Town Manager Report for September 15, 2025

Amherst Indy September 23, 2025 0
Amherst Town Seal

Photo:amherstma.gov

Source: amherstma.gov

Editor’s note: Town Manager Paul Bockelman submits a comprehensive report to the Town Council, usually at the first Town Council meeting of each month. The reports, usually 9 to 16 pages in length, provide up-to-date information on what is happening within and across town departments. The Manager’s Report is usually one of the last items on the agenda and is often taken up late at night, leaving little time for Bockelman to do more than mention a few highlights and this is usually all that gets entered into the Council minutes. What follows is a complete, unedited version of the Town Manager’s Report. All Town Manager Reports are available on the town’s website here: Town Manager Reports 

TOWN MANAGER

  • The next Cuppa’ Joe with Paul will be on Friday, September 26th with special guest Superintendent of Schools Dr. Xiomara Herman at the Bangs Community Center.
  • The “Cuppa’ Joe with Paul” coffees are a monthly event. Residents and others are welcome to share their concerns, offer suggestions, or just get to know each other.
  • All About Amherst: Civic Academy:
  • The new Civic Academy is a dynamic new program designed to give residents an inside look at our local government and how to be involved.
  • The program will run from October 1st to November 19th, with 8 weekly sessions held on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at various locations across town. Each session will include relevant department presentations, interactive activities, and facility tours. 
  • Sessions include topics such as:
    • All About Amherst: The Basics 
    • Maintaining Amherst: Town Infrastructure and Facilities
    • Keeping Amherst Safe: Fire and EMS 
    • Keeping Amherst Safe: CRESS, Police, and Dispatch
    • Balancing Conservation, Sustainability, and Development in Amherst 
    • Supporting a Vibrant Amherst Community
    • Learning in Amherst: Schools, Libraries, & Recreation
    • Budget, Legislation, and Getting Involved
  • The application for the 2025 Civic Academy is now available. Academy size will be limited. Applicants must be current residents of Amherst or students enrolled at a university/college in Amherst. Applicants must be at least 16 years old.  
  • Apply now: Civic Academy Application
  • Applications must be submitted by Sunday, September 21.
  • New Committees: The Town is recruiting members to serve on four new committees.
  • Amherst Black Reparations Committee
  • Cable Television Advisory Committee 
  • Cherry Hill Working Group 
  • Department of Public Works Building Committee
  • Volunteer for a Town Board, Committee, or Commission: We continue to seek volunteers to serve on Town boards, committees, and commissions with vacancies. Interested residents are encouraged to submit their applications online at www.amherstma.gov/CAF  

DEPARTMENT UPDATES

Administration and Finance

  • Town Clerk:

o Town Election:

  • Nomination papers must be filed at Town Clerk’s office by September 16th at 5:00 p.m.
    • The Town Clerk will draw names for ballot order placement on October 3rd at 9:00 a.m. in Town Hall. This is open to the public.
  • Section 7.6 of the Town Charter provides the opportunity for candidate statements. The Town’s policy states: “…the Town Clerk shall email all persons who filed nomination papers with the Board of Registrars for the elected offices outlined in Paragraph 3 above a URL that shall be used to submit the Candidate Statement as defined in Paragraph 2 above.” Candidate statements will be published on the Town’s website on October 6th in the order by which they will appear on the election ballot. Statements are intended to highlight candidates’ priorities and proposed actions. See the Town policy here: https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/48810/Policy-on-the-

Publication–ofCandidate–Statements–FINAL  

  • Town Council approved Early Voting dates last month as recommended by the Board of Registrars. Voting will take place in the first-floor meeting room of Town Hall on the following dates:
  • Monday, October 27  8:00 am – 4:30 pm
  • Tuesday, October 28  8:00 am – 4:30 pm
  • Wednesday, October 29          8:00 am – 4:30 pm
  • Thursday, October 30             8:00 am – 7:00 pm
  • Friday, October 31                  8:00 am – 4:30 pm

▪ Full information can be found here: https://www.amherstma.gov/1079/Runningfor-Elected-Office  

o Outreach: The Town Clerk will be attending Democracy Day hosted by Amherst College on September 17th  to engage in discussions and activities related to democracy. o Professional Development: 

  • The Town Clerk attended a tabletop exercise with the Election Security

Partnership (ESP) division of the Secretary of State’s office along with municipal  clerks from surrounding communities. They discussed several real-life disaster incidents and collaborated on response plans to be better prepared in the event of a possible disruption to an Election cycle.

