SIGNS OF CONTROVERSY AT COMBINED

PUBLIC-PRIVATE SITE

Buffalo News,   October 13, 2004  by Thomas J. Dolan

       Three signs crowd the entrance to Amherst State Park on Mill Street: a green one marking the park entrance, a white one for the nearby Holy Family Home and a jazzy red marquee advertising the new St. Mary's Apartments, located inside the park.

       Behind the bright colors, however, are signs of discord.

       The Sisters of St. Francis, who sold the parkland and the apartment building for $5 million to Amherst and the state three years ago, have complained to town officials that the apartment building developer is breaking an agreement on signs negotiated last year.

       Sister Marian Rose Mansius, the order's general minister, said that in particular, developer John E. "Skip" Cerio "violated the spirit" of the agreement, calling for all the signs to be coordinated.

       Instead of cooperating on the displays, Cerio "somehow secured permission to erect a sign exclusively for St. Mary's Apartments," Mansius complained in a Sept. 30 letter to town officials.

       In addition, Holy Family Home, an assisted living facility operated by the nuns, was supposed to be listed prominently on the signs in order to avoid problems for emergency vehicles that respond frequently to the area, she said.

       According to the nun, the average age of Holy Family residents is 90, and they frequently need ambulance services. "For the name . . . to appear anywhere but first could be extremely confusing to an emergency vehicle driver," she said.

       Still, the order is willing to rectify the problem when a fourth sign -- also planned for the entryway -- is built, Mansius said.

       She asked that the Holy Family Home appear first on the new sign. Or, in the alternative, the home should be allowed to keep its current white sign over the entrance to the property, she said.

       Mansius was out of town and could not be reached to comment, according to a spokeswoman for the order. Cerio did not return calls seeking his comment.

       Amherst Building Commissioner Thomas C. Ketchum said he was aware of the complaint and he confirmed that Cerio had obtained a town permit before erecting his red sign -- complete with lighting.

       Nevertheless, Ketchum said he was not aware of any agreement between the parties.

       "It's my intention to look at the easement agreement. . . . If there's something in there, that's what they will get," he said.

       Derek Gee/Buffalo News

     Signs muddy the message at the entrance to Amherst State Park, off  Mill Street, offering pause for confusion and ammunition for a controversy.