Town Manager Report for October 5, 2026

Amherst Indy October 6, 2026 0
Amherst Town Seal

Photo:amherstma.gov

Town Manager Report – October 5, 2026

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 September 18th at Izote Latin and American Kitchen on West Street in Pomeroy Village. One of the largest turnouts yet joined a very robust discussion about the Hampshire Campus Zoning Study.
  • The next Cuppa Joe will be on October 9th with special guest Town Clerk Amber Martin, who will discuss the upcoming election.
  • For November, we are working on a date that works for the Superintendent of Schools, and looking at alternate days/times to accommodate parents/guardians who can’t always attend morning get-togethers.
  • 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.

All About Amherst: Civic Academy

  • We kicked off our second All About Amherst: Civic Academy on Wednesday night. We had over 50 applications for this year’s program and randomly selected 20 participants.
  • Throughout this 8-week program, participants will learn about day-to-day Town operations, talk directly with Town staff, and make connections with neighbors. Sessions take place at different locations across town and include relevant department presentations, interactive activities, and/or facility tours. The final session will feature a graduation ceremony, during which certificates of completion will be presented to participants.

Grants

Cultural Council Grants

  • The Amherst Cultural Council (ACC) is seeking grant proposals for community-based arts, humanities, and sciences events with broad public benefit and impact. Applications are being accepted through Thursday, October 15. Here is the link for more information: Learn about the application process, eligibility, and criteria.  
  • This year, the ACC will have about $56,000 to distribute to qualified applicants. These grants can support a variety of artistic projects and activities in Amherst, including exhibits, festivals, field trips, short-term artist residencies, performances in schools, workshops, and lectures.

Community Preservation Act Grants

  • Applications are now available for the next round of Community Preservation Act (CPA) Grants. The Community Preservation Act Committee welcomes applications for projects in support of Community Housing, Historic Preservation, Open Space, and Recreation. The application deadline is October 16th.
  • Grants awarded during this cycle will become available on July 1, 2027. We encourage eligible organizations and community partners to review the information and consider applying.
  • The CPA was adopted by Amherst voters in April 2001, and established a local fund based on a 1% tax surcharge (later amended to 1.5% and then to the full 3%) on property valuations above $100,000. The fund supports the acquisition, creation, and preservation of open space; the acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic resources; the acquisition, creation, and preservation of land for recreational use; and the acquisition, creation, preservation, and support of community housing.

Department Heads Retreat

  • Town department heads held a retreat on Wednesday at a space generously provided by Amherst College. This highly interactive half-day session was designed to strengthen relationships across departments and practice working together on issues that cross departmental lines. It included a session on effective communication and collaboration and ended with reflections on what we have learned through our careers and what we want to carry forward.
  • It was a very productive, rare opportunity to set aside day-to-day tasks and focus on the real skills that help us succeed. The addition of numerous newer department heads contributed to the success of the retreat. Many thanks to Athena O’Keeffe, who conceptualized, organized, and led the retreat.

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 have appointed members to fill the positions, which will be reviewed by the Town Council. The committee is time-limited and responsible for advancing the selection of public art for the new Amethyst Brook Elementary School.

Past Events

  • The Block Party was a big success, even with the rain. Many thanks to the Business Improvement District staff and the numerous Town employees who participated, set up, cleaned up, and made accommodations. The Town had a large presence including DPW, Culverts Education People/Conservation Commission, CSSJC, Public Health, Town Council, DEI, Heart & Soul, Town Manager’s Office, Police, Fire, CRESS, and Recreation.
  • Two clean-up efforts were in full swing on Saturday, September 19th. The Fort River Clean-up, organized by the Fort River Watershed Association, removed trash throughout the entire watershed. Keep Massachusetts Beautiful organized volunteers who conducted litter pick-up on Fearing Street and its neighboring streets. Thanks to both groups for helping make the Town a more appealing place.

Upcoming Events

Website Redesign

  • The Town is undergoing a comprehensive redesign of its website with vendor CivicPlus. The purposes are to improve searchability, remove outdated content, and increase accessibility, all while giving the website a “refreshed” look.
  • Communications Manager Samantha Giffen is leading the process with support from staff across various departments. The new website will launch by January 2027.
  • Feedback and suggestions can be emailed to info@amherstma.gov.

Cable Television License Renewal

  • The Cable Television Advisory Committee, is finalizing its report that will inform the negotiaions with Comcast. The Cable Television Advisory Committee (CTAC) is made up of residents and staff to support and facilitate this renewal process. To learn more about the Cable Television Advisory Committee’s work, access meeting minutes and important documents, and more, please visit the CTAC Website. Brianna Sunryd has led this effort with great clarity and efficiency..

