Sprucing Up The Town's Living Room

Jones Library:  "The town's living room"

Downtown anchor and all around gem in the bag of treasured municipal buildings, the Jones Library is a destination spot that attracts thousands of customers of all ages and socioeconomic standings.

One of the many attractions is the comfortable interior that allows one to settle in for concentrated study of important historical documents, the latest non-fiction best seller, or just a casual reading of the local newspapers (all two of them).

Like The Case Of The Purloined Letter, a real treasure lurks in the background that quietly contributes to the Jones overall ambiance: paintings, statues and rugs.

 Cindy Harbeson (far left) waiting to present to Jones Library Trustees Thursday morning

Recently hired Special Collection Director Cindy Harbeson updated the Board of Trustees on her department which included the public relations outreach, increased security for priceless collection materials and a current appraisal for all the furnishings scattered about the entire Library:

The Library will be unveiling a half-dozen paintings that were recently restored via $10,000 in Community Preservation Act monies Town Meeting approved in 2011, on Sunday, November 22nd.

I can't think of a better way of bringing brightness to an otherwise sad anniversary.

Teen Angst

Wednesday, 1: 45 PM

Turns out the female "driver" of the black SUV that barreled into the Miss Saigon Restaurant Wednesday afternoon is only 14 years old.  Yikes! 

She has been cited by APD for "Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Operating To Endanger, and Wanton Destruction of Property over $250."

The Amherst Regional Middle School has "early release" on Wednesday that floods the town with teens.

This is the way it's supposed to be done

Too Clever By Half

Attorney Tom Reidy leans in to his Hail Mary presentation to ZBA last night

While probably good for increasing his billable hours the formal appeal of the Building Commissioner -- hand delivered to the Town Clerk at the last minute -- came back to bite his client, Clifford Laraway, in the butt at the Zoning Board of Appeals Special Permit hearing last night.

Chair Mark Parent immediately told attorney Tom Reidy, "You put us in an awkward position here because of the appeal you filed.  We need to act on it by December 3rd but now we can't address those circumstances here tonight."

To which attorney Reidy responded, "What happened in the past is the past.  The appeal may be withdrawn on December 3rd.  We wish to move forward."

Of course what attorney Reidy was angling for is having the ZBA issue the Special Permit declaring the structure a two family unit (8 maximum tenants) which would then be used as evidence at the December 3rd hearing to overturn the Building Commissioner's declaration that the house has too many tenants.

   382 N Pleasant Appeal Violation

Another major mistake made by the petitioners was not appeasing Amherst Fire Department, who also found the building to be more than a simple two family house, deeming it a "rooming house" and as a result requires sprinklers.

But ZBA member Tom Ehrgood said he was "impressed at the changes" he saw on their site visit the previous day and did not see why the regular Special Permit hearing "could not continue".

Planning Department senior planner Jeff Bagg responded "Deciding on a Special Permit tonight would be premature.  So many elements relate to the appeal."

Building Commissioner Rob Morra agreed, "At the last hearing the board gave the petitioner clear directives to figure out the occupancy issue.  You need to address the appeal first."  And Mr Morra reminded the board of the Fire Department's clearly stated requirement for a sprinkler system.

Neighbor Joan Burgess told the board during public comment that she "Appreciated the changes, however the management plan required should be updated to show specifically what they are doing for better management.  It has to be quantifiable."

The board gave the petitioners a directive to bring back a parking and management plan that convinces them no more than eight tenants will occupy the building and to work out an agreement with Amherst Fire Department.

 382 North Pleasant Street

 Facebook post UMass Alpha Epsilon PiPhi chapter fraternity

Note similarity with mailbox on right

The Special Permit hearing was continued to December 3rd at 7:00 PM while the appeal of the Building Commissioner's ruling will be heard at 6:30 PM.

Previous coverage

Hampshire College Bright Idea

Land located north side West Bay Road between Eric Carle Museum and Rt 116

Last night Amherst Town Meeting gave interim Town Manager Dave Ziomek the authority to engage in discussions with potential owners of large solar arrays for a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes.

Interestingly enough that authority covers not just the deal on the town owned landfills but also extends to private landowners like Amherst and Hampshire Colleges, both in the top three for land ownership in town.

