Editor’s note: Town Manager Paul Bockelman submits a comprehensive report to the Town Council, usually at the second 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 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 Report. All Town Manager Reports are available on the town’s website here: Town Manager Reports 

TOWN MANAGER

• Cuppa Joe with Paul: 
• The last Cuppa Joe was held on July 10^th at Cushman Market with special guest Communications Manager Samantha Giffen. We had a very good turn out with a great discussion about the Town’s website and staying up to date on Town events.
• The next Cuppa Joe is scheduled for August 14^th.  We are working on the topic being Hampshire College. We hope to hold it at the new restaurant in the Pomeroy Village Center, Izote Latin & American Kitchen.
• 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.
• Upcoming Events: We have numerous upcoming events:

• August 8^th: I Was a Hurricane on the Town Common at 8:00 p.m. This is the world premiere of the documentary, “I Was a Hurricane”, a documentary on Ultimate Frisbee at AmherstPelham Regional High School. The documentary miniseries has been in the works for five years.
• Here is the trailer: I Was aHurricane Trailer  
• August 14^th: Ceremony designating Amherst as a Purple Heart Community at Town Hall – 3:00 p.m. 
• August 24^th: First Day of School Celebration at Kendrick Park – 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• August 26^th: First day of school classes begin for grades 1-12
• August 27^th – August 31^st: Rotary Club Fair on the Town Common 
• August 31^st – First day of school for Pre-K and Kindergarten
• September 4^th – TENTATIVE – ribbon cutting at ARHS track facility
• September 17^th – Block Party Downtown Amherst
• October TBD – Official Ribbon Cutting for Amethyst Brook Elementary School
• Town Website: The Town is redesigning and improving its website with our vendor Civic Plus.
• On August 1^st, the Town Clerk’s office will launch a new way to view every Town committee’s meeting material including agendas, minutes, meeting packets, and recordings for all Boards, Committees, and Commissions on one page. 
  • The new Agenda & Minutes Center is a single webpage where all public bodies will post this material going forward. 
  • Trainings of staff liaisons are being conducted now.
  • Residents will also have the opportunity to subscribe to receive notifications for postings by each individual board/committee, instead of needing to receive notices for all committees.
• In addition, the Communications Manager is leading a website redesign within the constraints of our existing web content provider. The purposes of this redesign are to improve searchability, remove outdated content, and increase accessibility — all while giving the website a “refreshed” look.
• The new website will be launched by January 2027.
• Cable Television License Renewal: • The Town’s license with Comcast expires in October. The current contract commenced in October 2016 and will expire in October 2026.
• Every 10 years, the Town conducts a comprehensive review and renewal of its cable license to ensure community needs are met and service standards maintained. Currently, Comcast is the sole provider holding a franchise agreement to provide cable services within the Town of Amherst. 
• The Town, with our Cable Television Advisory Committee, is fully engaged in the process of relicensing the cable television license held by Comcast. The Cable Television Advisory Committee (CTAC) is made up of residents and staff to support and facilitate this renewal process.
• The Committee is seeking input from residents. I request that Town Councilors please share the survey link:  amherstma.gov/cable-survey  The survey is open through Friday, August 7.  
• The survey is an opportunity for residents to provide feedback about: (a) whether the current cable operator, Comcast, is in full compliance with its  currently-existing cable license; and (b) determining the Town’s future community cable-related needs. • To learn more about the Cable Television Advisory Committee’s work, access meeting minutes and important documents, and more, please visit the CTAC Website. To contact the CTAC members, email cable@amherstma.gov.
• Percent for Art: 
• Under the Town’s Bylaw and in accordance with the Town Council’s vote, 1/2% for art will be dedicated to the Amethyst Brook Elementary School site. I have formed a Percent for Art Advisory Committee and am seeking volunteers to join it. The Percent for Art Advisory Committee is a time-limited committee responsible for advancing the selection of public art for the new Amethyst Brook Elementary School.
• I am seeking two residents with the following qualifications:
  • Art professionals, who work in the arts in fields such as production, education, criticism, administration, fundraising, curating, and collecting, are well-respected and knowledgeable regarding visual art.
• Other members of the seven-member body include:
  • Two members from the Public Art Commission;
  • One member from the Elementary School Building Committee;
  • One elementary school art teacher;
  • One Amherst Regional High School student selected by the High School Principal.
  • A project manager will be hired to assist in the process and will serve as a nonvoting member of the Advisory Committee.
• Interested residents should submit a Community Activity Form.
• Departmental Trainings: 
• Managing Public Comment: 
  • The Clerk of the Council is conducting sessions for committee members, chairs, and liaisons to better understand the Town’s responsibilities regarding public comment at public meetings. The Town of Amherst is one of the few communities that requires public comment at all regular committee meetings.
  • Topics being covered include:
• What speech may be restricted?
• What speech remains protected?
• Managing public comment at meetings.
• Suggested verbal directions when opening public comment.
• Responding to offensive or disruptive comments.
• Special considerations for remote meetings.
• Department Heads Retreat: Department heads and I will be engaged in an off-site retreat in the coming weeks to discuss organizational effectiveness, improving communication, and brainstorm ways to make our meetings more impactful. Credit to the Clerk of the Council and other staff for conceptualizing, organizing, and leading this important session.
• Colleges:
• University of Massachusetts Amherst:
  • First day of classes is September 8^th. 
  • Campus study: The University announced it had selected American Campus Communities to collaborate on a comprehensive, long-range, and phased plan to modernize campus housing while maintaining affordability and exploring nonresidential amenities to enhance the campus experience.
• The University’s goal is to build new student housing to allow for the renovation or replacement of existing residence hall facilities in a multiphase approach without the loss of current student housing capacity. The study will also look at non-student housing and non-residential amenities that have the potential to enhance student life, engage the community, and address campus infrastructure needs.
• The University stated that it would provide opportunities for recurring input from students, faculty, governance groups, and other campus stakeholders.

