Town Manager Report for January 8, 2024
Photo:amherstma.gov
Source: amherstma.gov
Editor’s note: Town Manager Paul Bockelman submits a comprehensive report to the Town Council, usually at the first Town Council meeting of each month. The reports, usually 9 to 16 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
• Professional Update: I am honored to have been nominated by the other municipal managers in the State to serve as the 2nd Vice President of the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association, which includes membership on the organization’s Executive Committee and membership on the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Board of Directors.
• Massachusetts Municipal Association: MMA Annual Meeting: The Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) Annual Meeting and Trade Show will take place on January 19th and 20th at the Hynes Convention Center. This is the largest gathering of municipal officials in the Northeast. Senators Warren and Markey, Governor Healey, and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll will all be in attendance and speaking during the conference.
• MMA Annual Meeting Orientation: I and other municipal officials will be providing insights, tips, and advice to first-time attendees who are attending the MMA Annual Meeting. This session will be on Friday, January 19th at 8:00 a.m. at the Hynes Convention Center. We hope it will serve as a ‘launching pad’ and networking opportunity for first time attendees. It immediately precedes the Opening Session.
• Community Outreach:
• Webinar: I participated on a panel on “Form of Government FAQ” webinar. I joined the
Department of Revenue’s Chief of the Legal Bureau and the Chief of the Finance Management Bureau along with several other local managers to discuss questions asked during a charter review or government study process including the legal process for charter change, position titles, and resources available to communities. Over 175 people attended the webinar, which was sponsored by the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
• Cuppa Joe with Paul:
▪ I was joined by about 15 residents and members of the CRESS Interim Leadership Team on Friday, January 5th for the latest “Cuppa Joe with Paul”. Thanks to all who attended. The next Cuppa Joe will be either February 2nd or 9th. Watch for a notice on the Town’s website.
• Radio: I have been making a monthly appearance on WHMP’s “Talk the Talk” radio show. Most recently, we discussed goals for 2024, roads, and budget challenges.
• Committee Vacancies:
• Charter Review Committee: Notice has been posted that the Town Council is accepting applications for residents who wish to serve on the 2024 Charter Review Committee. The
2024 Charter Review Committee is a multiple-member body appointed by the Town
Council in accordance with Charter section 9.6: Periodic Review of Charter, which states: The Town Council shall provide, in every year ending in a 4, for a review of the Charter by a special committee to be established by Town Council. All members of the committee shall be voters not holding elective office when appointed. The committee shall file a report within 1 year recommending any changes to the Charter which it deems necessary or desirable, unless an extension is authorized by vote of the Town Council. The Town Council shall vote upon the recommendations in the report within 90 days of receipt of the committee’s recommendations. Action on all proposed charter changes shall be governed by Section 9.1 of this Charter.
The 2024 Charter Review Committee will be composed of nine voting members who must be registered voters in Amherst. The membership shall reflect the diversity of the Town of Amherst population. The term of service is to conclude upon presentation of a final report to the Town Council. For more information on the 2024 Charter Review Committee see the Committee Charge.
• Housing Authority: The Town Council is seeking applicants to fill two seats on the Amherst Housing Authority. Two new Housing Authority Commissioners will be selected no later than Friday, February 16th. Interviews will be conducted and the new Housing Authority Commissioners may be selected as early as February 6th at a Special Joint Meeting of the Amherst Town Council and the Amherst Housing Authority. If necessary, an additional Special Joint Meeting of the Amherst Town Council and Housing Authority will be held on Monday, February 12th to complete interviews and select a new Housing Authority Commissioners. Candidate Sttements of Interest are due to the Clerk of the Town Council by Tuesday, January 23rd 4:00 p.m. Additional information can be found here: https://www.amherstma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3482
DEPARTMENT UPDATES
• Administration and Finance
o Finance:
▪ Assessors: The Town’s Principal Assessor reminds Amherst taxpayers about the many tax exemptions that are available. Exemptions come in many different forms at every taxable level (municipal and
Federal) but if you qualify for an exemption, you could reduce your obligation to pay taxes. The Principal Assessor encourages taxpayers to explore the links below and reach out to the Assessor by phone (413-259-3024) or email for help with a tax exemption application. The deadline to file for the fiscal year 2024 is April 1, 2024.
▪ Treasurer/Collector: Treasurer/Collector Jennifer LaFountain was the top vote getter in the election to serve on the Hampshire County Retirement Board of Directors. Congratulations to Jennifer and I am very proud the Town will have a voice on the Board.
▪ Budget: The presentation of the Financial Indicators to the Town Council, School Committee, and Board of Library Trustees kicked off the FY25 budget season. Department heads are now reviewing fees, developing budget requests, preparing narratives, and identifying capital needs. Town staff will be working on the budget for the next few months. Budgets for the School Department and Library are due to the Town Manager by April 1st. The entire Town budget will be presented to the Town Council on May 1st.
o Human Resources:
▪ Holidays: The list of Town holidays that will be celebrated in 2024 is attached at the end of this Report.
▪ Searches:
• CRESS Director: A search committee has been formed and is in the middle of interviewing candidates.
• Finance Director: A search committee has been formed and the committee is reviewing applications.
• Police Chief: A search committee has been formed. After reviewing applications, it was determined that the applicant pool was strong but small. The committee asked that the Town continue additional outreach which the Human Resources Department has done which has generated additional applicants. We are prepared to contract with a recruiting firm to further expand the pool if necessary.
o Information Technology (I.T.):
▪ The Town’s I.T. Director was invited to join the State Cyber Resilient Massachusetts Working Group. Congratulations to Sean Hannon! https://masscybercenter.org/cyber-resilient-massachusetts/cyber-resilient- massachusetts-working-group
▪ Cybersecurity: The Town has been aggressive in ensuring the Town’s information technology infrastructure is protected and staff are trained to avoid unwanted intrusions. We continue to receive ever more sophisticated attempts to breach our system. I urge all users with Town email addresses – including Town Councilors – to be vigilant about email you receive and to NOT click on any links unless you are 100% positive about the sender. We continue to “harden” our systems to try to prevent intrusions and to isolate damage if there is a breach and have contracted with a new firm to provide greater protection and resilience. To that end, all Town computers are being equipped with advanced cyber protection software utilizing dedicated ARPA funds.
