TOWN MANAGER ANNOUNCES NEW COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

Town Manager Paul Bockelman announced nominations for new appointments to the Energy and Climate Action Committee (ECAC) and the Public Shade Tree Committee in a memo to the Town Clerk dated February 6, 2020. The nominations were recommended for approval by unanimous vote of the Outreach Communications and Appointments Committee (OCA) at their meeting on February 10.

And in a memo to the Town Clerk dated January 22, Bockelman announced his nominations to the Participatory Budget Committee, the Cultural Council, and the Council on Aging. These nominations had been previously approved unanimously by OCA and were approved by unanimous vote of the Town Council at their meeting on February 10.

Energy and Climate Action Committee
Bockelman nominated Sarah Durr for a two-year appointment to ECAC. Durr will fill the unexpired term of Nicki Robb, who resigned. 

The Town Manager provided the following biographical information: Sarah Durr, a resident of Spring Street, brings a passion and urgency to take action to reverse climate change as a mother of a young child as a new resident of the town. She possesses a strong skill set as a communications expert working for a global architecture firm that is concentrating on building net zero infrastructure. There, she specializes in gaining community and stakeholder input, writing copy for publications, generating educational and informational material, and planning outreach events.

At the OCA meeting of February 6, Bockelman noted that the applicant pool was very strong and expressed a desire to see those who were not chosen take on other assignments within the town. Bockelman declined to share the number of applicants in the pool. The interview team was made up of Bockelman, Laura Draucker (Chair of ECAC), Stephanie Ciccarello (Town Sustainability Coordinator), and Connie Kruger (from the Residents’ Advisory Committee). Bockelman indicated that Durr was a consensus selection of the interview  committee. 

Public Shade Tree Committee
Bockelman nominated Sara Lawler of Grove Street to a one-year term on the Public Shade Tree Committee. Lawler will fill the unexpired term of Rachel Loeffler, who resigned in December. The Town Manager provided the following biographical information about Lawler: Sara Lawler has been an active volunteer with the Public Shade Tree Committee since August of 2019. She has attended meetings and participated in tree planting events sponsored by the Committee. She is an ecological designer working in a local planning and design firm. In her professional life, Lawler works on a variety of development and restoration projects that integrate ecological and human systems. Lawler stated that she has a life-long passion for green infrastructure and sustainability and wants to spread those values in town.

The interview team consisted of Bockelman, Jim Pistrang of the Residents’ Advisory Committee, and Alan Snow, Tree Warden. Snow was unable to attend all of the interviews.

Cultural Council
Bockleman made the following nominations to the Cultural Council:

Arthur Pero of Spaulding Street for a three-year term;

Nicolas Graber-Mitchell of South Pleasant Street for a two-year term;

Rachel Wang of East Pleasant Street for a one-year term.

He provided the following biographical information on the nominees

Arthur Pero has worked for over 20 years as a musician and has experience in the visual arts, most notably with an internship at the McDowell Artist Colony. He has a deeply held belief that access and opportunities to pursue artistic endeavors should be extended to talented individuals regardless of their financial situation.

Nicolas Graber-Mitchell is a student at Amherst College and has expressed interest in being involved in Town government. He brings energy and enthusiasm to the mission of the Cultural Council and is eager to participate in engaging students in Town cultural activities
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Rachel Wang has worked extensively in intercultural communications and education with a career that has spanned visual arts management, museum education, journalism, advertising, public relations, business consulting, and community volunteering. As a first-generation immigrant she wants to bring to the Cultural Council the experience of being a non-native English speaker and as a mother of children in the school district.

The interview team was made up of Bockelman, Georgia Barnhill, Chair of the Cultural Council, Jim Pistrang, Residents’ Advisory Committee, and Cynthia Harbeson, Staff Support.

Participatory Budgeting Commission
Bockelman nominated Jonathan McCabe of Glendale Road for a position on the Participatory Budgeting Commission (PBC) for a term set to expire on December 1, 2020. The Town Manager provided the following biographical information: McCabe has been attending meetings of the PBC and has expressed interest in serving on the Commission. He has served as Deputy Budget Director for the City University of New York and was Director of Budget and Chief Financial Officer of the Levin Institute of the State University of New York. He currently teaches at Holyoke Community College. McCabe has served on the Joint Capital Planning Committee (JCPC) and the Amherst Regional School District Enrollment Advisory Committee.

The interview committee was composed of Bockelman, Commission Chair Meg Gage, Jim Pistrang of the Residents’ Advisory Committee, and Interim Finance Director Sonia Aldrich.

Council on Aging
Bockelman made the following nominations to the Council on Aging:

Jacqueline Smith-Crooks of Bay Road for a three-year appointment, Greg Bascomb of Chadwick Court and Timothy Neal of Amity Place for appointments expiring on June 30, 2020.

The Town Manager provided the following biographical information.

Jacqueline Smith-Crooks is former Director of Community Outreach Programs at Harvard Medical School and founding Executive Director of Macedonia Church Family Life Center. She is also a life coach and spiritual director, working with people on issues of change and transformation in leadership organizations. She expressed a desire to broaden participation in the Senior Center by people of more diverse backgrounds.

Greg Bascomb is an active volunteer at the Senior Center in the Bread and Produce program and previously served on the Town’s Human Rights Commission, where he was awarded a special “hero” award for his service. Bascomb, who is an attorney, also served on the Town’s Housing Review Board. He continues to advocate for the needs of people in Western Massachusetts, fueled by three decades of experience working on education, economic, and environmental health and human rights issues.

Timothy Neal is a volunteer driver for the Senior Center’s Medical Appointment Transportation Program. He also works as an election warden for Town elections. He previously served on the Finance Committee and, prior to retirement, was Director of Leadership Giving at Amherst College.

The interview team consisted of Bockelman, Rosemary Koefler, Chair of the Council on Aging, Mary Beth Ogulewicz, Senior Center Director, and Connie Kruger, Residents’ Advisory Committee.