  • The Town Clerk will be attending the Massachusetts Town Clerk’s Association to  hear presentations on Municipal Budgeting, Land Use Fundamentals, Vital Records, and further understanding Massachusetts Open Meeting Law & Public Records.
  • Human Resources: 
    • Staff are busy negotiating collective bargaining agreements with five Town collective bargaining units. 
    • The Department is managing numerous searches, concluding major searches for the Finance Director, Town Clerk, and Director of Senior Services. including department head positions. We are focused on the Planning and Economic Development Director and Comptroller positions now. In addition, Police, Fire, DPW, and CRESS all have vacancies that that are being recruited.
  • Information Technology: 
    • During a recent Department Head retreat, the I.T. Department and Clerk of the Council developed a table-top exercise where department heads were faced with a cybersecurity breach in the Town’s I.T. infrastructure. The exercise was informative and engaged all department heads in distinct roles during a possible crisis.
    • The Town received a grant of $160,837 from the Commonwealth’s Community Compact Municipal Fiber Grant Program. The grant will be used to complete the installation of a fiber ring, creating a redundant, backup path for the Town’s data network. The fiber ring will connect the wastewater treatment facility with other Town locations utilizing existing ductwork on the University’s campus. Many thanks to the University for assisting with this important connection.
  • Finance: 
    • Staffing:
      • Allen Cloutier has been promoted to Assistant Treasurer from his previous role as Customer Service Representative after a full search.
      • We are recruiting for the Comptroller’s position.
      • The Finance Director is scheduled to begin his duties in mid-October.
    • Parking Permits: Parking Permits for those who live or work in downtown Amherst are available. The permit season runs from September 1st through May 31st every year. The application for FY26 parking permits are now available online. These parking permits are only valid for designated parking areas marked by blue and white “Permit Parking Only” signs. If you are parked at a meter or in a parking lot, you may be subject to a ticket if time has not been paid for. Visit our Parking Permit webpage for full details such as eligibility, cost, parking map, and how to subscribe to parking alerts.
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Department:
    • Activities: 
      • The Department is actively involved in the town’s Hazardous Implementation Planning Group, contributing to emergency preparedness and safety planning.
      • The DEI Department is beginning a new series of departmental trainings across all Town departments.
      • The Department is developing a five-year strategic plan that builds on the Town Manager’s goals established by the Town Council. This plan will serve as a roadmap celebrating past achievements while setting a clear vision for future initiatives. While the plan will provide structure and direction, it is also designed to remain flexible. As community needs evolve and new opportunities emerge, we will adapt to ensure the work stays impactful and true to our values. Town staff look forward to sharing the plan in the coming months.
      • Outreach:
        • The Department published an annual report which can be found HERE
        • The September newsletter can be found here: HERE  o Youth Empowerment: In partnership with Citizens for Juvenile Justice and CRESS, the DEI Department hosted a Youth Empowerment Program, focusing on the school-to-prison pipeline. See additional initiatives under the Recreation Department.
      • Liberatory Visioning: The Liberatory Visioning Project has been led by the Department and is an initiative aimed at creating a more inclusive and welcoming community for all residents. This process is designed to bring members of the Town together to develop a shared vision for a liberated community. Town staff led this project in partnership with Dr. Barbara J. Love, a local author, speaker, and consultant on liberation and transformation as well as Professor Emerita of Social Justice Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Liberatory Visioning was created by Dr. Love as a framework for justice, equity, belonging, and inclusion with the overall aim of creating communities that work well for everyone. Outreach for the Liberatory Visioning process with Dr. Love has concluded. The DEI Department worked with Dr. Love and the final report can be found HERE  
      • Resident Oversight Board: The Resident Oversight Board stakeholder group concluded its work. In collaboration with consultants, DEI staff supported the development of draft bylaws by the stakeholder group for the Resident Oversight Board. The documents and options will be reviewed by the Town Manager, reviewed with the Town Attorney, and I will develop a proposal for the Town Council to consider.
      • Police Protocols: The Police Chief is reviewing departmental policies and standard operating procedures to address the dispatching of CRESS responders and police procedures.

