Amherst College Wayfinding Sign Approved for Amherst Center

Report on the Special Meeting of the Town Council, April 29, 2024.  Part 2

This meeting was held in hybrid format and was recorded. It can be viewed here.

Present
Lynn Griesemer (President, District 2), Mandi Jo Hanneke, Andy Steinberg, Ellisha Walker (at large), Freke Ette and Cathy Schoen (District 1), Pat DeAngelis (District 2), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3), Pam Rooney and Jennifer Taub (District 4), Ana Devlin Gauthier (District 5). Bob Hegner (District 5 was absent). Walker, Ette, and DeAngelis participated remotely. Walker remained in the audience.

Staff: Paul Bockelman (Town Manager) and Athena O’Keeffe (Clerk of the Council)

This special town council meeting was originally scheduled to discuss the regional school budget.

Amherst College Wayfinding Sign Approved for Town Center
The Town Council approved the request of Amherst College to place a wayfinding sign on the corner of South Pleasant Street and College Street adjacent to the campus. The site is owned by the town and is actually part of the town commons. At a previous discussion, several councilors expressed concerns that the sign would interfere with sightlines of cars. The design was referred back to the Town Services and Outreach (TSO) committee in January for further discussion.

The committee concluded that, given the historic relationship between Amherst College and the town, it was appropriate to approve the sign. Mandi Jo Hanneke (at large) disclosed that her husband works for Amherst College, but was confident that she could judge the proposal objectively. She questioned the fact that the current motion to approve the sign did not specify its size or appearance and has no time limit. She pointed out that if the motion passes, the sign is allowed in perpetuity. Hanneke recommended amending the motion to approve the design and size of the sign presented at the January 5 meeting (4 feet 10 inches high and 18 feet long) for 20 years.

Ana Devlin Gauthier (District 5), who disclosed that she is an Amherst College employee, supported limiting the approval of the sign to 20 years. She said, “This is protecting both entities. In 20 years, our needs might have changed, the town’s use plan for that common might change, and the college’s needs for signage might change. We want to set a requirement that it will be revisited.”

George Ryan stated that Amherst College is conscious of its relationship to the town. He noted that the Amherst College Bookstore opened on April 29 in the former A.J. Hastings storefront. “They didn’t have to put the bookstore there,” he said. “The college has a long and storied history and its relationship to this town is a very deep one. We are currently in negotiation with the college for a more permanent, lasting relationship with substantial financial implications. I think it’s time for us to make a gesture to the college, which has now been after our permission for a very, very long time, and I think it’s time for us simply to act.” 

The motion to allow the sign with the originally proposed dimensions and with a requirement to reauthorize after 20 years, passed 11-0.

May Proclaimed Asian American/Pacific Islander Month
Amherst’s fourth annual Asian American/Pacific Islander month will be celebrated on the Town Common, Sunday, May 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be moved to the middle school in the event of rain. The council unanimously passed the proclamation designating May as Asian American/Pacific Islander month.

Listening Session on Heatherstone Road Redesign Set for May 13
Because of the many comments offered by residents of Echo Hill regarding the redesign of Heatherstone Road, removing the island and creating sidewalks and bike lanes, TSO will hold a listening session on Zoom on Monday, May 13 at 6 p.m.

Community Choice Aggregation Agreement Accepted
The state accepted the application from Amherst, Pelham, and Northampton to purchase green energy as a community choice aggregate. The agreement will most likely go into effect next fall. Residents will be able to opt out of the agreement and continue to purchase energy from Eversource. More information to follow.

Councilors Cool to Council President Serving as Ex Officio Member of Council Committees
Cathy Schoen (District 1) proposed that the council president or, in her absence, the vice president serve as a nonvoting ex officio member of all council committees. This is the case in several other towns. However, councilors felt this would give the council president too much influence, since she already controls the agendas for council meetings and is a member of a committee. No vote was taken.

Gabe Ting Appointment as Police Chief Approved
The council confirmed Bockelman’s choice for police chief, Amherst native and long-term police officer Gabe Ting with a vote of 10-1 (Hala Lord voted no). Human Relations Director Melissa Loiodice-Walker praised the work of the nine-member search committee in selecting and interviewing the finalists and recommending Ting to succeed Chief Scott Livingstone, who retired last May. Ting has been acting chief since then.