Town Manager Report For July 12, 2021

Amherst Indy July 16, 2021 0
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Source: amherstma.gov

Editor’s note: Town Manager Paul Bockelman submits a comprehensive report to the Town Council at each of its regular meetings. The reports, usually 9 to 12 pages in length, provide up-to-date information on what is happening within and across Town departments. The Manager’s Report is usually one of the last items on the agenda and is often taken up late at night, leaving little time for the Manager to do more than mention a few highlights and this is usually all that gets entered into the Council minutes. What follows is a complete, unedited version of the Town Manager’s Report.

All Town Manager Reports are available on the Town’s website at Town Manager Reports.

Town Manager Update:
  • COVID-19:
    • The Governor lifted all remaining COVID-19 restrictions effective May 29th.
    • The Town Manager ended the local State of Emergency on June 15th.
    • The Legislature passed and the Governor signed S-2475 into law. This law:
      • Allows for remote meetings and hearings by public bodies through April 1, 2022;
      • Ratifies any remote meetings held between the expiration of the state of emergency and the signing of the law (not needed by the Town);
      • Extends local authorization for outdoor table service through April 1, 2022;
      • Allows for the continued sale of wine, beer and mixed drinks for off-premises consumption through May 1, 2022.
  • Vaccination:
    • The Health Department will be providing vaccines at the Mobile Markets in the coming weeks.
    • The Town’s vaccination rates appear low. Some background on this below:
      • First, our local public health clinic at the Bangs center has administered over 12,500 vaccines.
      • We have also performed clinics for our congregate and housing authority properties, operated a regional homebound program vaccinating over 300 individuals in 14 towns, and assisted with school-based vaccine clinics at 7 schools in 5 municipalities for approximately 500 students.
  • We continue to do mobile pop-up clinics at apartments, Mobile Markets, and other events.
    • In terms of the reported data, the Town has a total population 41,493. Of this population 21% are between 16-19 years old and 43% are between 20-29 years old which make up a total of 64% of the Amherst community. Only 16% of 16-19 year old’s and 26% of 20-29 year old have at least one dose. We have done extraordinary work in our other age groups with vaccine rates.
    • The 16-29 year old categories mainly reflect students who may change their primary residence to Amherst for the majority of the year. It is unknown how many within this age group remain local or have returned to their non-school based communities. We are encouraged by the requirement for all the five colleges to require COVID vaccination for the fall semester and remain hopeful that this will shift the vaccination rates. We are also hopeful for the new Massachusetts VaxMillions Giveaway for residents who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to target vaccine hesitant populations as well.
    • We will wind-down our clinics, offering second doses, and will halt clinics during July and August. Vaccine will still be available at the mass vaccination site in Springfield and at local pharmacies.
    • Health Department staff are reaching out to those who have not been able to be vaccinated:
      • Town staff will be holding a vaccination clinic at The Boulders from 10-12 on July 18th.
      • The State MassVax van will be in Town on June 27th including at Renew (South Point) from 9-11a.m.; Colonial Village from 12-2 p.m.; and on the Spring Street parking lot from 4-6 p.m.
      • We are working with the Survival Center to offer vaccinations at the Center, as well.
      • Health staff have co-located with the Mobile Markets to offer vaccinations to people who want them after visiting the Mobile Market.
  • Town Hall:
    • The Governor signed legislation that permits the Town’s public bodies to conduct their meetings virtually.
    • Non-Council Committees Meetings:
      • While meetings that have been posted to occur in person this week will continue to meet in person, all future meetings will return to full Zoom meetings as had been the Town’s previous practice. This applies to all non-Council committees and boards.
      • We will stay in this virtual meeting format through the summer and revisit how we conduct meetings in September.
    • Town Council and Council Committees Meetings:
      • The Town Council decided to meet virtually through July and August.
      • Council committees are making their own determinations whether to meet in person or via Zoom.
    • Town Hall:
  • Outreach:
  • Town Hall and other offices reopened to the public for individual transactions on June 1st.
  • Masks are required at all times when in the building except for employees working at their desks. Masks are required during all public meetings by members of the committee, staff, and members of the public.

o Cuppa Joe with Paul: The next Cuppa Joe is scheduled for Friday, July 9th on the Town Common. Community Participation Officers will be joining me!

