AMHERST — Arriving at Town Hall early Monday morning for his first day on the job as Amherst’s sixth permanent town manager, Paul Bockelman discovered the doors to the Boltwood Avenue building locked.
Not yet in possession of a key for Town Hall, Bockelman waited for another municipal employee to arrive to let him in.
When he finally made it to his office on the third floor, a vase filled with a bouquet of flowers placed on the conference table greeted him.
Such a gift, demonstrating the welcoming attitude of Town Hall staff and municipal volunteers, he said, is precisely what drew him to seek the job in Amherst. The change brought an end to his 12-year tenure as director of administration and finance for the Massachusetts Municipal Association and decade-long service as an elected member of the Somerville School Committee.
“What was important was to have a high-quality, professional workforce committed to public service,” Bockelman said. “The challenge is to maintain, cultivate and develop, and attract strong people to the town. One of the most important things is having quality people in key jobs.”
On his first day, being introduced to Town Hall employees and supervisors for the Department of Public Works, Bockelman said he has already met people passionate about public service, and who have built closer bonds with each other since the unexpected death of Town Manager John Musante last September.
After 11 months of having interim and temporary town managers, and seeing the departure of Finance Director Sanford “Sandy” Pooler in January, Bockelman said, employees have rallied, often doing work outside their comfort zones.
Even before officially starting, Bockelman visited Amherst several times, meeting with people at local coffee shops; attending a weekly gathering of the Amherst Club; going to a charter commission meeting in which Peter Hechenbleikner, interim town manager for six months, and retired Town Manager Barry Del Castilho provided insights into Amherst town government; and sitting in on a packed forum on how the community can address homelessness.
It was that evening focused on helping homeless individuals that demonstrated how much Amherst people care.
“The thing that’s impressed me is a lot of very smart and engaged people in town government who have thought about a lot of these things deeply,” Bockelman said.
He also likes seeing the town work on other issues constructively, whether ensuring there is affordable housing or promoting social and racial justice. He said that everyone has a stake, or “an oar in the water,” to move Amherst in the right direction, and that town government, and the town manager, can play a role in these outcomes.
After signing a contract with Amherst in June, Bockelman met regularly with Hechenbleikner in Boston throughout the summer to become familiar with what was happening in town. The most immediate issue Bockelman faces is the mandatory water ban implemented by Assistant Town Manager Ziomek last week as a means of ensuring Amherst has sufficient water for when the college students return in September.
“The priority right now is to make sure we have water to supply the institutions and the residents of the community,” Bockelman said. “That is something to be managed and communicated with people.”
Another concern is to reach a satisfactory 10-year contract with Comcast, which is a high priority because of the timeline to get a deal in place. The contract, which expires in October, needs to be renewed by Sept. 26.
Bockelman also anticipates working with the Select Board on scheduling spending on a series of capital projects, including the renovation and expansion of Wildwood School, which would become the site of two 375-student elementary schools; renovation and expansion of the Jones Library; and a new Department of Public Works headquarters and fire station for South Amherst.
As a Hampshire College graduate, Bockelman is familiar with the town, and found a home on North East Street, about a mile from Town Hall, that he began renting Aug. 1.
Walking the streets, Amherst seems similar to what he remembers.
“Physically, some of it’s changed, but what’s more remarkable is what hasn’t changed,” Bockelman said.
He points to the streetscapes that still provide a sense that Amherst is a rural town, a testament to leaders paying attention to vistas and ensuring agricultural land is protected and other areas are conserved.
And while some of the stores he once shopped at are no longer in Amherst, such as Faces of Earth and the Mercantile, Amherst’s downtown has become more entertainment based, with Amherst Cinema and restaurants joining long-standing shops like Hastings.
For those who interact with Town Hall, having a permanent town manager again is vital to Amherst’s success.
Mindy Domb, executive director of the Amherst Survival Center, said that even before he began his tenure, Bockelman made a point of visiting the North Amherst site to see firsthand the work done there, including the daily meals served and the food pantry where people can pick up groceries.
“I think it’s always important to have someone permanently in position who’s looking at the big picture and details as they relate to social services,” Domb said.
Domb said she appreciated that Musante championed the needs of low-income people and is confident the new town manager will, as well.
“I’m looking forward to having that advocacy, and I think Mr. Bockelman will bring that,” Domb said.
She also praised Ziomek and Hechenbleikner for their “terrific” work since last September.
Tony Maroulis, director of external relations at the University of Massachusetts, said he is excited Amherst has a new town manager and looks forward to a good, productive relationship with Bockelman. Maroulis added that the town-gown relationship remained strong throughout the tenures of Ziomek and Hechenbleikner.
“When Town Hall is fully staffed, it can get a lot more done for the community,” Maroulis said. “Having Paul around is integral for that happening”
Sarah la Cour, executive director of the Amherst Business Improvement District, said that Ziomek stepped up in the days and weeks following Musante’s tragic death and helped Amherst toward recovery. Hechenbleikner continued this good work, she said.
Now, with Bockelman, Amherst can again have leadership on issues, from zoning that promotes sustainable economic development to discussing the continuing moratorium on natural gas connections imposed by Berkshire Gas, la Cour said.
“With Paul coming on board permanently, there’s somebody in charge for the long term who can help us with a vision, helping formulate an economic development strategy, and not just the day-to-day operations,” la Cour said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