Staff Updates

  • Rome Cabrera of 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 of the DEI Department was awarded the Nancy Galkowski legacy award from the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association. The award can be used to defray the costs of professional development, training, and mentoring for current and future local government administrators. He will enroll in the MMA/Suffolk University Human Resources Seminar. Amherst Director of Communications & Civic Innovation Brianna Sunryd was a 2019 award recipient.
  • Samantha Giffen has begun the MMA Certificate in Municipal Leadership and Management. She follows in the footsteps of Amy Rusiecki, Athena O’Keeffe, Kim Mew, and Rome Cabrera.
  • 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

Hampshire Campus Zoning Study

  • The Town’s Hampshire Campus Zoning Study continues. Two workshops were held  at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art on September 22 and 24. These activities will help refine ideas for how new zoning of the Hampshire Campus can support Amherst’s housing, economic, and community goals. The design workshops gave community members an opportunity to explore zoning scenarios and provide direct input.
  • The study is being conducted by a team of contracted experts who will assist the Town with gathering data, organizing information, hosting community engagement sessions, and sharing updates throughout the process. The goal is to propose new zoning for the property in January/February 2027.
  • The Town obtained a second grant from MassDevelopment for technical assistance from a skilled team of professionals bringing environmental, land use, and economic development expertise: Horsley-Witten Group, Dodson and Flinker, and U3 Advisors. The total value of both grants is $250,000.
  • The Town Manager’s Cuppa Joe with Paul featured the Director of Planning and Economic Development in South Amherst. It was a very well attended session, with most of the conversation focused on the future of the Hampshire College campus.
  • It is always important to note that the Hampshire College Board of Trustees, as the property owner, will make all decisions about marketing and sale of the property.
  • To learn more about the study, submit questions, and view resources, visit the Hampshire Campus Zoning Study website.
  • 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.

Hampshire College

  • The College has been very cooperative with the Town and is allowing the Recreation Department to use the College’s swimming pool for swim lessons, open and lap swim, and team trainings. We are very grateful to the College and to our Aquatics Director, who has been creative about taking on the new facility and making sure it all could happen. Students still on Hampshire’s campus will have free access to all programs provided by the Town.
  • We are now in discussions about expanding that relationship to use other campus facilities, including the rest of the Robert Crown Center, which includes a gym and yoga studio.

Amherst College

  • A big thank you to the College for allowing the Town to use Alumni House for our Department Heads Retreat.

University of Massachusetts Amherst

  • Town departments and staff participated in the Phillips Street Resource Fair on September 22nd, alongside members of the Town Council and Town departments (DEI, Town Manager’s Office, AFD, Police), sharing information about community initiatives.
  • 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 non-residential amenities to enhance the campus experience.

Department Updates

Administration and Finance

Finance

  • The Finance Director presented information at the first Budget Coordinating Group meeting, held September 30th. By consensus, the Group agreed that the Finance Director would chair the meetings and that the School Department’s Finance Director would serve as vice-chair.
  • The Finance Director and staff will make a presentation to the Town Council at its October 5th meeting. They also presented on the Town’s finances and how municipal financial systems operate at the first night of the Civic Academy.
  • The Finance Director is organizing a Town-wide disposal of surplus equipment and supplies.
  • The parking working group is reviewing ways to expand parking, increase revenues, and reduce expenses.
  • The Department will process Community Preservation Act grant applications when the application deadline passes.
  • The Town conducted a full request for proposals for property and liability insurance and awarded a bid that is below our budgeted amount and locks in the rate for FY27 and FY28, giving the Town predictability for 22 months for a potentially volatile essential service. Our new insurance provider offers extensive risk management tools, including trainings for staff; participation allows the Town to earn further discounts. This insurance covers the Town and elementary school operations.

Town Clerk

  • I promoted Angela Hilyard, Management Assistant in the Clerk’s office, to Assistant Town Clerk after posting the position and conducting a search process. We will now look to fill her vacated position, hopefully before Election Day.
  • The Town Clerk will work with Amherst College and the University on continued outreach and voter registration engagement with students, including a tabling event at Amherst College on October 6th and one outside the University’s Student Union in collaboration with Kappa Alpha Pi, a co-ed pre-law fraternity, on October 1st.
  • The Town Clerk attended the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association Fall Conference on September 24th in Southbridge. The training and professional collaborations are particularly valuable as the office prepares for the November 3, 2026 State Election and continues to manage the Town Clerk’s broader statutory responsibilities. It was invaluable to hear directly from key officials in the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office, including the Director and Legal Counsel of the Elections Division.

November 3, 2026 State Election

  • The voter registration deadline is Saturday, October 24. To view the different ways to register click here.
  • In-person early voting will take place in the First Floor Meeting Room of Town Hall on the following dates:
    • Saturday, October 17: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
    • Sunday, October 18: No early voting
    • Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 23: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
    • Saturday, October 24: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (deadline to register)
    • Sunday, October 25: No early voting
    • Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
  • The deadline for the Town Clerk to receive a Vote by Mail application is 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. You can apply for a ballot online and track your ballot at www.voteinma.com.
  • Important: The ballot will be TWO SEPARATE PAGES. Make sure you complete all sides and pages before mailing it back. Once the ballot is accepted, you are unable to receive a new one.
  • Don’t forget to sign your ballot envelope next to Number 1 above the barcode label. Any unsigned ballot envelopes will be rejected and automatically sent a second one.
  • The ballot will include races for U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Governor’s Councilor, State Senator, State Representative, District Attorney, and Register of Probate. It will also include nine (9) statewide ballot questions.
  • View a sample ballot here.
  • Know before you go: the Information for Voters Booklet is the official voter guide published by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Its main purpose is to explain the statewide ballot questions. A sample ballot is also available.
  • The Town Clerk’s office is continuing preparations for the State Election, including voter registration outreach, Vote by Mail processing, early voting preparations, poll worker coordination and training, polling location readiness, ballot and equipment preparation, and voter education.
  • All mail-in ballots will be mailed out on October 6th. If you decide you want to vote in person, please destroy your mail-in ballot at home and vote in person during early voting or on Election Day.
  • All mail-in ballots must be received by 8:00 pm on Election Day. You can return your ballot by mail, in person at the Clerk’s office, or by using the Election Ballot Box outside the Main St. entrance of Town Hall.
  • To find your polling location, visit www.voteinma.com. Polls are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm on Election Day.

