Jones Funding Request Questioned by Community Preservation Act Committee
Rare Philippine mahogany woodwork removed from the historic Jones Library for possible reuse elsewhere. Photo: amherstma.gov
Amherst Community Preservation Act (CPA) Committee members heard a presentation by Jones Library representatives on December 18, for their request of $1,252,306 in CPA funds for the building project that is currently underway. This grant would be in addition to the $1 million the Jones already received in FY2021. The request is for the replacement of the windows in the 1928 portion of the building ($775,000), conservation of interior and exterior woodwork ($377,306), and wood floor repairs ($100,000). Kent Faerber from the Jones Library Capital Campaign said that the additional funds were being requested to try to limit the town’s portion of project funding to the $15.8 million promised by the Town Council.
CPAC member Jonas Cox asked why funding was not requested for the replacement of the slate roof and was told that it could not be included because that work has already taken place. Faerber responded that funds that have already been committed by the town are “completely different and separate” from these requested CPA funds.”The $15.8 million will raise people’s taxes; CPA funds don’t”. Cox pointed out that the source of CPA funds is actually a surcharge on local property taxes.
CPAC member Jason Dorney asked for the rationale of asking for more town money in the form of CPA funds for work that is included in the $46.1 million budget. Faerber replied that some work was added as a result of the Section 106 process, but that these amounts are being covered by the contingency built into the budget.
CPAC member Ellen Keiter asked whether any attempt has been made to appeal the cancellation of the grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Faerber said that there is no possibility for review of that decision.
The Jones’ request for CPA funds had been discussed by the Amherst Historic Commission (AHC) in October 2025, along with the other requests for historic preservation projects. The AHC recommended against CPA funding for the windows because they were part of the original budget. They questioned the validity of the CPA request for the woodwork for the same reason. This information was not presented to CPAC during the meeting and there was no report in the meeting packet.
The next CPAC meeting will be on January 15, 2026 at which time it will begin deliberations on how to allot the $2.4 million in available CPA funds among the$6.4 million in requests.
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