Journey of a 1,000 Miles ...

AFD Central Station is too old and too cramped

The first real honest to goodness step in the right direction for a new South Fire Station was taken today, albeit a baby step.

 First meeting of DPW Fire Station Advisory  Committee in Town Hall today

The new 7-member DPW Fire Station Advisory Committee met for the first time this afternoon after being appointed by Temporary Town Manager Pete Hechenbleikner who initially chaired the meeting but then turned it over to elected Chair Lynn Griesemer, who also chaired the 2006 Fire Station Study Committee.

In his preamble Hechenbleikner told the Committee, "This work is incredible important.  You are the constituency, the advocates for these projects."

DPW Chief Guilford Morring said his new building is a little further along having already hired a designer who helped with a presentation to the Select Board a few months back for an 8.5 acre $37 million new facility.

 Some preliminary fire station work could start even before DPW moves out

The current DPW building has been identified as a location for the new Fire Station.

If the $65 million mega school is approved by two-thirds of Town Meeting in the Fall and a majority of the voters at the November election ballot that would free up Fort River School for the new DPW building.

The DPW Fire Station Advisory Committee will attempt to bring a funding request to the Fall town meeting to hire a designer and Owners Project Manager for the Fire Station to catch it up to the new DPW.

A Precious Thing

The Evergreens in October

While Town Meeting was somewhat unanimous in agreeing The Evergreens and First Congregational Church are priceless images that bring majesty (and foot traffic) to our Main Street Dickinson Historic District, there was still plenty of discussion about $390,000 in Community Preservation Act tax money for fire suppression systems.

Town Meeting approved $390K for First Congregation Church & The Evergreens 

The separation of church and state concerned some with the $200K request from the First Congregation Church, and even more were concerned that The Evergreens is owned by Amherst College, our #1 landowner who sits on a $2 billion endowment.

But supporters pointed out the College is matching the $190K request for The Evergreens and they contribute 15% of the annual operation costs to the Dickinson Museum complex.

Carol Gray in her usual acerbic way reminded Town Meeting that Amherst College was about to demolish the Little Red Schoolhouse to make way for a $200 million Science Center.

Little Red Schoolhouse facing west (Stone dorm in immediate background)

 Carol Gray locked and loaded

I voted "yes" simply because I worry that a No vote would have significantly delayed the installation of the sophisticated fire mitigation system, and I know all too well the devastating damage fire can unleash.

And it only takes minutes for the beast to grow unstoppable.

I did however abstain from the individual vote on First Congregational Church because I didn't want to mess too much (by voting no) with God.

 Town Hall had sprinkler system installed as part of $4 million renovation 20 years ago

Perhaps Town Meeting was a tad more civil last night (Carol Gray notwithstanding) because we started with cute kids from the Middle School presenting their warrant article to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day.

 Amherst Regional Middle Schoolers present to Town Meeting

As the town curmudgeon I usually vote "no" to these, but I figured there was no harm in showing empathy for wrongs committed a long, long time ago.  Besides, one of the petitioners is my daughter's BFF.

The article is only "advisory" so it has no real power to influence a Federal/State holiday, but it does send a symbolic message that Amherst is sensitive to the slaughter of innocent people.

The motion passed almost unanimously, to the great delight of spectators in the back of the room -- something not often seen or heard in sedate Town Meeting.

Yes, this is the same legislative body that voted down -- by two thirds vote no less -- my 2007 advisory article requesting the downtown commemorative flags fly every 9/11 for as long as the Republic stands to remember the innocents slaughtered on that unforgettable day. 

Maybe I should have had my daughter make the presentation.

Last Man Standing

Paul Bockelman is a Hampshire College graduate

The Amherst Select Board surprised Town Meeting at the start of our 6th session by announcing contract negotiations with their #1 pick for new Town Manager (by a 3-2 vote) Maria Capriola fell apart and they were appointing their #2 pick Paul Bockelman assuming they can finalize a contract.

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Staying in Connecticut

Ironically this came on the same day the Amherst Public Schools decided to redo a search for a new principal at Fort River School because of the three finalists only one remained.

But the difference here is the Select Board had used a very careful process right from the start that attracted 70 initial resumes distilled down to a final three, or the best of the best.

