Library Lament

Large crowd of parents/guardians/staff/volunteers turned out tonight to protest library cutbacks

The Amherst School Committee didn't need tea leaves to read the consternation caused by the proposed axing of one paraprofessional library assistant at all three elementary schools, leaving each library with only one full time employee, the librarian.

The cost cutting measure will save $75,000 -- yes, full time paras make only $25k per year --and is being instituted as part of a $429,000 overall cut to the elementary school budget to keep level services within Finance Committee guidelines.

During public comment over a dozen speakers implored the school committee not to gut the library programs at all three elementary schools.  Many parents said the library was the favorite part of their child's school day and it provided a "safe space" for learning to take place.

School Committee candidate and long time Town Meeting member Vince O'Connor told the School Committee that a motion would be made on the floor of Town Meeting to increase the budget to cover the three positions.

O'Connor also argued UMass should step up and pay the town significantly more annual revenues to cover all the children (56) coming from their tax exempt housing into our high average cost per student public schools.

The recent "Strategic Partnership" signed with UMass did include $120,000 in new money to help cover  education costs of those children, but the town threw it into one big pot rather then using it in a line item direct sort of way.

Rick Hood suggested the School Committee simply ask the town for an extra $100,000 since the elementary schools did turn back that amount to the town last year and the year before. 

The idea will probably be brought up at the next Budget Coordinating Group meeting at the end of the month.

Downtown Turnover

Insomnia Cookies coming soon to 30 Main Street

When the former prime location of Alden Credit Union, which lasted less than two years, is replaced by a cookie delivery business you know you're in a "college town." 

 11 Amity Street, former First National Bank

Last summer TD Bank abandoned the ornate former First National Bank building in the heart of the downtown and thus far the luxurious location is still unoccupied.  As is All Things Local just down the street and soon to be shuttered The Mercantile next door.

All three locations are owned by Barry Roberts so there's little doubt they will be occupied soon enough.

And since Mr. Roberts understands the value of having the right mix of businesses, chances are none of the three will become a pizza place or bar.

 Just across the street from Insomnia Cookies

Superstar Wanted

Probably the easiest way to choose our new "permanent" Town Manager by this summer is to escort the short list of final candidates out to highly acclaimed Puffer's Pond and see which one of them can walk on water.

The marketing profile issued by our headhunter consultant Bernie Lynch is nothing if not thorough. Who wouldn't want to work/lead such a progressive passionate "college town?"  Especially when you start at $155K and don't even have to live in the costly community.

The Charter Commission that will be elected on March 29 could very well come back a year later with a new form of government, minus a Town Manager.  But obviously whatever they come up with could still use a Finance Director.

John Musante, our most recent beloved Town Manager who died suddenly last September, was the Finance Director for five years prior to becoming Town Manager.

 Former Town Manager John Musante & former Finance Director Sandy Pooler

So all is not necessarily lost spending a bevy of time and money coming up with our new Town Manager even if the position is lost in a governmental reorganization.  They could still be a vital part of the town administration.

And the majestic marketing piece Mr. Lynch came up with is still useful as a template for another critically needed leadership position:  A mayor.

   Amherst Profile For New Town Manager

A $2.2 Million Hearing

 Temporary Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner (center) hit the ground running with Cable Advisory Committee

Temporary Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner attended this afternoon's meeting of the Cable Advisory Committee, who is starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by the pace of negotiations with current cable franchise holder and all around behemoth, Comcast.

The Town Manager had already spoken to CAC legal consultant Peter Epstein who "strongly recommended" yet another (3rd) public hearing be called by the Select Board to outline and defend the $2.2 million the Committee is requesting of Comcast for one time capital infrastructure improvements.

Ten years ago that amount was only $450,000, so pretty much everybody expects significant push back from Comcast.  Originally the CAC was going to put the capital amount and rational for the request in a memo to the Select Board.

The Town Manager told the Committee his first order of business was to get them two additional new members.  Currently only three members remain as two have recently resigned, so they all have to show up just to have a quorum.

After the Select Board calls the public hearing to defend the $2.2 million in capital, those arguments will be incorporated into the Request For Proposal and sent to Comcast, who will have one month to respond.

The contract also calls for the usual 5% of revenues to go to Amherst Media (around $300,000 last year).  The Select Board recently approved a request from Amherst Media to authorize a two year audit of Comcast to make sure they are getting their fair share.

