Town Manager Report for October 7, 2024

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 on the town’s website here: Town Manager Reports

TOWN MANAGER

Cuppa Joe with Paul: Police Chief Gabe Ting joined me for the last Cuppa Joe at Atkins Farm. I thank all of those who came out to discuss their concerns with the Chief and me.
The next Cuppa’ Joe will be on Friday, October 11th from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. at Futura Coffee in North Square at the Mill District. Stephanie Ciccarello, the Town’s Sustainability Director, will join me to discuss several of the Town’s
Heat Pump program. Stop by, get a cup of coffee and pastry, and join in the conversation.
The “Cuppa’ Joe with Paul” coffees are a monthly event. Residents and others are welcome to share their concerns, offer suggestions, or just get to know each other.
State-wide Leadership: I have been re-nominated to serve on the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Municipal Managers Association which includes membership on the Massachusetts Municipal Association Board of Directors.
Charter Review Committee: The Charter Review Committee elected Julian Hynes to serve as interim chair and Andy Churchill as interim vice-chair. They will serve in their interim roles for the next two committee meetings.
The next meeting is scheduled for October 10th at 6:00 p.m. The Committee plans to meet on Thursday evenings alternating with GOL, on Zoom. They will schedule additional outreach meetings and events throughout their review process.
Higher Education: The University of Massachusetts Amherst announced the creation of UMass Downtown, a multipurpose retail, event, and meeting space in downtown Amherst. UMass Downtown will be at 108 North Pleasant Street. The vision is for the University to have a presence in
The storefront will serve as a boutique retail location and campus information and welcome center during regular business hours. In the evenings it will be a regular site for small lectures, readings, and workshops. Additionally, the space will function as a welcome center for prospective students and their families and a hub of town-gown interaction with community members.
Resource Fairs: The Town partnered with the University’s Office of Off Campus Student Life to host three resource fairs in neighborhoods near the University: Fearing Street neighborhood, Farview neighborhood, and North Prospect Street neighborhood.
Key Dates: ▪ Mid-semester break: Amherst College: October 12th – October 15th
Hampshire College: October 12th – October 15th
University of Massachusetts Amherst: October 12th – October 15th
▪ Thanksgiving vacation: Amherst College: November 25th – December 1st
Hampshire College: November 27th – December 1st
University of Massachusetts Amherst: November 26th – December 1st
▪ Spring classes begin: Amherst College: January 27th
Hampshire College: January 29th
University of Massachusetts Amherst: January 30th
▪ April break: Amherst College: March 17th – 21st
Hampshire College: March 15th – 23rd
University of Massachusetts Amherst: March 17th – 21st .
▪ Commencement: Amherst College: May 25th
Hampshire College: May 17th
University of Massachusetts Amherst: May 16th – 18th

• Committee Appointments: I will continue to submit appointments and reappointments in the coming weeks. The Town has over 30 boards and committees that support and advise the work of Town government and each has multiple residents who are members. Terms of service are typically three years; some may be short. People interested in serving may fill out a Community Activity Form here: https://www.amherstma.gov/FormCenter/Community-Activity-Form-14-14/Community-Activity-Form-62-62

DEPARTMENT UPDATES

Administration and Finance

Town Clerk: Credentials: Assistant Town Clerk Amber Martin recently achieved the Certified Municipal Clerk designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. The International Institute of Municipal Clerks grants the Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation only to those Municipal Clerks who complete demanding
significant contributions to their local government, their community, and state.
Elections: The Town Clerk’s office is preparing for the General Election on November 5th. Key dates for the elections can be found here: https://www.amherstma.gov/3665/Elections

Finance: Credentials: Assistant Treasurer Brooke Johnson recently earned her designation as Certified Massachusetts Municipal Assistant Treasurer from the Massachusetts Collectors Treasurers Association (MCTA). This designation is awarded to MCTA members who complete three years of required courses along with passing an exam that focuses on rules and regulations that govern Treasurers according to Massachusetts General Laws.

