PAMOGRAM APRIL 17, 2022
Dorothy Pam, Town Councilor, District 3
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DISTRICT 3 COMMUNITY MEETING
SUNDAY APRIL 24
2:00—4:30
WOODBURY ROOM, JONES LIBRARY
JOIN TOWN COUNCILORS DOROTHY PAM AND JENNIFER TAUB TO WELCOME OUR GUEST SPEAKER
EARL MILLER, the new Director of CRESS
Community Responders for Equity, Safety, and Service
Director Miller wants to share his ideas and hear from you about yours
Come early (1:45) and socialize; Refreshments will be served
The Woodbury Room is on the lower level, so we can keep the outside door open for added ventilation.
AGENDA
1. Welcome from your Town Councilors, Dorothy Pam and Jennifer Taub. Brief update of activities since the last District meeting.
2. Introduction of guest speaker, Mr. Earl Miller, Director, Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Services (CRESS)
3. Introduction of At-Large Councilors, Mandi Jo Haneke, Andy Steinberg, and Elisha Walker
4. Highlights of Proposed Fiscal Year 2023 Budget – Councilor Andy Steinberg, Finance Committee Chair
5. Council Updates – Dorothy Pam and Jennifer Taub
6. What’s on Your Mind? Constituent Questions and Comments
Upcoming Office Hours at the Jones Library, the Amherst Room, 2nd floor. Tea, cookies, and conversation. Come visit– Just drop in or let me know you are coming; Email me at pamD@amherstma.gov First Wednesdays 12:30—2:00 Dorothy; Second Saturdays 10:00—12:00 Joint hours with Councilor Jennifer Taub
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“CHARISMATIC MAGNA FLORA” IS REPRIEVED
Saved by popular request, the grand old maple will continue to stand at the corner of Fearing Street and Sunset Avenue.
Strong letters and physical support by many members of Precinct 10 (especially Paige
Wilder) convinced the majority of the Public Street Tree Committee, the Tree Warden Alan Snow, the Town Manager, and the developer of the future townhouses on Sunset Avenue and Fearing Street, Barry Roberts, to allow this tree a chance to live out its natural life—however long that may be. This tree will stand marking the gateway of our strong residential neighborhood. We can do great things when we work together!
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AMITY STREET SIDEWALK BEING REPAIRED
The Amherst Department of Public Works and Taylor Davis Construction are now hard at work rebuilding accessible ramps at road crossings and removing and replacing new sidewalks on both sides of Amity Street between South Prospect Street and Lincoln Avenue. Good things seem to take a long time. My “maiden” speech at Town Council in 2018 was about a dangerous sidewalk section on Amity Street. Only four years of nudging as a Town Councilor and the help of serious walkers in the district later, and the Town of Amherst is undertaking this major renovation. For more information about traffic flow and parking, call Amherst Department of Public Works, 413 259-3050.
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State Road Project on Northampton Road (Route 9) Begins. This is a huge project that will take several years to complete; it includes widening the road, moving poles, replacing sidewalks and replacing aged water, sewer, and wastewater pipes. There will be a major impact on traffic patterns for the near future because some pipes must go down the middle of the road. The State is paying for most of the work, but the Town of Amherst is paying for replacing the aged cast iron water pipes. When the work is done, many residents will notice an improvement in taste of water year-round. When Northampton Road has to be closed for traffic, it will be rerouted to Amity Street which will be one way going east, or up the hill. The work will continue through the summer and fall until the asphalt plants close for cold weather.
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Important meetings and fun events
**The Town Services and Outreach Committee (TSO) will meet on Thursday April 21st at 6:30. On the agenda is an interesting presentation by the Department of Public Works (DPW) giving an overview of how they assess roads and sidewalks by Superintendent Guilford Mooring and Town Engineer Jason Skeels. Following that, the TSO committee will continue its discussion of the proposed changes in rental registration regulations and bylaw.
Future meetings
**May 5th at 6:30 TSO will hold a Public Hearing on Kendrick Park and issues related to the public way; Continue discussion of proposed changes in the water and sewer bylaws and regulations.