▪ The Director of Planning and Economic Development was appointed to the UMass Amherst Campus Council (ACC). The ACC is a regional convener for regional economic development conversations and exchange of ideas.

• Amherst College:
  • First day of classes is September 1^st. 
• Hampshire College: 
  • Town staff are engaged in reviewing zoning options to prepare for future uses of the Hampshire campus property. This study will include various assessments, opportunities for public input, and a final report by January 2027. Here is a link to the most recent announcement: https://www.amherstma.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/3972  The Town’s intent is that zoning options will be in alignment with the Town’s overall needs, goals, and long-term vision and the Town Council’s vote. It is also desirable that the zoning study will support the College’s needs.The Hampshire College Board of Trustees, as the property owner, will make all decisions about marketing and sale of the property.
  • Through MassDevelopment, the Town is receiving technical assistance from a skilled team of professionals bringing environmental, land use, and economic development expertise: Horsley-Witten Group, Dodson and Flinker, U3 Advisors.  ▪ The work will include:
• Creation of a website to share important information about the project which will go live this week.
• A series of public meetings – including an initial virtual information session to be held on July 21 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Zoom.
• Assessment of existing infrastructure including water, sewer, and electricity, as well as mapping relevant environmental considerations.
• Scenario planning to create conceptual level illustrative plans for different redevelopment themes such as mixed-use villages, continued education, or housing. 
• And drafting proposed Zoning Amendments for consideration by the Planning Board and Town Council and a final report by January 2027

▪ Staff are utilizing the Town Council’s vote to state the Town’s priorities for the future uses of Hampshire College’s property: 

• “The future uses of Hampshire College land are of critical importance to the Town of Amherst, and comprehensive, consultative, and inclusive land planning efforts are being undertaken by staff. As this effort continues, and as Hampshire College decides what to do with its land, the Town Council identifies the following key priorities and stands ready to provide zoning and regulatory support for them:   o  Buildable land should be prioritized for housing, small business development, and other appropriate tax revenue-generating uses.  o Sensitive habitat, farming, or resource areas should be prioritized for preservation, creating a balance between potential redevelopment and preservation. 

o Housing development should prioritize a wide range of housing types, as reflected in the Town’s 2021 Comprehensive Housing Policy and 2025 Housing Production Plan.  o If components of the property could support identified Town space or facilities needs, those needs should be considered.” 

• Staff Accomplishments: Two Town staff members have been recognized by the Massachusetts Municipal Association to further their professional development. o Rome Cabrera from the Recreation Department graduated from the MMA Certificate in Municipal Leadership and Management program in conjunction with Suffolk University. This year-long program required consistent dedication and support from the Town and his department.
• Philip Avilla from the DEI Department was awarded the Nancy Galkowski legacy award from the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association. The award can be used to assist with defraying the costs of professional development, training and mentoring opportunities for current and future local government administrators. Amherst Director of Communications & Civic Innovation Brianna Sunryd was a 2019 award recipient.
• Outreach: 
  • Newsletters: Staff work on the website re-design project will provide an opportunity to implement a “resident portal” that will expand options and make it easier for residents to subscribe to specific topics. The Communications Manager has also researched and met with other email-based newsletter vendors such as Constant Contact to see if this could be used in the future. Several departments have developed departmental newsletters that are available in print and online including Senior Services; CRESS; and DEI. The Senior Services Department will be transitioning from an online newsletter to a printed newsletter that will be mailed to over 4,000 seniors in the Town of Amherst beginning in September. The newsletter will be available online as well. o Orientation and Onboarding: Town staff worked with the Residents’ Advisory Committee to review the Community Activity Form, the notification of appointed individuals, and the creation of a survey that tries to measure the overall experience of our volunteers who serve on Town Manager appointed multi-member bodies. The next meeting on this topic is July 20^th. The TSO Committee is working with staff to review committee charges and membership numbers. In addition, staff have been recruiting at community events including the Global Village Festival, Pride, and Farmers Market to encourage resident participation. 
  • Civic Academy: Town staff will be recruiting for the September – November class beginning in August. A student intern is working with department heads this summer to review their presentations and discuss what worked and didn’t work the first year. We are also looking into creating short recorded departmental segments that can be posted on the Town’s website for broader distribution.

DEPARTMENT UPDATES

Administration and Finance

• Finance: 

o FY27 Capital Budget: The Town Council reduced the FY27 capital appropriation by $120,000. As a result, I am required to reduce that amount from the proposed projects. Below are the reductions that have been identified and split equally between the Town and Schools:

