Coming Full Circle

Paul Bockelman Mass Municipal Association Director of Finance

For Paul Bockelman winning the position of Amherst Town Manager would be something of a coming home, having spent four formative years here in the free wheeling 1970s as a student at Hampshire College.

But our downtown was a lot different back then.  Faces of Earth shortened their name to Faces and moved to Northampton, our hardware and grocery stores are long gone and book & music stores are no longer as ubiquitous as spring dandelions.

There's no doubt, however, his MMA background provides the financial and business savvy to be a strong ally of the downtown revitalization movement.

Although wading into the rough and tumble Amherst town politics, a little Mixed Martial Arts training probably wouldn't hurt.

And his experience as a long time School Committee member would come in handy dealing with our Elementary and Regional School budgets that consume the lion's share of town spending every year.

All in all a pretty complete package.

Full formal interview

When asked about diversity Bockelman replied, "Think about who is not in the room."

What's In A Name?

Mill River Recreation area 4/17/16

Well the pavilion rental form filled out by "Corey Smith" is not overly helpful identifying the large group of college aged youth responsible for the Mill River Recreation area debacle last week, where North Amherst neighbors continuously complained about blaring music, overflow parking, public alcohol consumption and a major mess left behind.

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Leisure Services & Supplemental Education Commission will be reviewing their pavilion rental program at a meeting tonight.

Requiring a damage deposit would be helpful. 

DUI Dishonor Roll

MADD: Over 50% of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license

The gorgeous spring weather last weekend led to the usual increase in party behavior around town -- particularly in North Amherst -- and even more unfortunate, an increase in impaired drivers on our roadways.

 Carl Howard, age 43, stands before Judge Estes

APD arrested two and UMPD arrested one.  All of them first time offenders and all of them took the telling legally admissible chemical breath test, and failed.

 Chandler Burnham, age 21, arraigned before Judge Estes

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Mothers Against Drunk Driving is pushing a proposal in Massachusetts that would require interlock devices on cars for first time offenders.  One way of helping ensure they don't become 2nd time offenders.

Or killers. 

Brian Bevilacqua, age 21.  All three had their cases continued to next month

Stuck In The Middle

Bill Fraser, City Manager Montpelier VT

In spite of pronouncing the h in Am_erst in his closing statement Town Manager finalist Bill Fraser, the 2nd of 3 candidates to be publicly interviewed by our Executive branch, put on a strong performance last night demonstrating an important understanding of how vital a vibrant downtown is to our little college town.

Plus he has experience with affordable housing, reusing a retired school building, and dealing with state government -- all of which would come in handy almost immediately.

Except his city manager contract with Montpelier, VT was renewed for a year and requires a three month notice to be released from it.

So the earliest he could start in Amherst would be August, still enough time to get a feel for the town before the floodgates reopen in September with the return of our #1 demographic, college aged youth.

With 30+ years experience in city government Mr. Fraser would be giving us the last -- and hopefully best -- years of his long career.  Whereas the previous candidate, Maria Capriola, is still in the ascending stage.

A tough choice.  And there's still one more candidate to go.

Full formal interview

Three Strikes

 Sean Young, 25, stands before Judge Thomas Estes (case continued to 5/4)

Amherst police arrested Sean Young, age 25, in the early Saturday morning hours for Disorderly Conduct, Assault & Battery on a police officer and Resisting Arrest.

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The police officer was coming to the aid of a woman Mr. Young was punching with a closed fist. 

Not cool dude.  Not cool at all.

Cable Contract Controversy

CAC this morning, Peter Hechenbleikner (right)

Actual sit down negotiations between the town and Comcast begin next week in a closed session that will involve two members of the Cable Advisory Committee, their attorney/consultant Peter Epstein and Temporary Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, who expects only two Comcast representatives to appear on the other side of the table.

The CAC is only advisory to the Select Board but they have been doing the heavy lifting for the past year on the ten year contract renewal worth around $6 million annually to Comcast and $300,000 (5%) to the town for Amherst Media.

The major sticking point is going to be the one time capital request for new equipment and infrastructure improvements. 

The CAC is requesting $2.2 million and Comcast already counter offered with $450,000 -- the same amount given ten years ago and succinctly described by CAC Chair Dee Shabazz as "insulting."

Northampton just announced the renewal of their contract with Comcast and the one time capital amount went from $400,000 ten years ago to $750,000 now.

A Woman's Touch

Maria Capriola (left) and Select Board Chair Alisa Brewer

UPDATE: 5/5/16:  Maria Capriola was appointed our new Town Manager

Town Manager finalist Maria Capriola will be a hard act to follow over the next two days by the other two male counterparts -- Bill Fraser, Paul Bockelman -- and it has nothing to do with gender.

She came off as friendly but firm, bright -- but not in an overly academic sort of way -- poised and articulate. Most surprising, however, was how experienced she is at the tender age of 36.

Amherst is already used to females in a leadership roll, from the current ultra organized Select Board Chair Alisa Brewer to previous superstar, and probably someday  mayoral contender, Stephanie O'Keeffe.

Even going back to the nightmare years circa early/mid 2000s, then Chair Anne Awad ruled with an iron hand.

The main advantage Ms. Capriola has is her experience in Mansfield CT, a "college town," where the property tax base shifted from 90/10 residential/commercial to 75/25 with the construction of a downtown literally from the ground up.

Amherst's current taxbase is 90% residential, and badly in need of commercial development.

Full formal interview