Human Resources: Fire Chief: The Fire Chief Search Committee has been meeting to establish the qualities they are seeking in a new Fire Chief. They have reviewed the applications and will be initiating interviews in the coming weeks. I anticipate this process to be completed by November.
Planning Director: The search has been initiated for a new Planning Director. A search is on for the Town’s next Planning Director. I am searching for a leader who is passionate about fostering inclusive, sustainable development and making a lasting impact. You can find the job advertisement here: https://www.amherstma.gov/jobs.aspx

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Department: Staff update: The Department welcomed Malina Zaija, who will serve as an AmeriCorps Member working with both the CRESS and DEI Departments on youth empowerment and enrichment programming.
Workshops/Outreach: ▪ DEI staff workshops resumed on September 20th, the fall workshop series topics include conversations regarding America’s Racial History, the Anniversary of the ADA and celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in October and a workshop on implicit bias in November which serves as a precursor to the winter series on Race, class, and gender.
▪ The “Becoming Beloved Community” conversations continued on September 26th where facilitators guided conversations regarding America’s Racial History in reference to African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinx Americans, Native Americans, Affirmative Action, and Voter Suppression.
▪ Department staff attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst off campus student resource fairs, participated in the Bangs Community Center Open House, the Town Block Party, and the Senior Center Volunteer Fair.
Reparations: ▪ The Town Council is reviewing the charge for the Amherst Black Reparations Committee.
▪ A recommendation for funds to be transferred to the Reparations Stabilization Fund once Free Cash is certified in November.
Resident Oversight Board: ▪ The Town has contracted with a pair of consultants to help create a proposal for a Resident Oversight Board which will be presented to the Town Council for its consideration.
▪ If approved by the Town Council, the consultants will develop a training process for the inaugural board members, establish board policies and procedures, and establish a train-the-trainer processes for future board members. This work is poised to begin.
▪ Town staff will have a web page up shortly that will be a central repository for all material associated with this initiative, including past studies and reports.
Police Protocols: The Police Chief is reviewing departmental policies and standard operating procedures to address the dispatching of CRESS responders and police procedures.
Youth Empowerment: The Recreation Director and Assistant DEI Director are leading the work to identify existing resources, existing opportunities, and coordinate work toward developing additional opportunities for the Town’s young people. The Town is inventorying existing out-of-school learning, recreational, and cultural opportunities for children in 6th-9th grades in Amherst and neighboring towns. The Town is also inventorying existing Town-owned buildings to assess their conditions and uses for other purposes including a Youth Empowerment Center. The Town is also exploring other options for addressing the need for additional services and locations for the Town’s young people.

Public Safety

Fire Department: The Fire Department held its annual Open House on Saturday, October 5 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Central Fire Station. Activities included fire safety demonstrations, vehicle extrication, display of new equipment, and Sparky the Fire Dog!
The Town of Amherst Fire Department has been awarded $297,090 in grant funding to replace the protective gear for every member of the
Agency (FEMA) as a part of their Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) Program.
Community Responders for Equity, Safety, and Service: Work on standardizing the operating procedures for receiving and transmitting internal calls has been completed. The work with Qualtrics on data collection forms is nearing completion and nearly ready to be implemented. There is continued, focused work with the Police Department and Dispatch on adopting protocols for dispatching CRESS to calls from Dispatch.
There are open positions in CRESS and the Director continues to recruit and review applications to fill these positions.
Police Department: Ceremonial Swearing-in Ceremony: The community came together on August 19th for a ceremonial swearing-in of Gabe Ting as the Town’s Police Chief.
Morning Movement and Mentoring: The Department has been a prime sponsor and active participant in the Morning Movement and Mentoring program is put on departments and agencies. More information below.