  • Town-Gown:
    • University of Massachusetts at Amherst: The Reopening Committee met on May 27th, the last time we felt it needed to meet until later in the summer.
    • Racial Equity:
      • Community Safety Working Group: The Working Group continues its work and is scheduled to make its presentation on the second part of its charge to the Town Council at the August 23rd meeting.
      • Core Equity Team: The Core Equity Team has been assembling small groups of employees to participate in trainings.
      • Reparations: I met with representatives from Reparations 4 Amherst group and discussed ways the Town could utilize funds to support the work that they are doing following proper procurement and contracting rules.
Departments:
  • Finance:
    • Budget: Congratulations to the Town’s Finance Team for successfully completing the FY22 budget process. It started in November and concluded with the Town Council vote on June 21st. This completes an extensive budget process that developed a strong, sustainable budget for the Town for the coming fiscal year.

Report

  • Waterline Extension to Leverett: Work to extend the water line from North Amherst into the Town of Leverett is expected to begin in the near future.
    • Mill River Recreation Area: DPW crews have been working on the basketball courts and are preparing to install two full-length and two half-court basketball courts. They will be repaved during the paving projects happening now in Town.
    • Road construction projects:
      • The major road construction projects have begun. This includes paving Henry Street, Bridge Street, and part of Pine Street.
      • The repaving of Snell Street is scheduled to begin next week.
    • Town Clerk: The Town’s Ranked Choice Voting legislation had a public hearing at the State House on June 23rd. The Chair of the Ranked-Choice Committee and Town Councilors provided testimony.
      • Written statements will be accepted until Friday, June 25th at 3:00pm.
  • Sustainability: The Sustainability Coordinator and Energy and Climate Action Committee has submitted its final report to the Town Council for its consideration and review.
    • Public Safety:
      • Fire:
        • The Town is seeking candidates to fill the two current vacancies. The Fire Chief anticipates that hiring new firefighters will be a challenge and the Town is actively recruiting strong candidates.
        • Four additional firefighter/EMTs are on duty to support the Department’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
    • Human Resources/Human Rights:
      • Credit to our talented H.R. Department for being the catalyst for providing gift baskets to our first responders and Department of Public Works employees. We are providing acknowledgements to all Town staff throughout the month of June. This work is all funded privately.
      • We are in the final interview stage for the Recreation Director position and will work with the President to ensure the appointment can be reviewed by the Town Council in a timely manner.
    • Community Services:
      • Recreation:
        • Mill River pool opened on June 19th.
        • Community pool will open on June 26th.
        • Camps are staffed and accepting applications.
  • Cherry Hill is experiencing some staff shortages, but the course looks good and has been very popular.
    • Health: The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) announced the 2021 Commonwealth Heroine Award honorees. The annual awards recognize women across the Commonwealth for their extraordinary contributions to their local communities in public or community service. Amherst Public Health Director Emma Dragon was among this year’s awardees, nominated by State Representatives Mindy Domb and Daniel Carey.
    • The Health Director continues to make connections with other Health Departments in nearby communities developing a needed regional approach to serving the public health needs of Hampshire County. They are seeking funding to create a more robust public health response for the future.
    • Senior Center: The Senior Center has reopened for appointment events such as exercise classes.
    • Unhoused Population:
      • Craig’s Doors has received the United Way’s 2021 Kay Sheehan Spirit of the Community Award!
      • The new Homelessness and Rehousing Task Force has begun meeting. The work is being coordinated by the Director of Senior Services.
    • Economic Development:
      • Concerts on the Common: The Business Improvement District has received approval from the Town to hold four concerts on the Town Common. They have been licensed to serve beer and wine during the concerts.
      • Civic-Moxie: The Town and the Amherst Business Improvement District are participating in the Massachusetts Local Rapid Recovery Program to help communities develop plans for downtowns and commercial districts. Our consultant team, CivicMoxie, has prepared a diagnostics/ data summary to share which will start a discussion about possible projects to explore as part of this recovery plan. Local businesses participated in a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, June 22nd from 12:00 – 1:30pm to hear a brief summary about the state of businesses in Town and discuss what possible projects would support the success of local businesses.
      • BID Director: Congratulations to Business Improvement District director for being named by the Governor to the Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council. Ms. Gould will be the Western Massachusetts representative on the 7- person committee. The EACC is an important committee and having a local resident selected to serve is very significant. The EACC administers the economic development incentive program, reviews and decides on applications from municipalities for the designation of areas as economic target areas and economic opportunity areas and to make such designations; certifies projects for participation in the economic development incentive program; and certifies and approves tax increment financing agreements and special tax assessments.
      • The Business Improvement District Block Party is now being planned for September 9th. Note the change of date.
    • Conservation and Development:
  • Planning: Here is the Planning Website on the zoning amendments currently being considered: https://www.amherstma.gov/3603/2021-Zoning-Amendments
    • Information Technology (I.T.):
      • The I.T. Department continues to work on technology and procedures for conducting in- person, fully remote, and hybrid meetings. Hybrid (Zoom and in-person) can only be held in the Town Room due to the required equipment. Additional staff will be needed to support the operation of these meetings.

