Town Manager Report for February 23, 2026

Amherst Indy February 26, 2026 0
Amherst Town Seal

Photo:amherstma.gov

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 next Cuppa’ Joe is scheduled for Friday, March 13th with Library Director Sharon Sharry as my featured guest. We will be at Amherst Coffee from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. Please join us!
  • In response to suggestions from the public, we scheduled the February session at 6:00
  • p.m. on the 11th. It featured Police Chief Gabe Ting and Emergency Communications Center Supervisor Jason Rushford.

We had an excellent turnout at the Police Community Room and concluded the evening with a visit to the Emergency Communications Center and a tour of the Police Station.

  • 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.
  • Western Massachusetts Budgetary Summit: On Friday, February 6th, I gave welcoming remarks along with the Mayor of Northampton and Town Administrator of

South Hadley at a broad ranging Budget Round Table on the crisis all communities are facing in municipal finance. Finance Director Sean Mangano also spoke with other area finance directors.

  • Recruiting Now for Committees: I am recruiting members to serve on all committees. Please help spread the word. We are prioritizing membership on the following committees and are scheduling interviews now:

Amherst Black Reparations Committee

Transportation and Parking Commission

  • National Girls and Women in Sports Day:
    • Amherst Recreation and Amherst College Athletics hosted nearly 60 girls and non-binary youth in grades 4-8 to a fun-filled day of sports and fitness at Amherst College.National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) is dedicated to honoring the achievements of girls and women in sports and aims to recognize the power of sports and play in unlocking limitless potential.
    • Participants spent an inspiring afternoon exploring various sports led by Amherst College women’s sports teams, including: squash, golf, crew, track/cross country, soccer, field hockey, softball, and volleyball.

  • Grant Award: We have been informed that Congressman McGovern secured a $1,000,000 grant for the Town for the Shelter and Supportive Housing project we are developing at the former VFW site on Main Street. There are more details to come, but we hope this grant actually comes through as it will be a significant step in achieving this important goal for the Town.

DEPARTMENT UPDATES

Administration and Finance

  • Finance:
    • Health Insurance: Some much-needed good news on the budget front as the Town’s health insurance increases came in at 8.5%, significantly lower that the 18% we had been carrying. This will assist the Town, schools, and library budgets as we all struggle to maintain services.
      • Bond Rating:
        • The Finance Director, Treasurer/Collector, and I along with our financial advisor made a presentation to S&P Global Rating.
        • We reviewed key economic indicators for the community and the financial status of the Town.
        • They paid close attention to our strong management team and practices, our commitment to building and maintaining reserves, and our ongoing program of funding our pension and OPEB liabilities.
        • We were informed that the economic indicators for the state were applying downward pressures on local economies. Many communities were getting warnings of downward trends.
        • We are proud that S&P reaffirmed the Town’s strong AA+ rating and confirmed a stable outlook projection.
        • Credit to our disciplined financial decision-making, well planned borrowing schedules, and the work of our entire finance team.
    • CPAC: The Community Preservation Act Committee will make its recommendation to the

Town Council in within the next month. All proposals can be found here: CPA Proposals o Newsletter: The Principal Assessor created a new newsletter that was sent to all property owners. It provides information about taxes, assessing, and encourage property owners to take advantage of all exemptions available. The newsletter can be found here: Assessors Newsletter Please feel free to share.

