Environmental Make Good

Representative from W.D. Cowls and Landmark Properties appear before ConComm

Amherst Conservation Commission

A half dozen employees representing the interests of the current landowner, W.D. Cowls, and the buyer/developer, Landmark Properties, who wish to build a student housing project on 147 acres of woodland in North Amherst came before the  Conservation Commission again to explain how damage occurred to wetlands and how they will ensure it does not happen again.

W.D. Cowls, the largest private landowner in the state, has always allowed the general public to use the property for recreation.  And mountain bikes, all terrain vehicles and jeeps can leave behind ruts which the commission considers unacceptable in protected wetlands.

Cowls may reconsider keeping the property open to the general public and could install gates or cables at the three main entry points to keep out motorized vehicles.

Conservation members site visit to damaged area 6/25

But much of the (self reported) damage was caused by a contractor doing geo-technical drilling for the proposed buyer of the property, Landmark Properties.  Commission member Christiane Healey said, "I'm perplexed.  Don't you have experience with this?"

"We don't do this very often," responded the contractor, Mike Talbot.  "In my 30 years this if the first time doing work around wetlands on such a large tract of property.  We crossed wetlands to get to drilling sites.  We thought using logging roads was okay."

Talbot said from now on "wetlands" had been added to their job sheet checklists for awareness and a wetlands expert or land engineer would be consulted before any work took place in sensitive areas.

The "Preliminary Restoration Plan" was pronounced "thorough" by town wetlands administrator Beth Willson, but she preferred all restoration work be done by hand rather than mechanized equipment -- especially considering it was mechanized equipment that caused the damage in the first place.

The commission agreed and made that a part of their requirements as well as a paragraph about maintaining communication with the Conservation Commission and obtaining permits anytime work is performed in and around wetlands.

 About 25 concerned neighbors show up

The environmental consultants will return to the  July 23rd meeting with a final Restoration Plan and begin the work (by hand) immediately after approval by the Conservation Commission.

 Vince O'Connor worried about Fire Department access in case of a forest fire

Pine Street Permutations

North Amherst residents will be pleased to know their major thoroughfare will be a lot more drivable by the end of "this construction season," (which usually means when the snow flies) after a base coat of pavement will be put down the entire length of Pine Street. 

It has been a long haul thus far with the road ripped up for water sewer upgrades and then a major overhaul which is yet to come, but should be completed in calender 2015.

 Bumper stickers available at Cushman Market

The town twice put in for a $4.3 million MassWorks grant but were turned down both times.  DPW Chief Guilford Mooring reports we have spent $1.8 million in Water & Sewer fund money so far and a funding request to complete the work will go to the Fall Town Meeting somewhere in the $2 million range.

The Town Manager will make a recommendation to the Select Board about the final tweaks, which hinge on whether there should be a separate bike lane AND sidewalk or just one multi-use path for both.

The Public Works Committee already voted unanimously for the single 10 foot wide multi-use path on the south side of Pine Street.  The town needs to confirm final layout before putting down the base coat.  The Select Board has final say. 

Pine/Bridge Street roundabout (near Cushman Market) now off the table because of how much land taking would be required

DUI Dishonor Roll

The most frequently recorded BAC level among drinking drivers in fatal crashes (10,322 in 2012) was 0.16

Amherst police arrested Tarah A Liewellyn, age 25, not far from Amherst town center early Monday morning "driving" a deadly weapon with a Blood Alcohol Content more than three times the legal limit.

And it was Ms. Liewellyn's second dui offense.  Her case was continued until August 7, and she was released on $250 cash bail.

Tarah Liewellyn, age 25, stands before Judge Christopher LoConto Tuesday morning

Click photos to enlarge/read

Sorry About That

 6/24 Regional School Committee meeting

In response to my Open Meeting Law complaint Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee Chair Lawrence O'Brien has promised to do a better job from now on for "as long as I am serving as Chair."

Which is all well and good, except he was elected Chair at the tumultuous 6/24 meeting but only until the Regional School Committee meets for their cozy little "Retreat" (not the controversial housing project in North Amherst) sometime in August.

Simply put my complaint stemmed from the published written agenda stating they were going into Executive Session to discuss only "Collective Bargaining," when in fact they pulled the cloak of secrecy for a "litigation" discussion instead.

Yes, litigation is a very legitimate reason to go into Executive Session.  But it would be nice to know specifically up front that litigation was the reason rather than giving the false impression it was for rather benign contract negotiations. 

And I get a little nervous when he cites their "district legal counsel" Gini Tate, as she also gives "counsel" to the Wayland School Committee, a serial offender of the Open Meeting Law. 

Wrong Car To Run Off The Road

Amelia Houghton, age 26, stands before Judge LoConto

So if you are driving with double the legal limit for Blood Alcohol Concentration the last person you want to almost run into head on is an Amherst police officer.

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday, in one of the fastest dispositions to a drunk driving case I have ever seen, Amelia Houghton, age 26, copped a plea in front of Judge Christopher LoConto.  The standard 1st offense 24D disposition will result in loss of license for 45 days, up to $1,500 in fines and driver ed costs and one year probation.

In other words the serious charges are Continued With Out Finding for one year, and if she stays out of trouble, they are dismissed.

Downtown Retro

Metacomet Cafe, 27 South Pleasant Street

After teasing the downtown for well over a year with their nifty, retro "Metacomet Cafe" sign, it looks like the classic sandwich burger shop is set to open within a month, in plenty of time for the resurgence in population that happens every Labor Day weekend in this college town.

The Amherst Select Board this evening unanimously approved their Common Victualler License although they will still need an occupancy permit from the building commissioner.  The operation, run by brothers Spencer and Trevor Hopton, will be open seven days a week from 11:00 AM until 11:00 PM.

World's greatest hamburger

A Climate Of Fear?

APD @ ARHS

Amherst Police Chief Scott Livingstone has confirmed that his department did NOT do an investigation into the most recent racial incident just now coming to light where a white student was “aggressively and seriously” assaulted by black students. 

The parent of the victim did not wish to press charges and furthermore wanted NO police involvement whatsoever.  Chief Livingstone stated that once that was confirmed with the parents APD involvement ceased.

ARHS state approved anti-bullying plan

Yes, as a parent I can understand the natural inclination to protect your child from the glare of public scrutiny.  But there's a fine line between right to privacy and the general public's right to know -- especially when that general public also has children in the school system.

Last year a young woman under the influence of alcohol fell on Fearing Street, hitting her head on a curb.  She was transported to Baystate Medical Center where she died.  At the parents request UMass agreed not to release any information about the sad incident.  Which of course in this Internet age, backfired. 

Amherst College received a deserved slew of negative publicity for the way this mishandled rape cases, one that resulted in a young man, Trey Malone, committing suicide. 

Simply put, if it's not now mandatory for a public or private school, kindergarten-through-college, to report a serious crime (bullying, physical assault, rape, etc) to the local police department and/or District Attorney -- especially if it's a hate crime -- then it damn well should be!