Town Manager Report For June 5, 2023
Photo:amherstma.gov
Source: amherstma.gov
Editor’s note: Town Manager Paul Bockelman submits a comprehensive report to the Town Council at the first Town Council meeting of each month. The reports, usually 9 to 15 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 Bockelman 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 here on the Town’s website
TOWN MANAGER ·
Outreach:
Cuppa Joe with Paul: The next Cuppa Joe with Paul will be on Friday, June 9th from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. on the Town Common. If the weather is bad, we will move inside to the Town Room in Town Hall. Join me and my guests Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Director Pamela Nolan Young and Assistant Director Jennifer Moyston for an informal conversation around the initiatives of the Office of DEI or anything else you want to bring up, other than the Boston Celtics. Bring your questions, concerns, or ideas. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. https://www.amherstma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3358
· Board/Committee Vacancies: We are recruiting for vacancies that come due on July 1st AND for existing vacancies. A list of all vacancies on Town boards and committees can be found here: Board – Committee Vacancy List. Residents may apply to serve on a vacancy by filling out a Community Activity Form here: Community Activity Form
· Stay Connected! Stay in the know on all thing’s town related, news, calendars, alerts, jobs and more all at www.amherstma.gov/stayconnected
· In the News: Brianna Sunryd was featured in the University’s online magazine here: https://www.umass.edu/magazine/extra-credit/amherst-mass-where-only-h-silent
· Appointments:
▪ Digital Government Summit Advisory Board: The Town’s Director of Communications & Civic Innovation was appointed to the Massachusetts Digital Government Summit Advisory Board. The Digital Government Summit brings together leading technology focused public-sector professionals in the Commonwealth with industry partners to connect on innovative initiatives.
▪ ICMA Digital Strategies Conference: The Director of Communications & Civic Innovation has been selected to co-chair the Planning Committee for the
conference on September 21st, 2024 and will also represent Massachusetts as its state delegate.
Town Hall: A complete reconstruction of the front steps of Town Hall is set to begin shortly. This will require that the front entrance to the building be closed. The public may continue to enter and exit the building by utilizing the ADA accessible Main Street entrance.
· LGBTQ+ Pride Month: The Town Council worked with the Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) from the Amherst Regional School District to raise the Pride Progress flag which will fly during the month of June.
· Higher Education:
· Hampshire College: Hampshire College held its commencement on May 20th.
· University of Massachusetts: The University held its commencement on May 26th. Amherst College: Amherst College held its commencement on May 28th.
COVID-19
· On May 11th, the Town discontinued the formal emergency COVID-19 requirements in Town buildings and property instituted in 2020 to protect community members from the COVID-19 virus. This date is in alignment with federal and Massachusetts’s guidance and signifies the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. These mitigation requirements were instituted during the pandemic phase when the goal was to interrupt transmission on a population level, and to prevent a potential collapse of healthcare systems. We are now past this point and the risk of infection and illness is low, however any changes or rollbacks do not signify the end of the COVID-19 virus circulating and causing disease.
· As of May 11th:
· Room occupancy returned to previous capacity in Town buildings;
· The COVID Standard Operating Procedures were revised. Town employees no longer need to report COVID illnesses to the Public Health Department for case management;
· The Town will continue to follow infectious disease guidance. There is no change in the 5-day isolation period and subsequent mask wearing requirements. DPH Isolation Guidance.
· I anticipate this will be the last update on the pandemic.
DEPARTMENT UPDATES Public Safety
o Police Department:
▪ Police Chief: Police Chief Scott Livingstone completed 46 years of service to the Town on May 27th. The Chief’s long and illustrious career is marked by his professionalism, compassion, and commitment to making the Town a safe place for all residents and visitors.
· Over 100 people gathered to celebrate the Chief on his retirement including his wife and daughters. I moderated the event with the following speakers:
o U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern, o State Representative Mindy Domb,
o District Attorney Dave Sullivan,
o Council President Lynn Griesemer,
o Former Select Board Chair Stephanie O’Keeffe, and o Fire Chief Tim Nelson.
· The Chief started his career with the Town as a Community Service Officer in 1977. In quick succession, he was promoted to a Special Police Officer Trainee in 1979, a Patrol officer in 1981, a Sergeant in 1988, a Lieutenant in 2000, a Captain in 2008, and was appointed to be Police Chief by the Town Manager in 2009.