Community Services

• Veterans: Veterans Community Breakfast for All. Please try to stop by for a cup of coffee. Sponsored by the CRESS Department and organized by its Veterans Outreach Worker Gene Herman. The breakfasts are held on the first and third Fridays of the month from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. in the Bangs Community Center. Veterans, Spouses, Caregivers, Amherst Community Members.
• Senior Services: o Data from August: ▪ There were over 584 check-ins at the Senior Centers, with an average attendance of 26 people per day.
▪ There were 91 rides on the Silver Shuttle.
▪ 747 people across our various programs received services (in person and virtual).
▪ Over 181 volunteer hours were logged.
▪ 77 social service consultations with our Social Service Coordinator.
▪ 260 shoppers at the Wednesday Market.
o Partnership: The Department is collaborating with Amherst College in big ways this fall! There will be two panel discussions and a field trip to Amherst College as part of Assistant Professor of Political Science, Ruxandra Paul’s course on “Acceptable Prejudice: Age, Aging, and Ageism.” The course highlights how prejudice, stereotyping, and othering based on age is the “last acceptable prejudice” in democratic. ▪ Participants are invited to reflect on their experiences by coming the Senior Center on Thursday, October 10th at 10am, Thursday, November 14th at 10am, or visiting Amherst College on Thursday, December 5th at 10am.
▪ The second course is taught by Senior Lecturer of American Studies, Wendy H. Bergoffen and focuses on the role that community plays in our identities. Interested participants will have two opportunities to discuss their perspectives on what makes a healthy and vibrant community by joining our panels on Tuesday, October 8th at 10am and Tuesday, November 12th at 10am.
▪ The Senior Center is also collaborating with students in the Public Art Collaborative Practices course led by Assistant Professor of Art, Lucia Monge. Students will be at the Senior Center on Tuesday, September 24th at 9:00am to discuss ideas for a mural project.
o Health Fair: The Senior Center will be hosting a Health Fair on Tuesday, October 8th from 4:00-6:00pm. As Medicare Open Enrollment season gets underway, it’s agood time to think about your health! Participating agencies include Funeral Consumers Alliance of Western MA, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice, Mass General Brigham, Highland Valley Elder Services, and more! We will also be featuring a demonstration of the “Best Wheelchair Upgrade Ever” by Marvin Glover. To see a preview of his invention, go to: https://tinyurl.com/BestUpgradeEver.
o Tax Work-off Program: I have collaborated with the Principal Assessor and Director of Senior Services to implement the increase the maximum reduction of the real estate property tax bill from $1,500 to $2,000 per year based on 125 volunteer service hours per tax year. Publicity on this change was sent out in August.
o Wednesday Market: Senior Center has partnered with Whole Foods to create a Wednesday Market offering fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, sweets, shelf stable groceries, and occasionally items like milk, meat, and cheese. The program is free, requires no registration, and is open to the community. It has become extremely popular. The Market operates on Wednesdays from 10:30am-12:00pm in the Large Activity Room of the Bangs Community Center. Food is distributed on a first come, first served basis and participants are encouraged to bring their own bag(s).
Newsletter: The new September/October 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 available: https://www.amherstma.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/17304
o Open House: The Departments housed in the Bangs Center (CRESS, DEI, Public Health, Senior Center, and Veterans Services), collaborating with the Musante Health Center clinic staff, hosted an open house for the community on September 17th.

• Public Health: Vaccine Clinic: The Department is sponsoring a free vaccine clinic at The Arbors at 130 University Drive on Tuesday, October 8th from 10:00 – 3:00 p.m. ▪ The registration link is here: https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/cdrmaguire?site=assisted-living-facility-cdr The clinic is for ages 6 months and up. Walk-ins are welcome.
▪ COVID and flu vaccines will be provided at no cost (however, we respectfully ask individuals with insurance to present their plan info). Identification is NOT required for vaccination. No one will be turned away!
▪ Additionally, please notify anyone who could benefit that DPH is now offering FREE in-home vaccination for COVID and flu across the Commonwealth. Anyone (aged 6 months and up) who has difficulty getting a community vaccination location is eligible. Appointments will occur within seven days of a vaccination request. For more information, click here.
▪ For a list of upcoming free COVID/flu clinics across Massachusetts, click here. ▪ Staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination is the most effective way to prevent severe illness and hospitalization, as well as long COVID.
▪ The Town’s most up-to-date guidance for managing COVID infection can be found here. Public Health staff also recently added a Long COVID page to the website.
Recreation: Morning Movement and Mentoring: The Morning Movement and Mentoring Program (MMMP) has proven to be a tremendous success. MMMP provides mentorship through fun and engaging activities such as basketball, volleyball, golf, weight training, and more. ▪ MMMP is a highly collaborative program that has created strong partnerships among many public agencies.
▪ MMMP is a program of the Amherst Regional Public School District Family Center with support from the District.
▪ Funding is provided by the Amherst Recreation Department utilizing ARPA funds.
▪ Support is provided by the Recreation Department, Police Department, CRESS Department, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Amherst College.
▪ The program would not happen without the support of the ARPS Transportation Department, Athletic Director Victoria Dawson, and ARHS Principal Talib Sadiq.
▪ In its third year, this program is supporting Amherst Regional Public Schools students in grades 7-9.
▪ MMMP runs Monday through Thursday for 32 weeks of the school year, which totals to 121 days.