Human Resources

  • The Department continues to recruit, interview, and hire for numerous Town positions. A list of current vacancies can be found here: List of Job Vacancies  

Information Technology

  • The Town is finalizing a website redesign with our vendor CivicPlus. The purposes are to improve searchability, remove outdated content, and increase accessibility, all while giving the website a “refreshed” look. The Communications Manager has been leading this process with support from staff across various departments. The new website will launch by January 2027.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Department

  • Community Heart and Soul: The launch of the Community Heart and Soul initiative will take place on Friday, November 6 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, using the entire Bangs Community Center. There will be a roaming dinner, with the Welcome and Appetizers in Room 101, the Entrée and Program Introduction in the Large Activity Room, and Dessert and Volunteer opportunities in the Glass Room. The goal is to attract 100 people.
  • Interns: The Department’s intern, Valentina Ayala-Bustamante, will continue for the rest of the academic year as an Outreach Intern. She is entering her senior year, majoring in Legal Studies and Public Relations. A new intern, Oliver Petion, is entering his junior year and is majoring in Economics. Amherst College student Blake Baber is volunteering with the Department, working with the Town Manager’s Office as a Community Engagement Volunteer.
  • Trainings: The Department held its first monthly staff workshop on Inclusive Community Engagement. The 2.0 workshop on the same topic will occur on October 15th.
  • Youth Empowerment Programming: The Department, in collaboration with the Recreation Department, Jones Library, and CRESS, held after-school programming for middle and high school students on September 23rd. The event, focused on college preparedness, included a financial aid representative from Amherst College. More than 70 students participated.
  • Othering & Belonging Conference: The Town was selected to present its work at the Othering & Belonging Conference: Belonging & Democracy Poster Fair in Louisville, Kentucky, October 9–10. The presentation highlights the Department’s work to foster belonging and strengthen community connections, with a particular focus on the Liberatory Visioning Project led in partnership with Dr. Barbara Love and the Amherst Global Village Festival. These initiatives reflect our ongoing commitment to creating a more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming Amherst. View the poster here.
  • Community Professional Development workshops: You are welcome to join “DEI 413 Connect” for its first community workshop, on Generational Competence for Equity, Wednesday, October 28, from 5:30–7:00 p.m. at the Bangs Community Center. DEI 413 Connect is a group of local DEI practitioners who come together quarterly to build connections, share knowledge, and strengthen equity-focused work across our communities. The workshop will be led by the Town’s Director and Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and will explore how understanding age, generational experiences, and intergenerational differences can help create stronger relationships, improve communication, support collaboration, and contribute to more equitable outcomes. Everyone is welcome. Registration is encouraged, even on the day of the event, and is required for food. We hope you’ll join us for this first workshop hosted by DEI 413 Connect! Register HERE.
  • Professional Development: The Director and Assistant Director attended the Dialogue Across Difference: Engendering Hope and Building Community Symposium held in honor of Dr. Ximena Zuniga’s retirement. Workshop topics ranged from community engagement to current research on youth and racial justice.
  • Community Outreach:
    • Philip Avila and intern Valentina Bustamante will be guests at the next League of Women Voters Judy Brooks talk on the creation of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence panels.
    • DEI staff will table at the Fire Department open house on Saturday, October 3rd, and at the Council on Aging’s Aging in Place event on Saturday, October 17th.
    • Please review our October Newsletter.
  • 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 CRESS. The CRESS Director, Police Chief, Emergency Communications Director, and Town Manager regularly review calls that were dispatched to CRESS and their outcomes, calls that could have been dispatched, calls that should not have been dispatched, and calls that come in between 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

  • Grants: The Town is very pleased to have been awarded two federal grants from FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters grant program to support the Fire Department. Town staff will review the awards and, as with all federal grants, the contract documents once they become available.
    • Equipment: $51,000 to replace all fire nozzles in the department. It carries a 10% match, which the Fire Department has in its budget. Most nozzles are 15–20 years old. The Town has already upgraded its hoses, and this grant completes the process and removes a request from the Town’s capital program.
    • Staffing: A “SAFER” grant of $888,000 over three years to partially fund six new firefighter positions. This aligns in most aspects with the Town’s plan to expand staffing in the Fire/EMS Department. After the third year, the Town is responsible for all of the added positions. The grant would accelerate the current three-year staffing plan and meet many of the Department’s goals for staffing and safety.
    • Town staff will examine the language in the grant award contract and any conditions that may accompany the grants.
  • Staffing: The Town continues to recruit and hire new firefighter/paramedics to ensure service delivery remains excellent and to limit the need for overtime for current employees.
  • Outreach: The Department’s annual Fire Prevention Open House is Saturday, October 3rd, 10 am to 2 pm at the Central Fire Station.