▪ Devices for Councilors: The I.T. Department will be reviewing the needs of each new and returning Town Councilor. Some older devices will be updated, and we will repurpose the older devices to staff. Please contact the Clerk of the Council to discuss your I.T. needs.
o Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Department: The office is entering its busiest time of year, between the reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December and Lunar New Year, the office has over twenty different workshops, meetings, community and cultural events planned.
▪ Events:
• Human Rights Day: The Human Rights Commission, with many members of the Town Council present, observed Human Rights Day on Saturday, December 10th at the Bangs Community Center. The event included the annual community reading of the Declaration of Human Rights and the
2023 Human Rights proclamation read by Town Council.
Kwanzaa: The DEI Departmentorganized a well-attended Kwanzaa celebration at the Bangs Community Center on December 26th. Many thanks to all who organized and to those who attended.
• Black History Month: Activities are being planned to recognize and celebrate Black History throughout the month. The DEI Department has collaborated with numerous other groups to expand our offerings.
• Lunar New Year.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: The DEI Department is organizing an event on Monday, January 15th at 1:00 p.m. to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King. Join the Human Rights Commission to read the Town Council proclamation and participate in a community reading of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s. speech “The Quest for Peace and Justice” at the Bangs Community Center. All are invited and encouraged to join in the celebration.
o National Day of Racial Healing: The National Day of Racial Healing will be held on Tuesday, January 16th at 6:00 p.m.
at the Crocker Farm Elementary School. Registration is encouraged but not required.
▪ Staffing: The Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion continues to serve on the Interim Leadership Team established by the Town to support the CRESS Department. The DEI Director leads the team that includes Fire Chief Tim Nelson,
Police Sergeant Janet Griffin, and CRESS Implementation Manager Kat Newman to help stabilize the department.
▪ CORE Equity Team: Core Equity Team Members are staff members who self- identified and self-selected to learn about and promote issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The group met with a GARE representative to review the benefits of membership and the resources available to the Town through membership. The Core Equity Team hopes to regularly utilize the resources for personal and departmental professional development. Some CORE Equity members will serve as facilitators in the January National Day of Racial Healing events.
▪ Committees: DEI staff continue to support the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC) and the Human Rights Commission (HRC) meet monthly.
▪ Community Visioning: The Department has embarked on a community visioning process with a focus on public safety and social justice. Dr. Barbara Love conducted a Train the Trainer session for Liberatory Visioning which required a significant time commitment and was well attended.
▪ Workshops:
• The final DEI workshop for staff a Diversity Coffeehouse occurred on December 15th. The Diversity Coffeehouse was billed as a self-guided exploration of more than ten different DEI topics and provided an opportunity to engage in informal conversations regarding a range of diversity, equity, and inclusion topics. Town staff gathered and engaged in a fantastic discussion of our origin stories, sharing experiences and finding common ground. All who attended found it to be a moving, transformative experience.
• The first round of workshops for Town employees in every Town department was completed with workshops offered to staff at the Jones Library, staff in Town Hall and the Recreation Department. The next round of workshops for each department will begin in the new year.
▪ Reparations: The Town Council is reviewing the recommendations and I have requested legal advice on several questions and funding options. The Town Attorney is researching and working on a legal analysis for the Council.
▪ Resident Oversight Board: On January 10th, 18th, and 21st, the DEI Department will host listening sessions to hear Amherst residents’ experiences with the Amherst Police Department. These sessions grow out of the work begun by the Community Safety Working Group (CSWG) and the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC). The CSWG recommended the formation of a Resident Oversight
Board for the Police Department. These listening sessions are some of the foundational steps towards the formation of a Resident Oversight Board. Individuals of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend.
• Each session will be held in-person and via Zoom in the Town Room of Town Hall. Translation services for Chinese and Spanish speakers will be offered at the January 10th event. This hybrid set-up (attendance in-person or via Zoom) allows individuals to share their experiences in written and/or in verbal form.
• All three January events will be hosted by Rabbi Debra Kolodny, a consultant who is also an Amherst resident. Rabbi Kolodny brings over thirty years of consulting experience in the fields of conflict transformation, workplace democracy, strategic planning, anti-hate work, Restorative Justice, Racial Justice, Community data collection, and DEI. Rabbi Kolodny worked in Portland, Oregon on issues of police. accountability. They were a participant in a clergy group that met regularly with police leadership and the mayor to review community issues. Rabbi Kolodny was also a founding member of Portland United Against Hate, a coalition of BIPOC, LGBTQI+ and religious minorities, which functioned as an advocacy and trauma informed care group. Portland United Against Hate cataloged acts of police violence and lobbied City Council and the State Legislature to require accountability for these police actions.
• The goal is to initiate the Resident Oversight Board by the middle of 2024.
• Residents can join the conversation in person at Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Avenue on:
o Wednesday, January 10, 2024 6:00 pm Zoom Link or by phone at 305-224-1968 Webinar ID: 842 6113 2537
o Thursday, January 18, 2024 6:00 pmZoom Link or by phone at 305-224-1968 Webinar ID: 856 7237 3615
o Sunday, January 21, 2024 1:00 pm Zoom Link or by phone at 305-224-1968 Webinar ID: 824 2779 4229
o Unable to Participate! Complete our online survey found here!
Printable flier with survey English version
Printable flier with survey Chinese version
Printable Flier with survey Spanish version
▪ Police Protocols: Work on police protocols will be a priority for the permanent chief, once appointed.
▪ CRESS: See the update on the CRESS Department below.
▪ Youth Empowerment: Surveys have been distributed with plans for in-person
follow up.
