Town Manager Nominates Eight For Appointments To Town Committees

Town Manager Paul Bockelman has announced his nominations of eight people to be appointed to the following committees: Conservation Commission, Elementary School Building Committee, Energy and Climate Action Committee,  Jones Library Building Committee, Public Shade Tree Committee, and Transportation Advisory Committee

The nominations were endorsed unanimously by the Town Services and Outreach Committee at their meeting on February 17 and will now be forwarded to the full Town Council for approval.  The individuals nominated were as follows.

Conservation Commission
Nominated for a three year term (expiring June 30, 2024): Andrey Guidera of Bay Road

The charge for the Conservation Commission can be found here.

The Town Manager provided the following biographical profile for the nominee.

Andrey Guidera has devoted his professional career to conservation efforts in many capacities including as a National Park Ranger and with the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service as a Wildlife Inspector and then Special Agent. He worked in the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru and was responsible for all of Latin America for the  U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. Guidera is committed to the environment and is a frequent user of the Town’s forest lands as a hiker, cross country skier, hunter, and trail runner. He has worked with the Conservation Commission and is familiar with their role and responsibilities. 

Elementary School Building Committee
Nominated for a term that will last the length of the MSBA process: Angelica Bernal, of Hickory Lane

The charge of the Elementary School Building Committee can be found here.

The Town Manager provided the following biographical profile for the nominee.

Angelica Bernal is the parent of two elementary school children, one in the Caminantes Program at Fort River Elementary School and one who attends the Intensive Learning Center program for special needs students at Wildwood Elementary School. Ms. Bernal serves as the Vice President of the Special Education Parents Advisory Council. Ms. Bernal is an Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts in the Political Science Department and has worked extensively professionally on issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. She came to the United States as a political refugee. Her family is multiracial (Latinx and Asian) and multilingual (Spanish, French, English). Her experience in the schools has been that good educational work can be compromised by poor design that inhibits access to educational programs. She sees this building as an important opportunity to address past and continuing challenges facing our students. 

Energy and Climate Action Committee
Nominated for a three year term (expiring June 30, 2024): Stella Dee of Eames Avenue
Nominated for a two year term (expiring June 30, 2023):  Lori Goldner of Aubinwood Road

The charge of the Energy and Climate Action Committee can be found here.

The Town Manager provided the following biographical profiles for the nominees.

Stella Dee:  is an arborist who has worked in commercial arboriculture and has two decades of experience studying plants. She is currently a PhD student in arboriculture at the University, interested in the physiological and mechanical effects of pruning residential and urban shade trees.  Dee is passionate about helping people live as a constructive part of their local ecosystem. As the mother of a toddler, she brings intense interest in the use of energy and the future of the planet. She notes that she would bring a fresh and unduplicated perspective to the Committee that would expand the vision for energy savings.

Lori Goldner: is a physics professor at the University and a self-described activist for climate and social justice. She has extensive experience in statistical measurements working at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which will aid as the Town seeks to measure its progress in addressing its carbon output. She is an  experienced and successful grant writer who can contribute to seeking funds for climate work in the Town. Her key interest is how to develop “ground-up buy-in” for any social change.

Jones Library Building Committee
Nominated for a term that will last the length of the building process: Alex Lopez of Potwine Lane.

The charge of the Jones Library Building Committee can be found here.

The Town Manager provided the following biographical profile for the nominee.

Alex Lopez came to the Town with his family because of the diversity in the community and the strong school system in which to educate his children. He believes the Town should center its priorities on the needs of the community. He would like to work with the committee to make stronger connections with the community, utilizing his experience as a union organizer.

Public Shade Tree Committee
Nominated for reappointment for three year terms (expiring June 30, 2024):

Shoshana King of Rolling Green Drive and
Henry Lappen of Pulpit Hill Road 

The charge of the Public Shade Tree Committee can be found here.

The Town Manager provided the following biographical profiles for the nominees.

Shoshona King is a life-long independent artist & activist, having spent the last decade focusing on costume design & visuals in local festivals. She has been a member of the Public Shade Tree Committee since 2019. She participates regularly in plantings sponsored by the Public Shade Tree Committee.

Henry Lappen is an environmental educator who performs a show called “A Passion for Birds”. He is an occasional columnist for the Daily Hampshire Gazette and Amherst Bulletin and has appeared on cable television here:. Henry has been a member of the Committee since 2011 and has served as chair for most of that time. Rather than leaving this seat vacant due to lack of applicants, I am reappointing  Lappen to another term. 

Transportation Advisory Committee
Nominated for two year terms (expiring June 30, 2023):
Stefan Cejic of Greenwich Road and
Christine Lindstrom of Butterfield Terrace

The charge of the Transportation Advisory Committee can be viewed here.

The Town Manager provided the following biographical profiles for the nominees.

Stefan Cejic grew up in Amherst and has extensive experience driving, walking, biking, and using the PVTA bus system in Amherst and surrounding communities. He attended the University and is currently obtaining his Master’s Degree in Public Policy there. While at the University, Mr. Cejic worked as a driver for the PVTA bus system, including four years as a driver supervisor. He has worked at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in Boston as part of its technology modernization project. He speaks multiple languages including English, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, and Spanish. 

Christine Lindstrom is an advocate for alternative modes of transportation such as bus riding, ride shares, biking, and walking. She is a former environmental activist working to curb global warming pollution. As the mother of a child attending the elementary schools, Lindstrom is keenly aware of the challenges of walking and seeks to create better pedestrian access to the downtown and village centers.