Delegated Authority (May 2021):

  • Short-Term Event Uses of Town Commons:
    • Use of East Street Common for the Mobile Market. This request will come to the Town Council next week.
    • The Rotary is scheduled to bring the Community Fair to Town at the end of August or early September.
    • Short-Term Parking Requests: None
    • Short-Term Road or Sidewalk Closures:
      • Use of the public way on East Hadley Road for the Mobile Market. This request will come to the Town Council next week.
Major Capital Projects:
  • DPW Building/Fire Building: The Request for Proposals for a site for a new Department of Public Works building are being reviewed.
    • Schools:
      • The Town has contracted with Anser Advisory to serve as the Owner’s Project Manager. This designation was approved by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).
      • Working with Anser, the Town submitted a Request for Services for design work for the new building(s). The MSBA will now review this RFS and review it at an upcoming meeting.
      • The thirteen-member Building Committee collaborated with Anser to draft a request for services for a design team to work with the Town during the Feasibility Phase of the project. Pending MSBA review of the draft and timing for advertising and selection of the design firm, the expectation is for design work to commence in October once all approvals are received from the MSBA.
      • Amherst was invited to the Feasibility Phase by MSBA with a choice of one of two potential study projects. One would move the Amherst 6th Grade to the Regional Middle School and consolidate Wildwood and Fort River Elementary Schools into a single school with kindergarten-5th grade housing approximately 575 students. The other would be a elmensingle kindergarten-6th grade school with 320 students renovating or replacing one school and retaining the other.
  • In the presentation to the MSBA panel on June 7th for approval of the project manager, Wood provided a possible one-year project design timeline for the project that would result in a vote by Amherst residents at the November, 2022 election. A debt exclusion override vote by residents will be required to fund the Town’s share of the school project costs.
    • Key milestones and decisions during the pre-construction/funding phase include:
      • Decision about 6th Grade. The School Committee plans a series of public forums and meetings with the community, including teachers, staff, and families to decide whether to move the 6th grade to the Middle School. As discussed by the School Committee, this move would resolve current pressing space challenges in our elementary schools as well as provide educational gains for students. The target is for the School Committees to make this decision in the Fall of 2021.
      • Grade Configuration and School Size: The MSBA has provide Amherst with two choices of grade configuration: a consolidated school grades K-5 or a school grade K-6. The decision on 6th Grade and middle school will guide this decision.
      • Location decision: The design team, working with the Town, will assess locations within the Town to inform a decision about the location of the building project, as determined by the grade configuration decided by the School Committee.
      • Schematic design: The schematic design phase will focus on the design of the new or renovated school building. The design will include a requirement that the building meet the Town’s net-zero energy bylaw. The school design will be also be guided by Amherst educational program including providing space for Amherst’s bilingual program known as Caminantes. The design request for designer serves specified the preference for daylight-filled classrooms, a warm- child centered layout, flexible space for potential community and performance events, and outdoor spaces for creative plan and environmental learning.
  • A new web site for the Elementary School Building project will provide timelines, documents, and pictures to enable the public to find information and alerts.
    • Library:
      • Town Council approved the borrowing and CPA funds on April 5th.
      • A Voter Veto petition was initiated but failed to produce enough signatures.
      • The petitioners brought a complaint to the Superior Court requesting (i) additional time to submit signatures, (ii) a reduction in the number of signatures needed, and (iii) permission to submit signatures electronically. The hearing on this case was held on Wednesday, April 28th.
      • The Judge in the case denied the request by the plaintiffs.