Public Safety
o Police Department:
▪ Legislation: The Massachusetts Senate passed legislation filed by Senator Jo
Comerford that seeks to facilitate better interactions between police and individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The measure, known as the “Blue Envelope” bill, was championed by UMass Disability Services and UMass Amherst Police Chief Tyrone Parham. The Amherst Police Department supports this legislation. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. The legislation would create a voluntary program to make available special blue envelopes to people with autism spectrum disorder that hold their driver’s license, registration and insurance card, which can be handed to a police officer in the event of a traffic stop. On the outside of the envelope would be specific instructions on the driver’s diagnosis, impairments, triggers, emergency contact information and best practices for communicating. For drivers with autism spectrum disorder, being stopped by a police officer can be particularly challenging.
▪ Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) and Co-Response: The Town’s CIT program is funded by an annual Department of Mental Health (DMH) grant. The DMH grant provides the Town with funds for training and provides a clinician for co- responses. Our new clinician has extensive experience prior to coming to CSO. It is important to note that the clinician works for CSO and not the Town of Amherst Police Department. The new clinician will coordinate her services outside of the Police Department just as her predecessor did, which includes working with the Town’s CRESS Department, Craig’s Doors, etc.
▪ Animal Welfare: Great work by the Town Animal Welfare Officer, Carol Hepburn on this case. From the Daily Hampshire Gazette: A Hadley woman charged with animal cruelty in 2022 after nine cows and 22 goats were seized from the Amherst farm where she was keeping them will spend five years on probation after pleading guilty Friday to three counts in the 35-count indictment. Carol Hepburn, responding to a complaint from a neighboring farmer, visited Thistlebloom Farm on March 11, 2022, and found one cow that was dead and another downed. Seven cows in the barn were found to be malnourished and covered in feces. Carol contacted the state veterinarian, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
▪ Police Work:
• A Hampshire Superior Court Judge earlier this month sentenced an Amherst man to a state prison term following a lengthy investigation sparked by cyber tips that the man had been receiving and disseminating images of sexual exploitation of children. The Judge sentenced the individual, who formerly lived in an Amherst apartment complex, to 4 ½ to 5 years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material; 9 counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse material; and a single count of possession with intent to distribute child sexual abuse material. The Hampshire District Attorney’s office credited the Town’s Police Department in saying, “Thanks to the hard work of the Amherst Police Department in cooperation with the Clatsop County Sheriff’s office investigators, justice was finally served. Without the dedication and efforts of diligent, collaborative investigators, this outcome would not have been possible.” The Town’s lead investigator in this case was Detective Joshua Harris.
• An Amherst man is being held at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction in Northampton following his arrest and arraignment this week on possession of child pornography, the second time he has been taken into custody on those charges, according to Amherst Police. Amherst police detectives, joined by Northampton police detectives, executed a search warrant at the home. The warrant was sought following a cyber tip sent by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to the Massachusetts State Police Internet Crimes against Children Task Force.
The tip identified multiple images flagged as depicting child sexual abuse that were affiliated with the IP address at the home. The State Police task force then sent subscriber information for the IP address to Amherst police for further investigation.
o Fire Department:
▪ Hazard Mitigation Plan Update: The Fire Department was awarded a grant of $34,200 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The grant will support the Town’s efforts to update its current plan by addressing the mitigation of multiple hazards that may affect the Town, including flood hazards, winter storm hazards, wind hazards, wildfire hazards, and geologic hazards. When the plan is completed, the Town will be eligible to be designated an MVP Community, which may lead to increased standing in future funding opportunities and will signify the Town’s commitmentto building resiliency and preparing for climate change.
o Community Responders Department:
▪ Dispatch Milestone: After the Interim Leadership Team met with the Town’s Labor and General attorneys to review the issues of concern that had been raised with initiating dispatch calls to Community Responders, the CRESS Department began receiving calls directly from the Town’s Communications Center which handles all incoming 911 calls. Direct dispatch services began on December 18th, meeting the goal of accepting 911 calls by the end of the calendar year. We will continue to monitor the roll-out with the expectation that more call types will be added over time. Five specific call types have been identified as the first group for CRESS. These include:
• CRESS Admin: notice that a Responder is performing administrative tasks.
• CRESS Assist Citizen: a response to a request for assistance from an individual directly or on behalf of another individual.
• CRESS Assist Business/agency: a response to a request for assistance from a business, non-profit agency, or Town Department.
• CRESS Well-Being Check: a response to a request from an agency or individual to inquire about the well-being of an individual in either a public space or residence.
• CRESS Mental Health: a response to a situation where an individual is or has displayed signs of mental illness, depression, agitation, or behaviors
that indicate an underlying mental health condition.
• CRESS Follow-up: Subsequent Responder action to a prior call type.
▪ Utility Assistance Programs: The Community Responders are spreading the word about resources available to Town residents to help people stay warm and meet their essential needs this winter. Community Responders assist individuals to understand and
access help that may be available. This listing includes on- going programs that can help renters/homeowners during the frigid winter months.
▪CRESS Hours of Operation: Remember CRESS is here to help! Just call 413-259-3370 or stop by the office, located on the second floor of the Bangs Community Center.
•Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 4:00PM (walk-ins welcome)
•Saturday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM (accessible via phone/appointment)
▪ Staffing:
• The CRESS Department anticipates hiring three new Community
Responders to start in mid January.
• The search for a new CRESS Director is actively ongoing, with interviews beginning the first week of January.
▪ Community Engagement: The CRESS Department collected necessities for the unhoused population from Town employees. “Tia’s Totes” is a donation drive initiated by a Community Responder that ran from November 27th to December 8th.
▪ Departmental Cooperation:
• The Department of Public Works (DPW) has begun collaborating with the CRESS Department on encampments. The CRESS Department created a pamphlet to leave at encampment sites to introduce the CRESS Department and capabilities for future resource assistance. The DPW has also utilized Community Responders as needed as they conduct their work.
• CRESS has expanded the number of hours Responders are present at the Jones Library. The CRESS Department and Library have a monthly meeting to connect about ongoing collaboration and address any concerns. In reviewing historic Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)-based data, it was shown that there has been a 53% reduction in police responses to the Library since the CRESS Department has had a presence in the library.