  • Ambulance Fees: Town staff worked with the Fire Department to review ambulance fees in accordance with MGL Chapter 40, Section 22F. Information was collected from other communities state-wide. Fees were adjusted to reflect the marketplace and increasing costs of providing this vital service. The fees were effective February 1st. Our policy is to review rates annually to maintain a consistent approach to increasing ambulance fees relative to increases in the cost of providing ambulance services.
  • Human Resources:
    • The Department continues to recruit, interview, and hire numerous Town positions including Police, Fire, DPW, and CRESS positions.
    • We recently hired a new Assistant Town Clerk who will also be trained as a back-up and other duties for the Clerk of the Council.
    • We also hired two new community responders who will bring excellent skills and lived experience to the Department.
  • Town Clerk:
    • Census: State law mandates an annual listing of residents as of January 1st each year. Be on the lookout for your census form in your mailbox the end of this month. Even if no changes are necessary, households must return it to maintain an active voting status. Failure to respond for two consecutive years shall result in removal from the active voting list and may result in removal from the voter registration rolls. You may return your census by mail, in-person at the Town Clerk’s office, via drop box, or email to census@amherstma.gov. Residents can continue to renew dog licenses with their census.
    • Dog Licensing:
      • The owner or keeper of a dog over the age of 6 months shall obtain a license for the dog from the licensing authority in the city or town in which the dog is kept. (M.G.L c. 140 § 137).
      • Dog licenses expire on March 31st. Residents may pre-order dog licenses either online, by mail, or in-person. The fee for a neutered/spayed dog is $5.00 and $15.00 if intact. Please contact our office at (413) 259-3035 or email townclerk@amherstma.gov if a previously licensed dog no longer lives at your address or passed away so we can amend our records.
  • ONLINE: Visit www.amherstma.gov/paymentsand select the appropriate link. For newly licensed dogs: upload the rabies and spay/neuter certificates. For renewals: upload if vaccinated or spayed/neutered since previous license was issued.
  • BY MAIL: Please include 1. Rabies and spay/neuter certificate (if applicable) 2. Check made payable to the “Town of Amherst” in the appropriate fee 3. Self-addressed, stamped envelope. Requests that don’t include an envelope will be held in the Town Clerk’s office for pick-up.
  • IN-PERSON: Please present a rabies and spay/neuter certificate (if applicable), and payment in the form of cash or check.
  • Ethics Training: Town staff, board/committee members, and elected officials are all required to participate in Conflict-of-Interest Law Trainings provided by the State Ethics Commission. Public employees must complete the online training program and acknowledge receipt of the Conflict-of-Interest Law summary within 30 days of election or appointment to a Town position. Create an account and access the trainings here: https://massethicstraining.skillburst.com/Automatic reminders will be sent when it is time to renew to existing public employees.
  • Public Record Requests:
    • The Town is receiving an increasing volume of public records request.
    • The Town Clerk is the Town’s designated Records Access Officer.
    • The Town will be transitioning to a new online portal for the submission and tracking of public record requests. This change will improve transparency and communication for both the public and Town staff.
    • Once launched – anticipated this month or next – public records requests will be submitted through the online portal. Additional information can be found here: www.amherstma.gov/3325/Public-Records.
    • Election Security: The Town Clerk is working collaboratively with the State’s Election Security Department to develop a comprehensive Business Incident Plan. The plan will strengthen preparedness for potential operational disruptions, cybersecurity incidents, and other election related risks. Through this partnership, the Town Clerk’s office is ensuring that local election operations align with state guidance and best practices.
    • Elections: The State Primary will be held on September 1, 2026. Residents can request a mail-in ballot here: www.mailmyballotma.com . If you are mailing in a request, it is important to indicate what primary party ballot you’d like to receive if you’re an unenrolled voter. The State Election will follow on November 4, 2026.

You can choose to receive a mail-in ballot for all elections this year. Reminder: sign your application in the same form as your ballot envelope.

  • Professional Development: The Town Clerk attended the 2026 Massachusetts Town Clerks Association (MTCA) winter conference in Devens. Clerks from across the Commonwealth heard important information directly from State Agency officials including vital records, Elections Division, Department of Revenue, State Ethics, and Campaign Finance.
  • Staffing: As noted above, we have a new Assistant Town Clerk who has excellent experience in a clerk’s office, working with the public, and is well-versed in our computer systems. She will start in March.
  • Information Technology:
    • Emergency Operations Center: Town staff from the Emergency Communications Center,

Police, Fire, Communications, and I.T. are outfitting the Town Room so it can serve as an Emergency Communication Center for the Town in the event of an emergency. We will be installing updated technology and be prepared to mobilize on a moment’s notice. It will be operational during the upcoming events in March.

  • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): Town staff are working on bringing the Town into the new WCAGuidelines. Small municipalities and government entities with a population less than 50,000 have until April 26, 2027 to comply with the new Federal rule. This is a major undertaking that involves I.T., Communications, DEI and everyone in our organization who posts to the website. We are looking to establish ADA best practices in posting material to the Town’s website.
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Department:
    • Activities:
      • The Department hosted a Black History Month flag-raising ceremony and unveiled a new exhibit at Town Hall honoring 100 years of celebrating Black history. The Jones Library partnered with us by providing free books highlighting Black history and Black authors for attendees. A digital version of the exhibit is available, and the in- person display will remain on view at Town Hall throughout the month.The Department also hosted a conversation with the Veterans Breakfast group exploring the differences between debate, discussion, and dialogue, and how each shapes communication.The Department will participate in the Hampshire Queer Conference on February 21st at Hampshire College.