After a year of planning, Hampshire College is poised to start construction on a 2.5 megawatt array on the old Ives property off West Bay Road, directly opposite Atkins Country Market, who also installed a solar array three years ago to satisfy their energy needs.

The deal on the table with Hampshire College would generate $560,000 over the life of the 20 year project, or $28,000 per year.

Currently Hampshire College pays the town nothing for AFD services while Amherst College pays us $130,000 and UMass/Amherst about $455,000.

Vince O'Connor, in one of his more lucid moments, asked from the floor of Town Meeting if the authority of the Town Manager would extend to UMass/Amherst our #2 property owner in town.

 Solar array will save UMass $40,000 per year

And he pointed out the new 300 kilowatt solar canopy over the parking lot at the Robsham Visitor's Center as an example.

Finance Director Sandy Pooler shrugged his shoulders saying, "It's complicated."

UMass recently stopped paying the town's local option hotel tax on the Campus Center Hotel and they are holding hostage the $200,000 collected and put in escrow trying to coerce the town into signing a three year overdue "Strategic Partnership Agreement."

Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows

Amherst Town Meeting 7:01 PM (almost ready to start)

Proving the old adage about a stopped clocked being occasionally correct, Amherst Town Meeting managed to make it through an entire session without screwing up, completing the 15 article warrant last night in record time, two hours and forty five minutes.

Although the usual voices from the margin gave it a good college try.

Newer of ye old landfills already has a commercial Transfer Station located there

Best news to report is a large scale Solar array will come to the newer of the old landfills as that project has near unanimous support.

Ye old landfill

Despite the usual complaints from neighbors living in the upscale area next to the other, older, landfill Town Meeting gave the Town Manager, described by offbeat member Carol Gray as a "blank check," the right to negotiate Net Metering Credits, lease the newer/old landfill to SunEdison and negotiate with them a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes.

Let's hope the Town Manager does the same with ye old landfill and maybe throw in a few extra tall wind turbines as well.

North Common in front of Town Hall has not had major work in a generation or two

With little discussion Town Meeting voted almost unanimously for Community Preservation Act spending of  $190,000 for renovation to the historic North Common and $240,000 for an ADA pre-school playground at Crocker Farm Elementary School.

 Amherst Regional Middle School: currently grades 7&8 (used to include grade 9 as well)

The $150,000 spending item to renovate the Amherst Regional Middle School to allow Leisure Services and Supplemental Education (Rec Dept) to relocate from the Bangs Community Center so a community health center can move there did stimulate a bit of discussion although it still passed overwhelmingly.

Member Janet McGowan asked if this would preclude using the Middle School as a Kindergarten through 8th grade in the controversial restructuring now being considered for Amherst elementary education?

One of the excuses for not tapping the underused Middle School is that it is "owned by the Region", even though Amherst makes up more than 80% of the Region.

And this move of a town department into a region owned facility makes it look like recreation is more important than the education of children.

Ms. McGowan's question went unanswered.

Town Meeting concluded with an easy one, spending $170,500 (matched by a state grant) to purchase 141 acres in Pelham, aka "Romer Woods," adjacent to Hills Reservoir.  Amherst is nothing if not careful with its drinking water supply.

Romer Woods abuts Hills Reservoir, Pelham

Although, considering the controversies Amherst is famous for, many outsiders wonder what exactly is in our water supply.

Party House of the Weekend

289 East Pleasant Street

Yes this past Halloween weekend has given me plenty of material, sorry to say.

But the good news is two or three years ago this party house would barely have garnered a mention compared to the other three or four that were then part of the normal routine.

 click to enlarge/read 

All 3 underage bad boys paid the $300 fine and will be on probation for 4 months

Things are getting better.  Much better.

Don't Mess With Dash!

Although it looks to me like Dash can take care of himself

In addition to a UMass police officer and Amherst firefighter being attacked by an overly aggressive drunk young woman over the Halloween weekend our resident K9, Dash, was also messed with by a college aged youth.

That too is pretty stupid.

675 Main Street

 

@amherstac You reported my wrongful arrest on Nov 1 but never updated with the dismissal of charges that I requested via email. Why not?

— Brian Forgione (@BrianForgione) March 1, 2016

At the follow up hearing for Mr. Forgione, the charge of messing with Dash was dropped but he was put on four months probation for the other two charges.