▪ Training:
• One CRESS Responder attended the 40-hour Crisis Intervention Training
(CIT) block: Western Mass CIT TTAC
• Two CRESS Responders will attend the upcoming (February 2024) block
• Police Sergeant Griffin, a member of the Interim Leadership Team, instructed the one-hour “Working with Victims of Domestic Violence: Crisis, Trauma, and Challenges” portion of the CIT block
• CRESS Implementation Manager Kat Newman instructed the one-hour
“LGBTQIA+” portion of the CIT block
• Two CRESS Responders attended a 2-day CIT Youth training
• Two CRESS Responders and the Implementation Manager attended a day- long Mental Health First Aid training
• Community Services
o Public Health:
▪ Supplies:
• The Public Health Department collaborated with the Fire Department to obtain COVID tests and infection prevention supplies from the State (gloves, masks, wipes, bandages) and distributed them to the community during the month of December, in anticipation of increased levels of respiratory illness. Public health staff then delivered supplies to nine community-based agencies including Craig’s Doors, WIC, and the Survival Center. Each agency received as many as 180 COVID test kits, depending on their needs. COVID tests were also available at the Public Health Department for community members to pick up.
• To date, we estimate that we have distributed more than 2,000 COVID tests to the community in the last month, with close to 500 tests being distributed to people who stopped by the Health Department.
▪ Status Report and Wastewater Surveillance:
• A respiratory illness update was posted by the Public Health Department on the Town website linking to a new Public Health Updates page that the
Department will revise regularly.
• The updates page currently contains links to the wastewater surveillance reports that the Department receives twice weekly, and provides us with a sense of COVID infection levels in the community. The reports showed a slight drop in virus levels leading up to the holidays, and an overall prevalence that had not reached what are deemed to be substantial levels.
• Not surprisingly, results from a sample taken on December 27th did show about a three-fold increase in the wastewater’s viral load, bringing the level to one that is considered substantial. Although not a precise indicator of actual COIVD prevalence in our community, these results do point to increased COVID infection rates resulting from holiday travel and socializing, although the levels remain lower than our last peak in the fall.
• We are awaiting results of samples taken this week to see if the upward trend continues or is beginning to come back down.
• Despite COVID rates being lower that they were at this time last year and COVID illness generally being quite mild, there are plenty of other respiratory viruses out there that have been making people sick this holiday season – including RSV, which has the potential to be quite serious in very young children and older adults.
• Between December 17th and December 23rd, 25.7% of hospital admissions in Hampshire County were due to acute respiratory illness – 7.3% of these were for COVID. The update page on the Public Health website provides important information about respiratory illnesses in general and how to prevent and treat them, including the best practice of wearing a mask when
one has any kind of respiratory symptoms and must be around other people.
▪ Vaccines: We collaborated with the Northampton Department of Health and Human Services through the Public Health Excellence grant to host a COVID/Flu vaccine clinic at the Bangs Center on December 21st. The clinic was attended by
18 people who were happy to have one last opportunity to get vaccinated before the holidays. We will hold one final COVID/Flu vaccine clinic at the Meadow View apartments on January 18th . We hope this clinic will reach not only Meadow View residents but also people who reside in the nearby apartment buildings.
▪ Public Health Community Needs Assessment: The Community Health Needs Assessment recently submitted by a team of University students is being used as a jumping off point for the Town’s program planning. Staff will be developing a
plan which will be reviewed and shared widely.
o Recreation: The Department has fully transitioned to its winter schedule, which focuses on basketball clinics and leagues.
▪ WinterFest Amherst 2024: Embrace the Magic of Winter in Our Community: Recreation staff are getting excited about Winterfest 2024 and can’t wait to see everyone there. Full calendar of events is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uovlNvixMXacdRuJl2NijeYHDpC2UnZ0X fixyfsNmfA/edit
• The Recreation Department, in collaboration with our amazing community partners, invites you to join us as we celebrate the magic of winter and community togetherness at WinterFest Amherst 2024! The festivities are set to take place from January 27th to February 3rd, offering an array of exciting events for residents and visitors of all ages. Most events are free and all are open to the public.
• Highlights:
o Winter Wonderland Family Science at Hitchcock Center (January 27th): The WinterFest kicks off with the enchanting Winter Wonderland Family Science event at the Hitchcock Center. Families are invited to explore the wonders of winter through hands-on activities, engaging exhibits, and educational experiences.
o 1st Annual WinterFest Games at Mill River Recreation Area (January 27th): Experience the thrill of friendly competition or just have fun with friends at the 1st Annual WinterFest Games, taking place at the Mill River Recreation Area. We’ll have a variety of games, activities and a nature walk with Kestrel Land Trust to help you get outside and active regardless of whether there is snow on the ground.
o 1St Annual Winterfest Craft Fair at the Amherst Regional Middle School (January 28th). Featuring over 40 local artisans and craftsmen, is thrilled to unveil the inaugural 1st Annual WinterFest Craft Fair, promising a delightful showcase of unique, handcrafted treasures.
o Snow Ball Intergenerational Dance at the Bangs Community Center (February 1st). In collaboration with the Senior Center, all ages are welcome to join us for an afternoon of music and refreshments.
o Dazzling Fire and Ice Festival and Luminaria on the Town Common (February 3rd): The grand finale of WinterFest Amherst 2024 will be the not-to-be-missed Fire and Ice Festival on February 3rd. The Town Common will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland with mesmerizing ice sculptures, live entertainment, and a breathtaking display of luminaria, creating a truly unforgettable experience for all attendees.
o Daily Events and Nightly Excitement: Throughout the week, Amherst will come alive with a diverse range of events and activities, offering something for everyone. From outdoor adventures to winter sports, WinterFest Amherst 2024 aims to celebrate the spirit of our community in the winter season.
o Free and Open to the Public: The majority of WinterFest events are free and open to the public, making it accessible for all to participate in and enjoy the festivities.
o For More Information: For additional details and a complete schedule of events, please visit https://www.facebook.com/WinterFestAmherst/
o Senior Services:
▪ Staff: The Town recognizes and thanks Helen MacMellon for her many years of service to the town and her lengthy career. Helen retired on December 29th after 12 years of service to the Town. We cannot thank her enough for having touched so many lives and being steadfast in her efforts to help every senior who visited the center. With her departure, we welcome Lucas Schildbach as the new Social Services Coordinator for the Senior Center. As well as Benjamin Meharenna as the new Activities Coordinator.