    • Liberatory Visioning:
      • Looking ahead, the Department invites you to join community members on February 26th from 5:30–8 PM at the Bangs Community Center for a community conversation with Community Heart & Soul. This resident-driven process invites people from across Amherst to share what they value most about their community, envision the future they want, and explore how to get there, together. All individuals, organizations, and businesses are welcome to participate and help shape Amherst’s future. This event is part of the Department’s Becoming Beloved Community Conversation series. Registration is required, but you may register at any time, including the day of the event, using the link provided.The Department is continuing staff training last month. The department has changed the framework for these workshops. Each workshop topic is presented in a 101 training and a 2.0 more in-depth training to meet the needs of all Town Staff.  The Department has completed six department trainings by the end of last year (Senior Center, CRESS, Health Department, Recreation, Police, and Jones). With four more to completed by the end of the fiscal year.The Department hosted a community conversation on racial healing on January 20th, which was well attended.
    • Outreach:
      • Global Village: Save the date of April 11th for the 2026 Amherst Global Village which will take place at the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School. With the

Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) serving as fiscal sponsor for the Amherst Global Village Festival, we have raised $10,500 in grants and sponsorships—reaching 66% of our $15,000 fundraising goal for a successful event. https://www.amherstma.gov/3847/Global-Village-Festival

o Youth Empowerment:

 Morning Movement and Mentoring:

  • The Town was recognized with the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s 2026 Kenneth E. Pickard Municipal Innovation Award for the Morning Movement and Mentoring Program. Various Town staff and officials accepted this award at the MMA’s Connect 351 annual conference on Friday, January 23, 2026.
  • The Kenneth E. Pickard Municipal Innovation Awardrecognizes municipalities that have developed unique and creative projects or programs to increase the effectiveness of local government.
  • Held three times a week before school starts, MMMP provides a welcoming space for students to play sports, lift weights, do arts and crafts, receive homework help, and connect with peers and mentors. The program also offers field trips to college campuses, sporting events, and even the State House to inspire students to achieve academic success. The goals of the program include improving students’ physical wellness, mental health, school preparedness, and sense of belonging. Other positive impacts have been better academic grades, school attendance, and self-regulation during the school day.
  • Beginning in 2023, the Town partnered with ARPS to provide funds for transportation which improved access for students wanting to participate in MMMP who previously lacked transportation. Currently serving students in grades 7-9, the program has nearly 100 registered participants, with an average daily attendance of 45 students from diverse backgrounds. Participants self-identify as 25% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Black or African American, 22.4% White/Caucasian, 19.7% belonging to two or more races or ethnicities, and 6.6% Asian. Half of the students receive IEP or 504 supports and 60% are eligible for free or reduced lunch.
  • A key feature of MMMP is intentional mentoring, with numerous adults volunteering their time to check in with students, participate in activities, and serve as positive role models. Students and student athletes from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Amherst College regularly attend and mentor participants, fostering strong connections and inspiring students.
  • The program also benefits from ongoing support and active involvement from representatives from various Town departments and regional agencies, exemplifying a unified commitment to student success and community well-being. This program is a truly collaborative initiative bringing together the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District and the Town of Amherst including Recreation, Police, Fire, and Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service (CRESS). Additional partners include Amherst College, UMass Amherst, the
  • Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hampshire County Superior Court.
  • The Morning Movement and Mentoring Program exemplifies Amherst’s commitment to nurturing a healthy, engaged, and inclusive youth community through meaningful activities and relationships.
  • The Department will host two Youth Empowerment Programming events this winter/ spring. We’re organizing a Reality Fair for middle and high school students on Wednesday, February 25, which aligns with an early-release day in the schools. The Department invites youth to participate in The Game of Real Life.

This interactive game will assist students in career exploration, life management, and financial literacy. Students will be assigned a career, face unexpected life challenges, and plan a budget, such as learning about banking, debt, and taxes. Sign up here!

  • The Department will also host another Youth Empowerment Programming event focusing on youth entrepreneurship. Young people in grades 6-12 are encouraged to join us for this free five-week program where they will learn the skills needed to develop a business, actively create and sell their own products, and get hands-on experience in the process. Sessions will take place weekly on Saturday, March 7th through Saturday, April 4th, from 10:30-12 at the Bangs Community Center.

Materials and snacks will be provided. Sign up here!

  • The DEI Department were excited to promote a book signing event by one of the amazing youths (Amora) who has participated in DEI programs. Amora authored the book The Queen Ant, while participating in the Town’s youth entrepreneurship programming, which she later sold at the Amherst Global Village Festival last year. Amora held a book signing event on February 16th the Springfield Museum.
    • Resident Oversight Board:
  • Council on November 3rd and their report was advanced to the Town Council which referred it to the GOL Committee.
    • Police Protocols:
  • CRESS, the Emergency Communications Center (ECC/Dispatch), Police, Human Resources, and Town Manager worked extensively over the past two months to research, write, review, and finalize policies for the dispatching of community responders.
  • The Emergency Communication Center is now dispatching calls to Community Responders.
  • Town staff from the Communications Center and CRESS review calls regularly to ensure the calls that are going to CRESS are appropriate and that all calls that should go to CRESS are going there.