Public Safety

• Fire Department:

  • Staffing:  
    • The fire department swore in a new fulltime firefighter/EMT, Jack Beliveau, on September 8th. He has begun his weeks of training. He was an EMT for AMR Springfield and is enrolled in paramedic school this fall.He joins our other two new members of the Department, Jessica Gilmore and Lauren Kovarik who have completed their orientation training and are now working their shifts.  They both are also EMTs and will be going to paramedic school.  Jessica most recently was a school teacher in Orange, and Lauren has been working with a private EMS service in Eastern Massachusetts.   Assistant Chief Jeff Olmstead has announced that he will be retiring from the Fire Department October 30th of this year.
    • The Amherst Fire Department currently has openings for full-time and on-call firefighters and is accepting applications at amherstma.gov/jobs.  

    • On Saturday, the Amherst Department responded to a fire alarm at 85 Olympia Place.

Amherst Police and Fire Departments found the front porch to be heavily involved in fire, and it was extending into the structure and was extending though the first and second floors and into the attic. After confirming that all occupants were out of the building, Crews worked for two hours to extinguish the blaze. Amherst was assisted on scene by Belchertown Fire, Hadley Fire, Northampton Fire, and Pelham Fire, as well as the Granby fire department ambulance. The Amherst building and electrical inspectors were on scene and worked with management to secure the building.  

  • Community Responders for Equity, Safety, and Service:
    • The Department will be hosting CRESS Day on Sunday, September 21st from 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. at Mill River Pavilion. A barbecue lunch will be served from 12:30-1:30pm. Highlights from the past three years of CRESS will be on display with responders and staff there to answer questions and talk about what is next for CRESS.
    • Tury Research has been contracted to conduct an assessment of the CRESS for the State Department of Public Health. They gathered data for the EAPS grant including surveys of neighbors, town staff, and others who have utilized CRESS services. The assessment can be found HERE  
    • CRESS is continuing to recruit for a Community Responder position. 
    • The bi-monthly Veterans Breakfast is steadily growing with over twenty-five veterans and neighbors participating last Frida. We are committing additional funds to continue to support this important outreach effort to our veterans and their families. 
    • CRESS Connections, a grant funded program for  youth, is up and running with the schools. The most recent workshop focused on robotics (STEM) with a book and robot project. 
    • The Department is preparing a year-end report to update the community on the progress of the Department.
  • Work continues with the Police Department and Dispatch on adopting protocols for dispatching CRESS directly from Dispatch with the goal of being actively dispatched by the end of the year.
  • Police Department:
    • Outreach: The Department initiated a new program though its community policing outreach to have police officers serving coffee at bus stops.  This gives our community members a change to meet and ask questions of our officers.  
    • Staffing: 
      • Sergeant Jesus Arocho was promoted to Lieutenant effective September 8th. We had a very competitive pool of strong internal applicants that made this decision a real challenge.
      • Three new officers have begun their duties with the Town: Tatiana Sirbu, Erik Lamotte, and Nichole Hubbard. All three will be in a mentorship program before entering the Holyoke Police Academy this month. 

Public Health

Community Services

Vaccine: 

  • Normally at this time of year, the Public Health Department would be planning to host several flu and COVID vaccine clinics for the community. Unfortunately, it’s an uncertain and confusing time in the world of fall vaccines, especially when it comes to COVID-19. Three pharmaceutical companies have developed updated COVID vaccines in advance of the upcoming respiratory illness season but the FDA label for these vaccines has been restricted to individuals ages 65 and over and those between the ages of 6 months and 64 years old with at least one condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. This restriction means that pharmacies – where up to 90% of Americans received their COVID vaccines last year – will not be able to offer the vaccines to people who are not in the categories specified by the FDA for labeled use. This restriction also means that insurance companies will likely not pay for off-label administration of the vaccine. To date, no guidance has been issued from the CDC about COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming season. In past years this guidance has been disseminated in early summer.

