Safety Zones Coming to Streets Near Middle School and High School

Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, November 18, 2024, Part 3

This meeting was held in a hybrid format and was recorded.

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

Nonvoting Finance Committee member: Bernie Kubiak. Absent: Tom Porter and Matt Holloway

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

Safety Zones Coming to Middle and High Schools
On the recommendation from the Town Services and Outreach (TSO) committee, the Town Council voted 12-0 with one absent to accept the proposed safety zones near the middle school and high school as designed by Town Engineer Jason Skeels. The 20 mph zones with flashing school zone signs will be on the south side of Chestnut Street for eastbound traffic, the east side of High Street for northbound traffic, and two on Triangle Street, for traffic in both directions. The speed limit in the school zones is 20 mph when the lights are flashing. The hours the zones will be in effect will be determined by consultation between the School Superintendent, the Town Manager, and the Superintendent of Public Works.

Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke (at large) asked about additional safety zones for the high school on Gray Street, Mattoon Street, and Taylor Street. TSO Chair Andy Steinberg (at large) responded that DPW Superintendent Guilford Mooring did not feel there was enough traffic on those streets to warrant other safety zones, but Town Manager Paul Bockelman indicated that additional zones could be added in the future if deemed necessary. 

Outside of the times when the 20 mph speed limits will be in effect, the speed limits will be 25 mph on High Street and Chestnut Streets, as per the recently approved new statutory town-wide speed limit. The speed limit on Triangle Street will remain 30 mph.

Draft of Town Manager Evaluation Presented
Councilors spent 90 minutes prior to the Public Forum on the Budget reading the draft of a composite evaluation of Town Manager Paul Bockelman composed by Council President Lynn Griesemer from comments submitted by councilors, staff, committee chairs, and the public. Griesemer invited councilors to submit their comments on the draft, so she can finalize the evaluation by the December 2 meeting. 

Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier (District 5) who chairs the Governance, Organization, and Legislation (GOL) committee of the council refined her chart to track progress in fulfilling the Town Manager goals for 2025. The chart is divided into the areas of climate action, community health and safety, economic vitality, housing affordability, racial equity and social justice, administration and leadership, infrastructure management, maintenance and land stewardship, and community and strategic relationships. 

Devlin Gauthier encouraged councilors to give feedback on the chart. Hanneke, Bob Hegner (District 5) and Jennifer Taub (District 4) pointed out that there was no reference to community engagement in the chart. Cathy Schoen (District 1) felt that the community and strategic relationships should emphasize financial arrangements between institutions and the town, not only building positive relationships.

Devlin Gauthier said GOL will also be meeting with Bockelman to make sure that the goals are feasible. 

Note:  The Indy’s survey on Town Manager Performance will remain open until the end of the calendar year.  The Indy is sponsoring this survey because the Town Manager is not accountable to the electoral process and public perceptions of his performance have been largely absent from his annual evaluation by the Town Council. The Indy will publish a report on the results of the survey at the close of the year and will share results with the Town Council and the Town Manager.  Take the survey.

State of the Town Address
Griesemer announced that the annual State of the Town address will take place at the beginning of the December 2 council meeting. This will include reports from the schools, the library, and the Town Manager. That meeting will also include a discussion of the roundabout proposed for Amity Street and University Drive and an executive session to determine the compensation for the Town Manager.