Public Safety

  • Fire Department:
    • Professional Development: Chief Stromgren was admitted to the Fire Service Executive Development Institute, a program offered by the International Fire Chiefs Association. The program provides new fire chiefs with th etools they need to have a successful and productive tenur as a fire department leader. This is a year-long commitment by the Fire Chief that includes several sessions during the year at the Institute and self-study work in between sessions. The program is limited and its quite an honor to have a chief from a small community admitted. Outside grants fund most of the costs of the program.
    • Staffing: The Amherst Fire Department currently has an opening for full-time and is accepting applications at amherstma.gov/jobs.
  • Police Department:
    • Training: Police Department officers conduct an ALICE training session for Town employees. This is training to help staff prepare for active shooter and other violent situations. The Department offers this training to the Town Council, as well.
    • Staffing:
      • Officer Kasey Nagle was promoted to Sergeant. We interviewed a very, very strong group of officers, all of whom would have made excellent leaders in the department.
      • 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 Grant Award:

  • The Town as been awarded the Equitable Approaches to Public Safety (EAPS) grant from the Department of Public Health again! This is a significant grant that will enable the Department to continue to offer a robust array of services to members of the community. Many thanks to our State Legislators who lobbied very hard and successfully to include this funding in the State budget.
    • The Town secured $188,244 in funding for FY26 to supplement the funds provided by the Town.
      • EAPS is a program within the Division of Violence and Injury Prevention in the State Department of Public Health. EAPS works with different municipalities to develop and implement comprehensive public safety reform. Using a public safety reform partnership and broad stakeholder involvement to explore various types of alternative response models ranging from co-response with law enforcement to stand alone clinical response.
    • Food Insecurity: The CRESS Department is providing short-term funding from one of its grants to support the community breakfast held at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst. This support along with the support of other individual contributions will allow the continuation of serving hot, nutritious breakfast to guests in Craig’s Doors shelters as well as all other guests 8-10 a.m. every Wednesday.
    • Staffing:
      • Terrell (T.J.) Jones began his duties as a Community Responder on January 12th. Mr. Jones has experience working at Bay State Hospital and at Behavioral Health Network as a crisis counselor.
      • Daniel Garcia began his duties as the grant implementation administrator. Mr. Garcia has 24 years’ experience leading equity-driven, trauma-informed programs in grant-funded, community-centered environments. As a recent resident of the Town, we were fortunate to recruit a professional of his caliber.
    • Operations:

 Dispatch:

  • CRESS, Police, Human Resources, and Town Manager worked extensively over the past two months to research, write, review, and finalize policies for the dispatching of community responders.
  • The Emergency Communication Center is now dispatching calls to Community Responders.
    • CRESS Connections: Cress Connections is a grant funded program for youth operating in the Town’s schools. The most recent workshop focused on robotics (STEM) with a book and robot project.
      • Newsletter: The Department has produced a newsletter which can be found here: CRESS Newsletter

Community Services

  • Public Health:

o Vaccines:

  • The Public Health Department partnered with other health departments and health care providers in the region to ensure that our community has access to accurate science-based information about vaccines. They created a website featuring the voices of people who live in the Pioneer Valley to serve as a trusted local source of accurate information.
    • Respiratory Illness
    • Current Situation:
  • Respiratory illness season is calming down a bit, although it has not wrapped up completely. Influenza-like illness (ILI) is still sticking around. This is mainly due to one strain of flu (called flu B), as well as rising rates of the common cold and RSV.
  • In Hampshire County the number of Emergency Department visits for acute respiratory disease is at lower levels than a month ago but are steady enough to indicate that ILI is lingering in the community.
  • As of February 8, 2026, the percentage of ED visits for COVID was very low (less than 1% of all visits). Wastewater surveillance in Amherst shows that COVID levels are low and trending downwards.