Due to the lack of clear guidelines and unusual FDA restrictions, our department is planning to hold only one fall vaccineclinic at the Bangs Community Center this fall. This clinic is being organized in partnership with the Senior Center to reach older adults and will be held on October 21st from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. At this clinic, the COVID-19 vaccine will be available only for individuals 65 and older, while the flu vaccine will be available without age restriction. One other clinic will be held on October 23rd at Clark House and is for residents only.

  • In an effort to address the disarray at the federal level that is limiting access to vaccines locally, Governor Maura Healey announced on September 4th immediate steps to ensure vaccine availability in Massachusetts, including requiring insurance coverage for vaccines that are recommended by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Our Public Health Department is following this continually evolving situation closely and hopes to be able to expand access to the COVID vaccine for the Amherst community.  We will be posting updates on our website during the coming weeks.
    • Our Public Health Department still has a limited supply of COVID tests on hand for distribution to the community. We are working on identifying additional sources for low or no cost tests but are finding fewer options than in past years.

We continue to offer free PPE (masks and gloves) to the community at our office.

  • Mosquito-borne illness:
    • This week, state health officials reported two additional human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the Commonwealth, bringing the total of confirmed WNV infections this season to four. One of these two new cases was reportedly infected in Hampden County. There have been no animal or human cases of EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) in the state this season so far.
    • This week, surveillance efforts also revealed a pool of mosquitoes testing positive for WNV in Amherst. The Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District has stepped up larval treatment in the area of the positive pool. There have been no reported human cases of WNV in Amherst or Hampshire County this season.
    • Mosquito-borne infections can continue to occur until the first hard frost, which is likely still many weeks away. We are encouraging everyone to continue to take the necessary steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites, including using mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants and draining standing water on their property.
    • Opioid Settlement Funds:

▪ The Public Health Department’s brief local survey to hear from Amherst residents about priorities and needs related to the opioid crisis is still open. Please take a few minutes to share your input before September 30th.

  • Public Health Department Services:  

▪ Public Health Nurse, Olivia Lara-Cahoon, offers weekly office hours in her office at the Bangs Community Center on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. During office hours, Olivia can provide blood pressure checks, general health consultation and education.  

  • Senior Services:
    • Senior Center staff, volunteers and participants welcomed the new Senior Service Director on Monday.
    • The Wednesday Café will again feature seasonal art programming from Resilient Community Arts in the month of September. The Café provides a welcoming space for socialization and is especially designed to support individuals with mild memory loss and their care partners.  The September arts lineup includes:
      • September 17th – Stamping Forest Critters
      • September 24th – Autumnal (Faux) Floral Arrangements o The Silver Shuttle is looking to expand its ridership. Seniors who live in Amherst may schedule rides within Amherst, Hadley, and Northampton on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Rides are free, but donations are welcome. To book a ride, call 413 259-3060. Help us spread the word about this important community service. o The Friends of the Amherst Senior Center are hosting a pop-up closet fundraiser on September 20th at the Amherst Farmers’ Market (rain date -September 27th).  Available items include jewelry, handbags, scarves, ties and other items. Come join us to support the Senior Center!
      • Coffee: The Senior Center hosts two coffee events at the Bangs Community Center:
        • Memory Café: Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m.
        • Rainbow Café: First Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m.
      • Newsletter:  The September newsletter from the Department of Senior Services – Amherst Senior Spirit – which includes a listing of the dozens of workshops and other activities being offered by the Department, is available HERE Hard copies can be picked up in the Senior Center lounge.
  • Recreation:

o Youth Entrepreneurship Summer Program: The Recreation Department introduced an innovative summer program – BizCamp – which was designed to empower local students with the tools and mindsets necessary to navigate and succeed in today’s dynamic economy. Facilitators led participants engaged in activities that promote creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, laying the foundation for future entrepreneurial endeavors. The program culminated in a Youth Entrepreneurship Pitch Challenge, providing students with the opportunity to present their business ideas to a panel of local business leaders and community members. This event not only celebrated the students’ hard work and innovation but also connected them with potential mentors and resources to further their entrepreneurial journeys.

