Town of Cheektowaga

TOWN HOPES COMPUTER PROGRAM PUTS COMPLAINTS ON FAST TRACK:

The system could be connected to Cheektowaga's online assessment system as well. From there, the system's possible uses could be endless.

Holtz explained that complaints would be logged by an "SBL" number used by the assessor's office to identify land parcels.

"That SBL numbers (system) would be (used as) the primary code for all complaints in the town," Holtz said.

A particularly deep pothole? The highway department could add it to their list and, using electronic maps, create an efficient route that would allow a repair crew to patch several potholes.

A vacant home or frequent sanitation violations? The housing department can follow up on it.

Sewer problems could be easily referred to the engineer's office.

"Every department in town could use this system," Holtz said, "and all of us would have a complete record of every complaint that comes in."

Councilmember Stan Kaznowski, who has seen the system, said he likes the idea of tracking complaints and the added accountability of the program.

"We can get back to residents and say, 'yes, this has been addressed,'" Kaznowski said. "That's been my biggest frustration" as a homeowner group president.

The largest task after purchasing the system, estimated to cost between $40,000-$50,000, would be training town employees to use it.