▪ Visits: The Department of Senior Services is pleased to report that in the month of December there were 510 check-ins, with an average attendance of 25 people per day. There were also 62 rides on the Silver Shuttle. The Department served over 600 people across its various programs.
▪ Claus for a Cause: The Council on Aging sponsored the first annual ‘Claus for a Cause’. The program targeted, homebound, or any older adult in need of holiday cheer. Donations of self-care items such as tea, cocoa, warm clothes, puzzle books, lotions, and more were collected from community members at drop off points such as the police station, fire stations, Jones Library, Town Hall, and Bangs Center. With the help of 29 volunteers (80% of which were new to the Senior Center), sixty gift bags were assembled and delivered directly to each recipient. Claus for a Cause was well received. Participants phoned the Senior Center to express their gratitude for the gifts and saying how much it meant to them to be remembered and acknowledged by Senior Center staff and volunteers. For some it was the only holiday present they received. The Department of Senior Services and the Amherst
Council on Aging would like to thank all who made this program possible.
▪ Newsletter:
• The new January-February newsletter from the Department of Senior Services – which includes a listing of all of the dozens of workshops and meetings being offered by the Department – Amherst Senior Spirit, is now
o Veterans Services:
available: https://www.amherstma.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/16662
• The Director of Senior Services announced that at the beginning in January, the Senior Spirit will no longer be mailed. In an effort to reduce paper consumption and overhead costs. They will be switching to an electronic delivery format. This means the Senior Spirit will only be sent electronically. Hard copies will be available for pick up at the Senior Center. People without computers or internet access should call to request a paper copy be mailed, please call the Senior Center (413) 259-3060. Feel free to also email us at seniorcenter@amherstma.gov with questions.
• To sign up for the electronic version of the Senior Spirit, create an Amherst Town website account, then go to: https://www.amherstma.gov/List.aspx , click the envelope icon, and follow the instructions. You can also view the newsletter archive by going to: https://tinyurl.com/seniorspiritarchive .
▪ The Department holds a monthly Veterans Lunch program, sponsored by the CRESS Department, on the last Wednesday of every month at 12:00 noon at the Unitarian Universalist Society. We encourage Town Councilors – and any members of the public, to stop by and support our Veterans. This monthly event is organized by a local veteran who wanted to encourage veterans to come together to share stories and receive support.
• Conservation and Development
o Planning:
▪ Community Development Block Grant: 2024 CDBG request for proposals are now
available. The CDBG Advisory Committee issued the 2024 CDBG project proposals for social services and non-social service activities. Proposals are due by noon on Friday, January 19th. Download proposals on committee webpage
▪ Leverett: The Town of Leverett has received interest from a firm seeking to develop the Kittredge property on Juggler Meadow Road (Article on Kittredge Property ). Part of the property is located in the Town of Amherst. Town staff are staying apprised of developments on this property, a remarkable, one-of-a-kind estate.
o Inspection Services:
▪ Following the retirement of Jon Thompson, Health Inspector Ed Smith was selected to take over the Lead Code Enforcement Officer position. Ed will be the point person for rental registration and complaint response. Health Inspector Susan Malone was selected to take the Lead Health Inspector position and will focus her work on matters related to well, septic systems, and certain housing inspections. We are currently in process to find and hire a Health Inspector who will be the primary inspector to work with food establishments, camps, pools, and other
health licensing and inspection programs.
o Sustainability:
▪ Valley Green Energy: Valley Green Energy is a regional energy services program
known as an electricity aggregation, which is a kind of group electricity buying program for cities and towns with no hidden fees or penalties.
• Valley Green Energy is administered by the Town of Amherst, the City of Northampton, and the Town of Pelham. The purpose of Valley Green Energy is to contract on behalf of consumers for a supply of electricity.
• Participating in Valley Green Energy changes the Supply price on your utility electric bill, which is the part of the bill where you are charged for the electricity you use. Through the program, residents and businesses in member communities will have new choices and greater control over the cost and environmental impact of the electricity they use. Though Valley Green Energy will not be able to guarantee savings compared with Eversource’s or National Grid’s Basic Service prices, the communities are committed to working toward competitive and stable prices.
• In launching Valley Green Energy, Amherst, Northampton, and Pelham will join more than 150 other cities and towns in Massachusetts with similar programs. The communities are targeting 2024 for program launch.
• On October 13, 2023, Valley Green Energy (“VGE”) filed a request with the Department of Public Utilities (“Department”) for approval of a joint municipal aggregation plan pursuant to G.L. c. 164, § 134, which would serve the Town of Amherst, City of Northampton, and Town of Pelham.
• The Department will conduct a virtual public hearing to receive comments on VGE’s filing. The Department will conduct the hearing using Zoom videoconferencing on January 22, 2024, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Attendees can join by entering the link, https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82827455916, from a computer, smartphone, or tablet. No prior software download is required. For audio-only access to the hearings, attendees can dial in at (305) 224-1968 (not toll free) and then enter the Meeting ID# 828 2745 5916. If you anticipate providing comments via Zoom during the public hearing, to the extent possible, please send an email by the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Friday, January 19, 2024, to timothy.m.federico@mass.gov with your name, email address, and mailing address.
• Alternatively, any person who desires to comment on this matter may submit written comments to the Department via email no later than the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Friday, January 19, 2024.
• Download the complete Notice of Filing, Request for Comments, and
▪ Solar: The Solar Bylaw Working Group completed its work on a solar zoning bylaw to regulate the installation of Large Scale Solar Photovoltaic Installations and a zoning bylaw governing the installation of Battery Energy Storage Systems. The Working Group’s work along with other material was submitted to the Town Council for its consideration.