• Town IT Tech Equipment $30,000 reduction (new approved amount is $170,000). IT will reduce expenditures of previously approved equipment and services;
• Town Planning Consultants $30,000 reduction (new approved amount is $170,000. By securing the State-funding support from MassDevelopment for Hampshire College, we believe we can reduce the funding in the line item.
• School Facility Assessment & Planning $60,000 reduction (new approved amount is 70,000). This appropriation was split between two distinct projects. Whichever project is not pursued in FY27 can be resubmitted for consideration by the Town in FY28.
• Audit: Work on the audit is complete. We are awaiting the final audit. o FY27: Accounting has opened up the new fiscal year and is in the process of closing out the previous fiscal year.
• Finance Intern: Massachusetts Municipal Finance Fellowship Program sponsored by the Department of Revenue Division of Local Services selected the Town to place a finance intern to work with the Finance Director. After four weeks learning about local government at the State House, the intern is now participating in a field learning experience from July 6 – August 27, 2026. o DPW Facility: The Town Manager, Finance Director, and Capital Projects Manager have begun negotiations with top ranked design firm Weston & Sampson for the design of the DPW Facility. 
• Shared Services: The Treasurer/Collector’s office has begun serving the residents of Pelham providing treasurer and collector services.
• Fees: The Town has adjusted numerous fees including Town Clerk, Ambulance, and Building Permit fees. The goal is to adjust the fees the Town charges closer or at market rate fees.
• Cell Tower License: The Town conducted a competitive procurement process to renew the lease for the telecommunications tower on Town-owned land at Ruxton. The Town awarded the bid to American Tower.
• Human Resources: 
  • The Department continues to recruit, interview, and hire numerous Town positions. A list of current vacancies can be found here: List of Job Vacancies  
• • The Department successfully recruited a new Director of Senior Services. o The Department successfully recruited a new Assistant Planning Director.
  • The Department hired four new firefighters who were sworn into service on July 6^th.
• Town Clerk:
  • Website Improvements: As mentioned above, the Town Clerk will be transitioning most Boards and Committees to utilizing the Agenda and Minutes Center to post meeting agendas, minutes, and recordings.
    • The goal is to make it easier for the public to locate information and also easier for staff to submit agendas for posting. The Communications Manager and Town Clerk are offering trainings for staff and committee liaisons in preparation for an August 1 launch.
    • We will be doing a bigger announcement as we approach the official launch date. The new Agenda & Minutes Center is one webpage where the agenda, minutes, and link to meeting recordings for all public bodies will be posted. Residents will also have the opportunity to subscribed to only those committees they choose.
  • Voter Information:
  • Voter Inactivation: Voters who did not respond to the Annual Street List (the local census) have received a postcard in the mail stating they are on the “inactive voter list” from the Town Clerk’s office. Voters must sign and return the postcard to indicate they are still living in Amherst or have moved. Voters on the inactive voter list can still vote, but must bring identification to the polling place. If a inactive voter does not vote in two consecutive federal elections or take other action to activate their voter status, they will be removed from the voter list. Contact the Clerk’s office or visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website for additional information.
• Elections: The State Primary election will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 followed by the State Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
  • Vote-by-Mail: Every registered voter should have received a vote-by-mail application postcard from the Elections Division of the Secretary of State. If they would like to vote by mail, return the postcard with a signature as soon as possible. Keep in mind applications expire annually. Voters must indicate what party ballot they would like to receive for the State Primary if they are an Unenrolled voter. Voters enrolled in a political party will only receive that party ballot. Also, effective this year, ballot colors will change. Democratic ballots will be blue and Republican ballots will be salmon. It previously was the other way around and led many election officials and members of the public to request that the colors be reversed to reflect the expectation and association of color with a specific party. So, don’t be alarmed if you’re used to seeing a different color!
  • In-Person Early Voting: Early voting for the State Primary will be held in the First Floor Conference Room at Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Ave., on the following dates:
    
• Saturday, August 22               9:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Monday, August 24                8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Tuesday, August 25                8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Wednesday, August 26           8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Thursday, August 27              8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Friday, August 28                   8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Election Day Voting: Polls are open from 7:00am – 8:00pm. Voting on Election Day is available for any voter who may want to vote at the polls. If you requested a mail-in ballot but choose to vote in person on Election Day or in-person during Early Voting, you can. Discard your mail-in ballot at your house, don’t bring it back. To find your polling location CLICK HERE.
• New Voting Location: On May 18^th the Town Council voted to move Precinct 2- B’s polling location to the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, 21 Mattoon Street. Precincts 2-A, 3-A, 4-A, and 4-B already vote there.  
• Voter Registration
  • Online: If you have a signature on file with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, you can register online.
• You can also pre-register, update your address, update your name, and change your political party designation.
• Voter registration forms submitted online must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the date of the voter registration deadline (August 22)
• Register by Mail: You can register or pre-register to vote with a mail-in voter registration form. Print, fill out, and sign the voter registration form. Your voter registration form must be postmarked by the voter registration deadline (August 22).
  • Register In-person: You can register or pre-register to vote in person at the Town Clerk’s office. Voter registration forms completed in-person are valid on the day that they are signed.
  • Automatic Voter Registration: If you are a Massachusetts citizen doing certain things at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, MassHealth, and the Commonwealth Health Connector, you will automatically become registered to vote. You will receive notification from the Town Clerk’s office in this instance. 
  • Information Technology:

o Website: 

• The Town is embarking on a website redesign with our vendor Civic Plus. The purposes of this redesign are to improve searchability, remove outdated content, and increase accessibility — all while giving the website a “refreshed” look. The Communications Manager will be leading this process with support from staff members across various departments. The new website will be launched by January 2027.
• Town staff are working on bringing the Town into compliance with the new ADA Guidelines https://www.ada.gov/resources/2024-03-08-web-rule/  . The deadline has been extended by one year. This is a major undertaking that involves I.T., Communications, DEI, and everyone in our organization who posts to the website.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Department:
  • Events: 
    • Independence Day: The DEI Department participated in the fireworks event with an information table.
    • Reading of Frederick Douglass: On Sunday, July 5^th, the community came together at the South Congregational Church to read Frederick Douglass’s famous “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”. Another large turnout for this event.
    • DEI Panels: The DEI panels are on display in Town Hall. They explore the constitution and the United States’ Democracy 250 years in the making.
    • Youth Hero Awards and Race Amity Day Celebration: The Human Rights Commission celebrated Race Amity Day on June 14^th. The community recognize this year’s Youth Hero awardees at this event, which is sponsored by the Human Rights Commission, the Departments of DEI and CRESS, the League of Women Voters, and the Amherst Baha’i Community.
  • Outreach: 
    • Please review the DEI July newsletter found here: https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/87608/July—2026Newsletter?bidId=  
    • Online Reporting of ICE Misconduct: The State opened an online portal for people to report ICE misconduct. Bystanders, lawyers, and families can report any potential misconduct by Federal immigration agents in Massachusetts through a new state portal, The portal is designed to help the state identify patterns of potential misconduct and “inform possible legal action.” State officials are also asking residents to use the site to report “potentially unlawful activity” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or other Federal agents.
  • Training: The Department has completed nine departmental trainings to date. Departmental trainings will resume in September. The Department has also offered numerous other trainings for various audiences through the first half of the year. Trainings for Town Councilors have been offered and are awaiting scheduling options that work for members of the Town Council.

