At its meeting on Monday, December 11, the Amherst Town Council unanimously voted to approve the annual performance review of Town Manager Paul Bockelman and extended his contract to August 31, 2027. Town Council President Lynn Griesemer noted that “Paul is recognized across the Commonwealth as a strong and innovative leader,” and that he’s exceeded the Council’s expectations on 11 of 13 performance goals and made progress on the other two goals. 

At that same meeting, Griesemer and Bockelman delivered their annual State of the Town presentations highlighting the work and accomplishments of the Town over the last year. Bockelman’s address is printed below.

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Strength & Resilience

By Paul Bockelman

Last Saturday, we took a break from a busy shopping day – we just had to take advantage of all those deals that the Business Improvement District organized downtown! We were getting a boost at Amherst Coffee. A friend was there with his very lively 3-year-old daughter. He grew up in Town, went to Amherst schools, went away to college, and is now back in the area raising his family.

Our conversation ranged from day care, to speed humps, to Friday night’s Merry Maple lighting, to the many resources the Town offers to families like his  – like the Eric Carle museum, Groff Park in the summer, the block party and Recreation activities – the Kendrick Park playground was a fan favorite. And, of course, the Library.

It made me think about the work we do…and why we do it. I believe our mission is to create a place where children can grow up with a true feeling of community, including being safe and engaged, where each is launched into an adulthood where they find a satisfying path in life, where values of equity and sustainability matter. It is important that our community commits to this vision we hold for all of our children, not just those born to advantages. We need to be purposeful about our actions. 

As Town officials, we hope the legacy we leave to those who follow us will be a more resilient and sustainable community, a place striving to be a more welcoming place, a community that embraces equity for all – and a place that has a new elementary school and library.

The State of the Town gives me the opportunity to reflect back over the past few years to recognize all that we have accomplished. We must talk about our accomplishments to remind ourselves that our actions have meaning. And we need to celebrate our progress to bolster our resiliency because things can take so darn long! 

Let’s look at a few of the recent things of which we can rightly be proud:

• The spray park at Groff Park 
• The Kendrick Park playground
• A newly repaved Northampton Road
• The North Amherst Library addition (thank you to the anonymous donor!)
• The Centennial Water Treatment facility
• The Dog Park
• The Pomeroy Village Roundabout 

What’s notable about all of these projects is that each was funded or is being funded in large part by grants, gifts, or a combination of the two.

“We are making our Town better and we are stretching the Town’s tax dollars at every opportunity.”

And, of course, our two major new projects – the school and the library – are being funded, in large measure, by grants from the Massachusetts School Building Authority and from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, along with significant other funds by the Library Trustees and others.

The message here: We are making our Town better and we are stretching the Town’s tax dollars at every opportunity.

Beyond building things, we are creating new Town services that reflect our values – our CRESS and DEI Departments and the commitment to Sustainability are just a couple of examples. More than symbolic, these departments are changing the way we conduct ourselves – and how we treat each other – and align our services with our values.

Last month, I provided the Council with a 35-page report [ Town Manager Self-Evaluation – 10-16-2023 ]  on the progress we – the Town staff and others – have made on the 65 goals the Council set last year. It’s long because it shows the true breadth and depth of work that we all do daily. I hope you are as proud of what we’ve done as I am.

Managing a complex, nearly $100 million organization does not come without its challenges. In a tumultuous labor market, we are managing the inevitable turnover of employees and staff changes at every level of our organization. Change is always hard, and this year has been especially difficult, but we will continue to move forward with all of our initiatives. We have solid systems in place that are resilient in the face of change. Our finances are strong because we have superb people doing the work, but it’s also because we have excellent systems. Our people – at the department and Finance levels – are very disciplined and professional at managing budgets. 

All the initiatives I mentioned – new parks, buildings, departments – are predicated on a strong financial foundation – strict budget management, the strategic building of reserves, smart debt management, and credible financial policies. These are the tools of success. We plan for challenges, of course, and it is inevitable that we will have to make hard choices as we go. 

