Council Approves Extra Funding For A Pumper Truck And A Feasibility Study For A New Elementary School

Part 2 of The Report On The Town Council Meeting of February 7, 2022

This meeting was conducted over Zoom and was recorded. Because of icy roads, the venue was changed from Town Hall to remote participation.

Present:
Lynn Griesemer (President, District 2), Ellisha Walker and Mandi Jo Hanneke (at large), Cathy Schoen and Michele Miller (District 1), Pat DeAngelis (District 2), Dorothy Pam and Jennifer Taub (District 3), Pam Rooney and Anika Lopes (District 4), Shalini Bahl-Milne and Ana Devlin Gauthier (District 5). Absent: Andy Steinberg (at large). Staff: Paul Bockelman, Town Manager and Athena O’Keeffe, Clerk of the Council

Funds For New Pumper Truck Approved
In a public forum, Finance Director Sean Mangano, Comptroller Sonia Aldrich, Fire Chief Tim Nelson, and Assistant Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren requested an additional $187,000 from free cash to supplement the $450,000 budgeted for a new pumper truck. Since the order was placed, the cost of the vehicle has increased, so the additional funds are necessary. The town has added other features to the order to increase fuel efficiency, but these will be paid for from sustainability funds. The vehicle is built to order and will take two years to be manufactured and delivered.

No member of the public commented on the issue, and the appropriation passed unanimously at the council meeting that followed the forum.

$280,000 Added To Funds For Elementary School Feasibility
In a continuation of the public forum, Mangano recommended that $280,000 be added to the feasibility study for the new elementary school. This study must be done this spring in order to meet the deadlines for the project. The FY22 budget allocated $750,000 for the study, thinking that much of the feasibility study done in 2015 for the previous proposal could be used. However, the 2015 study did not include traffic studies for both possible sites of Wildwood and Fort River. In addition to the traffic study, the building committee requested the consideration of geothermal energy to meet the goal of net zero energy use. Also, the costs of the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) and other personnel have increased since the budget was approved. The total cost of the feasibility study is estimated to be $1.03 million.

Again, there was no public comment, and the measure passed unanimously at the regular council meeting that followed the forum. 

Eversource Eliminates The Need For An Additional Pole On Woodside Avenue
In response to concerns voiced by councilors at the January 24 meeting regarding the addition of another pole on Woodside Avenue to provide service to the proposed Amherst College Lyceum on South Pleasant Street, Nick Langone of Eversource said the company reevaluated the area and determined that moving an existing pole near the Cadigan Religious Center several feet to the north would provide adequate service to the new building. Moving the pole will cause a temporary loss of service to the surrounding buildings. The council unanimously approved the new plan and thanked Langone for taking their concerns into consideration.

Community Chats Resuming
Town Manager Paul Bockelman announced that the popular Thursday noon chats with various Amherst staff will be resuming next week on February 17 with the heads of the Elementary School Building Committee being the first guests. These forums are held on Zoom and are recorded for future viewing. They afford the public a chance to ask questions of the manager and staff. Topics for further chats are announced on the town website. To join the forum on the 17th, click here. 

Town Urged To Consider Legalization Of Psychedelic Plant Medicine
In public comment, residents Adam Fink and Adam Klem urged Amherst to allow adult access to psychedelic plant medicine which they say has helped them deal with mental health challenges that did not respond to traditional medication. They stated that Easthampton, Northampton, Somerville, and Cambridge have already passed laws allowing adult use of these substances which many people have found helpful. They urged compassion, not punishment, in dealing with the depression, anxiety, and PTSD that many people experience. 

The council meeting adjourned at 9:56 p.m. The council will next meet on February 28.