Police Department

  • Grants: The Town received a sizable grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These funds support a range of traffic safety initiatives and allow local public safety officials to identify the most pressing traffic safety issues in their communities and direct funding to their specific needs. Funded projects range from enforcement initiatives and traffic safety equipment to public outreach and education and improvements to crash data collection. More information will be forthcoming.
  • Emergency Communications Center:
    • Director Jason Rushford was one of a handful of applicants to receive a significant scholarship, valued at $13,000, to further his professional development through the PSAP Leadership Scholarship program funded by the 911 State Training Grant. It will cover all costs for two six-day training programs.
    • The Department was awarded a $168,008 Support & Incentive Grant for departments that meet State Compliance requirements.
    • The Department was awarded a $23,081 training grant to compensate the Town for State-mandated dispatcher training, which can be used for required training and vendor costs.
  • Staffing: The Amherst Police Department currently has an opening for a full-time position and is accepting applications at amherstma.gov/jobs.
  • Policies:
    • All police policies are available on the Town’s website. Please click here to view the folder of the Department’s policies.
    • A review of specific policies, including use of force, consent searches, and pretextual vehicle stops, and protocols will be conducted this fall.

Community Responders for Equity, Safety, and Service (CRESS)

Community Services

Public Health

  • Public Health Outreach: The Department was represented in two places at the Amherst Block Party. Public Health and Inspections staff had a booth next to other Town departments where they shared health information, handed out free giveaways like tick removal kits, and hosted a public health trivia prize wheel. Down the street, a Valley Vax table was staffed by Department representatives and volunteers, who had many interesting conversations about vaccinations with passersby. Valley Vax has received more than 5,700 views and  2,700 unique visitors since it launched in January 2026.
  • Kratom:
    • Kratom is a leafy plant native to Southeast Asia that has both stimulant and opioid-like effects. It has been marketed and sold in the US without any regulation in both natural and synthetic form, and was increasingly being sold in more potent, concentrated forms. Known as “gas station heroin” for its wide availability, kratom had been prohibited in many municipalities by local Boards of Health. The Amherst Board of Health passed regulations prohibiting the sale of synthetic kratom in April 2026.
    • At the end of August, the Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner issued an emergency order classifying all forms of kratom as Schedule 1 substances, meaning they are illegal for sale. This gave local Boards of Health authority to take enforcement action against retailers selling all forms of kratom products.
    • This state order supersedes the Amherst regulations, under which non-synthetic kratom products could still be sold. In Amherst, Public Health and Inspections Services collaborated to visit all retailers who might be selling kratom to ensure that ALL kratom products were pulled from the shelves.
  • Respiratory illness:
    • Fall respiratory illness season hasn’t officially arrived yet, but a noticeable  mix of viruses is already circulating. The common cold is peaking, which is typical at this time of year with students returning to school, and we are beginning to see upward COVID-19 trends across the country. The Public Health Department is no longer tracking local wastewater surveillance data about respiratory disease, but we are hearing reports of an increasing number of COVID infections in the community. Flu is also making an early debut, and cases have been reported locally.
    • Vaccination is the best protection. This fall’s flu vaccine covers all three strains of seasonal flu and has been updated for 2026–2027. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu shot. The COVID vaccine is also updated for this season, and everyone aged 6 months and above is eligible.
    • Feeling sick? Stay home until your symptoms are resolving, and wear a mask in public until you are completely recovered. Testing for COVID is no longer as important as it once was, since the guidance is now the same for all respiratory infections.
    • The Public Health Department will host a Fall Flu/COVID Vaccine Clinic on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the Large Activities Room at the Bangs Community Center (70 Boltwood Walk). The clinic is offered in collaboration with the Northampton Department of Health and Human Services through the Hampshire Public Health Shared Services Collaborative. Vaccines are free; please bring your insurance card, but no one will be turned away for lack of insurance. Limited walk-ins; pre-registration is recommended at northamptonma.gov/2219/vax. Need help registering? Call 413-259-3077 or email publichealth@amherstma.gov.
  • Mosquitoes: The weather is getting cooler, which will eventually mean the end of mosquito season, but we are not out of the woods yet. Until we have a sustained cold snap, continue prevention efforts: use EPA-registered repellent with DEET or picaridin, dump standing water around your home, and take extra precaution during peak biting hours of dawn and dusk. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has reported 8 human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) to date, and WNV-positive mosquitoes have been found in Amherst and adjacent towns. Risk level in our area is considered moderate. More information here.

Senior Services

  • The 2025 Senior Survey Report has been released and is available at the Senior Center.
  • The Senior Services Department was well represented at the Block Party and at the Friends of Amherst Senior Center Jewelry sale at the Saturday Farmers Market on the Town Common.
  • The Senior Spirit Newsletter is out for September/October and available at the Senior Center.

