Town Manager Given Two-year Contract Extension with Praise from Town Council

Town councilors voted in Executive Session at the December 11 Special Town Council Meeting to extend Town Manager Paul Bockelman’s contract until August 31, 2027 with a salary increase of at least two percent. The salary increase could reach three percent if other nonunion employees receive that increase. Bockelman currently earns $192,801 per year.

Bockelman has served as Town Manager since 2016. Council President Lynn Griesemer (District 2) said in her December 14 press release, “Amherst is a very demanding community. Paul and the Town Staff provide a professional approach to the services they offer residents, allowing Amherst to be known as a community on the leading edge of addressing current issues. We welcome the opportunity to work with Paul as we ensure a sound future for the Town.”

The council evaluated Bockelman and obtained feedback from town staff, town committees, and the public. Of the 13 goals specified for the Town Manager, he received high ratings in five and “satisfactory” or “needs improvement” in eight. 

The highest ratings from the 13 councilors were in two Policy Goal areas, Climate Action and Housing Affordability; and in three Management Goals areas, Relationship with the Town Council; Finance; and Administration and Leadership. 

The councilors rated him as between “Satisfactory” and “Needs Improvement” in all eight other areas:

* the other four Policy Goals (Economic Vitality; Four Major Capital Investments; Community Health and Safety; and Racial Equity and Social Justice); and 

* the other four Management Goals (Community Engagement; Personnel; Relationship with UMass, Amherst College, and Hampshire College; and Infrastructure Management, Maintenance and Land Stewardship). 

In no aspect was his performance rated “unsatisfactory” by two or more councilors, although seven councilors ranked Community Health, and Safety and Economic Vitality as “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory. “ 

Next Year’s Goals for the Town Manager
The Governance, Organization, and Legislation (GOL) Committee of the council has been working on Town Manager goals for the coming year. The draft document provoked a few comments from councilors. Ellisha Walker (at large) wanted the Public Safety goals to explicitly say that the manager should work with the Amherst Police Department (APD) to create a proactively anti-racist environment, not just that he should review public safety protocols. GOL Chair Pat DeAngelis (District 2) asked Walker to send specific wording to her to add to the document. Ana Devlin Gauthier (District 5) pointed out that, in the “Personnel Management” section, the document states “to foster a proactive anti-racist culture throughout all town departments,” but Walker said that her motion of November 14, 2022 emphasized the importance of working with the APD.

Walker also asked why programming for seniors was removed from the goals. GOL member Mandi Jo Hanneke (at large) explained that programming for seniors was not removed, but the goal of expanding space for the programming was taken out of the 2024 goals. Devlin Gauthier stated that she would like to see a serious study of staffing in Town Hall, in addition to the compensation study currently being done. Griesemer recommended that a goal for creating a year-round shelter for the unhoused population be added.

Councilors Offer High Praise and Thanks for Bockelman
After the contract extension was announced, many of the councilors praised Bockelman. Pam Rooney (District 4) said she appreciates his leadership and guidance. Cathy Schoen (District 1) said, “If we could keep you for even longer than two years, we would. We appreciate your steady hand on multiple, complicated issues and your enthusiasm.”

Dorothy Pam (District 3) added, “I appreciate your leadership, your intelligence, and your energy, and the fact that you really love to get up in the middle of the night for any kind of big fire call.” Jennifer Taub (District 3) agreed, saying, “Overtime doesn’t even begin to describe the hours that Paul works.”  DeAngelis  said, “Thank you for your work. I want you to know how deeply I feel that.”

Griesemer concluded, “We hope that this is a vote of confidence, saying ‘Hang in with us. The best is yet to come.’”

After a unanimous vote to accept the contract extension, Bockelman said, “I ‘d just like to thank the council for your kind comments tonight, but also the crucial comments that you’ve given me during the performance review, which is really important as we move forward. I love working for the town. It’s a fun town. I talked to my colleagues, and nobody has the stuff going on that we have going on. It makes it really interesting. So I appreciate everything that you do, but also that everybody in the down does, too. So thank you.”