· Chief Livingstone is a graduate of the FBI National Academy Class #236 in 2009, a Member of the Western Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association since 2009, was named “Police Executive of the Year” by Western Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association in 2019, has been one of 11 members on the Massachusetts Police Training Council since 2013, and has been President of the Amherst Police Relief Association since 2009.
· I have appointed Captain Gabriel Ting to serve as the Temporary Police Chief in accordance with the Town Charter. Captain Ting will serve in this capacity until a new Police Chief begins their duties.
· We will conduct a search for a new Police Chief in accordance with the Town Charter. I anticipate this process, which will include community involvement, will conclude by the end of the summer.
Community Safety Day: The Senior Center is organizing the second annual Community Safety Day on Saturday, June 24th from 10am – 2pm at the Mill River Recreation Area. Police, Fire, CRESS along with other agencies will demonstrate ways the community can make themselves safer. It was a great success last year and was fun for children, seniors, and everyone in-between.
▪ New Officers: Three new officers are working through their 14 weeks of field training. Four other officers graduated from the Police Academy on April 14th. They have now begun their 14 weeks of field training.
▪ Conflagration I: Two police
officers were first on scene at a major fire on Meadow Street. They assisted the farmer move his cows out of the barn to safety and helped the 93-year-old wheelchair bound resident get out of the house. More below.
o Fire Department:
▪ Conflagration II: A lightning strike at around 4:30 p.m. on Friday started a fire that consumed several out buildings and did severe damage to the family home. J & J Farms is the last remaining dairy farm in the Town of Amherst and it is a great loss to the family and to the community. In addition to a full recall for all Town firefighters, five other fire departments responded ((Northampton, Hadley, Belchertown, Leverett, and Pelham). It was a situation that had multiple fires with very intense heat. Much credit to the hard, dangerous work of our firefighters and to the organization and leadership of our Chief and Assistant Chief. There were no injuries and no animals were lost. Are dairy farmers responded quickly to remove the cows to safety and care.
▪ Awards: Congratulations to several of our public safety officers who received the Hampshire County EMS Public Safety Award. Fire, Police, and citizens were recognized for responding to emergencies which included, quite literally, saving lives.
▪ General & Flag Officers Seminar: The Fire Chief was selected to attend the seminar held at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. The training focuses on executive level, strategic leadership during crisis. The class was a diverse makeup of 1 and 2 star generals (Air Force & Army), a Coast Guard Rear Admiral, Senior leaders from the United States Secret Service, FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. There were two other Fire Chiefs in attendance as well, representing Foxboro and Hyannis.
▪ Fire Chief Nelson: Fire Chief Tim Nelson announced his intention to retire from the Town at the end of May, 2024. I will work with Chief Nelson to ensure a solid transition.
o Community Responders Department:
▪ Government Performance Lab: Staff from the Community Responder Department, Police Department, and I participated in an interview with the Government Performance Lab at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. We are being reviewed for possible inclusion in the next cohort of communities developing similar programs. https://govlab.hks.harvard.edu/alternative-911-emergency-response
▪ International Town Gown Association: Staff from the Community Responders Department, Fire Department, and Police Department have been asked to serve on a panel describing the Town’s efforts in session entitled: “Institutionalizing Kindness: Community Responders for Equity Safety, and Service – a new public safety department in the Town of Amherst.
▪ A National Dialogue: Staff from the Community Responders Department were asked to be part of a larger dialogue with Federal officials in Washington, D.C. at an event titled: “Future of Alternative Response: Building Sustainable and Scalable Programs”. This event is co-hosted by the Center for Innovations in Community Safety with Policing Project at the New York University School of Law and was held at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. The national convening brings together alternative first responder practitioners, community members, researchers, experts, and other stakeholders to learn, share information, problem-solve, and innovate. Although the Amherst community responder program is the smallest fully-operational departments in the country, our staff were invited to “sit at the table” with other programs and policy-makers.
▪ Summer: The Department continues to develop its protocols, policies, and to respond to certain requests. We are still learning from interactions that the responders encounter and being asked to serve new needs in Town. The protocols for 911 calls are being reviewed and discussed with union representatives. Community Responders will be dedicating some of their time this summer to building additional skills through annual training and professional development.