Recreation

  • Aquatics:
    • The aquatics staff has important responsibilities. Like many Town staff, they work all summer to do a hard job well, even on the days when things appear to be calm.
    • The Director holds her staff to very high standards, such as:
      • A minimum ratio of one guard per 25 patrons.
      • When the pool is cloudy and underwater visibility is poor due to chemistry or weather, we close the pools (you have to be able to see a submerged body).
      • Even though we are approved for a higher capacity, we cap all pools at 75 patrons in the water with four guards on watch duty. No one else can enter the pool until folks have departed.
      • The Town requires a deep-water swim test for every patron 16 or under to go beyond 5-foot-deep water.
    • Thanks to Hampshire College, the Town Aquatics group is able to offer adaptive, adult, and youth lessons, as well as lap and open swim schedules. The Hampshire College community, alumni, students, and staff are able to join anytime during lap and open swim times.
  • Relocation: The Recreation Department has been operating out of Wildwood Elementary School, but will soon move to the Bangs Community Center. More to come.
  • Cherry Hill Working Group: The Cherry Hill Working Group is finalizing its recommendations for the golf course’s operations, including finances and staffing. I anticipate the report within the next week or two.

Conservation and Development

Conservation

  • Amethyst Brook Conservation Area: The Conservation Department, in partnership with the Kestrel Land Trust, is planning parking area and trail entrance improvements in the coming weeks. Phase I will include new wooden guard rails, line striping (including a new handicapped-accessible parking space), a new double kiosk, and new signs. The parking lot may need to be closed on a few days in October. Look for more information on the Town website.

Sustainability

  • Heat Pump Program: The Amherst Heat Pump program is now fully subscribed and no longer taking applications. The Town will meet (and possibly exceed) its goal of converting 30 households off fossil fuels for heating and cooling. Installations will wrap up over the next month or so. CET, the program’s administrator, will provide the Town with a report in December. All funding allocated for this initiative will be expended, as required, before the end of December.
  • Valley Green Energy: The Valley Green Energy program will increase its rates in November. A press release went out on September 28th, and residents enrolled in the program will receive notices from Direct Energy, the new electricity supplier. Although the Valley Green Energy basic price has increased, it is currently below the Eversource Basic rate. The new Amherst rates are:
    • 15.830 cents/kWh: VGE Basic
    • 18.330 cents/kWh: VGE 100% Green
    • Compared to Eversource Basic Service: 15.934 cents/kWh
    • Pricing for other communities is available on the Valley Green Energy website.
  • Greenhouse Gas Inventory:
    • The Town’s 2025 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report provides an updated assessment of municipal and community-wide greenhouse gas emissions and tracks progress toward the community’s climate goals. The report shows moderate reduction in emissions compared to the 2016 baseline and recognizes that more work is needed to achieve the Town’s climate action goals.
    • In 2021, the Town set a goal of net-zero community greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through the Climate Action, Adaptation, and Resilience Plan (CAARP). The plan also established interim goals of reducing emissions 25% by 2025 and 50% by 2030, using 2016 as the baseline year.
    • Amherst made significant progress but fell short of its goal of a 25% emissions reduction by 2025. The report highlights substantial progress in both the municipal and community sectors and points to major investments expected to significantly reduce emissions in future inventory reports.
    • Key findings:
      • Municipal operations account for only 1.5% of the overall inventory and include emissions from stationary energy (buildings and facilities) and transportation.
      • Municipal sector emissions decreased 16.8% between FY2016 and FY2025.
      • Transportation-related municipal emissions declined 22.3% since FY2016, reflecting reduced fuel consumption across Town fleets.
      • Municipal buildings and facilities remain the largest source of Town emissions, at approximately 74% of municipal emissions in FY2025.
      • Several projects underway, including the new net-zero Amethyst Brook Elementary School and the Jones Library renovation, are expected to reduce municipal emissions to or beyond the 25% reduction goal. These will be reflected in the next inventory update in 2028.
    • The full report, along with information about other sustainability initiatives, is available on the Town of Amherst Sustainability Dashboard.
    • In response to the report’s finding on the University’s significant contribution to the Town’s carbon emissions, the Energy and Climate Action Committee (ECAC) will hold a presentation led by ECAC Chair Lori Goldner on what the University could be doing to reduce its carbon footprint. It will take place at 6:00 p.m. during the regular ECAC meeting on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, which begins at 5:30 PM.
  • Grant: The state’s Green Communities Program has awarded the Town $124,999 for weatherization at the North Amherst Fire Station. The project includes insulation and weather stripping that will make for a more comfortable environment for firefighters and reduce energy and utility costs for the municipality.

Housing

  • East Street School/Belchertown Road:
    • The Town, working with the developer, announced that all 78 homes planned across the two sites will now be affordable. (The original plan called for 10 market-rate units and 68 affordable units.)
    • This project has a long history and includes significant financial support from the Town of Amherst (approximately $1.6 million, inclusive of the acquisition of the Belchertown Road property).
    • In 2019, the Town designated the future use of the South East Street school for affordable housing. The Town issued a Request for Proposals in 2021, and Way Finders was selected. The Town then acquired the property on Belchertown Road, and the overall development proposal for 78 units was approved by the ZBA via the Comprehensive Permit in 2024.
    • Way Finders has been preparing for the development since 2022 and was recently invited into a round for Low Income Housing Tax Credit funding, one of the final steps before construction. The ZBA approved the change as insubstantial in accordance with 760 CMR 56.05 (11).
    • The project recently received approval from the State Architectural Access Board for the variance application for the stairs to the main school entrance at 31 South East Street. The Board liked the route of travel diagram and the fact that the proposed route was interior rather than an exterior ramp.
  • ADUs:
    • The Affordable Housing Trust, with support from Town staff, developed a survey, an opinion piece, and a postcard to gauge interest among Amherst homeowners in building their own Accessory Dwelling Units. Goals are to identify the level of interest, key obstacles, and homeowner objectives. The information gathered might lead to possible expenditures for deed-restricted ADUs, or more modest work to connect homeowners to existing State resources or each other.
    • Interested homeowners may complete a brief survey at amherstma.gov/ADUSurvey.