The 10 year contract with Comcast expires in October, and if push comes to shove the town could simply let it expire and cable television would go dark.  Comcast is said to be not overly responsive to customer complaints, but a wailing of that magnitude will be hard to ignore.

Super Dorms

 Olympia Place: opening this summer

Looks like the four new Amherst College Greenway Dorms holding 300 students and Olympia Place,  first ever private dorm complex near UMass housing 236 students, are both on schedule to open this fall.

Greenway Dorms:  opening this fall

Amherst College has always housed 100% of their students so these new replacement dorms have no impact on the housing crises in town, but the Olympia Place addition of 236 beds do represent an increase in badly needed supply.

And even better, since the dorm complex is privately owned, Olympia Place is on the tax rolls.

By helping to satisfy the high demand for student housing that will also take some of the pressure off single family homes in quiet neighborhoods from being converted into student housing.

Since both these dorm complexes are brand new, chances are those lucky enough to live there will take pride in maintaining them.

After all, even if it's only for four years: there's still  no place like home

The Cost Of Art

 Should $65 million Wildwood Building Project divert $650,000 for art?

If the Amherst Arts Commission gets their way the two new building projects currently in the pipeline would be tapped 1% of their budget with that money redirected for public art.

We already know the cost of the new school -- $65 million -- so that comes to $650,000, and the Jones Library expansion renovation could easily be another $35 million total for another $350,000 to the fledgling art fund, or a cool million for both projects.

 What else could Jones Library buy with $350,000?

Of course you have to wonder what the state, who is reimbursing about half the cost for both projects, is going to think about 1% of their money being used for "art." 

The Select Board will decided Monday night whether to sponsor the 1% for art warrant article and it only requires a simple majority vote.

But anyone can get anything on the warrant with just ten signatures, so even if the Select Board refuses to endorse it safe bet it will still make the warrant for upcoming Town Meeting.

Fire In The Sky!

The Evergreens is owned by Amherst College and is part of the Dickinson Museum Complex

 

While in overly educated Amherst you don’t really have to worry about “some stupid with a flare gun” burning an important building to the ground, fire is by its very nature a devastating creature born of surprise:

A pot left unattended on a stove, a cigarette disposed of in the wrong way or the spark from a plumber’s torch, and before you know it the ravenous beast is in full feeding frenzy. 

 First Congregational Church is located in the Dickinson Historic District

Yes AFD Central Station is less than a mile away from either The Evergreens or the First Congregational Church, but these days chances are the first engine on the scene of a box alarm may not have enough staff aboard to actually start fighting the fire.

So in mere minutes hundreds of years of history could be lost ... forever.

The Community Preservation Act Committee heard both fires suppression proposals last Tuesday night -- a $358,000 request from the First Congregational Church and $200,000 for The Evergreens.  

Amherst College plans to match the CPA grant so that is why their request is comparatively low, although CPA Chair Mary Streeter wondered why the College was not paying more.

Another member pointed out the CPA Committee has less than $2 million to fund all the requests before them while Amherst College has $2 billion in its endowment. 

The First Congregational Church packed the meeting with supporters but the CPA Committee was not overly receptive, wondering why for instance the Amherst Historical Commission ranked their request last in a recent recommendation letter to them even after suggesting the amount be reduced to $200,000 for "parity" with The Evergreens request.

Church supporters point out that in addtion to the "dramatic gothic presense" it provides the building is also used by Not Bread Alone,  Alcoholics Anonymous as well as the presence of a pre-school.  

 More than half the room cleared out after First Congregational Church hearing

And the Church is know for taking public stands on sometimes controversial social issues like gay rights, race issues or taking an anti-war stance.  A cowardly thief stole both their rainbow flag and an anti racism banner last summer demonstrating not everyone in Amherst is a tolerant progressive.

Some on the CPA Committee worry that by giving these two privately owned buildings expensive fire suppression systems it would open up the floodgates for others to apply.  And at the age of 257, Amherst has a bevy of historical buildings.  

 Henry Hills & Son matching mansions would probably love a new fire suppression system

The CPA Committee will make their final report to Town Meeting by the begining of March.  A positive recommendation is not 100% guarantee that an item will be funded,   but a negative recommendation is certain death.

Grace Church in town center.  Not asking for CPA money (yet)