 Paul Bockelman at 4/27 public forum.  Bernie Lynch (left)

And then they set up highly public meet and greets so the general population could weigh in.

Because the Select Board had hired a temporary Town Manager, Peter Hechenbleikner (also not their first choice) who hit the ground running, they did not feel pressured to rush things.

Paul Bockelman has experience galore.  We're in good hands.

After all, #2 tries harder.

One is the Loneliest Number

Fort River Elementary School 

The revolving door for principals in the Amherst Public School System is certainly not slowing down any.  Two more announced their departures just in the past six weeks, each with only two years at the helm.

And some parents were not overly happy with the process to replace Bobbie Finocchio at Fort River School.

Out of three finalists only one remained (Doreen Cunningham) as Patty Bode, one of the finalists, was just assigned interim Principal of the Regional Middle School to replace Marisa Mendonsa.

   Fort River Principal Finalist Letter

Update:  They changed their minds

The Select  Board hired Bernie Lynch, a professional headhunter, who instituted a nationwide search for our new Town Manager.  Out of 45 good resumes a committee whittled it down to three and even though one dropped out at the last minute the Select Board still had two excellent candidates to chose from.

Although if they don't make an announcement tonight at Town Meeting about their chosen candidate, Maria Capriola, people are going to start wondering if she changed her mind.

Unlike the Town Manager search this school principal search has thus far involved far less public input.  Anointing the only remaining candidate could breed even more mistrust, making an already challenging job untenable.

The administration figured that out.  According to HR Director Kathy Mazur they are going to do a do over:

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Farming vs Housing

The parcel is currently assessed at $3,200

Even with the wholehearted support of the Planning Board, Select Board, Finance Committee and Housing & Sheltering Committee the rezoning of 5.79 acres on University Drive from office park to limited business just barely attained Town Meeting required two-thirds mark, 117 yes to 57 no.

Now the developer, UMass New Build LLC,  can move forward with a badly needed (mostly) student housing development consisting of 29 townhouse units with three of them set aside as affordable units.

Concept plan for 29 townhouses, 58 parking spaces on 5.79 acres (2.3 acres of it non buildable wetlands)

Since the property is in Chapter 61A it currently pays the town under $100 in property taxes, and obviously the high end housing development will pay in the six figures annually.

The town will have the "right of first refusal" once the deal is signed but since a disgruntled abutter leaked the potential selling price as $1.5 million, safe bet the town will not want to cough up anywhere near that to keep the 3 acre portion of the site in agricultural production.

Dysfunction Anyone?

 The Jones Library:  Amherst's living room

Perhaps in addition to the nifty new electronic voting clickers the Moderator should also consider another modern day device to assist him with keeping Town Meeting running smoothly: a stun gun.

In all my 25 years of as a Town Meeting participant/observer I have never seen such a display of unruliness bordering on bedlam. Brought to you by, who else, Carol Gray.

Carol Gray with a loaded weapon in her left hand 

Although the Moderator certainly could have handled things better, as "Points of Order" richocheted around the room like shrapnel from a Hellfire missile.

One thing an attorney is trained for is the give-and-take of cross examination. One little slip "opens the door" for a line of questioning that otherwise would be out of bounds.

By allowing the Jones Library delegation to talk about the building project in their presentation he invited Town Meeting members to follow suit, even if it was against his preamble speech to the membership that it would be ruled "outside the scope of the article."

 Historical Society property would have allowed expansion less destructive to green space

Not that I think the zoning change -- which requires a challenging two thirds vote -- was going to pass no matter how smoothly the presentation and follow up discussion went.

The privately owned Town Meeting list serve was a beehive of conspiracy theories all these past few weeks, so the failure was hardly surprising.

By killing the chance for the Jones Library to purchase abutting property from a kindred spirit, Town Meeting has set up the future renovation/expansion project for failure.

Even worse, it demonstrated our legislative body takes Ms. Gray seriously.  That alone is reason enough to terminate Town Meeting. 

(Endangered) Elephant In The Room

Amherst Town Meeting:  Too large (white, rich, old, clueless)?