Conservation and Development

Conservation: Puffer’s Pond ▪ The Town received a $250,000 grant for dam and dike repairs to Puffer’s Pond (Factory Hollow). The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs provided the grant through its Dam and Seawall program. Amherst was one of only 23 municipalities and nonprofit organization to be awarded a grant to address critical repairs.
▪ Extensive information on Puffers Pond can be found here: https://www.amherstma.gov/1316/Puffers-Pond
Inspection Services: ▪ Rental Registration: We reported that permit issuance would take longer this year. Participants were notified in the last notice that went to our group contact list. The revised bylaw resulted in the Town needing to create a new permit application system requiring different information than was gathered previously. The system is quite simple but will take more time for the applicant to submit and Town staff to review than in prior years. This will only occur in the first year when all the required data is being collected and we are building the property profile to connect land use permits, parking plans, and management plans. We have received 1,182 permit applications and completed review on approximately 500 so far. As we fill our vacant positions in October, things will speed up and we’ll hopefully complete our work on all the submitted applications sometime in November.
- Planning: ▪ Planning Director: The community joined in a celebration of Christine Brestrup’s 21 years of service to the Town. Chris has been a strong, steadying leader for the Planning Department since her appointment as Director in 2016. Her passion and willingness to fully engage in respectful dialogue with all members of the public set an example for all Town employees and leaders. More on Chris can be found here: https://www.amherstma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3622&ARC=7039
- A search is on for the Town’s next Planning Director. Are you a dynamic and creative leader looking to make a significant impact in a vibrant and growing community? We invite you to join us as our Planning Director, where you will have the exciting opportunity to engage in transformative community development projects. There is a lot going on in Amherst, including development of new commercial and residential projects, improvements to our parks and commons, preservation of our open spaces, construction of affordable housing, and much more. Our town is home to three distinguished colleges – Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts – creating a collaborative environment filled with fresh ideas and innovative solutions. If you’re passionate about fostering inclusive, sustainable development and making a lasting impact, we invite you to help us shape the future of our community! You can find the job advertisement here: https://www.amherstma.gov/jobs.aspx
- ▪ Downtown Design Standards: Background: The Town is working on updated Downtown Design Standards that will guide how our downtown streetscapes and private properties look and standards reflect the needs and aspirations of everyone who lives, works, and spends time downtown. More information can be found here: https://www.amherstma.gov/3797/2024-25-Downtown-Design-Standards
Outreach: Planning staff and consultants have been very active in holding stakeholder meetings and public events to provide input to the consultants, Dodson & Flinker, on what people would like to see (or not see) downtown. In-person workshops were held on September 13 and 14. A Visioning Workshop was held on October 3rd.
Schedule:
▪ Open Space and Recreation Plan: The Planning Department is working on an update of the Open Space and Recreation Plan. Everyone is invited to take a survey, giving us input on what they think about Amherst’s open space and recreation lands. https://www.amherstma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3506
Sustainability: ▪ Fleet Vehicle GHG Emissions Inventory Report: The final Amherst Municipal Fleet Greenhouse Gas Emissions Timeline and Transition Report was completed by the Town’s University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute Fellow this past summer.
▪ Valley Green Energy: The CCA officially launches on November 1st.
The participation opt-out period for community members who are currently on Eversource Basic Service ended on October 2nd. However, it should be noted that people can opt out at any time. Those community members who receive their electricity from a supplier they chose (aka ‘third party supplier’) will need to opt-in to the program. They will want to check with their supplier to ensure there are no penalties before they do so.
The three communities (Amherst, Northampton, and Pelham) held a well-attended joint VGE Community Information Session on September .

The recording is located on the town’s VGE webpage: Valley Green Energy | Amherst, MA – Official Website (amherstma.gov)
Additional outreach included radio interviews with local media outlets: New England Public Media (The Fabulous 413) Sep. 16, 2024: Prescription for the curious | New England Public Media (nepm.org)
WHMP (Talk the Talk) Green Energy for All! w/ Stephanie Ciccarello & Ben Weil in Good News Bad News (soundcloud.com)
▪ Valley Bikeshare: The City of Northampton, as lead community for the Valley Bikeshare program, applied for funding from the MASS CEC to cover operations and other expenses for years two and three covered under the contract with Drop Mobility. Updates on the results of the grant funding are pending. The station in front of Town Hall is scheduled to be reinstalled in Spring ’25.
▪ Heat Pump Program: The Director of Sustainability has been meeting with the Center for Ecotechnology which was awarded the contract to manage the Town’s heat pump program campaign. The team is developing a marketing and outreach strategy and materials, a timeline and implementation schedule. They will be seeking 2-3 households willing to serve as pilot households for the program as a soft launch approach within the next few months.
▪ Green Communities “Climate Leader Community”: The Town is looking into becoming a Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources ‘Climate Leader Community’. Designation will provide access to significantly greater funding – particularly for building decarbonization projects – then is currently available under the existing Green Communities Program. We are investigating the requirements of the program and seeking support from other municipal departments, especially the school district.
- Housing: ▪ Permanent Shelter: The Town of Amherst is currently working with architecture firm The Narrow Gate to explore possible development approaches for 457 Main Street. The Town acquired this property to help serve housing-insecure individual.
- In June, many Amherst residents gathered to offer input into the anticipated redevelopment of the former VFW into shelter and supportive housing. Led by architects from The Narrow Gate, this session was followed by a series of smaller meetings with key stakeholders and community leaders. On September 25, The Narrow Gate presented conceptual designs inspired by this process. These designs will help to inform a more formal process in the future that will result in the construction of a new building serving unhoused and housing-insecure neighbors.
- Narrow Gate analyzed the site, developed potential programming and space needs, and created a conceptual site design with 3D renderings.
- The former VFW has been demolished.
- ▪ Housing Trust Strategic Planning Effort: A consultant from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership outlined the plan for the Trust in setting goals and strategies for next few years and went over the timeline for that process. One goal is to figure out what the Trust should focus on as a priority. The consultant and Town staff will review former Trust efforts and will share with the Trust as part of the planning process.