· Administration and Finance o Finance:
▪ Community Fellow:
· The Town has been selected to be a host community as part of the State’s inaugural Local Finance Commonwealth Fellowship Program. 27 Fellows are participating in the Commonwealth. The program is being paid for by the Department of Revenue Division of Local Services (DLS). The Finance Director will serve as the Fellow’s mentor.
· During June, the Fellows will undertake an immersive municipal finance training program at the State, with subjects taught by experts in the field from DLS, municipalities, and professional associations.
· In July and August, the Town will host its designated Fellow, Ray Than who is a Town resident and graduate of the Amherst Public School system. We will provide critical hands-on experience demonstrating the practical application of core municipal finance concepts. Host communities are expected to provide an enriching learning environment that provides exposure to all the community’s finance offices and operations as available, thereby exhibiting how each work as part of the core financial management team.
· The goal of this program is to develop additional capacity for municipal finance offices.
o Human Resources:
▪ Non-Union Employees: The non-union classification and compensation study is in with an analysis of all position descriptions by the consultant. Every employee has completed a Job Analysis Questionnaire. The consultant is now interviewing employees in each classification group. After reviewing the written information and interviewing employees, the consultant will evaluate how jobs compare with one another from an internal equity standpoint as well as salaries being paid by other “like “ communities established through the firm’s broad-based cohort group methodology. We anticipate the study will be completed by the end of the summer.
▪ Police Chief Search: The Human Resources Director and have been working on the search for a new Police Chief to replace retiring chief Livingstone. We will soon be engaging with a search firm to assist with outreach and listening to members of the community, including members of the Town Council. I anticipate this will be done during the second part of June which will generate a profile of the characteristics the Town would like to see in a new Police Chief. As required by the Town Charter, I will
▪ Staff: Recent staff turnover in the Human Resources office has presented a challenge to the Department completing its tasks. Other departments and additional support have been secured to ensure no major issues are delayed.
o DEI Department:
▪ Reparations: The African Heritage Reparation Assembly online survey has closed. The Assembly is working with the Donahue Institute at UMASS and local author/editor Mattea Kramer to complete its final report.
▪ DAAC: The Disability Access Advisory Committee had welcomed two new members, Ian Rhodewalt and Cody Rooney.
▪ Affordable Housing: The Community Safety and Social Justice Committee, the Human Rights Commission, the Board of Health and the Affordable Housing Trust are co-sponsoring a listening session on the topic of affordable housing on Tuesday, June 20th from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Bangs Community Center.
Workshop: Jana McClure, a Truth School trainer and Amherst resident, facilitated two workshops on “Being an Ally not a Savior “one for staff and the other for members of the community. We received positive feedback on both workshops with participants commenting on how much they enjoyed the presentation style and the opportunity to discuss the topic in a safe environment.
▪ Resident Oversight Board: The RFP process for the Resident Oversight Board has been completed and the selection of the consultant is taking place. We have set aside funding. The consultant will support the creation of this new body.
▪ Community Visioning: The Director has had several discussions with Dr. Love to develop the parameters of an engagement contract for community visioning. The Town is now in the process of complying with procurement laws.
▪ Events: The office is hosting two big events in June.
· Youth Hero Awards: On June 11th the Human Rights Commission will award its’ Youth Hero Awards. The event takes place on Sunday, June 11, 2023 at Mill River Recreation Area . The event is sponsored by The
Human Rights Commission; the Office Of Diversity Equity, and Inclusion; the Recreation Department; and the Community Responders Department and is being put on in collaboration with the Citizens for Race Amity Now!; and the Julius Ford Harriet Tubman Healthy Living Community. The festivities begin at 10:00 a.m. and includes a basketball tournament, lunch, the reading of the Amity Day Proclamation, and the Youth Hero Awards.
· Juneteenth:
oOn June 17th, Ancestral Bridges will be sponsoring the 3rd annual Juneteenth Legacy Celebration. Events will begin at the West Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. and then process to the Emily Dickinson Museum at 11:30 a.m., the Town Common at 1:00 p.m., and Hope Church at 3:00 p.m.
