Councilors Receive New Committee Assignments

Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, January 27, 2025

This meeting was held in hybrid format and was recorded.

Present: Lynn Griesemer (President, District 2), Andy Steinberg, Mandi Jo Hanneke, Ellisha Walker (at large), Cathy Schoen and Freke Ette (District 1), George Ryan (District 3), Jennifer Taub and Pam Rooney (District 4), Bob Hegner and Ana Devlin Gauthier (District 5).  Absent: Hala Lord (District 3). Staff: Paul Bockelman (Town Manager) and Athena O’Keeffe (Council Clerk).

Public Comment: Seniors Again Plead for More Services
Jeanne Horrigan and Don Ripley advocated for improvements to the Senior Center and to senior services. Horrigan spoke for consolidating all senior services on one floor of the Bang’s Center. Ripley asked for full-time silver shuttle service, five days a week. He said that the current part-time service provided 1,356 rides, over half to medical appointments, but is funded by ARPA money that will expire in the near future. The additional service would cost $50,000 per year.

In another comment, Angelica Bernal advocated for adequate funding for the schools, especially to pay competitive salaries for special education teachers. 

No Immigration Enforcement Activity Reported in Amherst to Date
In response  to a request by three registered voters for data on the number civil immigration detainer requests filed with town law enforcement, the number of individuals detained, the number transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, and the total number of requests received for certifications of university visas, Town Manager Paul Bockelman reported that no residents were detained or transferred into ICE custody. There was one request for certification of U Visa, which was granted. (The U nonimmigrant status (U visa) is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.)

In public comment, Vincent O’Connor warned of possible homeland security activities targeting immigrants, and the ways individuals and town policy could resist them. Amherst is a sanctuary community, meaning that local law enforcement and officials have agreed to not cooperate with federal immigration officials to detain or deport residents. Bockelman said that there have been incidents in other cities where agents have showed up at schools, so he is working with the Chief of Police and School Superintendent to determine how to handle any such requests. He added that the governor is supporting municipalities in their resistance to federal immigration actions.

Council Committees Have New Members
Council President Lynn Griesemer (District 2) asked each councilor to list their top three choices for the four standing committees of the council. From those preferences, she assigned five councilors to each committee. Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier (District 5) voiced frustration with the process. She noted that four councilors only listed one choice and therefore received that choice. She stated, “I find it unacceptable for the council to not engage in the process in a uniform manner, and would encourage you (Griesemer) not to complete committee assignments until they have done so.” She added that she requested only one committee assignment, but was assigned two. 

Griesemer declined to rescind the committee assignments and redo the process, but agreed to remove Devlin Gauthier from one of her committees. As of the meeting, the assignments were:

Finance Committee

∙ Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke 

∙ Councilor Robert Hegner

∙ Councilor Cathy Schoen 

∙ Councilor Andrew Steinberg 

∙ Councilor Ellisha Walker

 Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee 

∙ Councilor Freke Ette 

∙ Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier 

∙ Councilor Patricia De Angelis 

∙ Councilor Lynn Griesemer 

∙ Councilor Hala Lord 

Town Services and Outreach Committee 

∙ Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier 

∙ Councilor Robert Hegner 

∙ Councilor George Ryan 

∙ Councilor Andy Steinberg 

∙ Councilor Jennifer Taub 

Community Resources Committee 

∙ Councilor Pat De Angelis 

∙ Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke 

∙ Councilor Pam Rooney 

∙ Councilor Cathy Schoen 

∙ Councilor Jennifer Taub

Griesemer, Hanneke, Devlin Gauthier, and Steinberg were elected by fellow councilors to serve on the Budget Coordinating Group with members from the School Committee and Jones Library Trustees. Schoen, Lord, and Hegner were chosen to serve on the Joint Capital Planning Committee (JCPC). There was a tie between Lord and Ryan for the third representative on JCPC, but Ryan withdrew.

Griesemer, Schoen, Steinberg, Rooney, DeAngelis, and Lord all expressed interest in serving on the building committee for the new fire station and Department of Public Works, but Hanneke said she thought it was premature to select members to a committee that had no charge as yet, and that it was not even known how many members would be on the committee. Devlin Gauthier agreed, so the selection of councilors for that committee was postponed.

Town Manager Goals Subject of February 4 Council Retreat
The majority of the meeting was spent with councilors asking clarifying questions regarding the 37 “action items” listed on the draft Town Manager’s goals document developed by the Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee. Finalizing the document will be the subject of the council retreat on February 4. The goals will be voted on at the next regular council meeting. Councilors were encouraged to rank the actions according to priority in an effort to reduce the number.

Flag Raising for Black History Month Set for February 1
The council passed a proclamation, naming February Black History Month. The proclamation was sponsored by councilors DeAngelis, Griesemer, Rooney, and Walker. There will be a flag raising in front of Town Hall on Saturday, February 1 (time not specified yet) and other activities throughout the month.