Planning

  • Wildwood School Campus Re-use:
    • The Town assumed control of the Wildwood School Campus on September 1st.
    • Town staff presented and were granted funding to maintain the building as its future use is assessed. Currently, the Recreation Department is housed in the building.
    • Town staff are evaluating the condition of the building for other immediate uses, specifically the gymnasium.
    • We will undertake a focused, community-driven study to evaluate future use options for the Wildwood Elementary School and site, including both renovation and demolition/redevelopment pathways.
  • East Amherst Historic District Proposal: The Local Historic District Commission’s proposal to create a new local historic district in the oldest settled area of Amherst (Main Street and North East/South East Streets) was presented to the Town Council on Monday. The revised proposal was approved by the Planning Board.
  • East Amherst Zoning Update Study:
    • The study, funded by an EOHLC Community Planning Grant, has begun. The Planning Department is working with Innes Land Group to assess current zoning in East Amherst along the Route 9 corridor and design updated zoning language to encourage a greater variety of housing types and increased density in the area.
    • A preliminary outreach event is planned for October 15. Members of the consultant team will be tabling at Colonial Village to reach out directly to residents, business owners, and employees in East Amherst. A larger community outreach session is being planned to reach a wide range of Amherst residents.

Economic Development

  • The Planning and Economic Development Director has been convening meetings with those interested in economic development in the Town. He started by bringing together the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, the Amherst Business Improvement District, and the Black Business Association of Amherst Area. Members introduced themselves, discussed opportunities and challenges, and discussed ways they could help each other in their respective missions.

Department of Public Works

Road Update

  • Prior Year Paving: The Town’s contractor has finished the second year of their paving contract, which included West Bay Road, Lincoln Avenue (south end), University Drive, Flat Hills Road (north end), Hop Brook Road, and Kestrel Lane.
  • Current Year Paving: The contractor awarded the FY27 paving bid is scheduled to begin work in Town at the end of October / early November. Important note: these dates are highly dependent on the weather, and every rain day pushes other projects, including ours, to later in the year. We have already been alerted that the recent rain associated with the Nor’Easter has pushed back the contractor’s schedule since they provided these dates. Take these dates like you would any contractor working on your house; they are likely to be adjusted.
    • Gatehouse Road (Belchertown Road to Stony Hill Road): October 26 – November 2
    • Old Farm Road (Belchertown Road to End): October 26 – November 2
    • Wildflower Drive (Old Farm Road to Tanglewood Drive): October 26 – November 2
    • Station Road (Wildflower Drive to #50 Station Road, bridge crossing): October 26 – November 3
    • Henry Street (Market Hill Road to Pine Street): October 27 – November 4
    • Flat Hills Road (Shutesbury Road to High Point Drive): October 27 – November 4
    • January Hills Road (Market Hill Road to Shutesbury town line): October 27 – November 4
    • Market Hill Road (Henry Street to Flat Hills Road): October 28 – November 5
    • Blackberry Lane (Grantwood Drive to End): October 28 – November 5
    • Grantwood Drive (East Pleasant Street to Blackberry Lane): October 28 – November 5
  • The following roads are on the schedule for the spring, when the paving season reopens. We will receive a paving schedule in the spring.
    • Kendrick Place (Northampton Road to End)
    • Main Street (South East Street to Pelham Road)
    • North Pleasant Street (East Pleasant Street to McClellan Street)
    • North Pleasant Street (Triangle Street to Massachusetts Avenue)
    • Middle Street (Pomeroy Lane to Bay Road)
    • Pomeroy Court (Pomeroy Lane to End)
    • Potwine Lane (Middle Street to South East Street)
    • Mount Pollux Drive (South East Street to End)
    • Grove Street (North Whitney Street to Canton Avenue)
    • Harvard Avenue (North Whitney Street to Grove Street)
    • Canton Avenue (Grove Street to End)
    • Justice Drive (Columbia Drive to Chesterfield Drive)
    • Chesterfield Drive (Columbia Drive to East Hadley Road)
  • Costs: The bid price for this paving was $3,960,148.50. However, in addition to the weather, asphalt and diesel escalation fees have risen. The final cost could be higher based on the prices of diesel and asphalt at the time of the bid versus the time the work is performed.