Conservation and Development

  • Inspection Services:
    • The Town’s new Health Inspector, Yuchen Yan, started recently. Yuchen holds a master’s degree in Environmental Health Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and will be working on food licenses and inspections.
  • Inspection Services launched the residential rental inspection program with 23 early inspections completed.  Notice was sent on recently to all owners and managers with inspection scheduling starting October 1st. The town has 1,286 permits and 5,372 units in the properties and also 137 owner–occupied units.
  • Planning:
    • The Planning Board issued Site Plan Review Approval for 5 University Drive to include six stories, 102 dwelling units, 12 affordable units and 12,500 S.F. of commercial space.
    • The Planning Board closed public hearings for Inclusionary Zoning and Accessory Dwelling Unit Zoning Bylaw Amendments.
    • The Planning and Conservation Department is seeking bids to replace culvert and stream restoration at East Street School.  This CDBG funded project is expected to be completed this fall.
  • Facilities:
    • Critical maintenance completed on the Munson Library roof.  Substantial repairs to the slate roof, slate cap and flashing with materials and methods to preserve historic details.
    • Bangs Community Center project receives sub bids for all major systems installation.  General Contractor bids due late September.
  • Housing Choice Community Designation:
    • The Town was designated by the Governor as a Housing Choice Community. This prestigious designation by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) recognizes Amherst’s leadership in producing new housing and adopting best practices to promote sustainable housing development. 
    • With this five-year designation, Amherst gains access to exclusive state funding opportunities and technical assistance that support housing growth and local planning efforts. Additionally, the designation helps Amherst receive priority consideration for various other grant programs related to transportation, infrastructure, and environmental initiatives.
  • Sustainability:
    • ValleyBike Share: Drop Mobility has received the new equipment for the Town’s ValleyBike stations and anticipates installation within the next few weeks.
    • Heat Pump Program: – There was a Heat Pump Program Information Session held on September 9th. The Heat Pump program has 15 households signed up for a home conversion transitioning from fossil fuels to heat pumps. Program goal is to complete 30 household conversions. The current push is to sign up as many homes as possible before the federal incentives disappear.
    • Electric Vehicles and Charging:
      • A survey of potential on-street EV charging locations was distributed to residents as part of a technical assistance project supported by the Clean Energy Center.  The consultant, Leidos Energy Management Systems, is drafting a report. 
      • Two EV fast charge stations (level III charging)have been installed in the North Pleasant Street parking lot, the municipal lot behind CVS (adjacent to St. Brigid’s church).

o Climate Leader and other Initiatives: Amherst became a Massachusetts Climate Leader Community this spring. We are working on an application for CLC Technical Assistance for engineering plans to install heat pumps at the Bangs Community Center. The Town will be applying in Nov/Dec to host another UNH Sustainability Fellow for summer 2026 to update the town’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.

Public Works

  • Water Restrictions:

o The State has placed the Connecticut River Valley as being in a Level 2 Drought.  (Significant Drought Conditions Declared in Several Regions | Mass.gov) o Per the Town’s Water Registration, this means that:

all nonessential outdoor water uses banned, except that watering of ornamentals and flower gardens with drip irrigation, hand-held hose or watering cans may be permitted; and,

the same definitions of what essential vs. non-essential outdoor water uses remains the same as last time (let me know if you need that text).

Road Work:

Photo: amherstma.gov
  • All businesses will remain open as usual throughout the construction work.
    • This intersection reconstruction is expected to last 6-8 weeks and work will occur Monday through Friday from 6 am to 5 pm. Announcements will be released as the schedule is finalized. All work is weather dependent; severe weather will delay the work schedule by a day or new announcements will be posted. On

Thursday, August 14th, crews will place the first coat of asphalt. Once this step is complete additional work on crosswalk ramps and curbing will be scheduled.

  • The intersection will remain open to traffic, but delays should be expected.

Temporary detours may be in place during some periods of the construction. Police officers will be on scene to help direct traffic. Follow all directions given by detail officers and on-site engineer during construction. o Town-wide Road Work:

  • The Town is moving forward with its paving plan for the new fiscal year (FY26). The plan outlines the roads that will be paved and repaired during the upcoming summer and fall seasons. Roads will receive different pavement treatment methods (reclamation, micro-milling, etc.) depending on the need of the road and availability of funds.
    • Roads scheduled for paving and repair include:  