Public Works

Grant Awards: The Department of Public Works has been successful at obtaining grants for Town priorities including: Atkins Reservoir: The Town was awarded a $260,000 grant to support the design and permitting of dredging three sedimentation basins at Atkins Reservoir. ▪ This grant funding is from the FY25 Inland Dredging Pilot Project of the Massachusetts Dredging Program coordinated by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED).
▪ The Atkins Reservoir sedimentation basins have needed dredging for many years. Previous sedimentation rate studies at the basins showed they have minimal storage capacity left and will soon fail, causing sedimentation in the reservoir. Preserving the storage capacity and water quality of Atkins Reservoir is crucial to providing healthy drinking water to the residents of Amherst.
▪ The Atkins Reservoir dredging project involves removal of an estimated 1,800 cubic yards of material from three sedimentation basins that treat surface water prior to entering the Atkins Reservoir. All basins are currently at or near full capacity, impairing their ability to trap and divert material from the reservoir. The primary purposes of dredging the basins are to improve treatment of surface water before it enters the reservoir and to avoid sedimentation in the reservoir which diminishes its storage capacity.
▪ This project builds on work completed under two Water Management Act Grants Amherst received in 2016 and 2018 to study stream flow in the Atkins Reservoir watershed and impacts to the Adams Brook from diverting water to the reservoir. The 2018 report recommended dredging of the sedimentation basins to allow stream flow diversion during high flow events and less during low flow times.
▪ Funding from this grant will be used to hire an environmental consulting firm to collect data including sediment sampling, topographic and bathymetric surveys, and wetland delineation, and to put together a sediment management plan and design drawings. The data and design plans will be used to complete and submit permit applications with various government agencies. The dredging will require rigorous environmental permitting including submittal to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office. Once the project design and permitting are complete the Town will seek additional funding for the work.
MVP Grant: The Town was awarded a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant of $1,179,700 grant to improve flood resiliency and water quality in the Fort River watershed. ▪ This grant implements the second phase of a project that began when Amherst was awarded a $169,250 MVP Action Grant in 2023.
▪ The project will upgrade infrastructure to improve the resiliency of the Fort River watershed in response to climate change. In 2023, the Town received an MVP Action Grant to support designing and permitting the replacement of three undersized, damaged culverts. Funding from this 2024 MVP Action Grant will be used to support the final design and construction cost to replace two of these culverts for stream crossing improvements.
▪ The overall goals of the project are to improve the resiliency of Town infrastructure as we see changes in precipitation and river flow patterns due to climate change, improve aquatic and terrestrial wildlife passage, and improve the water quality and overall health of the Fort River for the public to enjoy into the future as our climate changes.
Cybersecurity Grant: The Town obtained a $50,000 Cybersecurity Improvement Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Drinking Water Program (DWP). ▪ The Town conducted a thorough assessment of its computer systems in the Department of Public Works Water Department and identified areas for improvement. With this information, the Town applied for and received a grant to address many of the identified needs.
▪ Computers and other technology are used on a daily basis to monitor drinking water production, manage water treatment plants, and oversee water distribution systems. In addition to on-site management, the Town utilizes around-the-clock remote monitoring. This monitoring allows drinking water operators to receive notifications immediately if there is an issue with the drinking water system, such as a rapid decrease in distribution pressure which may indicate a major water main break in the system.
▪ The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Drinking Water Program is actively working to improve cybersecurity and resilience of public water suppliers. The goal of this Cybersecurity Improvement Grant program is to support public water suppliers in improving their cybersecurity defense, mitigating the risks of cyber-attacks, and enhancing overall resiliency and compliance.
Water Supply Protection Grant: The Town received a Massachusetts Energy & Environmental Affairs Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant for $65,220 to support the purchase of approximately 11.11 acres along Sand Hill Road in Shutesbury within the watershed of Atkins Reservoir. The Town Council approved this purchase, and the purchase was completed last week.
