A Vitriolic Debate

The debate over article #25, Form Based Zoning for North Amherst Village Center, veered towards testy a couple times and in both cases from opponents who would eventually rule the day--but only because, in zoning, a minority can obstruct the will of the majority.


Nathan Turowsky, a rare UMass student member of Town Meeting, described by another youthful rookie member as  "an adorable dorky kid" came close to being escorted from the podium by the constable.  Not so adorable.

And over on the privately owned Amherst Town Meeting listserve a vociferous opponent came back to a positive post from Nancy Buffone, UMass Executive Director of External Relations and fairly long-time Amherst resident, by calling her a "buffoon"-- although he quickly apologized:

 "Today I realized that no matter which side ends up winning tonight, I will have lost. I get no pleasure out of this kind of strife and nastiness that's been going back and forth. I'm probably one of the more guilty folk but I am not alone. The bottom line is that I feel drained and depressed. I probably will not watch Town Meeting tonight because I really can't win win no matter what  the vote is. This has taken a lot out of me."

After article #25 failed to garner a two-thirds super-majority, losing 137-73, there are indeed no winners.

It is what it is

 AFD Chief Tim Nelson

Maybe it's a Holyoke thing, as former Police Chief Anthony Scott was widely known and respected for his "call them as he sees them" soundbites the local media thrived on.  Maybe Fire Chief Tim Nelson picked it up from Scott, or maybe--since Nelson served that rough and tumble city for 29 years--the other way around.

While calling a group of Hampshire College kids "idiots" for climbing up on a high roof, in the rain, late at night, may upset the genteel lily white Wimbledon sense of protocol so prevalent in our little town, it certainly was accurate...and succinct.

As the Chief pointed out three months ago when AFD responded to rescue another idiot, "The guy on the mountain made a bad choice but he had a choice. Those people who truly need our help don't have a choice."

Besides, the Chief had just endured almost three hours of Amherst Town Meeting (waiting to defend fire department equipment requests contained in an upcoming capital article), which would put any sane person in a surly mood.

Cost for the 48 minute rescue:  $550

Guess who's coming to town?

Fanelli Amusements returns to Amherst Town Common

Nothing says small town (village center) feel better than the traveling carnival, sponsored by the Amherst Rotary Club, setting up for  a weekend of good old fashioned fun.  Rides, games, fried food, flashing lights, and a throng of teenagers just learning to strut.  What more could you ask for?  (Besides sunny weather).

Zoning Deja Vu (all over again)

 Amherst Town Meeting

Despite a last minute compromise motion half heartedly supported by the Amherst Select Board, the North Amherst Village Center form based rezoning failed to clear that high hurdle of a two thirds vote, as Amherst Town Meeting once again turned down a badly needed pro-business measure by a 137 "no" to 73 "yes" vote, close to last weeks rejection of the same zoning change for Atkins Corner in South Amherst, which failed 130-78.

Once again the stigma of rowdy student undergrad housing takes its toll on progress.  Hey UMass, you listening?

A Deafening Quiet

St Brigid's Church, UMass Library, Grad Research Tower

No noise, nuisance, open container, or unlicensed keg tickets issued over the weekend by APD despite Saturday night being about as gorgeous as New England weather allows.  Of course after Friday's graduation ceremony UMass students vacated the area almost as quickly as firefighters responding to a major structure fire.

AFD weekend calls to UMass were down to almost zero compared to 26 over Patriots Day weekend--many of those alcohol related.

And that other more serious problem with alcohol will not go away over the summer, as APD did make three arrests over the weekend for Driving Under the Influence, each one a potential killer.

Alex Marchegiani, 77 Martin Ave, N Andover, Ma, age 23 OUI liquor, 2nd offense
Amy Cheesman, 11 South Valley Rd, Pelham, Ma, age 25, OUI liquor, leaving scene of accident
Brenda Lee Anderson, 11 Gromacki Ave, S. Deerfield, Ma, age 54, OUI liquor, marked lane violation

Better part of Valour

North Amherst, um, Village Center

Yesterday at the grand opening of the "Little White Houses" exhibit at the Dickinson Homestead, town manager John Musante tweeted an obvious reference to the upcoming session of town meeting, Emily Dickinson Poetry Walk: "Hope" is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul.

Yes, and the Light Brigade was full of "hope" as they charged into the Valley of Death.

As currently written Article #25--form based rezoning for North Amherst Village Center--will never survive the gauntlet of a nay saying town meeting tomorrow night, after its less controversial twin, article #24, was already eviscerated last Wednesday by 130 yes-78 naysayers.

Zoning articles require a two-thirds supermajority vote.   Rather than getting cut to pieces over two or more painful hours the article should be watered down even more by a friendly town meeting member, and if that doesn't work "referred back to the Planning Board," a temporary safe haven for sure. 

And either of those motions only requires a simple majority vote.

Besides, back to back defeats of form based zoning will also cast a pall over article #27, a historic district designation for the Emily Dickinson homestead and properties along that historic corridor, also requiring that difficult to achieve two thirds majority vote.

And if town officials really wish to set the stage for future passage of beneficial changes like form based zoning, they need to encourage charter reform, switching to a more professional mayor/council rule to replace antiquated town meeting governance where a minority of village luddites continually stifle progress.

Sometimes you have to destroy the village in order to save it.

Chainsaw Massacre

Bent over Birch Trees October Snowmageddon storm

So yesterday I had the sad task of whacking three out of five birch trees planted by my wife twenty or so years ago. Taylor Davis came over to give an estimate on some landscaping work and shook his head when I asked about the likely hood of the trees straitening back up via the summer sun.

The town did relatively well recovering from the storm, spending $426,000 of which 75% will be reimbursed by the state. That $319,500 will go a long way towards paying off the $612,000 capital item for 2,000 new trees over the next three years.