 Staying Healthy:

  • If you experience symptoms of respiratory disease (fever, muscle aches, headache, extreme fatigue, cough, sore throat, and congestion), stay home and away from others in your household.
  • Return to daily activities when symptoms have resolved but wear a mask until you are completely recovered.
  • Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings, especially if you or a loved one is at higher risk.
  • COVID and flu vaccinations are still widely available at health care provider offices and local pharmacies.
  • Measles:
    • The U.S. has now reached close to 1,000 measles cases for the year. Hitting this number in just one and a half months represents an extraordinary rate of acceleration, one we haven’t seen in a very long time.
    • Any children who need the MMR vaccine and do not have a primary care provider can receive it at the Public Health Department free of charge.
    • Public Health Nurse Olivia Lara-Cahoon participated in a measles vaccination clinic organized by Amherst College for its employees earlier this month.
  • Purple Air Sensors:
    • The Public Health will be participating in the Purple Air sensor program offered to municipalities by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Air sensors measure levels of fine particulate matter in the community’s outdoor air and provide a glimpse into the area’s air quality.Five sensors will be placed in geographically distinct areas across the town of Amherst in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more details.
    • o Kratom:Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves are often consumed in powdered or extract form for their stimulant and sedative effects.Kratom is currently unregulated and is available for sale in Amherst. Kratom in its natural form generally has mild properties and is used by some to relieve chronic pain or to aid in recovery from opioid dependence.The synthetic form of Kratom, called 7-OH, is much stronger and its use can be dangerous. The FDA has characterized it as a potent substance with high abuse potential and is moving to restrict its sale.The Board of Health developed regulations to prohibit the sale of synthetic Kratom products in Amherst and restrict the sale of natural leaf Kratom products to adult only retail establishments. The regulations will be undergoing final revisions before being released and enforced.
    • o Warming Centers:
    • The locations identified by the Town to serve as daytime warming centers during the cold winter season continue to be open. These are Town buildings that are heated and open to the public during business hours. Those in need of a place to stay warm are welcome to drop in.
      • Bangs Community Center (70 Boltwood Walk) – warming center lounge is located just inside the main entrance on the ground floor
      • Town Hall (4 Boltwood Avenue) – space is limited • Police Station (111 Main Street) open 24 hours/day
      • Senior Services:
  • Program Changes: Renovations to the Bangs Community Center have begun. The Glass Room will be offline for programming for the time being. All classes will be maintained, although some adjustments have occurred. See Senior Services staff for further information about these changes.
  • Newsletter: The January/February newsletter from the Department of Senior Services – Amherst Senior Spirit – which includes a listing of the dozens of workshops and other activities being offered by the Department, is available Here Hard copies can be picked up in the Senior Center lounge.
  • Amherst Café: Twice a month on the first and third Mondays, join staff and neighbors at the “Amherst Café.” The purpose of the Café is to provide a space where individuals with mild to moderate memory loss and the people who care for them – can have fun with others.

• Recreation: Morning Movement and Mentoring Program (MMMP):

  • As reported above, the Town was recognized with the Massachusetts MunicipalAssociation’s 2026 Kenneth E. Pickard Municipal Innovation Award for the Morning Movement and Mentoring Program. Various Town staff and officials accepted this award at the MMA’s Connect 351 annual conference on Friday, January 23, 2026.
  • Sumer Camps:
    • Town staff are preparing for the summer. There will be changes this year as Summer Camp will now take place at the Amherst Regional High School, located at 21 Mattoon Street. Registration is open now.
  • The Department began accepting Fee Subsidy Applications from income-eligible Amherst Residents February

9th Winterfest: Winterfest is in the middle of a week-long celebration this week, February 14-21. In collaboration with many community partners, the Recreation Department is hosting a variety of free and affordable events for residents and visitors of all ages to embrace the winter season.

  • The week will culminate with the ever-popular Fire & Ice / Lumineria on February 21st which is an event organized in cooperation with the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and Amherst Business Improvement District.
  • Cherry Hill Working Group: The Working Group continues its work to investigate the long-term viability of golf operations at Cherry Hill Golf Course, explore innovative strategies for course management and fiscal sustainability, and develop alternative/compatible uses of the property.

Conservation and Development

  • Planning:

o Potential North Amherst Development: Beacon Communities – the team that developed North Square in the Mill District – has begun preliminary discussions with Town staff, boards/committees, and community members about a potential project at 146 Montague Road in North Amherst. The following is some preliminary information about the project and some information about the initial timelines for public input and permitting:

  • The Beacon project is in its an early-stage. This means that while they have outlined a program, the detailed design plans have not been developed yet.  Beacon has been proactive in presenting the concept to the Conservation Commission (click here for a link to the December 17, 2025 presentation), Affordable Housing Trust (click here for a link to the January 22, 2026meeting), meetings with some residents/neighbors, and Town staff.
  • The contemplated project includes approximately 140 units in a single, four- story building with 80 units of senior and 60 units of multifamily – all of which would be capital “A” Affordable.
    • Concerned North Amherst residents have raised several issues such as density, design, stormwater, resource areas, traffic, noise, lighting all of which will need to be evaluated and addressed in their design plans as the project moves into permitting.
      • The Planning and Economic Development Director has been given the lead for this project. He has had conversations with Beacon about the need for sewer, sidewalks and traffic calming as well as examining the broader needs of North Amherst.
        • There is a Housing Choice grant application in June that could serve to provide funding for the study and design for those items since this project meets several identified goals of the Town’s 2021 Comprehensive Housing Policy and the Town’s 2025 Housing Production Plan. The Commonwealth’s HousingWorks program could be a potential source for funding the construction of some or all of that infrastructure.
        • The formal process will start once Beacon submits an application for Project Eligibility application to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC; formerly DHCD). A letter of support from the Town Manager would be submitted, which is required as part of the developer’s application to EOHLC.
  • When that application is submitted, the Town is notified of a 30-day comment period for written comments (inclusive of residents, boards/committees, and Town Council). EOHLC receives and reviews those comments in considering whether or not to issue a Letter of Eligibility.
    • A Letter of Eligibility would allow the developer to submit an application to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The state has “40B guidelines” document describes in detail the Project Eligibility process on page 71 (click here page71).
  • Beacon has stated they estimate their application to EOHLC might be ready in May or June with an application to the ZBA potentially by September or October.
  • Culverts: The Town received a major grant from the Municipal Vulnerabiulity Preparedness Program Action Grant to conduct a watershed-wide culvert assessment followed by a prioritization plan for the Fort River Watershed using the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative protocols. The grant provides $427,700 over FY26 and FY27.
  • CDBG: The Town of Amherst is accepting proposals for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding until Friday, January 23, 2026 at 12:00 pm. CDBG grants are designed to enhance the quality of life for residents in the community by supporting projects that will benefit low- to moderate-income individuals and neighborhoods. The CDBG Advisory Committee, with assistance from Town staff, oversees the application and public input process.
  • Housing:
    • South Amherst Campus Presentation: The Town is working with Joy Squared Architects exploring redevelopment options for the South Amherst School at 1001 South East Street.
      • The slides presented at this session are here:

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/83587/251119-Public-Meeting-Presentation

  • The recording from the session is here:
  • Housing Production Plan: The Town Council adopted the Housing Production Plan which was developed by the Planning Department and its consultant with significant contributions from the Planning Board, Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, the Town Council’s Community Resources Committee and others over the past 18 months. The plan will provide a framework for addressing the affordable housing needs of low- and moderate-income people in Amherst over the next five years. The Plan was adopted by Town Council on December 8, 2025 and has been submitted to the State for its review. Click here to read the plan: Housing Production Plan – 12- 08-2025
  • Facilities:
    • Bangs Community Center:
      • The Town has begun work to renovate the Bangs Community Center. 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.
        • The renovation 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 (ADA) Act. In addition, there will be small but noteworthy improvements to the Amherst Senior Center and the area adjacent to Room 101. The work is being funded by Federal ARPA funds set aside for this purpose.
        • The Bangs Community Center is home to numerous Town departments including the Public Health Department, Senior Center, Veteran’s Services,

Department of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), and Community

Responders for Equity, Safety, & Service (CRESS). Also located here are the Civil War Tablets Exhibit and the Musante Health Center. It serves as a location for voting, Veterans breakfasts, and hosts many meetings for the Town and the broader community.

  • To minimize disruption and enable the continued use of the building during construction, improvements will be completed in multiple phases. The first phase of work is underway in the lower/basement level of the building and will continue into early March of this year.
    • The second phase of work will be on the 2nd floor, requiring staff in the DEI and CRESS Departments to temporarily relocate to the lower level. These renovations are anticipated to start in late March and will continue until at least the middle of June. Upon completion of this phase, the DEI and CRESS Departments will be relocated back to their offices on the 2nd floor.
      • Next, the renovations will focus on the 1st floor with construction where the Senior Center and Public Health Department are located. These renovations are expected to continue through November. The final phase of the project will include renovations of the large activity room which will likely extend into January 2027. To minimize disruptions to Senior Services programs, efforts will be made to phase construction strategically. The Town and the Senior Center will provide updates regarding any impacted programs/services during this time.
      • Information regarding the timing of future phases will be better known after the first phase of work is complete, and updates will be provided when available. The improvements were designed by edmSTUDIO with the assistance of Tighe & Bond and work is being completed by Souliere & Zepka Construction.