• Pride Month: Amherst Pride included a march from the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School to the Town Common with a large fair on the Common. Attendance was one of the largest in the Town’s history.

• Disability Pride Month: The Jones Library, the Recreation Department, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Department invite the public to the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Disability Pride events on the 16^th of July and on July 20^th. 
• July 16^th: The Kids Room at the Jones Library (101 University) will host a themed story-time on Thursday, July 16th 11:00-11:30 in celebration of Disability Pride month. Paralympian Juan Dixon will join as the special guest.
• July 20^th: Paralympian Tory Dixon will give a talk under the pavilion at the Mill River Recreation Area. Ms. Dixon won medals in swimming, following her talk Town staff will tour the recent ADA improvements to the pavilion and walkway and Recreation staff will review sensory & adaptive equipment for the pool:
  • 12:15 – 1:00 p.m. – Tory Dixon presentation and questions o 1:15 – 3:30 p.m. – Exploration of sensory & adaptive equipment & open pool swimming.
  • Community Engagement:
• The Town hosted a series of community conversations designed to acknowledge harm, provide support, and promote wellness in response to multiple recent events in Town. Topics focused on the impacts of domestic violence, racism, and the closure of Hampshire College, as well as overall community wellness and resiliency. The four-part series included events facilitated by a local community member. This series was hosted by the Town’s Public Health, CRESS, and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Departments.
• Here are the four events:
  • Community Wellness and Resiliency: A journey through harm and hurt to repair facilitated by community leader Andrea Battle.
  • Beyond the Silence: Dialogue on Domestic Violence, Safety and Support facilitated by Amherst Police Sergeant Janet M. Griffin, MCJ, MS CMHC.
• Cultural Humility in Community: Responding to Harm, Building Toward Healing, a conversation focused on the impacts of racism in Amherst facilitated by Dayna Campbell, Co-Executive Director of the Women of Color Health Equity Collective and Assistant Professor of Public Health at American International College.
• Processing the Closure of Hampshire College, a conversation focused on the community impacts of Hampshire College’s closure facilitated by Dr. Pat Romney, higher education consultant and former Associate Professor of Psychology at Hampshire College.
• The Department is in the process of hiring a Hearth and Soul coordinator, a grant-funded position.
• Youth Empowerment: The DEI Youth Career Fair was held on May 27^th at The Drake with the following town staff and community members participating: Town of  Amherst Finance, Fire, Public Health, Information Technology, Library, Schools, and DEI departments participating along with a representative from higher education and a medical provider.
• Resident Oversight Board: The report was advanced to the Town Council which referred it to the GOL Committee. 
• Police Protocols: 
  • The Emergency Communication Center is now dispatching calls to Community Responders.
  • Town staff (CRESS, Police, Dispatch) continue to monitor and review Dispatch calls that have been directed to the CRESS Department. Dispatch calls are reviewed regularly by the CRESS Director, Police Chief, Emergency Communications Director, and Town Manager to assess the calls that were dispatched to CRESS and the outcomes, calls that could have been dispatched, calls that should not have been dispatched, and calls that come in between the hours of 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. to determine the volume of calls that could be dispatched to CRESS. This process will continue regularly through the rest of the year.

Public Safety

• Fire Department:

o Staffing: 

• Fire Academy: Two new firefighters who were hired last year are attending theMassachusetts Fire Academy’s recruit training program, Dylan Dincer and Nicolas Sandoval.  They will graduate in August and return to their shifts by September.
• New Canine: The Town has a new comfort dog named “Wilson”. Wilson was sworn into his duties on June 2^nd. Costs for the dog and start-up expenses were funded by a donation. Firefighter/Paramedic Alison Cote has been designated by the Fire Chief as Wilson’s handler, and Assistant Chief Chandler is the assistant handler.
  
• Four New Firefighters: Four new full-time firefighters were sworn in on July 6th. The four new firefighters are Emma Elson, Sherly Gomerez, Jacob Smith, Evelyn Wales.

• These fill two vacancies and increase staffing by two new positions (one had been frozen in budget reductions last year).
• This is part of the three-year plan to increase staffing.  Three just graduated from UMass or Hampshire College this spring and were on our Student Force.
• Three firefighters are basic EMTs and one is just completing paramedic school.
• The four firefighters will be training the next four weeks, then will be assigned to shifts in August.

▪ Grant Support: The Town is seeking funding from the SAFER grant program to support staff expansion. The grant provides a three-year funding program after which the Town is expected to take on the positions permanently.

o Central Station:  Central Station was closed during the month of June and reopened on July 13^th. The Station’s parking lot was excavated to bring utility service to the new library. The work provided the opportunity for the Town to include improving conduit connections to the Central Fire Station and to repave the parking lot. While the building was closed, Town staff arranged to have a deep clean of the building.