▪ ValleyBike: The City of Northampton – the lead community – posted a request for proposals to allow prospective vendors to place bids to enable Amherst and other ValleyBike share communities to restart the bike-share system. Proposal submissions are due January 31st. If a bid is awarded, the rollout of the vendor’s ValleyBike operations will be no later than April 10th. The goal is to operate 750 bicycles at 79 stations across the system, and potentially expand the program. The ValleyBike communities include Amherst, the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, Chicopee, Easthampton, Hadley, Holyoke, Northampton,
Springfield, South Hadley and West Springfield. The cities and towns own all the equipment, including the bikes and charging stations.
o Housing:
▪ Affordable Housing Lottery: Center East Commons at 462 Main Street is conducting a lottery for three affordable apartments that will be rented to households with incomes at or below 8-% of the are median income ($55,800 for one person; $63,800 for two people). An information session was held on December 11th. The application deadline was January 8, 2024. The lottery will be held on January 22nd,
▪ Ball Lane aka Amherst Community Homes: The ZBA held its second public hearing session on the Amherst Community Homes project, a 30-unit affordable home-ownership development proposed by Valley Community Development Corporation for the former Matuszko Trucking site in North Amherst. This is a Comprehensive Permit, i.e., Chapter 40B, project to which the Town has contributed CPA and Housing Trust funds. It is expected that the public hearing process for this project will be completed in early 2024.
▪ East Street/Belchertown Road: The Town is working with the chosen developer, Wayfinders, 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. Other work being done includes site design, wetlands flagging, and analysis of culverts.
▪ VFW: The site assessment and survey work is complete. Before demolition of the existing building can commence, the Town will need to assess the building for hazardous materials. The Town has been in discussions with various State
agencies about this project and we discussed the project with Governor Healey and
Secretary Augustus during their visit to the Town.
o Economic Development:
▪ Luminaria and Fire & Ice: The two annual events are
being combined on February 3rd for an all day celebration of winter. The event will bring hundreds, if not thousands, of people downtown to enjoy the festivities and support our local restaurants and businesses during a difficult time of year. Please join in!
▪ Business Improvement District (BID): At the Annual Meeting of the membership of the Amherst Business Improvement District, the members voted overwhelmingly to continue the District for a five year period commencing July 1, 2024. Congratulations to the BID for all the success achieved in the previous five years. The BID noted five significant new buildings downtown (Kendrick Place, One East Pleasant Street, 11 East Pleasant Street, 26 Spring Street, and 446 Main Street), the success of The Drake, and a remarkably low 3% vacancy rate downtown with nearly 30 new businesses opening, accompanied by several recent closures. There was a cautionary note that maintaining strong occupancy downtown depended on a steady stream of diners and shoppers.
• Public Works
o Roadwork:
▪ The State announced that all Route 9 construction was stopped for the holiday season, and will resume in January doing minor utility work.
▪ The State is looking to resurface approximately 3.2 miles of Route 116 in Amherst, beginning at the intersection of Route 116 and Route 9 in Hadley, extending to the intersection of Route 116 and Meadow Street. Work includes milling and resurfacing, rebuilding and cleaning of drainage structures, upgrades to guardrail and shoulder repairs.
▪ The Town awarded a bid of $2.75 million for paving the following roads. Unfortunately, this work was not able to be started this fall due to the backlog of workload of the winning bidder. We anticipate the roads will be paved by the end of June, 2024.
▪ The Town Council appropriated an additional $1million from Free Cash to continue to address the need for paving. We will prepare a bid this winter for additional road paving.
▪ The State awarded an additional $383,386 for roadwork from a midyear allocation of so-called Chapter 90 funds — the pot of money the state sends to communities for road repairs. The funds are available due to the new Fair Share tax.
o Stormwater Management Award:
▪ The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency selected Amherst as one of just six
Massachusetts communities to improve stormwater management and advance environmental justice. The Town was selected to receive in-kind technical assistance from EPA to advance environmental justice for disadvantaged communities within the Pioneer Valley (Connecticut River Watershed).
▪ Through a series of meetings over the coming year, Amherst staff will work with EPA, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and consultant Horsely Witten on incorporating cost-effective green infrastructure into the Town’s stormwater management planning.
▪ Stormwater management has become critical in the effort to prepare municipalities for the effects of climate change. This grant is focused on helping environmental justice communities, such as Amherst, expand their stormwater management tool kit. The DPW staff looks forward to learning about nature-based (green) infrastructure options that will increase our resiliency to flooding caused by climate change and improve our ability to treat stormwater to improve the water quality of our rivers and streams.
o Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant:
▪ Grant Award: In August 2023, Amherst was awarded a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant of $170,000 to improve flood resiliency and water quality in the Fort River watershed by replacing three undersized, damaged culverts. Work has begun, and the Town has contracted with Fuss & O’Neill, an environmental consulting firm, to manage the data collection, design, and permitting. To see what data collection work has been completed to date, please visit our project webpage HERE As part of this project, the Town has created an on-line survey seeking your input on how important the Fort River is to you. Strong participation in this survey will help Amherst’s ability to obtain similar grants in the future. Please click HERE to complete the survey. We appreciate you taking a few moments to complete the survey!
▪ Grant Application: The Town has submitted an application for funding for Pomeroy Court Flood Remediation. With this expression of interest, the Town expressed its intent to submit an application for MVP action grant funding for Design and Permitting for the Pomeroy Court Flood Remediation project.
• Pomeroy Court experiences consistent flooding after significant rainfall events. In recent years with more intense and frequent precipitation, the road has been blocked by pooling water on a regular basis. Flooding has posed an access and safety risk for the residents who live on the street. Flood water levels challenge pedestrian access and safety for children who must walk through flood water to get to the school bus stop at the corner of Pomeroy Lane and Pomeroy Court. Flood water also poses challenges for safety and first responder emergency vehicle access to residents who live on the street. Residents who travel to the Conservation Area access point on Pomeroy Court must also contend with traveling through flood waters.
