated to help visitors quickly find the information they seek.

An important change to our site is the placement of news & announcements on a dedicated Track Us web page. Our visitor feedback resulted in this change. The Track Us announcements as well as cancellations and closures can be found by selecting the Track Us menu option at the top of any page on this website. We now provide access to past announcements as well as a search function.

One important component of our site is the “keywords” function. This function remains in place and continues to be an effective site navigation tool. The premise of the keyword functionality is to provide a direct path to site content. For example, if you’re seeking Town of Amherst Budget or Financial information, you may enter the keyword “budget” or “financial” from the home page; where the keyword form is located.

It is important to note that the keyword form function is available from the home page only. By clicking the top banner on any page, you will be returned to the home page. You may also click the “Home” menu item at the top of each page.

A “how to” contents page follows. This page illustrates what is found in the remainder of this document. It is important to note that this document presents a sample of web pages and their layout. It is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to the website. I invite you to explore this document to help you gain a better understanding of how the site is presented and functions.

Please feel free to contact the IT Department at with any questions or if you’re having trouble locating website content.

Contacting the Town

Please note that the Town’s general information phone number ( 716-631-7000 ) as well as a general information email address ( ) is provided on the footer of each web page.

Contact information is available for each Town Department as well. This information can be found by clicking the Government menu, then clicking Departments. From the resulting web page, you will need to simply select a department from the listing and use the “Contact Us” tab in the right-hand panel. You will be presented with the names, titles, phone number and email addresses by clicking the employee name. The department’s address and hours of operation are also presented in that panel.

www.amherst.ny.us

website@amherst.ny.us

toainfo@amherst.ny.us

1818-2018

TOWN OF AMHERST5583 Main Street | Williamsville, NY 14221

(716) 631-7000

S E A L

Est

8 8

AF MO H N ERW S

O T

T

N E KW R OY

How to useour new website

Top Navigation Menu Site Map

Town Departments & Contact Information Boards & Committees and Meeting Calendar

Who to call? Comprehensive Property Information

Contents

1818-2018

TOWN OF AMHERST5583 Main Street | Williamsville, NY 14221

(716) 631-7000

S E A L

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8 8

AF MO H N ERW S

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TOP MENU

Home / Keyword List

Keyword List

- Keywords and descriptions to find information quickly

Home / Contact Us

Contact Us Today

- Online email form- Questions, Suggestions or Comments

Home / Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

- Amherst ADA Coordinators- ADA Links

Home / Departments / Town Clerk /Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)

Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)

- Application for Public Access to Records- Online and Printable Forms

Home / Departments / Youth & Recreation /Northtown Center at Amherst

Northtown Center at Amherst

- Contact information- Directions and Map- Ice & Facility Rental- Partner Organizations- Sponsors

keyword(s)

keyword

contact

ada

foil

skating

Home / Elected Officials

Government . . . Elected Officials elected

keyword(s)

- Listing of current elected officials- Assignments- Contact Information

Home / Departments

Government . . . Departments

- Department Listing- Services Provided- Divisions- Contact Information

Home / Boards & Committees

Government . . . Boards & Committees

- Listing of Boards & Committees- Mission Statement- Liaison- Meeting Schedules- Membership

Home / Boards & Committees

Government . . . Meeting Calendar

- This Week- Next Week- Annual

Home / Buildings & Facilities

Government . . . Buildings & Facilities

- Listing of Town Buildings & Facilities- Addresses & Location Map- Departments at Each Location- Contact Information

Home / Town Code

Government . . . Town Code

- Online Town Code

Home / Zoning Ordinance

Government . . . Zoning Ordinance

- Online Resources- Proposed Amendments

Home / Departments / Comptroller’s Office /Budgets, BANS & Bonds, Audited Financials, Wages & Benefits

Government . . . Budget & Financials

- Current Adopted Budget- Historical Adopted Budgets- BANS & Bonds Official Statements- Financial Statements- Gross Wages & Benefits

Home / Projects & Initiatives

Government . . . Projects & Initiatives

- Town Projects & Initiatives

departments

committees

calendar

buildings

town code

zoning

budget

projects

1818-2018

TOWN OF AMHERST5583 Main Street | Williamsville, NY 14221

(716) 631-7000

S E A L

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8 8

AF MO H N ERW S

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SITE MAP

Enter keywords from home page.*

Home / Departments / Senior Services

Services . . . Senior Services

- Programs & Services- Contact Information- Track Us Announcements

Home / Departments / Youth & Recreation

Services . . . Youth & Recreation

- Programs & Services- Contact Information- Track Us Announcements

Home / Departments / Planning Department /Community Development

Services . . . Community Development

- Housing Assistance- Affordable Housing- Fair Housing- First-time Homebuyer Program- Housing Rehabilitation Program