Department of Public Works

  • Snow Removal: The storm that hit the area at the end of January – named “Storm Fern” – lasted close to 30 hours and dropped 17 inches of snow in Amherst, the largest amount of snow in many years. The Town’s departments, especially the Department of Public Works, were prepared and responded admirably over many days.
    • For this storm, the Department of Public Works (DPW) deployed over 40 personnel from various divisions to treat and manage 106 lane miles of roadways. In total, over 1,000 hours of staff time were dedicated to this operation during the storm. An additional 1,000 hours of staff time has gone towards clean-up since the storm ended. Work continued well into the next week.
    • Here is an explanation for how the Town prepares and responds to a winter storm event.  Pre-Treatment: Depending on the forecast, before the first snowflake even hits the ground, the Town DPW begins its work. For this storm, at 9 a.m. on Sunday, DPW crews were out using salt to pre-treat roadways, some sidewalks, and Town-owned lots in anticipation of the storm. Pre-salting is done to prevent snow and ice from bonding with the road surface. This proactive technique improves safety, facilitates easier plowing, and reduces overall salt usage.
    • Plowing: Additional crews were brought in around 1 p.m. Sunday, once snow accumulation reached 2-3 inches. Plowing continued for the next 29 hours straight through to approximately 5 p.m. Monday. During heavy snowfall periods, main roads are prioritized, with side streets addressed as staffing and conditions permit.

The Town is divided into 13 plow routes, each typically served by two trucks, totaling 26 personnel involved in roadway clearing.

  • Additional Staff & Operations:
  • 5-6 personnel from the Tree & Grounds Division handled public parking lots, the downtown area, and sidewalk clearing. The Town usually makes one courtesy pass on 35 miles of major sidewalks depending on storm conditions and equipment availability. This does not alleviate the property owners of their obligation to maintain the sidewalk in a passable condition.
  • 6-8 personnel from the Water and Wastewater Divisions cleared snow from water and wastewater facilities including dozens of pump stations located throughout the Town to ensure uninterrupted operations of these critical Town services.
  • 3 mechanics provided equipment maintenance and repairs during the storm. Snow storms take a heavy toll on equipment and there are frequent equipment issues, especially during the extremely cold weather.
  • Post-Treatment: Once the roads are cleared, additional treatment with salt was spread.
  • Slushing/Scraping: After the post-treatment materials (road salt) break down any remaining snow/ice, there is often slush left on the roadways. DPW crews were at work on after the storm to remove residual slush and continue to address roadway safety.
  • Push-Back and Pile Removal: With a storm this large, initial snow removal plowing operations can lead to large snow piles at intersections and in parking lots which block sight lines and limit parking availability. Additionally, the snow pushed to the side of roads may begin to blow back onto the roads causing driving lanes to narrow. Beginning on Wednesday and continuing throughout the week, DPW crews began work at 5 a.m. pushing back this snow to create navigable travel lanes and restore on-street parking. This also involves trucking away large amounts of snow. Crews worked overnight starting at midnight on Wednesday night and came. The snow that is removed is trucked to an area on Belchertown Road next to the transfer station.
  • Here is what you can do to help:
    • Shovel your sidewalk. Property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from their sidewalks. Make sure they are clear of trash cans and at intersections.
    • Minimize on-street parking. This will help crews continue to clean up the side of the roadways and push snow back to open the entirety of a street.
    • Shovel out nearby fire hydrants. Please clear a 3-foot circle around the fire hydrant and clear a path from the fire hydrant to the street. Town staff will be working on this effort, but it will take a long time to get this done for every hydrant in Town so we ask for community members to consider helping.
  • Property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from their sidewalks and are encouraged to dig out their nearest fire hydrant. Depending on storm conditions and equipment availability, the Department of Public Works may send a sidewalk plow around on major sidewalks to assist residents as a courtesy, however, this does not alleviate the owners of their obligation to maintain the sidewalk in a passable condition. The Town will skip portions of the sidewalk if property owners leave trash barrels, vehicles, or other items in the way which includes on their driveway between the sidewalk entrances.
  • Enforcement of sidewalk clearing is done by the Inspections Department. Any issues with sidewalks not being cleared can be reported online through the Property Complaint Form or by calling 413-259-3030.
  • A frequent and unfortunate result of snow plowing operations is snow being deposited in residential driveways. As plows travel along streets, the snow accumulated on the plow blade has no place to go but on the adjacent streets and driveways. Snowplow operators shall make every attempt to minimize the amount of snow deposited in driveways, but the amount can still be significant, especially after heavy snowfall. Residents may want to wait until the roads have been plowed before clearing the entrance of their driveways.
  • Residents can also help by piling shoveled snow from their driveways onto the right side facing the street, instead of placing it on both sides at the end of the driveways. Doing this will help snowplow drivers avoid carrying piles from the other side back across driveways. Additionally, please remember that property owners and contractors are not allowed to shovel, plow, or blow snow back onto public roads, as this can create hazardous conditions.
  • If, in the unfortunate event, your mailbox or property is damaged during town plowing operations, please submit a Service Request through the Town website within 48 hours of the damage so that we can assess it in a timely manner. Damage caused by a direct plow strike, not snow coming off the plow blade, will be considered for repair/replacement. Remember, anything installed within the Town’s right-of-way (i.e. fence, mailbox, etc.) is placed at the owner’s risk. Residents should install mailboxes at the maximum allowable distance from the pavement and regularly check that they are secure and sturdy. o Parking Bans:
  • To ensure safe and efficient snow removal, the Town may implement parking bans during significant snowfall. Residents can stay informed about parking bans by watching for the flashing blue lights over major intersections, visiting our website, following us on social media (Facebook & Instagram), calling (413) 259-3005 to listen to a recording, and signing up for Parking Ban alerts in your language of choice by subscribing here or texting the word “Parking” to 38276 from your mobile device.
  • During a declared Parking Ban, parking is prohibited from midnight to 7:00 am on all town streets and in all parking lots, with 3 exceptions. During a declared of Parking Ban, overnight parking is allowed in:
    • The lower level of the Boltwood parking garage;
    • The town portion of the Pray Street Lot;
    • Northern row of the North Pleasant Street Lot (row closest to church only).  Otherwise, vehicles will be ticketed and towed nightly, at the owner’s expense. Regular enforcement hours for these lots begin at 8 am. Any vehicles left parked in these designated parking areas are responsible to pay for parking. View a map of Amherst center parking. o Key Links:
  • Sign Up for Parking Ban Alerts
  • Sidewalk Snow Removal Map
  • Winter Parking in Amherst
  • Snow and Ice Removal Bylaw 3.40
  • Report or track power outages via Eversource
  • Submit a Property Complaint Form to report issues with sidewalks not beingcleared
  • Submit a Service Request to report property damaged during town plowingoperations