• There are specific contributing factors to the flooding conditions. An intermittent stream flows directly into stormwater structures. Significant storm flow overwhelms the downgradient catch basin resulting in overflow. The road was constructed in the early 70s in a floodplain/flood hazard area. Structures cannot drain as the culvert outfall is five feet below the Massachusetts regulated and designated wetlands, “Land Under
Water”.
• The Town has explored many potential options. The logical approach to reconnect the intermittent stream to its original flow-path is not possible as the water, sewer and underground utility lines are underneath the roadway. Working around the utilities under the road and the adjacent wetlands would be costly and difficult. A potential solution to this challenge identified by the Town’s Wetlands Administrator and Town Engineer is to raise the elevation of the roadway to bring it above flood plain elevation, partially culvert the stream under the two driveways south of the stream, daylight the stream on Conservation Land and create a flood mitigation area to deliver the water to Plum Brook.
• The Town’s Department of Public Works estimates this project will cost approximately $800,000. Funding of $100,000 is being sought for surveying, project design and permitting. It is anticipated that the investigation, design and permitting can be completed within a ten-month period upon contract execution.
DELEGATED AUTHORITY
• Short-Term Event Uses of Town Commons (Section 1a of the Town Council Policy): None
• Short-Term Parking Requests (Section 2a of the Town Council Policy): None
• Short-Term Public Way Closures (Section 3b of the Town Council Policy):
o Western Mass 10 Road Race – November 3, 2024 – 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. – Temporary closings of North Pleasant, South Pleasant, Main, and Dickinson Streets
• Placement of Road and Temporary Signs (Section 3d of the Town Council Policy):
o Speed Feedback Signs:
▪ South Pleasant Street:
• one southbound facing sign approximately 150 feet north of the intersection with Walnut Street;
• one northbound facing sign north of the Nortwottuck Rail trail tunnel, 75 feet north of the driveway to Amherst Farmers Supply;
▪ Amherst College to pay for purchase and installation of signs.
o Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB)
▪ South Pleasant Street:
• one pair on each side of the street at the crosswalk on the north side of the
Quadrangle Drive intersection;
• one pair on each side of the street at the crosswalk on the south side of the
Walnut Street intersection;
• one pair on each side of the at the crosswalk on the north side of the
Hitchcock Road intersection;
▪ College Street:
• one pair on each side of the street at the crosswalk on the east side of the
Boltwood Avenue intersection;
• one pair on each side of the street at the crosswalk on the west side of the
Noah Webster Circle intersection;
• one pair on each side of the street at the crosswalk on the east side of the
Seelye Street intersection;
• one pair on each side of the street at the crosswalk on the east side of the
Dickinson
▪ Locations currently have flashing bollards that were approved previously by the
Town, prior to the State and Federal standards for RRFBs;
▪ Installation of RRFBs meets warrants due to vehicle speeds, vehicle volumes, visibility, and pedestrian volumes;
▪ Amherst College to pay for purchase and installation of signs.
MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS
• Jones Library:
o The Town Council has approved the appropriation of the full amount of funding for the project, with the Library being responsible for raising the additional funds.
o Up-to-the-minute updates can be found here:
https://www.joneslibrary.org/buildingproject
o The Planning Board has held a public hearing on the request for site plan and special permit approval and is moving toward a final decision.
o The Town has re-bid its request to rent or lease temporary space, reducing the request to
15,000 square feet of interior space for use while the Jones Library is under construction.
The property must be located within three miles of the existing Jones Library and be handicap accessible.
• DPW Building/Fire Building:
o The Town appropriated $100,000 to make emergency repairs to the existing DPW building to address some of the numerous issues that plague that structure. Facilities staff have examined the building and determined the highest priorities for utilizing these funds to make repairs. We will continue to assess the condition of the structure and the work conditions for the employees.
o Staff continue to explore multiple options for a new site for the DPW.
• Elementary School Building Committee: The Committee meets next on January 12th. The project is going through the permitting process with the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Disability Access Advisory Committee, and Design Review Board.
• PROJECTS UPDATE
• Town Hall Steps: Repairs to the front steps of the Amherst Town Hall at the Boltwood Avenue side of the building are complete and undergoing final review by the architect and inspection by the Building Department
• Centennial Water Treatment Facility: The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust awarded a 2023
State Revolving Fund loan with principal forgiveness for the Town’s Centennial Water Treatment Facility. Additional support for this project is listed on the 2024 State Revolving Fund plan.
o Through the 2023 State Revolving Fund (SRF), Amherst received a loan of
$15,000,000 with an initial principal forgiveness of $2,970,000 to construct the
Centennial Water Treatment Plant. In August, it was announced that the State would increase the principal forgiveness for this project to $597,000.
o The SRF program for clean water and drinking water infrastructure projects is structured as a loan forgiveness program that is intended to make the project more affordable to communities and their rate payers. The SRF loan program is a joint Federal-State financing loan program that provides subsidized interest rate loans to improve or protect water quality and infrastructure systems in the Commonwealth.
o The recently released 2024 Draft SRF Intended Use Plans (IUP) includes an additional
$4,930,000 loan to the Town to complete the Centennial Water Treatment Plant. The
2024 SRF loan would include principal forgiveness of $976,140.
o The Town has five groundwater production wells and four surface water reservoirs that supply an average of 3 million gallons per day (MGD) of safe drinking water to the residents and businesses, as well as Amherst and Hampshire Colleges, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and parts of Pelham, Belchertown, Leverett and Hadley.
o Until 2018, the Centennial Water Treatment Facility – located in Pelham – filtered about one million gallons of surface water daily for Amherst. The existing facility was in dire need of replacement, due to the age of the facility, as well as changes in the water quality that made the existing treatment process less effective.
o The Centennial Facility went offline in 2018 after lightning struck and damaged significant electrical components. This, in essence, was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back as the Town had been studying replacement options and had developed a preliminary design for repairs to the facility before the lightning strike. The Facility had been struggling to perform at needed levels for many years.
o This project includes construction of a new Centennial Water Treatment Facility with effective and efficient treatment technology. Construction on this project began in May 2023. Demolition of the existing Centennial Water Treatment Facility is complete. Construction on its replacement is expected to finish in May 2025.
o The Clean Water Trust helps communities build or replace water infrastructure that enhances ground and surface water resources, ensures the safety of drinking water, protects public health, and develops resilient communities. It accomplishes these objectives by providing low-interest loans and grants to cities, towns, and water utilities through the Massachusetts State Revolving Funds. SRFs function like an environmental infrastructure bank by financing water infrastructure projects.
o For more information, visit the website here:
https://www.amherstma.gov/1491/Centennial-Water-Treatment-Plant
• Pomeroy Village MassWorks Grant: We are awaiting the delivery of some signage to formally close out this very successful project.
