COVID-19 EMERGENCY REMAINS MAIN FOCUS OF TOWN COUNCIL

SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING (4/13/20)

The meeting was held virtually via  Zoom and was broadcast on Amherst Media’s Channel 17.  The meeting was called to order at 6:31PM. All councilors were present.

Announcements
There will be no Council meeting on April 20 which is Patriots Day. The next scheduled meeting will be April 27 at 6:30 PM.  At this writing, the meeting is slated to be held virtually. Check the town calendar for links and details. 

Public Comment
No public comment was offered.

COVID-19
Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Health Director Julie Federman gave a report on the state of the pandemic in Amherst.  The number of residents testing positive remains 11. Governor Baker has released new guidelines for grocery stores, garden centers and construction sites.  Grocery stores must not exceed 40 per cent capacity, including employees and customers, and must supply gloves and hand sanitizer.  Customers and employees are required to wear masks. 

Town inspectors are working remotely. They are calling businesses to go over the guidelines for operations.  Restaurants are only allowed curbside pickup or delivery. Inspectors are also sending copies of the state-mandated guidelines to all businesses that were issued building permits in the past three months.  Next week they will call convenience stores and liquor stores.  

Bockelman reported that there were 30 people who attended last week’s virtual Cuppa Joe which focused on the Town’s response to COVID-19.  There will be twice weekly call-in sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Noon. Residents will have opportunities to ask questions at these sessions and are encouraged to email the town with their questions if they are unable to attend.  Questions about the Town can be directed to townmanager@amherstma.gov.  Questions about COVID-19, symptoms,  testing, and travel can be addressed (in multiple languages) by calling 2-1-1. 

Because the tents in front of the Survival Center that are being used for food distribution did not hold up well in Monday’s wind and rainstorm, the Building Commissioner is looking for a more sturdy tent.  Councilor Dorothy Pam (District 3) wondered if the pavilion at Mill River recreation area could be used. Bockelman said that could be explored, but he thought the Center would rather keep distribution close to its kitchen and storage area. 

Amherst Fire Department (AFD)
Fire Chief and Emergency Services Director Tim Nelson joined the meeting to report on the state of his department.  He stated that they are well prepared and have ample supplies for now and have adapted working conditions to protect the staff.  Amherst is working with other towns through the Western Massachusetts Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.  Amherst has been planning for an emergency like this for years.  In addition to the regular staff at AFD, there is a community emergency response team of trained citizen volunteers that operates under the auspices of the Fire Department.

Nelson has been concentrating on keeping in touch with the elder community in town since this is considered the most vulnerable population.  He has regular contact with nursing homes, assisted living facilities, independent living facilities and senior housing. So far there have been no COVID-19 positive tests at any of the facilities in town that serve seniors.  According to Nelson, all have been doing a good job keeping their communities safe. There are plans in place for rapid testing for everyone who may have been exposed, in case of a positive test in senior facilities,

Budget
The Councilors discussed the composition of the Budget Coordinating Group (BCG) which is to begin meeting soon.  Lynn Griesemer (District 2) and Cathy Schoen (District 1) are to represent the Council on the committee. Pat DeAngelis (District 2), Mandi-Jo Hanneke (at large) and Andy Steinberg (at large) also expressed interest in serving on the committee.  Griesemer reported that the BCG’s charge specifies that no more than two members of the Finance Committee can serve on the BCG unless there are more than three council members appointed. DeAngelis withdrew her name. Darcy DuMont (District 5) suggested that Griesemer and Schoen could adequately represent the council on the BCG, but she was outvoted 12-1.  The Council then decided that Hanneke and Steinberg will also be part of the BCG which will work with the Town Manager and members of the school committee and library trustees to formulate a budget to present to the Finance Committee.

Arbor Month
A proclamation to adopt April as Arbor Month was passed unanimously. No public events will be scheduled, but residents are urged to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands.  Amherst has been recognized as a “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the past 32 years.

Committee Reports
In committee reports, the interviews to fill the vacancies on the School Committee and Zoning Board of Appeals were announced.  Hanneke was chosen chair of the Community Resources Committee and Shalini Bahl-Milne (District 5) is vice chair.  

The meeting adjourned at 8:45PM