The Amherst Charter Commission in their 1st meeting since the state mandated public forum last week discussed "themes" they heard both at the forum and in emails to the Commission over the past month or so.

The fate of Town Meeting seemed to be the paramount concern or as the music industry used to say "Number one with a bullet."  Of course supporters fear Town Meeting will be "terminated with extreme prejudice," aka a bullet to the back of the head.  (Metaphorically speaking of course.)

 Charter Commission met last night in Town Hall prior to Town Meeting

Back in 2001 when the previous Charter Commission was formed the Select Board allowed a non binding advisory question on the ballot asking voters if it was time to terminate Town Meeting.  And voters said "Yes" by a healthy margin (1,832 to 1,307).

Commissioner Diana Stein started the discussion by pointing out 24 of 37 speakers supported Town Meeting in some form.  Although fellow loyalist Gerry Weiss was to quick to admit the most common comment was "to make Town Meeting smaller."

Chair Andy Churchill thought most of the 50+ attendees were, "Insiders who don't think outside the box."

 The Charter Commission was pleased with the turnout for the 5/12 Public Hearing

Commissioner Nick Grabbe rattled off a list of common criticisms including "long sessions, not enough candidates, grandstanding, absenteeism, lack of preparation prior to meetings, reflexive opposition to staff proposals, acting with no constituent feedback, and name recognition key to getting elected."

 Chair Andy Churchill took notes

Other members mentioned how Town Meeting can act as an "incubator" for entry into town government and the large legislative body acts in a checks-and-balances way to keep town officials and the executive branch (Select Board) in line.

But most agreed the overall form of government is diffuse without any one entity vested with the power to get things done or be held accountable when they fail.

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Commissioner Irv Rhodes wondered if a Flint Michigan water crisis scenario occurred in Amherst who would be to blame: the Select Board, Town Manager, Town Meeting,  DPW Director?  

After last night's petulant Town Meeting, perhaps drinking the Kool-Aid is more in order.

And Another One Gone

Amherst Regional Middle School Principal Marisa Mendonsa has resigned

 

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 Ms. Mendonsa was appointed ARMS Principal two years ago

When NIMBYs Attack

Proposed mixed use development would replace closed saw mill (top center)

In Amherst no building project bigger than a dog house is safe from coordinated attack by concerned neighbors worried about the destruction of their neighborhood, even though some of them have not been living there long enough to really know the neighborhood.

In South Amherst, Butternut Farm, a "friendly 40B" 26-unit initiative, was bitterly opposed by neighbors, including a failed lawsuit that only served to delay the project an extra half-dozen years and increase costs to the non-profit developer, HAPHousing.

 Clark House, 100 subsidized units.  About to be sold to a "qualified Preservation buyer"

And the Clark House, the first six story building in town center,  was also fought over almost 40 years ago and would never have happened if not the for Amherst Redevelopment Authority, a quasi state agency with the power of eminent domain.

So I'm hardly shocked the usual suspects in North Amherst are now sharpening their pitchforks and fueling up the turbo charged torches to oppose the badly needed subsidized housing mixed-use proposal to help complete the Mill District vision.

Beacon purchased Rolling Green for $30.25 million ($1.25 million of town CPA $)

Ironically if not for Beacon Communities purchasing the 204 unit Rolling Green Apartments in East Amherst our Subsidized Housing Inventory would have fallen below 10%, so a Chapter 40B in the Mill District -- build whatever you want as long as it's 25% affordable housing -- would now be a slam dunk.

The Road Is Long

Runners line up in front of Rafters for 10:30 AM start

One of the great things about Amherst in late spring leading up to a lazy summer is all the neat weekend events that happen -- especially as it relates to outdoor activities.

Our institutes of higher education rent out facilities for summer camps which bring plenty of new young faces to our little town and there's usually a road race to benefit a worthy cause.



The Amherst Police Department in partnership with Rafters Sports Bar & Restaurant has successfully promoted this event for the past 23 years to benefit the Jimmy Fund and the Amherst Police Relief Association.

 Streaming towards our #1 employer UMass/Amherst

Let's hope the proposed medical marijuana dispensary for this location does not get in the way of a 24th year.