• Police Department:
  • Emergency Communications Center:
    • Emergency Communications Center Director Jason Rushford was one of a handful of applicants to receive a significant scholarship to further his professional development at the PSAP Leadership Scholarship program funded by the 911 State Training Grant. The scholarship, valued at $13,000 will cover all costs for two sixday training programs.
    • The Department was awarded a $168,008 Support & Incentive Grant for departments who meet State Compliance requirements.
    • The Department was awarded a training grant to compensate the Town for State Mandated training for dispatchers. The $23,081 grant can be utilized for the state required training and vendor costs.
  • Staffing:
    • Community Liaison Officer Bill Laramee retired. His duties are being taken on by Sergeant Janet Griffin and Detective Yvonne Feliciano. Sergeant Griffin has 28 years’ experience in policing and is also an instructor for the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council becoming the first female staff instructor. She served 21 years in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, where she became the first female platoon sergeant of the 211th Military Police Battalion. She deployed twice, including a tour in Afghanistan and Iraq, earning numerous accolades, including the Bronze Star. She is a proud member of the National Organization for Black Law Enforcement Executives. Her expertise includes Law Enforcement Response to Domestic Violence, Sexual Assaults, Human Trafficking, and she’s a physical fitness facilitator. Detective Feliciano is trained in a variety of specialties including sexual assault investigation. She also serves as an adventure academy staff member and was formerly a field training officer. She’s been with the Amherst Police Department for 21 years.

▪ The Amherst Police Department currently has an opening for full-time and is accepting applications at amherstma.gov/jobs.

• Community Responders for Equity, Safety, and Service:

o Town Council Follow-up: At the Town Council’s meeting on June 8^th, some questions arose about our CRESS Department:

▪ Call volume

• As you know, CRESS acts as an unarmed, alternative response for nonviolent community needs. CRESS has been working successfully since its founding and has made impressive progress getting established, making connections with the community, and responding proactively to community needs.
• CRESS has been successful in many ways and continues to grow and become more sophisticated in becoming an important new service of the Town.
• Any true analysis of the CRESS Department must look at the entire portfolio of work and services. Dispatched calls are one aspect of the many services the CRESS Department offers.
• The Emergency Communications Center (ECC) dispatches Community Responders to situations like well-being checks, mental health issues, and neighbor assists, but only after dispatchers rule out safety risks. Since January, the ECC has been dispatching community responders. Currently there are fewer than ten calls per month that are dispatched. 
• The number of calls from Dispatch is comparable to the number of calls dispatched in the City of Northampton to its Department of Community Care (DCC), which is that City’s community response program. The call volume dispatched in Northampton to DCC seem to be on par with Town of Amherst’s. Note that the DCC works as late as 7:00 p.m. and they also work on Saturdays. Once we have more data, a more thorough comparative analysis would be in order.
• The Town Manager convenes a team of the CRESS Director, Police Chief, and ECC Director to (a) evaluate the responses of calls provided to CRESS to discuss how the calls were handled from various points of view: Dispatch, CRESS, and Police; (b) review calls that were dispatched to CRESS to determine if they should – or should not – have been dispatched; and (c) review calls that were not dispatched that should – or should not – have been dispatched. We continue to learn and improve protocols and educate community responders, dispatchers, and department leaders in implementing this new service.
• Hours of operation
  • CRESS Staff currently are in service from 8:00 – 4:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. At one point, CRESS offered services from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with some Saturday hours, as well. 
  • Hours were reduced during staff vacancies and reduced staffing. 
  • Community Responders work in pairs to respond to calls. To properly staff a shift, there should be a minimum of three, preferably four, responders available to account for vacation, sick, and other time off.
  • Town staff continue to review the calls that come into the ECC between the hours of 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Specifically, we have reviewed calls that the ECC could have dispatched CRESS to with an estimate of approximately 13-15 additional calls per month. Again, this is data that will continue to be analyzed.
  • We will continue to work with the CRESS Director to determine proper staffing to meet the needs of the Town.
• Use of ARPA funds for exploring a Youth Empowerment Center
  • Initially, the Town identified $500,000 from its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support development of a Youth Empowerment Fund.
  • However, with the change of Federal administration, we became concerned that the rules in place under the previous administration could be changed and that we may not be able to utilize the ARPA funds under the rules established by the Federal administration in office in 2024. We then took pro-active, defensive measures to ensure ARPA funds were allocated and secured before the legislative deadline of December 31, 2024. The result of these actions means the previously unspent ARPA funds fell to Free Cash and were included in the Free Cash certification that was set as of June 30, 2025. The amount falling to Free Cash totaled $3,820,516.
  • Prior to this, approximately $45,000 was dedicated to assessing buildings currently owned by the Town to determine their condition including their maintenace, code, and upgrades needed to determine if the buildings could be utilized as a Youth Empowerment Center.
• Review of Amherst Police Department protocols

• The Police Department has been an accredited agency since 2002. Massachusetts Accreditation standards require that a qualifying agency must establish written policies that are current and grounded in best practices. The policies must be reviewed regularly, and the agency is subjected to a rigorous in person independent review every three years. The Amherst Police Department maintains and adheres to policies on the Use of Force. They include:

• Unreasonable or excessive force is prohibited. o Responding officers have a duty to ensure the appropriate level of force is used and have a duty to intervene if they witness unlawful actions.
  • Strict adherence to a Use of Force Continuum. o Mandated reporting of any use of force incident.
    • The use of choke holds is prohibited. o Recurring and realistic scenario-based de-escalation training. o Prohibition of shooting at a fleeing vehicle. o Mandated review and discussion of the Use of Force policy at every training, but at least annually. o Requirement to provide immediate medical care to a person injured in a use of force incident.
    • Mandated independent review by the Office of the District Attorney in all shooting cases, even non-fatal.
    • Requirement to provide a warning before shooting, if possible.
    • The use of a firearms is the very last resort in a force situation and all other less drastic means available must be sought.
    • An annual review of all use of force instances to adjust training needs.
  • These policies are reinforced through several mandated training sessions each year. As these policies are not new, they are part of what defines our agency in practice and culture. 
  • Please click here to view the folder of the Department’s policies.
  • A review of specific policies – including use of force, consent searches, and pre-textual vehicle stops – and protocols will be conducted this fall.

o Newsletter: The CRESS Department has produced a newsletter which can be found here: CRESS Newsletter  

Community Services

• Public Health:

o Ticks: Tick season seems to be ramping down a bit, although it’s still important to be vigilant. 

