AMHERST — Amherst’s leaders in the late 19th century determined that a new Town Hall should be built to serve the needs of the community, both at that time and for future generations.
Speaking from the Town Room in the 1889 building Monday evening as part of the State of the Town event, held in person for the first time since the inaugural event in 2019, Town Manager Paul Bockelman said the long ago municipal project can show residents of today the kind of optimism, and fortitude and confidence in the face of criticism, needed to move building projects forward, including an expanded and renovated Jones Library and a new elementary school.
“It’s no secret that it’s hard to get things done in local government,” Bockelman said. “It’s government closest to the people. We all have opinions and we all care.”
Bockelman said many years of effort can be taken to advance a project, something that is not unique to Amherst, though the town’s extended discussions on the merits of proposals may be more in-depth than in many communities.
“In a town where only the ‘h’ is silent, it takes debate on nearly every issue to a new level, and we see it play out in council meetings weekly, it seems,” Bockelman said.
But for those who contend that Amherst is not going far enough or fast enough on both building projects and other initiatives, Bockelman disputes that.
“I challenge you to point to another community that is doing more, another community that is having these dynamic discussions about race and climate, another group that is having deep discussions about community engagement,” Bockelman said.
He said he expects that soon solid steps will be taken on both locating a property for a new Department of Public Works and figuring out where a new fire station should go in South Amherst.
“The state of the town is strong, and resilient,” Bockelman said, observing that many projects have come to fruition, including the opening of the dog park over the summer and the completing of the solar arrays on the landfill this fall. The addition to the North Amherst Library is underway, and two new departments, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Communuity Responders for Equity, Safety and Service, have been created.
The State of the Town included a presentation by District 1 Councilor Cathy Schoen, who chairs the Elementary School Building Committee. She spoke a bit about that project, sharing a virtual preview of the proposed new elementary school.
Schoen said the school design will provide ample space for outdoor learning and flexible internal space for teachers and students, and meet climate goals for the town.
“This will be Amherst’s first net zero public building, an exciting milestone,” Schoen said. “The building will provide an opportunity for our children to learn and participate in climate action.”
Like Bockelman, Council President Lynn Griesemer gave her fourth State of the Town address, expressing appreciation for the town manager and town staff, and for public safety and public works employees that keep the town moving
“Because of the town manager and staff, we are ahead of the curve,” Griesemer said.
She also asked that residents offer some token of gratitude to the elected officials. “At some point let your councilor know you appreciate them in the same way you let them know about issues that are important to you,” Griesemer said.
Griesemer said accomplishments have included a range of topics, from climate action to economic vitality, but she said councilors need to find ways to shorten their meetings and improve transparency and engagement.
Also speaking was School Committee Chairwoman Allison McDonald and Library Director Sharon Sharry, who thanked her staff.
“Providing library services during the pandemic has been very difficult, both emotionally and physically, but no matter how challenging the days became, the staff never gave up,” Sharry said.
The evening began with the ceremonial swearing in by Town Clerk Susan Audette of firefighter/ paramedics, including Audrey Bulger, Cassandra Cote and Alex Gicewicz, police officers Genesis Saenz, Joshua Santos and Dylan Tucci and CRESS responder Tia Atwell and the introduction of Melissa Loiodice-Walker, the town’s new human resources director.
