Amherst council adds newcomer Kluttz to Planning Board

STAFF FILE PHOTOWEB ONLY

STAFF FILE PHOTOWEB ONLY STAFF FILE PHOTO

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Staff Writer

Published: 09-09-2024 10:44 AM

AMHERST — Over the objections of some Town Council members with concerns about the process leading to his appointment, a new member is joining Amherst’s Planning Board.

A divided Town Council confirmed Lawrence Kluttz of Dana Street on Aug. 19 to serve on the Planning Board through June 30, 2027, taking the position previously held by Janet McGowan.

While Kluttz was appointed in an 8-1 vote, four councilors abstained from the vote, with two of them explicitly stating they would not participate as a protest to how the process of filling the seat played out.

“I was appalled by the process that led to this, and I will be abstaining tonight on this particular motion,” said District 1 Councilor Cathy Schoen, who used her councilor privilege at July’s meeting to postpone the vote.

“I just think we need to be much more careful with our process,” Schoen said.

In July, the only other candidate, Melissa Farris of Lincoln Avenue, who was brought forward with a narrow 3-2 recommendation from the council’s Community Resources Committee, was rejected in a 6-5 Town Council vote.

Kluttz received affirmative votes from Council President Lynn Griesemer, District 2 Councilor Pat De Angelis, District 3 Councilors George Ryan and Hala Lord, District 5 Councilors Bob Hegner and Ana Devlin Gauthier and At Large Councilors Mandi Jo Hanneke and Andy Steinberg. The only no vote came from District 4 Councilor Pam Rooney, while those joining Schoen in abstaining were District 1 Councilor Ndifreke Ette, District 4 Councilor Jennifer Taub and At Large Councilor Ellisha Walker.

De Angelis said she appreciated Kluttz’s responses during the committee interviews, including his promotion of sustainable development practices, his support for affordable housing options, and his endorsement of initiatives related to cultural diversity and inclusion.

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Farris was nixed from serving on the Planning Board when Ryan said she might prioritize views of abutters when decisions are made by the Planning Board, and might bring a confrontational relationship with the University of Massachusetts as the town embarks on discussions surrounding housing and development.

Ryan also pointed to a letter she sent to the Town Council on Feb. 20, 2023 in which she told councilors that Planning Board Chairman Doug Marshall has potential conflicts between his professional work as a planner at UMass and his service to town, writing that such conflict is “self-evident.”

Schoen said she reread Farris’ application and watched the recording of the committee meeting, and found nothing troubling about her presentation.

“I was really shocked at an attack that seemed to be fairly well orchestrated,” Schoen said, further implying that Kluttz was recruited by Ryan, who lives next door on Dana Street, and that Ryan initiated the effort to reject Farris.

Ryan confirmed that he did reach out to Kluttz, as a new resident of Amherst who had moved to town from Durham, North Carolina, and encouraged him to get involved in town affairs.

Taub also abstained from backing Kluttz, explaining that she didn’t want to cast a no vote on someone qualified to serve, but noted she was frustrated by the council’s rejection of Farris.

“I’m particularly concerned because this has come up before, that we would hold somebody’s prior public comment — that they offered public comment as an abutter,” Taub said.

While he supported Kluttz, Steinberg said he would like to see a reexamination of the process about how committee interviews are done.

“This is the second time where the council ended up having substantial discussion that was really a new discussion at the council and not a continuation of a discussion that apparently happened at the interview process,” Steinberg said.

Rooney, who chairs the Community Resources Committee, said both candidates were essentially equal.

“I think what was never discussed was the fact that, in my perspective, the skills that Melissa Farris brought to the table were that she spoke well about her ability to read site plans, to read architectural drawings, and that she uses that skill regularly in support of her husband’s work,” Rooney said.

Rooney added that Farris would also bring gender balance to the Planning Board, which now has five men and two women. But when Rooney attempted to elaborate on the qualities Farris would bring, a point of order was called by Hanneke.

“The motion on the floor is not about Melissa Farris, and that motion was defeated a month ago,” Hanneke said.

Griesemer agreed with her point of order. “Anything else you would like to say, Pam?” Griesemer asked.

“No, I’ve been cut off sufficiently, thank you,” Rooney responded.