Town is in the process of completing a water service line inventory, as required by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Town staff are reviewing all available records, however there are some gaps in the information we have in our files – which is where we need help. Town staff are sending out a quick 5-minute survey to everyone who receives Town water – which requests that they provide information to help us fill the gaps in our records. The survey involves finding the water service line in your residence (typically located in the basement), determining the material type and size, and attaching a photo. There are instructions within the survey that guide folks through the process of finding their service line and identifying the size and material type. Information about the Service Line Inventory is available here: https://amherstma.gov/3791/Water-Service-Line-Inventory The survey to submit your service line information is here: https://arcg.is/1X1GCi1
New information has been added to the Water webpage and the Wastewater webpage and to the Water and Sewer Billing page.
The Town will be required to send out letters to every household in Amherst where the inventory shows that they either have : (1) a confirmed lead service line, (2) a galvanized service line needing replacement, or (3) an unknown service line material. Due to gaps in our records (and in residents completing the survey), we’ll be sending out roughly 300 of those letters – mainly for folks falling into the 3rd category.
The Town has posted information about water and sewer service lines, as requested by the Town Council. It states: The Town of Amherst provides water and sewer service through its main lines in Town roads. Most property owners are connected to these main lines by “service lines.” Property owners are responsible for the repair and maintenance of their service lines that service their property by connecting the main line to the property owner’s residence or business. This includes both the service lines that are on the property owner’s private property and the service lines that are in the public way up to the main line. Per the Town’s regulations, property owners are responsible for the entire length of the water and sewer service that serves their property, from their building to the public main. So, when repairs are needed, the property owner is responsible.
▪ The Town recommends that property owners assess their water and sewer line protection needs. You can contact local insurance agents to explore the available coverage options, which typically supplement property owner’s insurance. Be sure that you communicate the full length of the line you are responsible for to ensure you have adequate coverage.
▪ If you are having difficulty finding service line coverage protection, please feel free to contact us.
There is no curbside collection of loose leaves. Loose leaves may be brought to the Transfer Station if you have a current sticker. If you do not have a sticker, you may purchase one for $125 (residential sticker), $140 (contractor/business sticker) on-line or at the Transfer Station, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday 8:00AM – 2:00PM they accept cash or check.
Place bagged leaves at the curb by 7:00AM. on the day your area is scheduled for pickup. Leaf bags will no longer be sold at the DPW or Transfer Station. Bags are available from many retailers, and prices may vary – please check that bags are biodegradable.
The DPW will pick up bagged leaves only and will follow routes designated by areas of town. ▪ Monday, October 28, 2024: East & West Amherst. The WEST area of Town includes Amity Street, Lincoln Ave., and all streets in between the boundary of Massachusetts Ave and Northampton Rd. (Allen, Beston, Blue Hills Rd., Cosby, Cowls Lane, Dana Pl., Dana St., Elm, Fearing, Gaylord, Hallock, Kendrick, McClellan, McClure, Nutting Ave, Paige, Phillips, North & South Prospect, Sunset.) The EAST area of Town includes Amherst Woods and Echo Hill Developments and Belchertown Rd. east of Gatehouse Rd, Cortland Dr., Old Belchertown Rd., Old Farms Rd., Harkness Rd. (west side from Stony Hill to Route 9), Heatherstone, Iduna Lane, and Logtown Rd.
▪ Tuesday, October 29, 2024: South Amherst. All streets proceeding from Northampton Rd. (south), Bay Rd, Belchertown Rd. (west of Gatehouse Rd.), Carriage Rd., Columbia Dr., East Hadley Rd., Farmington Rd., Glendale Rd., Hulst Rd., Longmeadow Dr., Middle St., Mill Lane, Mount Holyoke Dr., Orchard Dr., Pelham Rd. (to Town Line), Pomeroy Lane, Pondview Dr., Potwine Lane, Shays St., South Pleasant St., Stanley St., Station Rd. (west of Iduna Lane), West Street to Bay Rd., West Bay Rd., and West Pomeroy Lane.
▪ Wednesday, November 6, 2024: North Amherst. All streets proceeding from North Pleasant Street (north of the UMass Campus), East Pleasant St. (north of