• In addition to the usual tick-borne infections (Lyme, babesiosis and anaplasmosis), alpha-gal syndrome – which can cause an allergic reaction to red meat and other animal (mammal) products – and Powassan virus, which is quite rare but can cause serious neurologic symptoms, have also been reported in Massachusetts this season.
  • Prevention is key: check yourself and pets daily and remove ticks ASAP. Disease can transmit within 24-48 hours. If bitten, remove the tick with fine-tipped tweezers and contact your healthcare provider – early treatment may be recommended.
  • Visit the Public Health Department’s tick page and public health updates page for more information. Stop by our office in the Bangs Community Center to pick up a free tick removal kit.
  • Mosquitoes: The Town contracts with the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District every summer. The PCMCD conducts surveillance to help determine the prevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in the local mosquito population. So far this season, there have been no positive samples confirmed for WNV or EEE in the Pioneer Valley. Nevertheless, it is still a good practice to avoid mosquito bites by wearing protective clothing (long sleeves, pants, socks), using insect repellent containing DEET, and avoiding outdoor activity during the peak mosquito hours of dawn and dusk. For more information, visit our website: https://www.amherstma.gov/3319/Mosquitoes
  • Puffers Pond: The Town has begun its summer testing of Puffer’s Pond for bacterial exceedances that could prohibit swimming. Samples are collected on Tuesday of each week with results being posted on the website by Wednesday afternoon. So far this summer, results have been within acceptable levels meaning that there have been no restrictions on swimming.
  • COVID 19: COVID levels have been very low over the past few months.
    • It’s possible there will be a summer wave, but we are not seeing much evidence of this just yet. There are several other viruses causing upper respiratory symptoms that have been circulating in the community, but COVID has not been very prevalent.
    • Amherst has had access to local wastewater surveillance data over the last several years through a Massachusetts Department of Public Health contract with a company called Biobot. This contract came to an end on June 30. The Public Health Department hopes to continue to have access to local wastewater data through other DPH contracts in the future so that we can provide ongoing information to the public about the prevalence of respiratory viruses in our community. Please check the Town’s website for updated information.
• Senior Center:
  • Newsletter:
    • The July/August edition of the Senior Services newsletter, which includes a listing of the dozens of workshops and other activities being offered by the Department, is available here. Hard copies are available at the Senior Center and other town buildings.Starting with the September/October edition, the newsletter will also be mailed out to all 60+ residents in Amherst. This change is being made in response to increasing requests for a mailed newsletter.
  • Wednesday Market: The Wednesday market is an important source of free food for people in the community, especially now with the impact of inflation. Community members made more than 2800 visits to the market in FY 26. Donations come from Whole Foods.

The market is open to all and starts at 10 AM every Wednesday.

• Senior Sips: The Amherst Council on Aging’s Senior Sips continues to be wildly successful. Senior Sips is an opportunity for older adults in the community to come together and socialize over food and drink in local Amherst establishments. The last two events have had more than 60 attendees at each one. A wonderful time was had by all.

▪ The next Senior Sips will be held on Thursday, July 30th at the Inn on Boltwood from 4 to 6 PM. Please join us!

o Documentary Series: The next film in the documentary series will be Dogsville, a tale of love and triumph in dog sports. The movie will be shown on Friday, August 12th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Bangs Community Center.

• Recreation:

o Relocation: The Regional School District terminated the license with the Town that provided rental space to the Town for use by the Recreation Department. As a result, the Town relocated the Recreation Department to the Wildwood Elementary School (courtesy of the School Department for the months of July and August). Given the access and condition of the building, the Recreation Department has established public office hours at the Bangs Community Center on Mondays from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Residents can access Recreation Department services online at or via email at rec@amherstma.gov 

• Independence Day Fireworks:

The Recreation Department staff, led by Becky Demling and Rey Harp, organized and delivered a very, very successful fireworks display with other entertainment and food on July 3^rd. Credit to the Recreation Department staff for the enormous amount of work it requires. A hot air balloon contributed to the festivities.

• Numerous other departments assisted including the Senior Center, Department of Public Works, Police Department, Fire Department, CRESS Department, Communications, and Recreation Department summer and aquatics staff.
  • Special thanks to the Town of Hadley for the support from its Fire Department.
  • And special, special thanks to the University of Massachusetts which dedicates an enormous number of resources to ensure the fireworks are a success.
    
• Cherry Hill Working Group: The Cherry Hill Working Group is finalizing its recommendations for the golf course’s operations including finances and staffing. 

Conservation and Development

• Sustainability:

o The Town’s Climate Action Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CAARP) was adopted in June 2021. The plan is a detailed roadmap for all of Amherst to follow to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The key elements of this plan and actions you can take are the backbone of this site. Here is a link to the dashboard that reports on the Town’s progress: Amherst Municipal Decarbonization Roadmap
o The Town’s Zero Emission Vehicle First Fleet Policy can be found here: Zero Emission Vehicle First Fleet Policy

• Housing:

o Community Homes in North Amherst: Valley Community Development Corporation (CDC) has finalized some of the house and working to completion on the rest of this project on Montague Road. As we enter July, construction is entering its final stretch! Crews are now focused on building finishes, completing site work, and final inspections to prepare for the first home sales this summer.