Street NameFromTo
Main Street IntersectionBoltwood Ave crosswalk Amity Street crosswalk 
S Pleasant Street IntersectionSpring Street11 North Pleasant St
College StreetSouth East Street 259 College Street
South Pleasant Street Snell StreetNorthampton Rd (Rt 9) 
Pomeroy Lane West Street Carriage Lane 
West Bay Road Gould Way Rambling Road 
West Bay Road Spencer Drive Hadley Town Line 
South East Street Norwottuck Rail Trail Valley View Drive 
Kestrel Lane and Hop Brook Road Old Farm Road  

The contractor has fully mobilized and demolition of the 1993 portion of the building is underway. This is expected to take about 2 weeks to complete including the onsite separation and sorting of demolition materials for reuse and recycling. To minimize impacts to traffic in Amherst center, trucks picking up demolition materials will be staged offsite at the former VFW site until needed. Interior demolition of the 1929 portion of the library and preservation of the mahogany millwork is ongoing. Once demolition is complete, site excavation and work on the foundation for the building expansion will begin. o The Jones Library continues to serve the public at its temporary library location at 101 University Drive in Amherst, next door to the Post Office. It is about a mile from the Jones Library. Full library services will be available. The new location is fully accessible, has ample free parking, and is on two bus routes: Both the 33 (Puffer’s Pond / Shopper Shuttle) and B43

(Northampton / Hadley / Amherst) buses will take you there.

Jones Library Renovation and Expansion:

  • A cartoon of a bird wearing a yellow hat and scarf reading a book AI-generated content may be incorrect.A check on a table AI-generated content may be incorrect.The contractor has fully mobilized and demolition of the 1993 portion of the building is underway. This is expected to take about 2 weeks to complete including the onsite separation and sorting of demolition materials for reuse and recycling. To minimize impacts to traffic in Amherst center, trucks picking up demolition materials will be staged offsite at the former VFW site until needed. Interior demolition of the 1929 portion of the library and preservation of the mahogany millwork is ongoing. Once demolition is complete, site excavation and work on the foundation for the building expansion will begin. o The Jones Library continues to serve the public at its temporary library location at 101 University Drive in Amherst, next door to the Post Office. It is about a mile from the Jones Library. Full library services will be available. The new location is fully accessible, has ample free parking, and is on two bus routes: Both the 33 (Puffer’s Pond / Shopper Shuttle) and B43

(Northampton / Hadley / Amherst) buses will take you there.

  • The Jones Library Capital Campaign

Committee delivered a check for $2,060,661 to the Town Treasurer as part of the Committee’s continuing commitment to raising funds for this project.

Committee delivered a check for $2,060,661 to the Town Treasurer as part of the Committee’s continuing commitment to raising funds for this project.

Construction on the roads listed in the schedule begins in August and continues through November, sometimes longer with warmer winters. If the contractor doesn’t think they can start and finish all of these roadways this year, work will be completed starting in April/May of 2026. The specific paving schedule is subject to change based on weather conditions, contractor availability, and unforeseen circumstances.

  • Another major project happening this fall includes the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of University Drive and Amity Street. More information about this project will be announced soon.Residents should anticipate temporary detours, periodic lane closures, and some noise during construction hours. The Town will make every effort to minimize disruptions and maintain access for emergency services, school buses, and local traffic. Residents are encouraged to stay updated by checking the website, signing up for news alerts, and following the Town’s social media.  View a video of the full Pavement Management and Paving Plan presented by Town Engineer Jason Skeels.  Potwine Lane:
    • Starting on August 5, crews began construction work on Potwine Lane. This work involves replacement of the existing stream culvert located between house number 125 and house number 188.Potwine Lane will be closed to through traffic during the duration of the project, expected to take 4 to 6 weeks. The road will be open to local traffic accessible at each end. All work is weather dependent.  Should inclement weather occur, the work schedule will be altered.

Household Hazardous Waste Day: Household Hazardous Waste Day was held on September 6th at Wildwood School. This collection event safely disposed of hazardous materials.

DELEGATED AUTHORITY

  • Short-Term Event Uses of Town Commons (Section 1a of the Town Council Policy): None
  • Short-Term Parking Requests (Section 2a of the Town Council Policy): None • Long-Term Parking Requests (Section 2bi of the Town Council Policy): None
  • Short-Term Public Way Closures (Section 3b of the Town Council Policy):

o North Pleasant Street and a portion of Kellog Avenue – Amherst Business Improvement District Annual Block Party – September 18, 2025 – 3:00 -9:00 p.m.