• North Common Restoration/Main Street Parking Lot:
o Work on the Amherst North Common has made considerable progress this fall. The
North Common – that section of the Town Common that lies between Main and
Spring Streets – is being renovated to be a more welcoming, actively used space in the center of downtown Amherst.
o Work on the project will stop for the winter but will resume as soon as the weather breaks in the Spring. The project is projected to be completed by June 30, 2024.
o Years of careful planning after gathering community input led to a plan that makes the space more welcoming to the public, including ADA-compliant walkways, and provides space for community gatherings and events.
o The design includes gracious ADA accessible walkways, small seating areas that promote social gatherings, large open spaces for community gatherings, new plantings, and a more open feel throughout the green space. A variety of smaller gathering spaces will be spread throughout the Common to encourage people to linger and enjoy downtown.
o Over the years, the North Common has been heavily used for different activities: ceremonies to honor Veterans, peace vigils for 45 years, celebrations, protests, and occasional performances. A working group was formed in 2018, comprised of members from the Amherst Historical Commission, the Recreation Commission (formerly referred to as the LSSE Commission), and Town of Amherst staff, to host public meetings and solicit input from the community on ideas for improvements to the North Common area which was sorely in need of attention. The timeline for the project was delayed due to COVID 19 shutdowns. Construction began in the Fall of2023.
o The work will include new walkways around the perimeter of the North Common as well as a new bus stop on Main Street. A large plaza is planned along Boltwood Avenue in front of Town Hall for gatherings and events. The interior of the common will have eight-foot-wide walkways as well as a large central seating area with tables. The walkway system also incorporates small circular and semi-circular sitting areas with benches and a new interpretive area for the relocated Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) fountain. The two existing flag poles will be retained and relocated on the site.
o The design also incorporates a sloping lawn area west of Town Hall behind the plaza that is terraced with multiple granite seating walls. This lawn area replaces the parking lot and is envisioned as an active community space. Additional site improvements include new benches, tables, trash receptacles, bus shelter, bike share station, and site lighting. Landscaping features include improved storm water management with small rain gardens and ground cover, street trees along Main Street, as well as flowering trees and shrubs within the Common.
o The roadway work will reconstruct a portion of Main Street, South Pleasant Street, and Boltwood Avenue and abutting sidewalks.
Boltwood Ave will be redirected one-way heading south, and its length in front of Town Hall will be transformed into a raised plaza that can be closed to traffic for events. The remaining section of Boltwood Avenue along the North Common will have parallel parking on the east and west sides and new sidewalks on both sides.
o The North Common is the northernmost section of the original historic common in Amherst’s Town Center and is approximately 1.7 acres. It is a portion of the public right-of-way in the Town center, located north of Spring Street and south of Main Street. The North Common continues to be used as a public common and is managed by the Department of Public Works, with oversight by the Amherst Historical Commission, under the broad jurisdiction of the Town Council.
o The North Common Improvement Project is funded by local Community Preservation Act dollars as well as a Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant. The project focuses on the renovation of the existing North Common with a design that accommodates formal and informal activities as well as promotes pedestrian connections, providing fully ADA compliant amenities, improves existing site drainage, provides new street and park lighting, and enhances site plantings.
o The final concept for this restoration and re-activation of the space has been put forth by the Department of Public Works. The DPW is also overseeing the project work which is being done by the Caracas Construction Corporation from Ludlow, Massachusetts. The funding for this project comes from Town of Amherst Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) funds and funds from the Transportation Enterprise Fund. An additional $827,066 in funding was granted by a Massachusetts Land and Water Conservation Fund grant.
o Thanks to the following committees and boards who have contributed to supporting this project:
• Department of Public Works – design and construction oversight
• Town Council
• Planning Department
• Historical Commission
• Design Review Board
• Disability Access Advisory Committee
• Tree Warden
• Public Shade Tree Committee
• Amherst Business Improvement District
• For the most recent schematic drawing and more construction details:
https://www.amherstma.gov/3395/North-Common-Project
• North Amherst Library: The Certificate of Occupancy has been issued. The Library is moving its material into the building. We are planning a formal ribbon cutting and dedication in the spring.
• Hickory Ridge:
o Solar: Staff from Conservation, Inspections Services, and Fire are working with representatives of PureSky on the final design and permitting for the solar array at the former Hickory Ridge Golf Course. After months of delay, the project has been making its way back through the Conservation Commission and Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Most of the recent focus has been on updated plans for stormwater management, access to the site during flooding
events, and the type and safety of the proposed batteries for the arrays. Staff anticipate continuing to work with the PureSky team on these issues during next 60 days. If all concerns are addressed construction should commence in the spring or early summer.
o Trails: Town staff have been working with State officials on the layout and design of the proposed trail network.
o Update: The Assistant Town Manager will provide an update on the site and plans at a meeting early in 2024.
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS
➢ January 8th – Town Council meeting
➢ January 15th – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday
➢ January 19-20th – Massachusetts Municipal Association Annual Meeting
➢ January 22nd – Town Council meeting
➢ February 5th – Town Council meeting
➢ February 19th – Presidents Day holiday
➢ February 26th – Town Council meeting
➢ March 4th – Town Council meeting
➢ March 18th – Town Council meeting