25 MPH: The Town has purchased signs and awaiting the delivery of other items to post the 25 MPH speed limit approved by the Town Council.
Leaf Collection: Curbside pick-up of bagged leaves, using the Town-approved, 30-gallon paper biodegradable bag, will begin Monday, October 28, 2024.
Strong St.), Berkshire Terrace, Blackberry Lane, Bridge St., Cherry Lane, Cowls Rd., East Leverett Rd., Fairfield St., Flat Hills Rd., Grantwood Dr., Harlow Dr., Henry St., Hitching Post, Leverett Rd., Market Hill Rd., Meadow St., Montague Rd., North East St. (north from Strong St.), Pine St., Pulpit Hill Rd., Rolling Ridge, Sand Hill Rd., Sheerman Lane, State St., Sunderland Rd., Shutesbury Rd., and Van Meter.
▪ Thursday, November 7, 2024: Central Amherst. All streets within the boundaries and including Strong St., No. Pleasant, College St., and North East St. (from Main to Strong), Arbor Way, Butterfield Terrace, Canton Ave., Chestnut, Churchill, Clifton Ave., College, Cottage, Dickinson, Eames Ave., East St. Common, East Pleasant (from Strong St. to North Pleasant St.), Gray, Grove, Harvard Ave., Hedgerow, High, Hills Rd., Kellogg Ave., Lessey, Main St. (to the bridge at Fort River), Maplewood Cir., Maplewood Dr., Mt. Pleasant, Newell Court, North Whitney, Pleasant Court, Pokeberry Ridge, Red Gate Lane, Salem, Seelye, Shumway, Smith, South Whitney, Spring, Strong, Taylor, Triangle, Tyler Place, Wildwood Lane, and Windridge Terrace.
▪ Friday, November 8, 2024: This day is reserved as a make-up day. If for any reason (such as inclement weather) the DPW trucks are unable to complete the bagged leaves pickup in scheduled areas, trucks will return to the missed area on this day.
- ▪ Weather permitting; the same routes will be used for a second collection during the week of November 25, 2024. Place leaves, bagged in a 30-gallon paper biodegradable bag, at the curb by 7:00AM for collection on the following dates: Monday, November 25, 2024, in East & West Amherst
- Tuesday, November 26, 2024, in South Amherst
- Wednesday, November 27, 2024, in North Amherst
- Thursday, December 5, 2024, in Central Amherst
- Friday, December 6, 2024, will be a make-up day.
- ▪ If DPW trucks finish early in one area they will proceed to the next area designated for collection.
- Belchertown Road: The Town’s contract will be installing new storm drainage, reconstructing sidewalks, and repaving a section of Belchertown Road/RT9.
- Bellview Circle: Water mains will be replaced on Bellview Circle.
- Montague Road: The State Department of Transportation has replaced the sidewalks on Monague Road/State Route 63 from Pulpit Hill Road to Cowls Road.
- North Pleasant Street: Contractors are working on the reconstruction of North Pleasant Street adjacent to Kendrick Park (between McClellan Street and Triangle Street). This project will implement the improvements to North Pleasant Street including parking changes that were approved by the Town Council.
- Other Paving: ▪ Town contractors have been completed or are working on: Old Farm Road from Wildflower Drive to Stavros.
- Thistle Lane – Stony Hill to the end in preparation for reclaiming.

Sewer Division: Work will begin in the next few weeks to replace the sewer pump station on Southeast Street near the South Common. Work will take 6-8 weeks.
Road Work: Extensive road and sidewalk work has been undertaken in Town this summer and fall.
Oak Knoll Street – Heatherstone Road to the end in preparation for reclaiming.
Market Hill Road- Flat Hills Road to Shutesbury Townline in preparation for an overlay.
Stony Hill Road – (eyebrow) 83 Stony Hill Road to end in preparation for an overlay.
Cottage Street – Chestnut Street to Morrow Lane in preparation for an overlay.
Woodside Avenue – Northampton Road (Route 9) to Hitchcock Road in preparation for an overlay.
Edgehill Place – Logtown Road to end in preparation for an overlay.
Salem Street – Main Street to end in preparation for an overlay.
Farmington Road– West Pomeroy Lane to 2nd Pondview Drive entrance in preparation for an overlay.
North Hadley Road – Lincoln Avenue to Sunset Avenue in preparation for an overlay.
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.