DELEGATED AUTHORITY

  • Short-Term Event Uses of Town Commons (Section 1a of the Town Council Policy): None
  • Short-Term Parking Requests (Section 2a of the Town Council Policy): None • Long-Term Parking Requests (Section 2bi of the Town Council Policy): None • Short-Term Public Way Closures (Section 3b of the Town Council Policy):

o June 28, 2026 – 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.; Matoon Street, Triangle Street, North Pleasant Street, South Pleasant Street; Amherst Pride Parade o 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
  • Jones Library Renovation and Expansion:
    • The Jones Library Renovation and Restoration Project will hold a Topping Off Ceremony on Friday, February 27 at 2:30 pm behind the Amherst Historical Society building. All members of the public are welcome to attend. A Topping Off Ceremony is a customary way to celebrate a significant milestone during the construction of a new building—when one of the last steel beams is put in place.
    • Steel frame of the new section of the Jones Library.The ceremonial beam (painted white)

will be placed in the Amity Street parking lot directly across from the library beginning on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Community members will be able to sign the beam on Wednesday and Thursday (February 25 and 26) at their convenience. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the public to literally put their mark on the newly renovated and restored Jones Library.

  • On Friday, February 27, the beam will be returned to the construction site. Community members will gather behind the Historical Society building at 2:30pm to watch the beam be put in place after a brief ceremony. This event will proceed regardless of weather conditions.
    • When complete, the renovation and expansion will make the Jones Library one of the most climate- friendly buildings in Amherst, restoring most of the original 1928 building, expanding programming space to meet current and emerging needs for all ages and multiple populations, while improving the layout to be fully accessible, functional, and welcoming for everyone.
  • DPW Building: The DPW Building Committee has begun its work and has established an aggressive bi-weekly schedule.
  • Fire Building: We are investigating additional sites for the location of a new Fire Station.
  • Fort River Elementary School:

o The project is proceeding on schedule and on budget after delays due to bid protests that delayed the start of construction until January. o For more information, visit the School Building Project website here:

https://www.amherst-school- project.com/

PROJECTS UPDATE

• Downtown Restroom:

  • Portland Loo company – the product the Town wants to install at Kendrick Park – has received the required approvals from the State Plumbing Board.
  • We are awaiting information regarding their production schedule but it appears that the project is back on track and we might be looking at installation in the spring.

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

  • March 9th – Town Council meeting
  • March 23rd – Town Council meeting
Spread the love
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Leave a Reply

The Amherst Indy welcomes your comment on this article. Comments must be signed with your real, full name & contact information; and must be factual and civil. See the Indy comment policy for more information.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.