AMHERST — Almost a year after becoming Amherst’s sixth town manager, a performance review with strong marks in five evaluation categories was given to Paul Bockelman on Monday.
Before entering contract negotiations in an executive session that followed its meeting, the Select Board voted 3-0, with two members absent, to adopt the 10-page performance evaluation that describes areas in which Bockelman has excelled. Among those areas were increasing commercial property taxes, prioritizing road projects and communicating with the public.
The board found a handful of other areas that will require more attention, such as providing more updates on the strategic partnership with the University of Massachusetts.
The evaluation, written by Chairman Douglas Slaughter based on the scorecards from individual members, notes that Bockelman could not complete or address every issue confronting Amherst since assuming the position Aug. 22, 2016.
“A first evaluation is inherently an unusual one because during your first year you are building initial relationships with all five members of the Select Board, town staff and the community simultaneously,” Slaughter wrote.
Bockelman, who had been the director of administration and finance for the Massachusetts Municipal Association and chairman of the Somerville School Committee, thanked the board for the opportunity to work for Amherst.
“For me, it’s hit at the right time in my life,” said Bockelman, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Hampshire College.
In his current three-year contract, Bockelman is paid $155,000. If a new contract was struck Monday, terms are expected to be released Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Select Board is continuing to discuss goals for Bockelman’s second year on the job, many of which will remain in place, such as promoting green energy, communicating with the Select Board and building partnerships with the institutions of higher education.
One new goal will be to outline the necessary transitions for municipal government should a charter proposal from the Amherst Charter Commission be approved in March. That proposal calls for the elimination of Town Meeting and the Select Board and replace them with a town council and town manager.
Board member Alisa Brewer said another goal should be to have Bockelman study the issue of tax-exempt housing used by UMass graduate students and the impact of their children on the public schools.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