  • Placement of Road and Temporary Signs (Section 3d of the Town Council Policy): None

MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS

Jones Library Renovation and Expansion:

The contractor has fully mobilized and demolition of the 1993 portion of the building is underway. This is expected to take about 2 weeks to complete including the onsite separation and sorting of demolition materials for reuse and recycling. To minimize impacts to traffic in Amherst center, trucks picking up demolition materials will be staged offsite at the former VFW site until needed. Interior demolition of the 1929 portion of the library and preservation of the mahogany millwork is ongoing. Once demolition is complete, site excavation and work on the foundation for the building expansion will begin. The Jones Library continues to serve the public at its temporary library location at 101 University Drive in Amherst, next door to the Post Office. It is about a mile from the Jones Library. Full library services will be available. The new location is fully accessible, has ample free parking, and is on two bus routes: Both the 33 (Puffer’s Pond / Shopper Shuttle) and B43 (Northampton / Hadley / Amherst) buses will take you there.

The Jones Library Capital Campaign
The Committee delivered a check for $2,060,661 to the Town Treasurer as part of the Committee’s continuing commitment to raising funds for this project.

Additional information on the project can be found here: https://www.joneslibrary.org/352/Jones–Building–Project

Fort River Elementary School: 

  • The project is proceeding on schedule and on budget after delays due to bid protests that delayed the start of construction until January. 
  • The building is quickly being closed in with significant portions of the exterior masonry being completed and exterior windows installation starting last week. The last major concrete pour for interior floor was completed last week, and installation of interior ductwork and electrical conduits and wiring is ongoing. 
  • Over the summer, new water line connections and conduits for electrical feeds were installed across South East Street and interior water mains were installed in the parking lot area so that the school could be reopened two weeks ago. 

  • All geothermal wells have been installed, and the contractor is working on piping to connect these wells to the new building. o For more information, visit the School Building Project website here: https://www.amherst-school-  project.com/  
  • DPW Building: I am recruiting for members to serve on the DPW Building Committee.
  • Fire Building: We are investigating additional sites for the location of a new Fire Station.

PROJECTS UPDATE

  • Centennial Water Treatment Facility: Construction continues for this $21 million facility. The project is on schedule and on budget for completion in the fall.
  • High School Track and Field:
    • Work is well underway on the new track and field construction with all major earthwork and site drainage improvements completed. 
    • The base layer of pavement for the new track, reoriented to the north-south direction, has been installed along with the irrigation system and screened loam in the field interior in preparation for sodding in several weeks. The new light poles bases have been installed, and the lights and towers will be installed once the concrete anchoring these bases has cured. Fence installation is ongoing with installation of the field interior drainage system to begin this week. 
    • Placement of the top layer of asphalt on the track followed by the urethane track surface will begin in the next 2-3 weeks. 
    • The project remains well within budget and we recently advised the School District that there will be adequate funds to sod the second field at the site including new irrigation and drainage systems similar to the field on the track interior, instead of simply regrading the field area are reseeding it as had originally been planned. This will create two high quality athletic fields at the site, both which will be playable for the spring 2026 season.

North Common

Restoration: Bollards have been installed. New planters were provided by the Business Improvement District. Light poles were installed. New street furniture has been installed. Several benches were dedicated with funds provided from an account from the 250th

Anniversary Committee. We are seeking to hold a formal dedication of the space this Fall.

  • Downtown Restroom: There have been some delays in the permitting of the facility that was selected, which is being reviewed by the State plumbing board. 

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

  • September 18th – Annual Business Improvement District Block Party
  • October 6th – Town Council meeting
  • October 13th – Indigenous Peoples Day holiday
  • October 20th – Town Council meeting
  • November 3rd – Financial Indicators presentation
  • November 3rd – Town Council meeting ➢ November 4th – Town Elections
  • November 11th – Veterans Day holiday
  • November 17th – Public Forum on the budget
  • November 17th – Town Council meeting
  • November 27-28 – Thanksgiving holiday break
  • December 1st – State of the Town presentation
  • December 1st – Town Council meeting
  • December 15th – Town Council meeting
  • December 24-25 – Christmas holiday break
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