· On June 19, 2023 the Town’s Juneteenth Jubilee will celebrate Juneteenth on the Town Common with live
music and dance performances, food trucks, and arts and craft vendors. More information can be found here: https://www.amherstma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3354
Community Services o Public Health:
▪ COVID-19 Bivalent Booster:
· The Public Health Department will continue holding COVID vaccination clinics on the first Wednesday of the month, 3:00 – 5:00. The next is May 3rd, in the Bangs Community Center Room 101.
· The Town will continue to partner with our community partners to provide immunizations to harder to reach populations. Remember that other providers are offering the bivalent booster, such as the University, the Northampton Health Department, and our partnering pharmacies. There is no shortage of bivalent vaccine. Follow the link here to sign up.
o Senior Center:
Community Safety Day:
· The Senior Center is sponsoring the second annual Community Safety Day as a way to promote public safety and connect individuals with their local first responders. This is especially important for older adults because they represent about a third of Amherst’s 9-1-1 calls. The event brings together the Fire Department, Police Department, Community Responders, Sheriff’s Department., and Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
▪ Community Safety Day is on Saturday, June 24th from 10am-2pm at the Mill River Recreation Area. Featured activities include a touch-a-truck, jaws of life presentation, k9 demonstration, car seat inspections, information booths, face painting, a live DJ and La Mesa food truck
Rainbow Coffee Hour: The Senior Center is sponsoring a monthly gathering of members of the LGBTQI+ communities for a social hour with “No agenda; No format; Just community.” The first coffee hour will be on June 6th at 10:00 a.m. in the Bangs Community Center.
▪Gen Silent Movie Screening : The Senior Center is sponsoring Gen Silent Movie Screening + Conversation on June 22nd , doors open at 5:30pm, film starts at 6p.m. This critically acclaimed documentary movie by Stu Maddux follows the lives of six LGBTQIA+ seniors living in the Boston area as they navigate their identities, aging, and changing norms. This film highlights both the discrimination and liberation of aging LGBTQIA+ adults. Facilitated discussion will follow the screening of this deeply moving film. Local resources for older LGBTQIA+ members will also be available after the screening.
▪ CR Café: The Senior Center is continuing its weekly CR Café, which stands for “Can’t Remember” café! Every Wednesday from 10am – 12noon, Town residentsare invited to the Senior Center to enjoy company, entertainment, and some good treats!
o Recreation:
▪ Pickleball: Many thanks to the Department of Public Works which painted lines on tennis courts at Mill River Recreational Area for people who would like to play pickleball. The Town is developing plans to construct permanent pickleball courts at Kiwanis Park in East Amherst.
▪ Spray Park: The Groff Park Spray Park opened on May 27th. Staff are still working on issues with the filtering system, and we have already experienced some downtime.
▪ Pools: Mill River and Community swimming pools are scheduled to open on June 17th. Learn more at www.amherstmarec.org/pools
▪ Independence Day Celebration: The Town’s annual fireworks display is scheduled for Saturday, July 1st with festivities kicking off at 5:00 p.m. and fireworks beginning at dusk – around 9:00 p.m. at the usual location on the campus of the University. More information can be found
here: https://www.amherstma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3339
· Volunteers are needed to assist with the annual fireworks celebration. Roles range from set-up, general help, activities assistant, clean-up and more! Get a behind the scenes peek at the inner workings of the event. To sign-up or learn more, email Hayley Bolton at boltonh@amherstma.gov or by phone at (413) 259-3114
o Sheltering:
▪ Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness: I, along with other Town staff, attended the 7th Annual Regional Gathering of this group. Organized by the Network, the gathering included presentations by State legislators, providers, and advocates.
▪ Permanent Shelter Site: Site acquisition and control has been completed. The Town is now conducting a survey of the site and exploring development scenarios with potential local partners. We expect to move forward with building demolition in the summer of 2023 and the development of a preliminary concept design during the summer/fall of 2023. We have rough estimates of design at $1 million and project costs of $8-$10 million.
Conservation and Development o Sustainability:
▪Valley Green Energy: Amherst, Northampton, and Pelham have announced the formation of Valley Green Energy, a new electricity program that intends to bring cleaner electricity, stable electricity prices, and new electricity choices.
