New Appointments to CPA Committee, Conservation Commission, and Cultural Council

In memos to the Town Council and the Town Clerk dated Septembeer 22, 2025 Town Manager Paul Bockelman recommended appointments to the Community Preservation Act Committee, The Conservation Commission and the Cultural Council. These appointments were endorsed unanimously (5-0 ) at the October 2 meeting of the Town Services and Outreach Committee (TSO) and will come before the full Town Council for final approval at their meeting on October 6.

Community Preservation Act Committee

Name:	Representing:	Term Ending:
Jason Dorney	Conservation Commission	June 30, 2026
Robin Fordham	Historical Commission	June 30, 2026
Angus McLeod	Planning Board	June 30, 2026
Jonas Cox	Recreation Commission	June 30, 2026

Background: The Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) was established as Section 3.5 of the Town’s General Bylaw as authorized by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44B, Section 5(a). In part, the Town’s bylaw states:

Membership shall include 1 member of the Conservation Commission, 1 member of the

Historical Commission, 1 member of the Planning Board, 1 member of the Leisure Services and Supplemental Education Commission, 1 member of the Amherst Housing Authority, and 4 residents as designated by the Town Manager.

The Town Manager shall make all appointments to CPAC.

The Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Planning Board, Leisure Services and Supplemental Education Commission, and Amherst Housing Authority shall each nominate a member of their body to serve on CPAC, which the Town Manager shall accept and appoint for a 1-year term. The other 4 members of CPAC shall be appointed for staggered terms of not more than 3 years. Any member may be reappointed.

Read more about the Community Preservation Act Committee here.

Conservation Commission
Appointed for three-year terms expiring June 30, 2028:

Sarah Matthews of Crossbrook Avenue and
Carol McNeary of Spencer Drive

The Town Manager provided the following biographical profiles of the noiminees.

Sarah Matthews is a practicing attorney with a Boston-based renewable energy-social mission firm, although she is not an environmental attorney as a specialty. She has been committed to environmental issues her entire life, both personally and professionally. She served three years on the Board of Directors for the Kestrel Land Trust and co-founded Western Mass Rights of Nature, a group that has been advocating for the Connecticut River. She has a deep appreciation of the outdoors and the conservation areas that the Town has preserved and maintains.

Carol McNeary has advocated for the environment for many years and has followed the work of the Conservation Commission. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Satilla Riverkeeper Alliance and on the Pierce County Planning Board in Georgia. She has become involved in the Fort River Watershed Association and an environmental oversight and education group at Applewood called Health Applewood Land.

Read more about the Conservation Commission here.

Cultural Council
Appointed as voting members for three-year terms expiring June 30, 2028:

Joseph Mascis of Jeffrey Lane and Jessica Slattery of Colonial Village

The Town Manager Provided the following biographical profiles of the nominees:

Joseph Mascis grew up in Amherst and now lives here pursuing his chosen profession in the medial field. He said he volunteered his time because he appreciated all he gained by being a life-long resident and is invested in the town’s long-term future. He is interested in the arts and appreciative of the public artwork that the town has supported over the years.

Jessica Slattery is relatively new to town and was drawn by her employment but discovered a vibrant arts community. She wants to help create community events and make public art happen in town. She is experienced in event planning, communications/social media outreach, and grant writing. In high school, she ran a theater camp through the town library which was made possible by a local cultural grant. She is highly organized and pays close attention to detail.

Read more about the Cultural Council here.