Culverts

  • The Town was awarded a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant of $296,000 to improve infrastructure within the Fort River Watershed, promoting flood resilience, enhancing wildlife passage, and improving water quality for recreational use.
  • The funding will complete the design and permitting for two undersized and failing culverts, one on West Pomeroy Lane over an unnamed stream and the other on Potwine Lane over Plum Brook. They will be replaced with new concrete box culverts with natural streambeds, increasing the watershed’s capacity to handle extreme weather events and reducing flood risks to communities and infrastructure. The design will also meet the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards to promote safe passage for fish and wildlife.
  • This grant builds on previous and current projects:
    • 2023: an MVP Action Grant of $169,250 to design and permit the replacement of three undersized, damaged culverts.
    • 2024: an MVP Action Grant of $1.2 million to replace two of these culverts, on Middle Street over Plum Brook and Potwine Lane over Muddy Brook. Construction was completed in 2025.
    • 2025: an MVP Action Grant of $427,700 to assess all culverts and bridges in the Fort River Watershed and create a plan for updating this infrastructure. The Fort River Watershed Culvert Assessment & Prioritization Plan is being done in partnership with the Towns of Belchertown, Hadley, Pelham, and Shutesbury along with numerous other regional partners.
    • 2026: a MassDOT Community Culvert Program Grant to design and permit the replacement of an undersized, damaged culvert on Sunderland Road over the Eastman Brook in North Amherst. The design will be led by a MassDOT-approved engineering firm at no cost to the Town.
  • Recent heavy rains and flooding have compromised one of the culverts this grant is set to support: the culvert on Potwine Lane over Plum Brook. The failed culvert resulted in part of the road being temporarily closed, inconveniencing neighborhood residents, community members who play at the Plum Brook soccer fields, and wildlife whose path has been disrupted. The Town is working on environmental permitting, and DPW hopes to make temporary repairs later this fall. This is an example of why the Town is prioritizing improvement of this infrastructure.

Water/Sewer Work

  • You may have noticed construction equipment and activity, including Town staff, on Jones Road, Cadwell Street, and a portion of South Valley Road in Pelham.
  • The long-planned sewer extension project began in September and should be completed by June 2027. It is funded by a grant that Pelham and Amherst received from the State HousingWorks Infrastructure Program. The Town of Amherst will also replace water lines in the area, and residents will have the ability to connect to Town of Amherst sewer lines.

Water Ban

  • On September 10th, the Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Department announced that the Connecticut River Valley has been upgraded to a Level 1 – Mild Drought. Rainfall from June through August was near or above normal for the Connecticut River Valley, which helped the drought situation. Amherst’s water supply remains stable and is not currently threatened by the drought. The state Drought Management Task Force will meet again in October to reassess precipitation, stream level, and groundwater elevation data. In accordance with the Town’s Water Management Act Registration, a Level 1 drought restricts nonessential outdoor water use to one day per week, before 9 am and after 5 pm. The Town is implementing the following restrictions:
    • Tuesdays: Nonessential outdoor water use allowed for even-numbered houses from 5:00 PM on Tuesdays to 9:00 AM on Wednesdays.
    • Thursdays: Nonessential outdoor water use allowed for odd-numbered houses from 5:00 PM on Thursdays to 9:00 AM on Fridays.
    • Exception: watering of ornamentals and flower gardens with drip irrigation, handheld hose, or water cans is allowed at any time.
  • Essential uses of water:
    • Health and safety reasons, including public facilities used for cooling such as the splash pad and swimming pools.
    • Production of food, including privately owned home vegetable gardens.
    • Maintenance of livestock.
    • Core function of a business, limited to plant nurseries, golf courses, wedding venues, and professional washing for construction purposes.
    • Irrigation of public or interscholastic athletic fields and public parks, with restrictions.
    • Watering of publicly funded shade trees.
  • Nonessential uses of water:
    • Irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems.
    • Washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety.
    • Washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways, or sidewalks, except as necessary to apply surface treatments such as paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement, or concrete.

Household Hazardous Waste Day

  • The Town’s Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2026 at Wildwood Elementary School.
  • This collection event is an opportunity to safely dispose of hazardous materials and help keep our community clean. All Amherst, Pelham, Hadley, and Shutesbury residents may participate.
  • Advance registration is required. Registration opened on September 9, 2026 and closes on October 19, 2026. No registrations will be accepted after that. Register Here

Wastewater Treatment Facility Comprehensive Management Plan

  • The Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan kicked off in February. The Town contracted with Camp, Dresser, and McKee to conduct the study, which will provide a 20-year plan for the Town’s collection system and Wastewater Treatment Facility to guide improvements, operations and maintenance, and financing of wastewater infrastructure.
  • The Plan will complete a full assessment of the existing facility, review future needs, and establish budget needs for upcoming years. Work continues, and there will be public meetings to share information in January 2027.

Delegated Authority

  • Short-Term Event Uses of Town Commons (Section 1a of the Town Council Policy): None listed.
  • Short-Term Parking Requests (Section 2a):
    • October 9, 2026: seven metered parking spaces on North Pleasant Street between Hallock and McClellan Streets, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., for the UMass Foundation Homecoming event.
    • November 28, December 5, December 12, December 19, and December 26, 2026: free parking for all metered spaces on the streets and in the lots in the Downtown Business Improvement District. Time limits remain in effect.
  • Long-Term Parking Requests (Section 2bi): None.
  • Short-Term Public Way Closures (Section 3b):
    • October 25, 2026: Halloween Spooktacular, 11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Boltwood Avenue from Main Street to the Town Hall parking lot exit; Amherst Recreation Department.
    • 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, and Dickinson Street; Hartford Half Marathon.
  • Placement of Road and Temporary Signs (Section 3d): None.