· The program is a municipal electricity aggregation, which is a type of group electricity purchasing program. Through Valley Green Energy, the communities will use their collective buying power to increase the amount of renewable electricity in the electricity supply for all three communities. The program will also provide new electricity choices for residents and businesses, giving electricity customers greater control over the price and environmental impact of
the electricity they use. While Valley Green Energy will not be able to guarantee lower prices compared with Eversource Basic Service prices, the communities are committed to working toward providing prices that are competitive and stable for the long term.
· Valley Green Energy will not replace each community’s electric utility. Instead, the program will be integrated into existing electric bills, and it will change the price used to calculate the Supply charge from the utility’s Basic Service price to a Valley Green Energy price. Eversource will continue delivering electricity to Amherst and Pelham and handling billing.
· Before launching the program, the communities must develop an Aggregation Plan and submit it to state regulators for review and approval. To ensure the public has an opportunity to be a part of developing this program, the draft Aggregation Plan for Valley Green Energy will be available for public review and comment from June 1 until June 30.
· An overview of the Plan will be presented at a virtual public information session on June 6th at 6:30 PM. The meeting can be accessed via Zoom. Information about participating can be found here: https://www.amherstma.gov/3735/Valley-Green-Energy
▪ Solar:
· The solar community outreach report from GZA is complete and has been provided to the Solar Bylaw Working Group and Energy and Climate Action Committee, as well as Department Heads.
· The solar feasibility mapping tool is nearly complete and anticipated to be available soon.
▪ ValleyBike: The ValleyBike network communities have decided not to deploy bikes this season and are concentrating efforts on developing an RFP to identify a new vendor/operator for the system.
▪ Fellows: The Town’s Fellows from the University of New Hampshire’s Sustainability Institute will begin their work on Monday, June 5th. Stephanie Ciccarello and Jeremiah LaPlante recently attended the program’s Fellows Orientation via Zoom.
▪ Dashboard: The Sustainability Director and Director of Civic Engagement and Innovation met with KLA Associates to discuss development of a Community Dashboard that will prominently feature sustainability and climate change related initiatives. This project is being funded with ARPA Funds.
▪ Community Garden: The Fort River Community Garden is currently accepting applications for garden plots this season.
· This garden has raised beds for beginning gardeners and 10×10 ft in-ground plots for others who want to work in the land. It offers all sorts of help – free compost, water onsite, free seedlings, education (if needed), family activities, and a lot of investment to help build community across differences.
· There is also periodic help with weeding and maintenance, if anyone falls behind or needs help. It’s a well-resourced garden where gardeners can take leadership. Preference is given to people who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person or Color, or who are without space to garden and are low-income or have a disability.
· It’s a friendly, diverse community with lots of support for new gardeners! Also it’s on the bus line and close to Fort River Elementary. See the flyer below in English, Spanish and Chinese, and here is the direct link to fill out an application: www.amherstma.gov/625/Community-Gardens
]· The garden is a partnership of Healthy Hampshire, a program of the Collaborative for Educational Services, a Northampton-based non-profit, and the Town of Amherst and is made possible by the generous support of United Way of the Franklin and Hampshire Region.
o Economic Development:
▪ The Drake: The Downtown Amherst Foundation’s new performance venue, The Drake, celebrated its first anniversary as an important Town destination. Hundreds of shows have been held resulting in additional business for restaurants and drinking establishments before and after the shows. Congratulations to the Business Improvement District (BID) and Downtown Amherst Foundation for seeing the need for a performance venue and filling it!
▪ Sculpture: The Town was awarded a $10,000 grant for the ‘Making it Public’ program that will create an art installation at Kendrick Park.
· The Public Art Commission, in partnership with the BID, will be sponsoring a $10,000 grant for one public art commission as part of the “Making it Public” project.
· An Art Jury will consist of 2 Public Art Commission members, 1 representative from the Amherst Cultural District, 1 representative from the BID, 2 members of the public, and Town Staff, including representation from the Planning Department, Department of Public Works, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Facilities Department, with additional representation from the Amherst Disability Access Advisory Committee and the Amherst Design Review Board.
· The selected artist will be notified by June 20th, 2023 and must have a final design prepared for August 1st. The final installation is aimed to be doneby November 2023 with a public unveiling and community celebration.
