Snyder, N.Y. (WBEN) - What drew more than 300 people to Amherst Supervisor Shawn Lavin's inaugural "State of the Town" address?
If it was to hear about the Station Twelve development, the former Westwood County Club, Costco or the Boulevard Mall, then they came away disappointed.
Nary a word was said about those projects.
Lavin has, both as a town councilman and during last year's campaign, talked about those projects - almost endlessly.
Lavin, did, however touch on development issues by pledging to put the town's planning and building department's on a "shot clock" to make sure projects don't linger.
Part of the change will include revising, updating or outright eliminating outdated regulations and mandates like what was done in Arizona and Texas.
"We have to move faster," Lavin said.
That one proposal was long overdue, said A.J. Baynes, Amherst Chamber of Commerce president and CEO.
"Businesses, the private sector, need to hear and see that," Baynes said.
Development aside, Lavin spent much of his 23 minute speech introducing himself to a "who's who" crowd that was sprinkled with political and private sector leaders.
Lavin talked about being raised in the City of Tonawanda by a single mother and relying on various public sector assistance programs to survive.
As Amherst's 48th supervisor, Lavin now oversees a town with more than 131,000 residents. Amherst is larger than most New York cities and towns.
"It is a big responsibility," Lavin said.
Lavin spent 23 years in the Air Force and, also a major in the 107th New York Air National Guard.
While with the National Guard, Lavin spent much of 2020 assisting New York City with issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
More recently, in October 2024, Lavin was with the National Guard assisting North Carolina with its Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.
"What I learned is that local government matters," Lavin said.
Lavin is asking the community to join him in a pledge to create 500 "good deeds" done this year.
"We can all do better," Lavin said.
Lavin's speech was presented by the Amherst Chamber of Commerce.