On Tuesday, Amherst voters decided to create a Charter Commission and elected nine commissioners. Virtually all discussion had been about whether to continue with a Representative Town Meeting as the legislative body of Amherst government.
This is of course important. There is another decision facing the new Charter Commission that is equally significant. Amherst has been well-served by a professional town manager. The Charter Commission should consider how Amherst benefits from a professional manager, whether it continues to have a Representative Town Meeting and Select Board, or adopts some variety of a council and possibly a mayor. Nationally, more cities have a council and city manager form of government than have a council with a mayor serving as the chief administrative officer.
Amherst has only had five town managers since 1951. This has provided stability, continuity and professionalism in town management as we have elected Representative Town Meetings to establish policy and Select Boards to hire and supervise management and to make critical decisions that must be made by elected officials.
We only need to consider what John Musante accomplished during the last year before his death in September to appreciate the value of a professional manager. Some of these projects were completed by Dave Ziomek as interim manager.
• After Musante’s research and analysis, Town Meeting asked our state Legislature to enact an innovative tax incentive for affordable housing. This imaginative Home Rule petition was passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Baker in November.
• Amherst completed a second successful year of a ground-breaking Residential Rental Property Permitting Program that has achieved 100 percent compliance from landlords, and has resulted in health and safety improvements in rental housing units.
• The University of Massachusetts chancellor and town manager launched the University/Town of Amherst Collaborative (UTAC) to enable the two to work together to create a better community for all.
• Amherst’s vision for a Green Community resulted in contracts for the development of solar arrays at both the old and new landfills, a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with the developer building Hampshire College’s new solar array, and town acquisition of two electric vehicles.
• Musante worked with community advocates and Town part-time staff to create a new benefits policy for part-time workers.
• Musante envisioned the need for an economic development director, advocated for the funding, and started the process that was completed with the hiring of Geoff Kravitz.
• PVTA bus service was modified and enhanced. The cost to the town was reduced and ridership increased. Service to North Amherst was improved, providing a regular stop at the Survival Center.
• The town and the Hilltown Community Health Center are moving forward with the creation of the John P. Musante Health Center in the Bangs Community Center, a medical/dental clinic that will provide much needed affordable health services to Amherst.
• Amherst’s reputation as a well-run town has made us an employer of choice and allowed us to have highly qualified professionals in key positions.
The goals to develop our downtown and village centers and preserve our neighborhoods are from our community-driven Master Plan. Select Boards and Representative Town Meeting have recognized that appropriate economic development is essential to the town’s financial stability so that it can provide the services our residents expect. The need for a close relationship with the university and colleges is a recognized community need. These visions guided our professional managers. Their expertise, education, and professionalism brought us the results we sought.
Both cities and towns in Massachusetts benefit from professional managers. The new Charter Commission should look closely at the value of professional municipal management, starting with our experience in Amherst since 1951.
Andy Steinberg is a member of the Select Board but this column represents his personal views.