Amherst Committee Debates Authority Over Traffic and Parking Decisions Amid Community Concerns

Overview: The Amherst Town Services and Outreach Committee meeting on May 1, 2025, held discussions surrounding the authority and responsibilities of the Transportation and Parking Commission (TPC) and the role of the council in traffic and parking decisions. Committee members deliberated on various proposals which could lead to changes in how decisions about public ways and traffic measures are made.

Amherst Board of Health Approves Geothermal Well Project Amid Concerns Over Puffer Pond Contamination

Overview: In a recent meeting, the Amherst Board of Health addressed several issues, with the approval of a geothermal well project and discussions on Puffer Pond contamination taking center stage. The board unanimously approved the Fort River geothermal well application, which involves 84 boreholes for a town project. They also expressed concerns about the potential closure of Puffer Pond due to water contamination, linked to aging septic systems, and discussed the public health impact of such a closure.

Amherst Town Council Faces Community Outcry Over Jones Library Project Transparency

Overview: The Amherst Town Council meeting held on April 28, 2025, was marked by community feedback centered around the contentious Jones Library demolition and expansion project. Residents expressed deep concerns over transparency and decision-making processes, with allegations of withheld information and demands for accountability among council members and the town manager. Additionally, the council addressed various governance topics, including the Amherst Pelham Regional School debt authorization and the establishment of a Black Reparations Committee, while also contemplating the creation of a fiscal sustainability task force.

Amherst Town Council Grapples with Survey Platform Choice and Public Listening Sessions

Overview: During a recent Amherst Town Council meeting, members debated the format of a forthcoming survey and the structure of public listening sessions as part of the ongoing charter review process. The council reached a consensus to adopt Google Forms for the survey, favoring its familiarity and ease of use over the alternative platform, Air Table. Concurrently, the council planned a series of listening sessions to gather community input, with discussions centering on whether these sessions should be open-ended or theme-based.

Amherst Planning Board Considers War Memorial Playground and Budget Concerns Amidst Broader Capital Project Discussions

Overview: In a recent meeting, the Amherst Planning Board deliberated on several issues, including the potential deletion of the War Memorial Playground project, financial software purchases, and the planning process for various capital initiatives.