By Allison McDonald

A report on the regular meetings of the Amherst Town Council on Monday, September 28 and Monday, October 5.

September 28, 2026

University of Massachusetts partnership agreement. With the current agreement due to expire in June 2027, the council discussed priorities for upcoming negotiations. Councilors called for stronger contributions to public schools, public safety and CRESS, road maintenance, rental inspections, and neighborhood services. Councilors also raised UMass’s campus housing and private development projects, the possibility of tax contributions from commercial activity on campus, and the need for clearer reporting on advocacy and commitments. Councilors Jill Brevik, Jennifer Taub, Amber Cano Martin, and others emphasized schools and roads; Councilor Pam Rooney highlighted rental inspections and neighborhood impacts; Councilor Andy Churchill raised opportunities for housing UMass faculty, staff, and students. Town Manager Paul Bockelman said negotiations were expected to begin in November or December. 

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The council voted unanimously to refer proposed zoning amendments about ADU floor-area calculations, stories, and definitions to the Planning Board and Community Resources Committee for hearings and review. Planning and Economic Development Director Jeff Bagg said the changes were intended to clarify how the town counts floor area, including attic space, and align local language more closely with state requirements. Councilors also raised questions about notice to neighbors, setbacks, and how the proposed definitions might affect other buildings.  

East Amherst historic district. The council voted 11–1 to refer the proposed local historic district to the Community Resources Committee and the Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee. Planner Walker Powell and commission member Elizabeth Sharp described the proposal as protection for historically significant properties, while noting that the commission’s review generally concerns visible alterations. Councilors raised questions about the proposed boundaries, property counts, and the burden on owners; Councilor George Ryan said he wanted to examine whether the proposal would effectively preserve buildings and whether financial incentives could help. 

The meeting also included council business and reports: Lynn Griesemer was appointed to the Budget Coordinating Group; councilors discussed the timing of library fundraising payments and the size and cost of the proposed DPW facility. 

October 5, 2026

Long-term financial outlook. Bagg and Finance Director Sean Mangano and Planning presented a broad overview of Amherst’s budget pressures and possible strategies. Mangano estimated that revenues might grow about 3–4% annually, while expenses could grow 4–5%; he said a one-percentage-point gap represented roughly $1 million. He cited health insurance, wages, energy, capital needs, and limited new growth among the pressures, and noted the town’s reliance on property taxes and the amount of tax-exempt land. He stressed that the presentation was a starting point for discussion, not a set of adopted recommendations.

Bagg and Mangano presented multiple strategies to consider to address the structural mismatch. Bagg outlined development-related ideas, including expediting completion of zoning work already underway, making approval processes more efficient, considering flexible zoning at Hampshire College, and developing an economic-development plan. Mangano raised possibilities such as advocating for changes to state payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT), considering regionalizing Amherst and Pelham elementary schools, reviewing services and benefits, and evaluating a Proposition 2½ override. On the spending side, he discussed sharing services, working with unions on financial sustainability, and reviewing town programs and facilities. 

In questions, councilors probed the potential transportation reimbursement from regionalization of elementary schools, PILOT calculations, the override process, solar investments, and capital-project costs. No financial strategy was adopted at this meeting. 

Regional school agreement and other business. The Regional School Committee is beginning a process for revising the regional district agreement and requested input from each of the four member towns about forming a committee to review the agreement and make recommendations on revising it. Council President Mandi Jo Hanneke opened the Council discussion about providing input on the possible scope, size, and membership of a regional school agreement review committee; she said the council was not voting on recommendations. Lynn Griesemer and Sam McLeod argued that Amherst should have representation reflecting its size relative to the other member towns and the town’s municipal interests. Jennifer Taub raised the value of alternates and parent participation. Hanneke favored a committee small enough to work effectively, with at least two Amherst councilors, and said finance officials should be consulted on assessment issues. 

The council also discussed the proposed town manager evaluation timeline. Hanneke suggested publishing evaluation materials in advance so councilors could review them before discussion; Griesemer raised concerns about public comments on individual evaluations, while George Ryan supported giving councilors more time to read. In his report, Town Manager Paul Bockelman updated the council on Hampshire College listening sessions, recreation discussions, the Wildwood site, and waste-hauler planning. The consent agenda, which passed, included referral of proposed data-center zoning amendments and approval of committee appointments and the September 28 minutes.  

The next meeting of the Town Council is scheduled for Monday, October 19.

An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this article by summarizing a recording of the meetings which was reviewed and adapted by the writer.