**May 19th at 6:30 TSO will have a presentation and update from the 3 CPO’s (Community Participation Officers) Brianna Sunryd, Jennifer Moyston, and Angela Mills on Community Outreach. The committee will also discuss issues relating to the Senior Center and Senior Services. In addition, there will be a discussion of the role of TAC (Transportation Advisory Council).
**The Finance Committee will hold a Public Hearing on the Regional School Budget as part of the Town Council agenda at 5:30 Monday April 25th. On May 2nd the Town Council will vote on the Regional School Budget. At that meeting, the Town Manager will present his budget which will include all municipal functions, including the elementary schools and library budget, to be voted on by June 30th at the latest. https://amherstma.zoom.us/j/81102672657#success.
**Community Clean-Up Day from 10:00 am –12:00 Saturday April 30th
District 3 will have a number of teams working in the area. The Jones Library will be our center to pick up bags and supplies. Please contact me or Jennifer if you want to lead a clean-up on your street (pamD@amhersgtma.gov, taubJ@amherstma.gov). Or you can enroll directly through the Town web page. Learn more at www.engageamherst.org/cleanup2022.
**Followed by a Community Celebration: Spring into Amherst, 1:00—5:00. Everyone is invited to a BID sponsored party on the Amherst Town Common featuring live music, local beer & wine, games, magic shows, horse rides, prizes, and more.
**Jones Library Open House Event May 1, 12:00—2:00. The Jones Library’s first Community Outreach Event for the Renovated and Expanded Building project which will have new teen space. The Outreach Committee wants to hear from teens and their families about what this space (and all spaces in the Library) should contain, look like and offer to our youth (and community).Click here to view multilingual flyers about this event.
**2022 Healthy Living Community Festival Saturday May 7th, 12:00—5:00 AT 95 Montague Street, Mill River Recreation Park
Join the Julius Ford Harriet Tubman Healthy Living Community in Partnership with the Amherst Human Rights Commission for a day of music, food, games, basketball tournament, and community. For additional information please contact the Human Rights Commission
at 413-259-3009 or by email at humanrights@amherstma.gov
**Hitchcock Center Celebration of Community and Biodiversity During May. Do your own nature hunt to identify flora and fauna in your neighborhood with Flora and Fauna Fanny Pack available with registration or join groups at the Hitchcock Center for interactive fundraising event for the Hitchcock Center. For more information visit https://hitchcockcenterfortheenvironment.salsalabs.org/FloraandFaunathon/index.html
**Jones Library 5-week Stolen Beam Series: A Study in Reparations
Tuesdays in May, 7:00—8:30, Woodbury Room. A program of study and reflection on writings of prominent thought leaders on the topic of reparations for African Americans as a path to restorative justice. The series was developed by members of the Reparations committee at the Jewish Community of Amherst https://www.joneslibrary.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=11165
Register at following link. https://forms.gle/vMW121kiyVoDZCMC6
**Amherst Senior Center Open House at the Bangs Center
Wednesday May 11th from 1:00—3:00
Hayley Bolton, Senior Service’s Director, invites you to see what the Senior Center has to offer and to meet representatives from their partner agencies.
Meet with representatives from: Amherst Council on Aging, Friends of the Amherst Senior Center, Highland Valley Elder Services, Northwestern District Attorney’s Office and Consumer Protection Unit, RSVP Volunteers, Commonwealth Care Alliance, Amherst Neighbors, Amherst Survival Center, Musante Center, Food Bank of Western Mass, Elder Law Attorney Michael Hooker, Amherst Fire Department, SHINE Counselors, Amherst Police Department, Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service (CRESS), Veteran’s Services, Applewood, Christopher Heights, and Reiki Master, Bob Nelson.
Refreshments, live jazz trio by Nico & Friends. RSVP BY MAY 4TH if possible. Call (413) 259-3060 70 Boltwood Walk
Looking forward to seeing you at the District 3 meeting this Sunday!
Dorothy S. Pam