▪ Block Party: The BID Block Party is being planned for September 21st. There will be added features including a second stage for entertainment in the KendrickPark area and collaboration with the Cultural Council to add even more attractions.
▪ Outdoor Dining: The Department of Public Works, working with the BID and Inspection Services, have returned the four outdoor dining stations to the same locations as last year. These beautifully built dining parklets have been very popular with diners.
▪ Summer Concerts: The BID has announced two concert series this summer, one on the Town Common and one on Sweetser Park. See the accompanying flyer:
o Housing:
▪ 132 Northampton Road:
· East Gables, the new development at 132 Northampton Road, is accepting applications for this newly constructed development consisting of 28 studio apartment homes. East Gables homes include off street parking, connecting walkways, covered bike storage area, and on-site laundry.
▪ Ball Lane:
· Planning and outreach continue for the development of 30 affordable home ownership opportunities on approximately 8.3 acres Montague Road at Ball Lane. The proposal includes 15 duplexes with concentrated parking on the edges of the development.
· Valley CDC has started the application process for a 40B Comprehensive Permit to construct the project. Currently, the application is in the Project Eligibility phase with the submittal of information to MassHousing. MassHousing’s review involves an evaluation of the site, the design concept, the financial feasibility of the proposal, and the appropriateness of the proposal in relation to local housing needs and strategies.
· The Town submitted comments on the project to MassHousing in a Project Eligibility letter. All individual comments were enclosed with this letter.
· Valley CDC anticipates applying for a Comprehensive Permit from the Town in the summer. Comprehensive Permits require expert legal assistance and place a high demand on staff.
▪ East Street/Belchertown Road:
· The Town is working with the chosen developer on a land development agreement. The work on the development is moving forward nicely. With the due diligence work and designs well underway, we anticipate submitting the Project Eligibility Letter application to DHCD this spring to move the 40B process forward.
· Public Works
o Thank you: Recently, I was able to highlight the work our crews performed on a Saturday night/Sunday morning – and Sunday was Mother’s Day, at that. It was impressive to watch you work and figure out how to make short-term and longer-term fixes. This is but one example of the wonderful work our Town of Amherst team provides to the Town’s residents every day.
Roads:
▪ Kellogg Avenue:
· Taylor Davis Construction continues work on the sidewalk and road reconstruction on Kellogg Ave and a small part of Boltwood Walk.
· This is a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded project to improve the sidewalks and accessibility in this area.
▪ North Pleasant Street: Taylor Davis Construction will begin the removal and replacement of the sidewalk on the west side of North Pleasant Street, near the intersection of Pine and Meadow Streets, on Monday, June 5th.
▪ Northampton Road: Caracas Construction continues construction. This project is part of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation roadway reconstruction project that extends between University Drive and South Pleasant Street.
▪ Pomeroy Lane: Pomeroy Lane and West Pomeroy Lane has been started. Warner Brothers LLC and SUR Construction will begin raising manholes and catch basins
▪ General Conditions: The condition of roads is a concern throughout the Town. The challenge we have is – quite simply – that there is more need than there is funding. The Town and Town Council continue to work to correct that by adding more and more funds to fix roads. We have increased that funding markedly over the years. Unfortunately, the cost of repair roads – like most things – has skyrocketed.
o Roadside Mowing: Roadside mowing in the Town will be delayed this year. Our roadside mower was involved in an accident recently, and is out of service. Unfortunately, the Public Works employee that operated the mower was injured during the accident as well, but is expected to make a full recovery. At this time, we have no confirmed date for repair of the mower.
o Water Flushing: The Water Division began its annual systematic water main flushing programs to clean the distribution system on May 15th.
▪ Water Division personnel have been flushing daily from 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM until finished, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for four consecutive weeks, or until finished.
▪ The flushing began on all streets in Pelham, the northern portion of Echo Hill, Allen Mill Road, Jenks Street, Ward Street, Thayer Street, South East Street near the Fort River School, Main Street and all streets northerly of College Street and bordered by Strong Street. The center of Town, North and South Prospect Streets and all streets westerly of North Pleasant and South Pleasant Streets, including University Drive and all streets adjacent to the University of Massachusetts Campus will be done during this phase.
