AMHERST — With a new town government in place in Amherst comes a new process for unveiling a town budget for fiscal 2020.
Though Town Manager Paul Bockelman will not release his budget plan until May 1, the Town Council is holding a public forum on the proposed town budget March 7, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Amherst Regional Middle School auditorium.
Town Council President Lynn Griesemer said at least half the evening will be dedicated to public comment.
The session will begin with a brief presentation on the town’s financial status, Bockelman said, before a discussion of pre-budget decision-making. The hope is to get feedback about what should be included in the operating budgets for town departments, he said.
While in the past town managers had to unveil a budget plan on or before Jan. 16, the new town charter calls for releasing the budget at a much later date. A public hearing on the budget Bockelman submits will be held sometime in May.
Meantime, for annual capital needs, the town is continuing a process that began last year in which the public can submit ideas for projects. These should be turned in no later than March 15.
“The concept is town officials don’t have a monopoly on good ideas,” Bockelman said.
A capital improvement is defined as a tangible asset or project with a cost of $10,000 or more and a useful life of 10 or more years.
The Joint Capital Planning Committee will review all projects, including buildings, roadwork and vehicles, including both those from the public as well as from town, school and library officials.
Capital request forms are available on the town’s website at www.amherstma.gov/jcpc
Dorothy Pam and George Ryan, the councilors who represent District 3, are holding a community meeting Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Woodbury Room at the Jones Library.
All residents who live in Precincts 4 and 10 are welcome to attend the meeting, which is being titled “Focus on Strong Neighborhoods.”
For more information, send email to Pam at pamD@amherstma.gov or Ryan at ryanG@amherstma.gov
Fire Capt. William Dunn, part of the Amherst Fire Department for 31 years, recently retired.
Fire Chief Walter “Tim” Nelson said Dunn helped build up the department and maintain traditions as one of the eight captains.
“A good career, a hard worker and just a really good guy” is how Nelson describes Dunn.
A promotional process will be getting underway to fill Dunn’s position.
Ingrid Bracey, director of the University Without Walls at the University of Massachusetts for the past decade, recently retired after 32 years with the program.
Bracey is succeeded by Abigail Dallmann and Lisa Modenos, who have been appointed interim co-directors.
The Hitchcock Center for the Environment and designLAB Architects recently received the Boston Society of Architects’ 2018 Honor Award for Sustainable Design.
The society’s jury selected the Hitchcock Center, located at 845 West St., in part because of its continued purpose of educating visitors and its competition in the Living Building Challenge, in which the building produces its own energy and processes all waste on site.
“Hitchcock Center for the Environment is a strong example of architecture’s power to educate,” the society noted. “This center doesn’t merely talk the talk by housing an environmental educational program; it walks the walk.
Jake Meginsky, professor of Sound Design at Amherst College, will speak about his film “Milford Graves” Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Amherst Woman’s Club, 35 Triangle St.
The film is the first ever feature-length portrait of Graves, a percussionist and polymath.
The event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served.
MONDAY: Amherst School Committee, 6 p.m., high school library; Town Council, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
TUESDAY: Rules of Procedure Committee, 5:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
WEDNESDAY: Historical Commission, 6 p.m., Conservation and Development library, Town Hall; Planning Board, 7:10 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
THURSDAY: Kanegasaki Sister City Committee, 4 p.m., Garrabrants Conference Room, Bangs Community Center; Town Council budget forum, 6:30 p.m., middle school auditorium.
