Amherst supervisor, IDA chief clash over development policy. (Amherst town supervisor Dan Ward; Industrial Development Agency)

Four years ago Dan Ward was elected Amherst town supervisor, in part on a promise that he would try to control development in the town.

The target of much of his campaign and first term as supervisor has been the Amherst Industrial Development Agency.

But now Ward is facing charges that he criticizes the Amherst IDA for policies that he supports as a member of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency.

Ward, however, counters that the charges are politically motivated and that the Amherst IDA does many of its projects to keep itself in existence and its executive director employed.

At the heart of the disagreement is a fundamentally different outlook toward development between Ward and James Allen, executive director of the Amherst IDA.

In a September 17 letter that Business First …