“Our work is a team sport.
We have many partners in our efforts.”

As I have mentioned many times, our work is a team sport. We have many partners in our efforts. Our municipal staff, clearly, but also our partners at the Schools and Library. 

For its part, the Town Council established six broad goals for the Town Manager which I make sure migrate to the entire team. We have organized our work to meet the Council’s objectives. You will see that reflected in the budget I submit and the work we do during the year. These really set the tone for our community.

1. Climate Action

We are clicking on all cylinders in our race to do our part to address the climate emergency. Beyond the steps outlined in the Climate Action, Adaptation and Resiliency Plan (CAARP), our DPW and Conservation Departments are busy getting grants to address resiliency issues.

2. Community Health & Safety

I want to highlight my commitment to the CRESS Department and seeing it to its full service level. We have learned so much, just in this last year. A new department takes years to establish itself and its role in the community. I am committed to this initiative.

3. Economic Vitality

I must recognize the energy and tireless creativity of the leaders of the Business Improvement District and the Chamber. Working with Town staff, their vision and energy have truly changed the game in Amherst. 

I also want to express my appreciation to the University of Massachusetts for working to finalize the new Strategic Partnership Agreement. And I want to acknowledge the contribution Amherst College has made to the Library and so many other ways they have supported our community. These institutions truly are part of our community’s cultural richness and vitality. I’d say our relationships with all three institutions – all under relatively new leadership – have never been better. 

4. Housing Affordability

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention our nonprofit partners who we work so closely with – like Craig’s Doors, the Survival Center, Family Outreach, Wayfinders, Valley CDC. They are all involved in advancing the mission of meeting the housing and social service goals of the Town. Most recently there is the Ball Lane project, which is about creating home ownership and building equity for people who don’t have access now.

5. Racial Equity & Social Justice

We are so fortunate to have a highly experienced DEI Director to lead these efforts. She is wise, knowledgeable, and has a plan that will lead to change and success. And the work being done by Councilor Miller and the African Heritage Reparation Assembly, which was just recognized at a national conference – is groundbreaking. It’s exciting to be part of this work.

6. Major Capital Projects

As one of my colleagues in local government reminded me recently, it is the frustrations and setbacks that we typically remember. So, it is important to remind ourselves of the many accomplishments mentioned earlier, of which we can all rightly be proud.

And for those in the community who say we aren’t going far enough or fast enough, I challenge you to point to another community that is doing more; another community that is having these dynamic discussions and actually enacting change about race and climate; another town that is engaged in deep reflection about public engagement; other municipal staff who see their work for the Town as their mission, not just a job; another police department that serves the Town as well as ours does; another public school system where the students are as fully engaged and making us proud – and one where you would rather send your children. We aren’t perfect – I recognize that – but we are doing the work to make our community better. 

I am privileged to work with our incredible staff, and I ask you to remember them during this holiday season. And just say thanks. We are a 24/7, 365-days-a-year operation. We are always on and ready to serve. 

Police, Fire/EMS, and Dispatch are on duty at all times. Public Works provides service around the clock, ensuring our water is clean and drinkable, our wastewater is treated and removed, our roads are clear and navigable, and our parks are clean and available. And IT, Inspections, and Public Works staff are on-call at all times to address any needs that may arise, be it a road hazard or the website or communications systems experiencing problems. 

Finally, I appreciate the progressive, intelligent direction provided by the Town Council and, most directly, the leadership and guidance provided by Town Council President Lynn Griesemer. 

Amherst is an extraordinary community, with farmers living next to artists, groups like Ancestral Bridges and the Emily Dickinson Museum preserving our cultural history, while down the block you’ll find cutting edge scientists creating new paths for the future. And a little kid plays with her dad at Amherst Coffee.  

It’s a good town, and I thank you for the extraordinary opportunity to serve.

Paul Bockelman is the Town Manager of Amherst. He has served the Town in this role since 2016.