Major Capital Projects

Amethyst Brook Elementary School

  • Mark your calendars: the official ribbon-cutting will take place on Monday, October 26th at 3:30 p.m., scheduled to accommodate the State Treasurer and other state officials. There will also be guided tours of the new building.
  • For more information, visit the School Building Project website: https://www.amherst-school-project.com/

Jones Library Renovation and Expansion

DPW Building

  • The Building Committee continues its work with Weston and Sampson, the designer of the facility. The Committee reviewed information gathered from interviews with DPW staff, discussed the needs assessment and verification of the building program, and discussed site evaluation work.
  • Future Committee meetings: October 21st, November 18th, and December 16th.

Fire Station

  • We will develop a charge and solicit members to serve on a Fire Station Building Committee this fall. We are investigating additional sites for the location of a new Fire Station.

Projects Update

Bangs Community Center

  • The renovation of the Bangs Community Center is continuing on pace. The building will remain open and accessible throughout construction, though sections will be off-limits during certain construction activity. Completion is expected in early 2027.
  • The 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). There will also be small but noteworthy improvements to the Amherst Senior Center and the area adjacent to Room 101.
  • Second floor: Work is complete. Public Health is now in a larger space on the second floor, alongside the Recreation and DEI Departments. Co-locating these three departments has created exciting new synergies to build on the collaborative work they are already doing.
  • First floor: Work is now underway. The Senior Center has been partially relocated, and the first phase of renovation in this area is complete. The second phase, in the reception/office area, is ongoing and will be complete within the next 2 weeks. Work will then begin on renovating the former Public Health Department area to create the new Senior Center exercise space and multipurpose room. Over the next couple of months, work is also scheduled after hours in the first-floor lobby and corridor areas to minimize disruption. I truly appreciate the cooperation of department staff as they continue their work through this difficult interruption.
  • Enhancements to the Senior Center space on the first floor include:
    • New exercise space for seniors: an exercise room and a multipurpose room on the same level as the Senior Center.
    • Wellness/consultation space, and a little-used bathroom converted to an all-gender, single-stall bathroom.
  • The final phase of the project will include renovations of the Large Activity Room, which will likely extend into early February 2027.

Downtown Restroom

  • The new facility, a Portland Loo, is installed and operational. The remote, web-based locks are now in place, and provisions have been made for daily cleaning.

Upcoming Meetings and Events

  • October 12: Indigenous Peoples Day holiday
  • October 19: Town Council meeting
  • November 2: Town Council meeting
  • November 3: State Election
  • November 11: Veterans Day holiday
  • November 16: Town Council meeting
  • November 26–27: Thanksgiving holiday break
  • December 7: Town Council meeting
  • December 21: Town Council meeting
  • December 24–25: Christmas holiday break
  • January 1: New Year’s Day holiday


An ADU Might Be the Housing Solution You’re Looking For
Are you a senior in a home that has become too big—or too full of stairs or tight bathrooms—to manage, who cannot see how to sell and still afford to stay in Amherst? Do you have an aging parent, or an adult child, who needs a place to live nearby but on their own? Would a little rental income take the edge off rising property taxes? These are among the situations an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) can address. An ADU is a small, self-contained second home on the same lot as an existing house—a backyard cottage, a converted garage or basement, or an addition with its own entrance, kitchen, and bath, often designed for single-floor, step-free living.

You might still think of ADUs as mainly a developer’s play—a way to profit from Amherst’s student-housing market. Lately that has been the story: the recent debate over size standards in units built for students makes it easy to conclude ADUs are someone else’s game. But for some Amherst homeowners, an ADU could solve a problem they already live with. The Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust sees ADUs as a way for homeowners— not only developers—to meet their own needs while helping expand the affordable, year-round housing Amherst needs.

If you have been assuming this would mean years of permitting battles, that is no longer the case. Since early 2025, state law gives homeowners the right to add one ADU—with no special permit, no zoning hearing, and no need to win over the neighbors. But we do not expect you to become an expert in any of this. The Trust can sit down with you and walk through the options in plain language.

That is the real purpose of this piece. We are looking for the homeowners who are even a little curious, so that a Trust member can meet with you, show you real examples, and help you picture whether an ADU makes sense for your situation and how you would go about it.

You may wonder how regular homeowners pay for this. The state now offers an ADU loan of up to $250,000, priced for owners who cannot easily borrow against their homes, along with help to study whether your lot even works before you spend real money. For some owners, rental income from the new unit can help cover the payments over time. We can point you to all of it—you do not need to master any of these programs today. That is what the conversation is for. The Trust is also exploring how we might directly support new affordable ADUs.

An ADU built by a homeowner can play a different role than one built by investors. It might keep a senior in the home she loves, accommodate a grown child coming home, or welcome a tenant who becomes a neighbor. And each one adds a home to a town that badly needs them, on a street that stays a neighborhood.

One Amherst homeowner told us what it meant for their family:

“My wife and I built an ADU on our property for a family member. Through a series of unfortunate events, he had nowhere to live. He has been happy in the ADU; we have a family member in our midst. This is a blessing. I cringe to consider how we would have coped had building the unit been impossible.”

You do not have to decide anything now. You just have to raise your hand. Take our short survey at https://bit.ly/ADUinAmherst, and a Trust member will follow up.

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