Councilor Taub Raises Concerns Over ConCom Appointment Process
Photo: ashvillenc.gov
Report from the Meeting of the Town Services and Outreach Committee, October 2, 2025
This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.
Present
Andy Steinberg (at-large, Chair), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3), Jennifer Taub (District 4), and Bob Hegner (District 5)
Staff: Paul Bockelman (Town Manager) and Athena O’Keeffe (Council clerk)
There are currently three vacancies on the town’s Conservation Commission. Two seats are unfilled, and the term of Alex Hoar expired on June 30, 2025. At the October 2 Town Services and Outreach Committee (TSO) meeting, Town Manager Paul Bockelman nominated Sarah Matthews and Carol McNeary for the vacant seats, but failed to grant Hoar a reappointment to a second three-year term or even an interview. Hoar objected to being overlooked with an email to the TSO committee members.
TSO member Jennifer Taub addressed Hoar’s email, saying, “[Hoar] is applying to be reappointed for a second term, and he was informed that he would not be. I know that this person, because I tune in to Conservation Committee meetings, is extremely well qualified, spent most of his career at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, serves admirably, comes to meetings, is a very responsible member, and it sounds like the initial response he received when he was told he wouldn’t be reappointed is that, you [Bockelman] don’t have to provide an explanation. I find that very concerning.”
Bockelman responded, “This is not an appointment I’m recommending at this point in time, so the candidate graciously continues to serve on the Conservation Commission and will serve until I make an appointment, and the council approves an appointment going forward. And when that time comes, I will give a full explanation for what my thinking is. I would just not be prepared to talk about that today, because it’s not really on the agenda.”
Taub continued to press her concerns about the process of appointments by the Town Manager, reiterating that Hoar was informed that he would not even be interviewed. “It really is very subjective, and it can feel personal. I have not seen anything on any of the Conservation Commission meetings I have tuned in to that would in any way suggest that this person should not be able to continue for a second term,” she said. Bockelman was not any more forthcoming. He stated vaguely that he would “try to give you as best an explanation I can when this appointment comes back to the Council.”
In his email, Hoar objected to the statement in Bockelman’s report to TSO that all applicants had been interviewed, when he had not. He added that when he asked Bockelman for the reason he was not being reappointed, the Town Manager replied that he did not need to give a reason.
TSO member Bob Hegner echoed some of Taub’s concerns about the way residents are treated when they volunteer to serve on town committees. He said, “Councilor [Hala] Lord and I sat at the table at the block party for the better part of an hour and a half. There was a list of all the committees and commissions that had openings, and we encouraged everyone to join in, and we got very little response. I’m sure Paul [Bockelman] understands this. It’s very difficult to get people to serve on committees. So, everyone needs to bear that in mind as we go through these processes.”
I know Alex Hoar personally, and cannot imagine why he would not be totally qualified to continue to serve on the town Conservation Commission. This seems like another case of preferring appointees who are biased to yes on any development project that our local PAC desires (aka every development project).
For those that don’t know Alex, here’s a brief overview:
Alex Hoar, as the Regional Energy Coordinator at the US Fish and Wildlife Service, would likely possess substantial qualifications to serve on the Amherst, Massachusetts Conservation Commission, given his background in federal conservation work and energy management. Individuals in this role typically have experience in natural resource stewardship, environmental policy, multi-agency coordination, and public engagement—skills that are directly relevant to the responsibilities of a conservation commission, which include oversight of wetland protection, land use regulation, and advising on environmental sustainability initiatives.
Relevant Experience
Extensive work on conservation projects, wildlife habitat management, and energy policy at the federal level.
Understanding of complex regulatory frameworks (local, state, federal) for natural resource protection.
Experience in stakeholder collaboration, public outreach, and technical policy advising, which are crucial for the commission’s community-facing work.
Education and Skill Set
Likely holds an advanced degree in environmental science, natural resources, or a related field.
Skills include environmental permitting, site assessments, ecological restoration planning, and grant management.
Fit for Conservation Commission
Brings expertise in integrating energy considerations with environmental stewardship.
Federal perspective on best practices and innovative approaches to conservation challenges.
Ability to inform local decision-making with regional and national conservation knowledge.
Overall, Alex Hoar’s role with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, combined with probable advanced training and multi-level experience in conservation and sustainability, would make him a very strong candidate for serving on the Amherst Conservation Commission.
I find this what is being learned thanks to Jennifer Taub’s article very troubling. Alex Hoar is professionally qualified for this kind of volunteer position and has served the interests of the town in safeguarding accepted conservation principles. Please reconsider and let him to serve another term.
I cannot believe this. Are we living in Trump world, where we can just disappear our enemies? Thank you, Ira for underlining Mr. Hoar’s qualifications. The reason for any ditching of Mr. Hoar would be because the Manager favors the developer, Archipelago, in its quest to develop a project next to Atkins Farm. I hope the residents of Applewood and the surrounding community raise holy hell at this potential unfair and disrespectful action.
