Month: April 2017

Amherst School Officials Seek $500,000 for Wildwood Boiler, $250,000 for Fort River Feasibility Study, As Interim Superintendent Launches New Ideas in PGO Presentations (UPDATED)

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Next Wednesday, Amherst Town Meeting will be asked to approve $250,000 for a feasibility study  on the Fort River Elementary School site to determine its suitability for construction, and $500,000 to replace an old boiler system at Wildwood Elementary School.  If those items pass, Town Meeting will also be asked to approve an additional $20,000 … Continue reading Amherst School Officials Seek $500,000 for Wildwood Boiler, $250,000 for Fort River Feasibility Study, As Interim Superintendent Launches New Ideas in PGO Presentations (UPDATED)

Historic Steeple Atop the Jewish Community of Amherst Building to be Restored with Preservation Funds (UPDATED)

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Amherst Town Meeting voted last night to approve spending of about $862,000 in Community Preservation Act funds, including $245,000 to repair the historic steeple on a building that now houses the Jewish Community of Amherst. The building at 742 Main St. that was once the Second Congregational Church dates to 1839. The Jewish Community of … Continue reading Historic Steeple Atop the Jewish Community of Amherst Building to be Restored with Preservation Funds (UPDATED)

Copycat Facebook Site “Amherst4All” Posting Photos Of Town Meeting Members & Comments: But Not To Be Confused With “Amherst For All”

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Some members of Amherst Town Meeting, including yours truly, were surprised last night to find themselves photographed and tagged by name in Facebook posts on a site called "Amherst4All."  Often, confusing remarks accompanied these images of people asking questions of local officials during Town Meeting, which can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/amherst4all/ At one point, a … Continue reading Copycat Facebook Site “Amherst4All” Posting Photos Of Town Meeting Members & Comments: But Not To Be Confused With “Amherst For All”

Amherst Charter Commission, Still Divided, Reduces Proposed Town Council Size from 60 to 13 People: Adds Mayor & Town Manager (UPDATED)

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The Amherst Charter Commission, which is working on proposal for a new form of town government, voted last night (Monday April 24) by a slim majority to drop a "middle ground" proposal for a 60-person town council. The plan came under fire at a recent Charter Commission listening session, and Chairman Andy Churchill and others … Continue reading Amherst Charter Commission, Still Divided, Reduces Proposed Town Council Size from 60 to 13 People: Adds Mayor & Town Manager (UPDATED)

Conflict Runs High at Amherst Charter Commission Meeting (UPDATED)

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The growing discord on the Amherst Charter Commission was clear last night, where a few members expressed their unhappiness with the online communications they received from one another, and from the public. Commission member Julia Rueschemeyer said she is concerned that a "special interest group of developers" is trying to control the nine-person commission, and … Continue reading Conflict Runs High at Amherst Charter Commission Meeting (UPDATED)

Guest Column: An Amherst Town Meeting Member’s Letter to the Charter Commission

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By JOANNA MORSE. Dear Charter Commission, Thank you for your work on democracy in Amherst.   I write to you in my support of keeping Town Meeting as our legislative branch of our local government.  I have participated in many town meetings through my life, and have now served on Amherst Town Meeting for one … Continue reading Guest Column: An Amherst Town Meeting Member’s Letter to the Charter Commission

Touring the Jones Libary in Amherst: An Old Friend Reveals Secrets

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I took a tour of the Jones Library last week, one of several being offered for Amherst Town Meeting members, who will vote May 10 on whether to approve a design for a $36 million expansion and renovation plan. I'd urge anyone on Town Meeting who hasn't yet gone on a library tour yet to … Continue reading Touring the Jones Libary in Amherst: An Old Friend Reveals Secrets

Amherst Police Department Gets New Patrol Pup, Named “Marvin”

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The Amherst Police Department is adding a little more bark to its law enforcement bite, with its second officer-and-dog team. Officer Matthew Frydryk has a new K9 partner named Marvin, Police Chief Scott P. Livingstone announced today. Marvin, a 16-month old male German Shepherd, will be a four-legged MacGruff-of-all trades, helping the department find lost … Continue reading Amherst Police Department Gets New Patrol Pup, Named “Marvin”

Guest Column: Amherst Town Meeting Schedule of Three Nights Per Week Will Burden Some Families

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By TONI CUNNINGHAM. New members who were motivated to run for Town Meeting this election cycle may think “What have I done?!” when they learn they have committed to attending three evenings each week – Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m. – until all the items on the warrant are voted upon. … Continue reading Guest Column: Amherst Town Meeting Schedule of Three Nights Per Week Will Burden Some Families

Amherst Town Meeting Recount in Precinct 9 Yields No Changes to Elected Members

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A recount of ballots cast for Amherst Town Meeting members in Precinct 9 yielded a few small adjustments to numbers calculated by machine on March 28, but will not result in any changes to who was elected. "It was one vote here, and one vote there," said Town Clerk Sandra Burgess. The new totals for … Continue reading Amherst Town Meeting Recount in Precinct 9 Yields No Changes to Elected Members