Home / CPI Property Search

Services . . . Comprehensive Property Information

- Search by Address, SBL or Owner Name- Assessment Information- Property Taxes & Tax History- Assessment Challenge Procedure- Forms & Worksheets

http://map.amherst.ny.us/mapping.htm

Services . . . Mapping & GIS

- Digital PDF Maps- Interactive Mapping- Historic Maps- Quick View Aerial Photography

keyword(s)

seniors

youthor

recreation

community

taxesor

assessment

mapsorGIS

Emergencies . . . Dial 911 for Emergencies

Home / Departments / Police Department

Emergencies . . . Amherst Police

- Divisions- Programs & Services- Other Information

Home / Departments / Emergency Services & Safety

Emergencies . . . Emergency Services & Safety

- Mission Statement- Vision Statement- Emergency Response Data Form- Local Storm & Emergency Information- Response Guides & Information

Home / Departments / Engineering Departments /Contact Information & Emergency Phone Numbers

Emergencies . . . Flooding Events

- Sewer or Water in Basement- Emergency Contact Information for Town and Utility Companies

Emergencies . . . Sewer Backups

Home / Departments / Highway Department /Snow & Ice Control Procedures

Emergencies . . . Snow & Ice

- Snow Plowing & Salting Procedures- Parking Ban- Road Obstructions- Mailbox Replacement

Home / Departments / Engineering Departments /Contact Information & Emergency Phone Numbers

- Sewer or Water in Basement- Emergency Contact Information for Town and Utility Companies

keyword(s)

police

emergency

flooding

sewer

snow

1818-2018

TOWN OF AMHERST5583 Main Street | Williamsville, NY 14221

(716) 631-7000

S E A L

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8 8

AF MO H N ERW S

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SITE MAP

Enter keywords from home page.*

Home / Who to call?

Common Requests . . . Who to call?

- Commonly requested information- Department or Agency- Phone numbers

Home / Departments / Comptroller’s Office /Report Waste or Fraud

Common Requests . . . Report Waste or Fraud

- Report suspected waste or fraud

Home / New York State Division of Veteran’s Affairs

Common Requests . . . Veterans’ Affairs

- Counselor located in Amherst Municipal Building

Home / Departments /Contract Compliance & Administration /Bids & RFPs

Common Requests . . . Bids & RFPs

- BidNet Partnership- Vendor Registration Information

Home / Local & Regional Information / Parks and Trails

Common Requests . . . Parks & Trails

- Amherst State Park- Nature View Park- Public Parks, Trails and Open Space- Recreation & Parks Master Plan

Home / Boards & Committees /Arts and Culture in Public Places Board

Common Requests . . . Arts & Culture

- Amherst Symphony Orchestra- MusicalFare- O’Connell & Company- Buffalo ComedySportz Arena- Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village

Home / Local & Regional Information

Common Requests . . . Local & Regional Information

- Local Information links- Regional Information links

Home / Departments / Highway /Refuse Control

Common Requests . . . Refuse & Recycling

- Holiday Pickup Schedule- Totes Program- Refuse Collection Schedule- Modern Corporation

Home / Departments / Highway / Rodent Control Program

Common Requests . . . Rodent Control

- Rodent Control Complaints- Erie County Rodent Control

Home / Departments / Building Department

Common Requests . . . Property Maintenance

- Property Maintenance Complaints

Home / Departments / Assessor’s Office /Common Exemptions

Common Requests . . . Tax Exemptions

- STAR Exemption- Disability Exemption- Low Income Senior Exemption- Veterans Exemption- Business Exemption

keyword(s)

who to call

fraud

veterans

bidsorrfps

trails

arts

localor

regional

garbageor

recycling

rodent

maintenance

exemptions

Track Us . . . News & Announcements

Home / Track Us

- News, Announcements & Upcoming Events- Historical Postings- Search Postings

news

keyword(s)

1818-2018

TOWN OF AMHERST5583 Main Street | Williamsville, NY 14221

(716) 631-7000

S E A L

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8 8

AF MO H N ERW S

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N E KW R OY

SITE MAP

Enter keywords from home page.*

Track Us . . . Cancellations & Closings

Home / Track Us

- Meeting or Event Cancellations- Facility Closings- Other Cancellations or Closings

cancelor

closings

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site menu- click to drop-down

web page menu- content by category

web page identifier- e.g., department name

web page menu tabs- categories- contact information- announcements

site breadcrumb- denotes current web page

expandable menu

current location- context sensitive

highlighted notes

web page content

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site menu- click to drop-down meeting calendar panel

- all boards & committees

calendar tabs(for all boards & committees)- this week- next week- annual

site breadcrumb- denotes current web page

expandable menu

committee name

direct link to- agendas- minutes- videos

web page content

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site menu- click to drop-down

site breadcrumb- denotes current web page

*common topics- department or agency- phone number

*note: list has been abbreviated for illustrative purposes

see next page

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property search form

# Street

SBL

Current Owner

see next page

see next page

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property details

two-yeartown / county tax details including:- sewer- central alarm- garbage collection- general town tax- highway tax- library tax- fire district

# Street

SBL

Current Owner

# Street 1963 3,333 4/2,1/1

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property tax history

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comparable properties- assessment challenge process