Charter Review Committee Plans Public Listening Sessions

Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Charter Review Committee, May 8, 2025

The meeting was held on Zoom and was recorded.

Present
Julian Hynes (Chair), Andy Churchill, Bernie Kubiak, Raphael Rogers, Ken LeBlond, Meg Gage, Marcus Smith, Erika Mijlin, Bernie Kubiak, Ken LeBlond

Staff: Athena O’Keeffe,  Committee Liaison and Clerk of Town Council

Guest: Patricia Lloyd, Collins Center

No members of the public offered public comment.

Outreach Subcommittee Report
The subcommittee has identified tentative dates for three listening sessions to gather public comments and concerns, each of which to be held in a different part of town:

• May 29, depending on availability of space in Crocker Farm Elementary School 
• June 18 at the Bangs Center (this venue is booked)
• June 29 at the Amherst Survival Center (pending finalizing contract and insurance)
  

In addition, the subcommittee recommended one or two virtual, Zoom-based listening sessions, the first tentatively scheduled for June 12. 

Meg Gage urged the committee to begin advertising these sessions at once, but Erika Mijlin noted that some of the dates are not yet definite. She said that the town’s Communication Director has offered help to develop a flyer and dedicated, external website that will include links to the Charter, a summary, the feedback form, and eventually the public survey and information about the listening sessions. 

Miljin reminded the committee that although she and the other members of the subcommittee (Gage and Raphael Rogers) are taking the lead on scheduling, organizing, and promoting the listening sessions, all committee members will be needed to structure, and facilitate them.

Regarding the survey of town officials and staff, Andy Churchill asked if the Collins Center staff had reviewed the final version. Patricia Lloyd said she had reviewed a draft only; Mijlin agreed to forward the survey to Lloyd after receiving final comments from committee members. Bernie Kubiak reminded the committee that former town councilors should also receive the survey.

Presentation by the League of Women Voters
After overcoming some technical difficulties, Darcy Dumont, Adrienne Terrizzi, and Phyllis Lehrer presented an overview of the League’s process to study the Charter that was conducted in 2024. They reviewed the underlying “good government” principles and the public comments that informed the final 12 recommendations for improvement and areas for further study. Both Gage and Julian Hynes participated in that process. 

There was some discussion of whether it was helpful to the committee to have formal presentations from civic groups during meeting time and if so, whether the choice to invite a group should be a decision of the committee or at the call of the chair. Kubiak cautioned scheduling civic groups at committee meetings that takes time away from the work the committee must do. Mijlin suggested having short virtual sessions outside of scheduled meetings. 

Work Plan
Lloyd said that, at the committee’s request, she put together a sample timeline incorporating listening sessions and meeting dates through to July 31. Each meeting identifies a primary focus, such as a specific Charter Article to review. This draft is expected to change as the work moves forward, and the timeline may extend beyond July 31. 

Feedback Subcommittee
Lloyd noted the importance of including public feedback when the committee discusses the Charter provisions. Raphael Rogers emphasized the importance of eliciting widespread participation in soliciting and collecting feedback. Andy Churchill suggested that a subcommittee be formed to organize feedback already received and yet to be collected. The subcommittee would then identify the Charter provisions that are relevant to those comments. Churchill, Kubiak, Marcus Smith, and Ken LeBlond volunteered to staff the subcommittee. Kubiak urged that the committee also take Town Council’s Rules of Procedure into consideration. A unanimous vote established the subcommittee to review all feedback on an ongoing basis, starting with comments received to date.

Other Business
Ana Devlin Gauthier, chair of the Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee of the Town Council sent an inquiry to several town committees asking if there is an interest in having a liaison from Town Council. The committee declined the offer, believing it was not necessary to their work and could create bias on the part of the councilor who served as liaison. Kubiak preferred that the committee’s report speaks equally to all councilors. Mijlin agreed that it is important for the committee to be independent of Town Council while developing its recommendations. 

Kubiak reiterated the importance of having the agenda and documents to be discussed at a meeting posted at least 48 hours prior. Hynes agreed, having made the same request at past meetings. Hynes will collect submissions from committee members and submit them to Athena O’Keeffe for posting.