The procedures around Manager appointments to town boards and committees are vague but they generally provide that if a committee member has served one 3 year term, s/he should be given preference to be appointed again for another term for up to six years. The learning curve on some of these committees is deep and the experience gained in the first term in invaluable in the second. That any member is not given preference for reappointment based on his voting record is unfair and undemocratic. But the Manager is unaccountable to the residents and can do what he wants. It’s notable that these Manager actions are clearly backed by the Council leadership.
The failure of the Town Manager to reappoint a qualified, hard working, dedicated member of one of the most demanding committees in town is just the latest in this dysfunctional and autocratic appointment process. The way that this particular case unfolded, with the person who served well for three years not being granted an interview and then strung along for 4 months only to be told he would not be reappointed (without receiving a reason) but expected to continue to serve until the Town Manager can unearth a replacement, is pure disrespect. It is well beyond time that the Town Manager ceases this opaque and unfair process where he withholds all information on the applicant pool and holds vacancies open despite having qualified residents willing to serve.
When residents who are trying to contribute to this town are pushed aside by those in power, it should be no wonder why the list of vacancies is as long as the list of lousy roads.
When then-Town Manager Larry Shaffer refused to reappointment me to a second term on the Planning Board in 2010, the reason he gave was that I had not been “collegial and collaborative.” What he appeared to be referring to was the fact that I sometimes did not agree with my colleagues on bylaws that were to be presented to Town Meeting. Likely this annoying habit might have been overlooked if I had not additionally written up the reasons for my disagreement in the form of minority reports, which Town Meeting took seriously and sometimes agreed with.
Disagreements, particularly when you are the only party who feels that way, are not easy. It certainly would have been easier for me to simply agree with the majority. But I felt strongly that as a Planning Board member, I needed to keep foremost in mind Article 1 of the town’s Zoning Bylaw: “This zoning Bylaw is enacted …. for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, convenience and general welfare of the inhabitants of the Town of Amherst.” This to me meant that I should think of the benefit of the town as a whole, and to do so by following the rules and regulations enacted by the town.
The members of the Conservation Commission appear to be following — as they should — the same directives in the matter of the Archipelago Investments proposal for South Amherst. They have been asked to change the rules, for the seeming benefit of one company’s plans, and to the detriment of both the area’s natural environment and those who call that neighborhood home. And now one of their experienced and clearly qualified members has been denied reappointment, with no explanation given. Perhaps the Town Manager is trying to create the impression that there is some darker reason for which he is denying Mr. Hoar’s reappointment. But that would be a case of hearing hoofbeats and expecting the proverbial zebras. It is much more likely that Mr. Hoar has done his job and done it well by following the rules and protecting the environment, rather than bowing to the almighty dollar, and that some are displeased because he has insisted on doing so.
Amherst used to pride itself on being a green community, but it appears that the green now being worshipped by an increasingly powerful minority isn’t the kind that grows on trees.
I am sorry to see both Alex Hoar and Karine Winter having to deal with the public perception of not being reappointed .
It is not fair to them , for a volunteer position .
Why volunteer ?
Another documented scenario that suggests that the Town Manager, Paul Bockelman should be replaced.
Does anyone see a pattern here? Don’t reappoint Deborah Ferreira to CSSJC because she had served on the CSWG. Keep a vacancy on the Charter Review Committee because “the pool is too small”. Don’t reappoint Alex Hoar to the Conservation Committee for reasons the Town Manager refuses to disclose. (So much for transparency in government.) Just a few examples, and the civics lesson seems unavoidable: Expect the Town Manager or Town Council to appoint you to a committee only if you do not demonstrate opposition to their vision. And they wonder why they have trouble recruiting people.
Alex Hoar is superbly qualified to continue serving on the ConCom. Because town manager likely doesn’t agree with Hoar’s stance is not a disqualifying reason. Not only should Hoar be reappointed but Town Manager needs to fill open positions on ConCom and other committees in a timely manner. It is called “doing your job”! For the life of me I cannot fathom how the man gets stellar reviews when clearly his duties aren’t being fulfilled in this and other areas. He is in my opinion thumbing his nose at those who pay his salary.
Perhaps Alex Hoar could cite the [Federal Reserve Governor Lisa] Cook v. Trump decision and just continue to serve on the ConCom until all vacancies are filled?
And of course, no new appointments to the ConCom should be approved by the Town Council while the allegation that there’s a conflict of interest implicit in the claim that the Town “Manager favors the developer, Archipelago, in its quest to develop a project next to Atkins Farm” is adjudicated by the Massachusetts Ethics Commission.
Has that allegation been formally made to the Ethics Commission?
Paul Bockelman is the person who should be losing his position in this town. Not a volunteer like Alex Hoar who has shared his expertise with this committee over the last three years to protect the community. He and others have been treated with utter disrespect, and its time we demand a fair and open process for committee appointments. It time for Mr. Bockelman to resign and clean up the corruption.
I am writing in support of Alex Hoar to be reinstated in his current position. He is perfectly enabled for this position and has done his job well, with a valuable history relevant to the job.
Our town is fortunate to have someone with so much experience in the issues arising on the job. He is the perfect person to be in his position. I hope we can keep him there!
Carol Pope