      • I submitted all signed documents to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners prior to the required April 30th deadline to receive funds this year.
      • The plaintiffs submitted a document to the Court stating that, “Pursuant to Mass. R. Civ. P. a1(a)(1)(i), the Plaintiffs hereby dismiss the above-captioned action without prejudice” thus dismissing the case against the Town.
  • We will be creating a Building Committee to oversee the project.
    • A new complaint was filed titled: Terry Y. Allen, et al. v. Board of Registrars of the Town of Amherst. The Town responded to this complaint within the designated timeframe.
Project Update:
  • Kendrick Park Playground: Work continues but supply chain problems continue to delay completion. Our best estimate now is the end of July.
    • Dog Park: Our contractor is wrapping up another project in the area and then will be moving crews to this project. The first order of business is to complete screening of 6000cy of fill and transport it to the site. The project is very straightforward with grading, water lines, fencing, walkways and parking. Once the contractor is on site, things will move quickly.
    • Performing Arts Shell on the Town Common: No developments.
    • North Common Restoration/Main Street Parking Lot:
      • The Council held a public hearing on the proposed parking changes on May 24th.
      • Work will begin on the schematic drawings.
      • Congressman McGovern has listed additional work on the roadways surrounding the Town Common for funding as stated above.
      • Town staff continue to seek out additional sources of funds to substitute or supplement the Town’s current funding plan.
    • Hickory Ridge: A Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement is being negotiated with the property owner for the solar that is proposed for the site. The solar project and its final approval by the State is the major issue still in play for this project.
    • North Amherst Library:
      • We are reviewing price estimates for the project.
      • We will be holding a public meeting to review the latest documents in the first part of July.
  • The project page is now up and available for public comment. It can be found here: https://engageamherst.org/north-amherst-library-project
    • Pomeroy Village MassWorks Grant: The Town Council approved the development of plans for a roundabout at this intersection. Town staff are working on drawings and will return to the Town Council in the near future with plans that are 25% complete.
    • Solar on the Landfill:
      • In the coming weeks, crews will be working on the Northern Landfill to mow, set the access road, and set preliminary sediment control.
      • The “real” construction work is scheduled for August, along with the fence around the Southern Landfill.
      • A conservation restriction will be presented to the Town Council in the near future.
    • Belchertown Road/East Street School: Town staff are preparing an RFP that will be issued by the end of June. We anticipate a fair amount of interest from non-profits in this opportunity to create additional affordable housing in Town.
    • Downtown Improvements:
      • Pleasant Walkway: The Pleasant Walkway that connects North Pleasant Street with the Bangs Parking Lot is nearing completion. The work will eliminate the broken concrete and make the area fully accessible. This was initiated by the Council on Aging and funding by a grant secured by the Planning Department.
      • Bangs Center Ramp: A new, grant-funded ADA ramp at the Bangs Community Center will be installed in the coming weeks. The ramp is located south of the Bangs Community Center and north of Johnny’s. It will provide access from the upper Boltwood parking lot to the Musante Health Center, Clark House, and the courtyard.
      • Crosswalks and Pleasant Walk: Work to rebuild three existing crosswalks on North Pleasant Street has begun. These projects are funded by a grant obtained by our grant- writers combined with some capital funds allocated for sidewalk improvements.
      • Street Furniture on Boltwood Plaza: The Town has secured a grant to purchase and install new street furniture (tables, chair, benches) on Boltwood Plaza. We hope this furniture will help activate the valuable resource in the downtown area.
Upcoming Meetings and Events:
  • July12th – Town Council meeting
  • August 2nd – Town Council meeting
  • August 23rd – Town Council meeting
  • July 5th – Independence Day
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