• The site also welcomes its first signs of life: freshly sprouting grass and newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials, which bring a refreshing wash of green to the site. Throughout the development, walking paths connect small lawns and pocket parks, creating inviting outdoor spaces for homeowners to enjoy.
  
  • The Affordable Housing Trust voted to allocate $137,500 to the project to support the installation of solar panels on all units. Other sources of funds include State ARPA funds ($200,000) and Valley CDC ($120,000).The project represents a unique affordable homeownership development in the Town.  The project includes 30 new homes in 15 duplex buildings clustered around shared opening spaces and parking. 
  • A lottery was held for the available units. areas. All the homes will be deed restricted to Low-to-Moderate Income first-time homebuyer households. The number of applicants for the homes exceeded the available number of units, demonstrating continued demand for Affordable housing in Amherst.

o VFW: The Town seeks to engage a Development Team with capacity to develop the Property on Main Street into a multi-use structure or structures that support permanent congregate shelter that accommodates at least 35 individuals and 25 or more supportive housing units, with flexible administrative and community space to support such uses as well as other complementary services (as the same may be changed by agreement of the Town, the “Project”). The Development Team should also have capacity to manage the Property and to provide shelter and other housing-related services either by providing such services itself or by entering into a management agreement or contract with other organizations, possibly including the Town itself.

• The successful proposer of the RFP will be assigned “Preferred Developer” status. This assigned status will give the successful proposer the exclusive right to discuss and flesh out the proposed development with the Town and to craft a comprehensive development proposal that achieves the Town’s stated objectives in Section IV. If the Town is satisfied that the proposal meets the Town’s development objectives, the parties shall negotiate and enter into a Land Disposition Agreement (the “LDA”) setting forth the conditions that must be satisfied in order for the Town to lease the Property to the successful proposer.
  
• The Town will lease the Property pursuant to a long-term lease (up to 99 years) to the selected Preferred Developer once the contingencies in the LDA have been satisfied and subject to a Land Development Agreement (the “Development Agreement”) that will govern the construction of the project following the lease.
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  • The Town will select a Preferred Developer with demonstrated qualifications, experience and capacity to develop a supportive housing and a shelter facility that best addresses the needs and goals of the Town of Amherst. Details regarding Town objectives, development team qualifications, experience, capacity, and resources are set forth in the RFP
  
  
  • .One bid was received on July 8^th and the responses is being evaluated. If awarded, the developer would complete a 60-day negotiation and contracting period. The project will require several years to develop, fund, and build.
• • o  Wildwood School Campus Re-use: The Amherst School Committee voted to return the Wildwood Elementary School to the Town effective September 1, 2026.Town will undertake a focused, community-driven study to evaluate future use options for the Wildwood Elementary School and site, recognizing that the analysis shall include both renovation and demolition/redevelopment pathways. All steps are contingent on the School Committee determining the building and site are no longer needed for educational use by the district. 
  • To move forward, I will be taking the following steps:
• Establish an advisory committee which will guide the process with support from the Planning and Economic Development Director and a multidisciplinary consultant team to ensure transparent decision-making, availability of technical research and cost estimates, and broad community engagement. The study will result in recommended reuse scenarios grounded in feasibility, cost, public input, and in accordance with the Town’s Surplus Property Disposition Policy.
• Request and receive funding from the Town Council to provide resources.

o East Amherst Historical District Proposal: The Historical Commission has proposed a revised local historic district in the oldest settled area of the Town of Amherst (Main Street and North East/South East Streets). The proposal is being reviewed by the Planning Board. The study area and list of significant properties are shown here.

Department of Public Works

• Grant Award: The Department was awarded another grant under the State’s Culvert Grant Program. This grant will fund design of the culvert on Sunderland Road over the Eastman Brook. The State provides the engineering firm to complete the design work and will be paid directly by Mass DOT
• Wastewater Treatment Facility Comprehensive Management Plan: The Wastewater Treatment Facility Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan kicked-off in February. The Town contracted with Camp, Dresser, and McKee to conduct the study. The work will provide a 20year plan for the Town’s collection system and Wastewater Treatment Facility to guide the Town’s approach to improvements, operations and maintenance, and financing wastewater infrastructure. Work continues on the Management Plan. The Plan will complete a full assessment of the existing facility, review future needs, and establish budget needs for upcoming years. There will be public meetings to share information in January of 2027.
• Road Money: We have been informed that the Town will receive $1,185,718.07 as its Chapter 90 apportionment for FY27. This is part of the Governor’s $300 million. The formula places greater emphasis on actual road mileage, instead of population, which favors Western Massachusetts communities.
• Road Update: 
  • The Town has allocated an estimated $5,321,897 to pave roads this fiscal year.
  • Here are the roads on the bid list: 
    • Kendrick Pl –Northampton Rd to End
    • Pomeroy Ct – Pomeroy Ln to End
    • North Pleasant St – East Pleasant St to McClellan St
    • Main St – South East St to Pelham Rd
    • Canton Ave – Grove St to End
    • Chesterfield Dr – Columbia Dr to East Hadley Rd
    • Flat Hills Rd – Shutesbury Rd to High Point Dr
    • Grove St –North Whitney St to Canton Ave
    • Harvard Ave – North Whitney St to Grove St
    • Henry St – Market Hill Rd to Pine St
    • January Hills – Market Hill Rd to Shutesbury town line
    • Justice Dr – Columbia Dr to Chesterfield Dr
    • Market Hill Rd – Henry St to Flat Hills Rd
    • Middle St – Pomeroy Ln to Bay Rd
    • Mount Pollux Dr – South East St to End
    • Potwine Ln – Middle St to South East St
    • Station Rd – Wildflower Dr to #50 Station Rd (bridge crossing)
    • Blackberry Lane – Grantwood Dr to End
    • Gatehouse Rd – Belchertown Rd to Stony Hill Rd
    • Grantwood Dr – East Pleasant St to Blackberry Ln
    • Old Farm Rd – Belchertown Rd to End
    • Wildflower Dr – Old Farm Rd to Tanglewood Dr
    • Potential Additional Roadway Segments o The slides from the presentation by the Town Engineer can be found here: Roads

