Letter: Conservation Commissioner Questions Town Manager’s Refusal to Reappoint Him

The following letter was sent to the Town Services and Outeach Committee on October 1, 2025. The letter was discussed at their meeting on October 2, 2025.

I am writing to you about the communication you have received from the Town Manager about his nominations for appointments to the Conservation Commission. As you know, the commission is comprised of seven people, and I am honored to have served as one of them these past three years. 

The commission had one vacant seat for some time followed by a second after a commissioner resigned at the end of August. These two seats are in addition to the seat I currently occupy. The filling of these seats has been raised at recent commission meetings as quorum challenges have been anticipated. 

I applied for reappointment to a second term as my term was ending but had not heard anything back. Contrary to the Town Manager’s statement that “The interview team interviewed all applicants.”, I was not interviewed by the team assembled for that task and I received no contact. Instead, a couple of weeks ago I was asked to attend a meeting with the Town Manager. At that meeting, I was informed by the Town Manager that he did not intend to nominate me for reappointment. I asked for his reason(s) and was told he did not need reasons. 

I have been an involved, prepared, productive member of the commission and I have more to offer the town in this capacity, as I’m sure the two potential new members before you will also. The rationale for not allowing me to fill the third available seat at this time escapes me, and I remain ready, willing, and able to continue to serve. 

I respectfully ask the TSO to recommend to the Town Council that the Town Manager reappoint me to the commission for a 2nd term. 

Alex Hoar

Alex Hoar is a member of the Amherst Conservation Commission