ADAMS TWP — In an ongoing discussion between township residents and supervisors, Amherst Village found itself being brought into the conversation during the public comment portion of Monday night's supervisors meeting.

Amherst Village Phases 5 through 7 include 142 acres for 288 single- and multifamily housing units north of Route 228.

Supervisors granted preliminary approval of the plan Sept. 28 after an apparent misunderstanding between the developers and a property owner delayed approval for several weeks.

The topic was broached Monday by resident Tim Stack, who asked the board to answer a list of questions he brought with him.

But instead of focusing on Amherst, the discussion turned into one about public comment procedure.

Among his inquiries, Stack asked if supervisors knew about votes taken and decisions made at planning commission meetings.

Stack asked the supervisors to respond to his question for the record.

“You know what your answer's going to be,” said Russell Ford, supervisors chairman. “The answer's going to be 'no comment.'”

Ford said while the board wouldn't “blurt out answers” to Stack's questions, it would research them and provide answers later.

“We do this every meeting,” Ford said. “You come up and ask questions that you expect this board to answer at the point when we have no information of what you're talking about.”

Ford further said public comment isn't a time for debating. It's a time for commenting.

“We do (debate) in the meetings, and then you take it wherever,” Ford said. “You're quoted in the newspaper.”

Noting his questions could have “yes” or “no” answers, Stack said he speaks about issues publicly to draw attention to them.

“Part of what I do is just trying to make sure these points are brought out in the public,” Stack said. “So, the public can ... think about them.”

Ford told Stack he often says he speaks for “everybody” when he shares concerns at public comment.

“Where is 'everybody?'” Ford asked. “Because it only seems to be that you're the one that's coming up each and every meeting with the same things over and over and over again.”

Ford asked Stack in the future to clarify who he means when he's talking about the concerns of “everybody.” He also suggested Stack provide his questions to the township a few days before the meeting.

Ford said the township will take time to look into Stack's questions.

“I think that would be a lot better than us doing the same thing every meeting,” Ford said. “To me, this is good government.”

Stack's questions weren't answered by supervisors during the meeting Monday.