Presentation Slides – 04–02–2026 o The video from the presentation by the Town Engineer can be found here: Roads Presentation Video – 04–02–2026  

DELEGATED AUTHORITY

• Short-Term Event Uses of Town Commons (Section 1a of the Town Council Policy):
  • August 24 – 31, 2026: 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Rotary Club of Amherst Community Fair (Amherst Farmers Market space to be adjusted to accommodate the Fair by mutual agreement)
• Short-Term Parking Requests (Section 2a of the Town Council Policy):
  • August 24 – 31, 2026: all day – Rotary Club of Amherst Community Fair – 15 parking spaces on the west side of Boltwood Avenue and 10 spaces on the east side of South Pleasant Street
• Long-Term Parking Requests (Section 2bi of the Town Council Policy): None • Short-Term Public Way Closures (Section 3b of the Town Council Policy):
  • November 1, 2026 – HMF Western Mass 10 road race; 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.; North Pleasant Street, South Pleasant Street, Triangle Street, College Street, Main Street, Dickinson Street; Hartford Half Marathon
• Placement of Road and Temporary Signs (Section 3d of the Town Council Policy): None

MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS

• Jones Library Renovation and Expansion:
  • The renovation and expansion are advancing steadily. Construction is proceeding on time and on budget.
  • Several members of the Town Council took advantage of a tour offered by the Owner’s Project Manager last week. The progress being made is significant. It is a building that will be a stellar addition to the downtown area and one in which you all will be proud.
  • The latest presentation by the Town’s Owner Project Manager can be found here: Jones
  • Library Update o Additional information on the project can be found here: Jones Library Renovation and Expansion o Completion is still projected to by in the first quarter of 2027.
• DPW Building: The Building Committee continues its work and has interviewed and selected Weston and Sampson to be the designer of the facility. Town staff are negotiating the scope and terms of the agreement with the designer. We have been explicit that the total budget is $35 million. They stated that they are committed to working with the Town to develop a project that can be implemented within this budget. Relocating the existing staff out of the current building – sooner than later – is a priority.
• Fire Station: We will develop a charge and solicit members to serve on a Fire Station Building Committee in the Fall. We are investigating additional sites for the location of a new Fire Station.
• Amethyst Brook Elementary School: 
  • The project is proceeding on schedule and on budget. Any glitches are being worked out expertly by our Capital Projects Manager in cooperation with the designer, contractor, owner’s project manager, and School District.
  • Teachers and material will be moved into the new building in August and school will open on time at the end of August.
  • The official ribbon-cutting will take place in October to accommodate the schedules of the State Treasurer and other State officials. o For more information, visit the School Building Project website here: https://www.amherst-school-  project.com/  

PROJECTS UPDATE

• Track and Field:
  • The contractor removed the construction fence from the site and turned the facility over to the Regional School District. o Bids on maintenance of the new field area have been received and the contractor has taken on the maintenance of the fields. 
  • The Town and the School District are working on a comprehensive MOU to outline who is responsible for what aspect for all Town and School fields.
• Bangs Community Center: 
  • The work to renovate the Bangs Community Center is continuing on pace. The building will remain open and accessible throughout construction though sections of the building will be off-limits during certain construction activity. 
  • Completion is expected in early 2027. o This renovation project involves health and safety improvements such as fire protection including a new sprinkler system, electrical upgrades, HVAC improvements, and ensuring full access throughout the building to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In addition, there will be small but noteworthy improvements to the Amherst Senior Center and the area adjacent to Room 101. o Work on the second floor is nearing completion. We will then relocate to the first floor, scheduled to begin in the next couple of weeks. 
  • The construction project currently consists primarily of infrastructure improvements such as a new HVAC and sprinkler systems, there will also be some exciting enhancements made to the Senior Center space on the first floor. These include:
    • New exercise space for Seniors – the area that is currently the Public Health Department will be converted into two new spaces: an exercise room and a multipurpose room. 
    • Wellness/consultation space and updated bathroom – the unused bathroom adjoining Room 101 (across the hall from Public Health) will be updated for use as an all-gender, single stall bathroom. The kitchen area that is currently in Room 101 will be converted into a wellness/consultation room.
  • The final phase of the project will include renovations of the large activity room which will likely extend into January 2027. 
• Downtown Restroom:
  • The new facility – a Portland Loo – has been delivered and is in place. Final touches, including the remote, web-based locks are to be installed and we will be opening the new facility in the very near future.

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

• August 3^rd – Town Council meeting
• August 17^th – Town Council meeting
• September 7^th – Labor Day holiday
• September 14^th – Town Council meeting
• September 28^th – Town Council meeting
• October 5^th – Town Council meeting
• October 12^th – Indigenous Peoples Day holiday
• October 19^th – Town Council meeting
• November 2^nd – Town Council meeting
• November 3^rd – State Election
• November 11^th – Veterans Day holiday
• November 16^th – Town Council meeting
• November 26-27 – Thanksgiving holiday break
• December 7^th – Town Council meeting
• December 21^st – Town Council meeting
• December 24-25 – Christmas holiday break
• January 1^st – New Year’s Day holiday