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):
Short-Term Public Way Closures (Section 3b of the Town Council Policy): 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):

MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS

Jones Library Renovation and Expansion: The project is out to bid with bids due at the end of October
The Town has contracted with Public Archaeology Laboratory (PAL) to consult on the Section 106 historical review for the Jones Library Renovation and Expansion. This is a required step when Federal funds are designated. The Jones Library Capital Campaign will reimburse the Town for the expenses of this community engagement work.
DPW Building/Fire Building: I will be pulling together a building committee to support the development of a cohesive plan for building these two new buildings.
Elementary School Building Committee: Construction bids for the new Fort River Elementary School came in under budget, bringing the total bid savings on the project to date to $4.8 million. Bids were opened on Tuesday and presented to the Elementary School Building Committee on Friday.
The Town received three bids for the project. All were below the budgeted amount. CTA Construction Managers of Waltham submitted the lowest of three bids for the construction of the school itself at $73.48 million. The other bidders were J&J Contractors of North Billerica ($75.01 million bid) and Fontaine Brothers Inc. of Springfield ($75.62 million experienced, and the Town’s architect has worked with all three successfully.
The three bids were clustered tightly, ranging from $73.5 million to $75.6 million. The Owner’s Project Manager said this indicated that the bid documents were thorough and well-coordinated. Coming in below the estimate indicates a competitive bid environment.
The low bidder was required to provide necessary paperwork to comply with the bid requirements. This has been completed and I anticipate I will award the contract this week.
For more information, visit the School Building Project website here: https://www.amherst-school- project.com/

PROJECTS UPDATE

Centennial Water Treatment Facility: On September 18th, the Town hosted a Topping Off Ceremony for the Centennial Water Treatment Plant. This ceremony celebrated a major milestone in building the new water plant, with full completion expected for Fall 2025.
The reconstructed Centennial Water Treatment Plant will be a state-of-the-art facility that will ensure an ample supply of safe drinking water for decades to come.
The Centennial Water Treatment Plant will be a surface water treatment plant located in Pelham that provides up to 1 million gallons per day of treated water to the Amherst water system. The previous facility needed replacement due to its age and changes in water quality that made the treatment process less effective. The facility went offline in 2018 after lightning struck and damaged significant electrical components. The new facility will have more effective and efficient treatment technology including dissolved air flotation treatment and granular activated carbon filters.
During the ceremony, remarks were also shared by State Representative Mindy Domb,
Hanneke, and Superintendent of Public Works Guilford Mooring. Attendees included representatives from State Senator Jo Commerford’s office, Tata & Howard, Inc., R.H. White Construction, Amherst College, and the Town of Amherst.
Having this facility online gives us the resiliency we need to overcome things such as climate change that might impact our water system in the future. The Town has five groundwater production wells and four surface water reservoirs that supply an average of 3 million gallons per day of safe drinking water to the residents and businesses, as well as Amherst and Hampshire Colleges, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and parts of Pelham, Belchertown, Leverett, and Hadley.
Construction of the new Centennial Water Treatment Plant, expected to cost $21 million, is being financed by a 1.9% loan with $6 million principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The DWSRF program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) with joint funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the MA DEP.
This major construction project is projected to be completed by the fall of 2025. For more information, visit the website here: https://www.amherstma.gov/1491/Centennial-Water-Treatment-Plant
The Pelham’s CPA Committee voted $99,000 towards the project and will request approval for the funding at its Fall Town Meeting. This is in addition to the $11,000 they have already given to the track and field for a total of $110K. Additional requests are being presented to the Towns of Leverett and Shutesbury.

Track and Field:
North Common Restoration/Main Street Parking Lot: Punch list items remain including light fixtures, paving, pavement markings, and street furniture. We anticipate a grand reopening in the Spring.

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

October 14th – Indigenous Peoples Day holiday

October 21st – Town Council meeting

November 4th – Town Council meeting

November 4th – Financial Indicators presentation

November 11th – Veterans Day holiday

November 18th – Town Council meeting

November 28 – 29 – Thanksgiving Day holiday

December 2nd – Town Council meeting

December 2nd – State of the Town presentation

December 16th – Town Council meeting

December 24th – Christmas Eve half-day holiday

December 25th – Christmas Day holiday

January 1st – New Years Day holiday

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