▪ The second section will be all streets northerly of Strong Street and the University of Massachusetts Campus including all apartment complexes, the Cushman area, East Pleasant Street, North Pleasant Street and North Amherst area.
▪ The third section will include all streets northerly of Shays Street to Northampton Road and College Street including South Pleasant Street, South East Street, Valley View, Mill Lane, Colonial Village, Belchertown Road, Stanley Street, Amherst Fields, the entire southern portion of Echo Hill and all apartment complexes.
▪ The fourth and final section will be in the South Amherst area and proceed northerly on all streets and will also include all apartment units involved in this area. It will include all streets southerly of the Crocker Farm School, Shays Street, the area bordering the South Amherst common, Station Road and also the water distribution system on Warren Wright Road, North Street and Route #9 in Belchertown
▪ Residents may experience water discoloration and low pressure during this period. Running your water will clear up any discoloration.
o Centennial Water Treatment Facility: The Board of Trustees for the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (Trust) voted to create a commitment for your community’s loan. The next step is the review and signing of a Project Regulatory Agreement; Financing Agreement; and Loan Closings for the interim loan (0% interest); and permanent loan (1.5%).
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· Short-Term Event Uses of Town Commons (Section 1a of the Town Council Policy): o ARPS hosts Multi-Lingual Heritage Celebration on the South Common with
performances, small vendors, and some food – April 29th – from 2:30pm – 5:30pm [relocated to the Fort River Elementary School due to weather concerns)]
o Daffodil Run by Big Brothers Big Sisters – April 30th – from 6:00 am – 2:30 pm o Garden Club of Amherst (South Common): May 19, 2023 from 7:00 am – 2:30pm
· Short-Term Parking Requests (Section 2a of the Town Council Policy):
o Sustainability Festival on April 22, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to use 15 spaces on southwest side of Boltwood Avenue and 8 spaces on the southeast side of South Pleasant Street
o White Lion Brewing on April 24, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. – 6 p.m. to use four parking spaces at 24 North Pleasant Street for equipment installation.
o Commemoration of Life Service on May 8, 2023 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm for parking spaces on Main Street adjacent to the Emily Dickinson Museum and Homestead
o Garden Club of Amherst on May 19, 2023 from 7:00 am – 2:30 pm for 12 parking spaces on Boltwood Avenue and four spaces in the Spring Street parking lot
· Short-Term Public Way Closures (Section 3b of the Town Council Policy):
o Amherst College Lyceum Construction: Daniel O’Connell and Sons Construction will be staging a boom lift on the sidewalk at 197 South Pleasant St through the Monday – Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the month of May. An attendant will be present to have the equipment moved should ADA access be required. Please reach out to the construction attendant on duty if you need access via the sidewalk and the equipment will be moved.
o Daffodil Run by Big Brothers Big Sisters – April 30th – North Pleasant Street, East Pleasant Street, Strong, North Whitney Main Streets (5K); North Pleasant, East Pleasant, Van Meter Drive, Ridgecrest Road, Harlow Drive, Strong Street, North Whitney Street, Harvard Avenue, Grove Street, Main Street (10K)
o May Day Celebration – Cushman Scott Children’s Center – May 6, 2023 – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon – Henry Street from Pine Street to Market Hill Road
o Memorial Day Parade -May 29, 2023 – 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Spring, South Pleasant, North Pleasant, East Pleasant, and Triangle Streets for Memorial Day Parade
o Western Mass 10 – Hartford Marathon Foundation – November 5, 2023 – 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. – Triangle Street to North Pleasant Street to College Street to College Street to Main Street to Dickinson Street to Norwottuck Rail Trail
· Placement of Road and Temporary Signs (Section 3d of the Town Council Policy):
o Placement of one sandwich-board-style sign advertising the Amherst Mobile Market (permanently from June 6th – September 30th) to operate the Amherst Mobile Market in the public way near the Valley Bike Station on East Hadley Road during the 2023 Mobile Market season.
o Installation of Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFB) at the following locations: ▪ Triangle Street at the intersection of Pray Street and Cottage Street;
▪ Triangle Street at Lessey Street;
▪ Amity Street at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue;
▪ East Pleasant Street at the intersection of Chestnut Street; ▪ East Pleasant Street at the intersection of Pray Street;
o Installation of a Reduced School Speed Limit Ahead for the School Zone on West Street near the Crocker Farm Elementary School.
MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS · Jones Library:
On Wednesday, May 3rd , Congressman James McGovern joined dozens of Jones Library supporters to celebrate the receipt of a $1 million challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Additional speakers included State Rep. Mindy Domb, Amherst Town Councilor Anika Lopes, Library Director Sharon Sharry, and Library Trustees President Austin Sarat.
o The largest of twenty-four NEH Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants given nationwide, the NEH grant will leverage funds to create a Humanities Center on the ground floor of the renovated and expanded Jones Library, including:
▪ Additional, fully climate-controlled collection space for the historical and literary materials housed in our world class Special Collections;
▪ ADA & public access to our Special Collections;
▪ New Special Collections Exhibit Gallery, a permanent home for Amherst’s Civil War Tablets; new space for our Burnett Art Gallery; and
▪ Additional, flexible program space for internal and community-based programming, including after-hours access.
o Up-to-the-minute updates can be found here: https://www.joneslibrary.org/buildingproject
· DPW Building/Fire Building:
o Staff continue to explore multiple options for a new site for the DPW. · Elementary School Building Committee:
o The Town voted overwhelmingly to support the elementary school building by approving a debt exclusion at a Town-wide vote on May 2nd.
o The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) voted unanimously to approve the Amherst Elementary School Building project and authorized its Executive Director to execute a Project Scope and Budget Agreement and Project Funding Agreement with the Town.
o The Board approved an Estimated Maximum Total Facilities Grant of $39,640,520, which does not include any funds for Potentially Eligible Owner’s or Construction Contingency Expenditures. In the event that the MSBA determines that any Owner’s and/or Construction Contingency Expenditures are eligible for reimbursement, the Maximum Total Facilities Grant for the Fort River Elementary School Project may increase to as much as $40,466,011.
o The proposed project would consolidate the student population of the existing Fort River Elementary School and the Wildwood Elementary School and construct a new facility serving grades K-5 on the site of the existing Fort River Elementary School. As a component of this proposed consolidation, the Amherst School Committee has voted and
PROJECTS UPDATE
· Pomeroy Village MassWorks Grant: Caracas Construction has restarted the construction of the roundabout with adjustments being made to abutting properties to accommodate the new roundabout.
· North Common Restoration/Main Street Parking Lot: The Town continues to work on the bid package for the North Common.
· North Amherst Library: Work continues. The Town Council appropriated funds that will permit the Town to address the parking area and other sidewalk and landscape issues associated with the area, including the demolition of the vacant gas station.
· Hickory Ridge:
o Solar: Work has begun on the installation of solar panels. The installation – which is a major reason the Town was able to purchase the property at a bargain sale price – will cover a significant portion of the site but will protect the river, and sensitive environmental areas.
o Clubhouse: The clubhouse is in bad condition. The Fire Department has been using the building for training exercises. For instance, in this photo, the on-duty crew is out training on vertical ventilation, an important tactic in fire suppression. Most skills that Firefighters are tasked with performing are perishable, having the opportunity to train on real construction allows them to sharpen their skills.
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS
ØJune 12th – Town Council Meeting ØJune 19th – Juneteenth Holiday ØJune 26th – Town Council Meeting ØJuly 4th – Independence Day Holiday ØJuly 17th – Town Council Meeting
ØAugust 7th – Town Council Meeting (if needed) ØAugust 21st – Town Council Meeting ØSeptember 4th – Labor Day Holiday ØSeptember 11th – Town Council Meeting ØSeptember 18th – Town Council Meeting ØOctober 2nd – Town Council Meeting ØOctober 9th – Indigenous Peoples Day ØOctober 16th – Town Council Meeting ØNovember 6th – Town Council Meeting ØNovember 7th – Election Day
ØNovember 20th – Town Council Meeting ØNovember 23-24 – Thanksgiving Holiday ØDecember 4th – Town Council Meeting ØDecember 18th – Town Council Meeting
ØDecember 22nd – Christmas Eve (half-day holiday observed) ØDecember 25th – Christmas Day Holiday
ØJanuary 1st – New Year’s Day Holiday
ØJanuary 2nd – Town Council Swearing-in Ceremony ØJanuary 2nd – Town Council Meeting