Pelham School Battle Escalates

Aisha Hiza and her darling daughter

Call it intuition developed over 40 years of martial arts training, or maybe just my Irish gut, but I find it hard to believe Aisha Hiza, a once proud graduate of the venerable Amherst Regional Public School system, represents a physical threat to anyone in that system.

   Pelham School Battle Escalates

But this issue of a rashly implemented stay away order IS a threat to the system, because it flies in the face of one of the highly valued goals of ARPS:  Social justice.

 Maria Geryk was appointed Amherst Regional Public Schools  Superintendent in 2011

Where's Calvin Terrell when we need him?

Pelham School Committee just before going into executive session May 5th.  Attorney Tom Colomb 3rd from right

Major Sale Pending

Clark House (center) Ann Whalen (left) Bangs Center (front left)

The 100 residential unit Clark House, a six story structure in downtown Amherst, is getting ready for a change in ownership.   Fortunately to a "qualified Preservation Buyer" so all the Section 8 tenants will probably not be displaced.

The Clark House was built in 1980 as part of the Amherst Redevelopment Authority's ambitious Boltwood Walk project.  The facility is currently 100% Section 8 tenants with 60 of the units Low Income and 40 units Extremely Low Income.

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Amherst is in the minority for communities in the state with a Subsidized Housing Inventory greater than 10%, although housing in general is still in short supply.  As a result Amherst has higher prices which drives out middle income workers, seniors and young families.  

Because Clark House is already exempt from Amherst property taxes, the sale will have no impact on the tax base.

Forest For The Trees

Rolling Green Apartment, One Rolling Green Drive

If you ever wondered how to properly plant or prune a tree you're in luck: the Amherst Shade Tree Committee is holding their monthly tree planting demonstration this Saturday at Rolling Green Apartments on Belchertown Road (Rt 9) in the eastern part of town starting at 9:00 AM.

Public shade trees, which can last for generations, are all too often taken for granted because they blend into the background.

But when they are destroyed due to age or development we suddenly discover to our dismay, that they were the background.

SATURDAY morning update:

 Ten new trees going in the ground

Backdoor Sabotage

Jones Library needs property from Historical Society for preferred expansion

I always love it when somebody accidentally hits reply all and sends a telling message they think is only going to a very few like minded obstructionists.

Take former Jones Library black sheep Trustee Carol Gray for instance, who just sent a message to all 200+ members of the privately owned Town Meeting listserve.

Anybody who pays attention to Town Meeting issues -- which unfortunately does not include the vast majority of Amherst voters -- knows full well the plan is afoot to stop the Jones Library expansion/renovation right at the starting gate by denying them the ability to purchase land next door from a willing, highly respected, seller.

And as Carol so gleefully points out, it only takes a one-third super minority to kill development, no matter how reasonable it is.  Reason #1 for terminating Town Meeting.

Click to enlarge/read (but by all means do not forward)

Successful Mooooooove

Hope is designed to hold four football players (linemen no less)

Hope the cow crossed North Pleasant Street safely and has now taken up residence between Realignment (pocket) Park and (expansive) Kendrick Park.

Hope is part fundraiser for the homeless, part pubic art and mostly fun for kids (and adults) to hop aboard for a photo shoot.  The move was necessitated by the impending construction of One East Pleasant Street.

 Jada wishes Hope could fly

There They Go Again

North end of downtown, finally, getting infrastructure improvements

As usual the Town Meeting warrant article that made the most common sense for quick passage -- deemed a "no brainer" by one member --  created the longest discussion of the night, although it did easily attain more than a two thirds vote, 119 to 32. 

As "keepers of the public way" the Amherst Select Board has already unanimously approved a roundabout for the important East Pleasant/Triangle Street intersection, a main gateway to UMass.

 Bank of America ATM (red roof)

Land required in yellow

In order to make it safer for pedestrians via a sidewalk the town needs a sliver of land from Bank of America, who is willing to donate it in exchange for some help fixing a water pipe connection to their brightly colored ATM.

But naturally, fuddy-duddies in Town Meeting who prefer the old fashioned signalized intersection continue to engage in guerrilla warfare, trying to stop progress.

Fortunately a couple years from now they will figure it out -- after easily negotiating the roundabout on their horse and buggy.