Amherst Center Recreation Working Group Public Forum on February 28 at 7pm

town announcement ...

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Town Room

4 Boltwood Avenue

7:00 PM

The Amherst Center Recreation Working Group welcomes your participation in a public meeting to discuss the current condition and possible future improvements to our core recreational fields and facilities.

The Town has hired the firm of Weston and Sampson to complete a Master Plan to help guide capital planning. Weston and Sampson will share their assessment of the fields used for football, baseball, ultimate, field hockey, softball, lacrosse, and other sports. The plan will address the War Memorial pool and playground area too. This work will also include an analysis of demand and use of fields and outline general standards and design considerations when updating recreation facilities.

The meeting is the first in a series of public discussions as we gather data and community input on these important recreational assets. The Master Plan for fields and facilities at Community Field, Amherst Regional High School, Middle School and Wildwood School to be discussed.

We encourage students, parents, coaches and representatives of Amherst sports teams and leagues to join us for this meeting.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event in Amherst on September 24

Registration from the Town of Amherst House Hazardous Waste Day is now open.  The event will be held on September 24, 2017 and is open to all Amherst, Hadley, Pelham and Shutesbury residents. Please click here to register or visit AmherstMA.gov for more details. Registration deadline is September 13.

Joint Statement from the Town Manager, Amherst Police Chief, and ARPS Interim Superintendent

Dear ARPS Community:
Please read the joint statement (available here) from Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman, Amherst Police Chief Scott Livingstone and me regarding our commitment to immigrant members of our community.
Michael Morris
Interim Superintendent of Schools

Estimada Comunidad de ARPS:
Por favor, lea la declaración conjunta (disponible aquí) de Paul Bockelman, Gerente Municipal de Amherst, Scott Livingstone, Jefe de Policía de Amherst, y de este servidor, sobre nuestro compromiso con los miembros inmigrantes de nuestra comunidad.
Michael Morris
Superintendente Interino de Escuelas

Voter Resources: Amherst Elementary School Building Project and Question 5

The PGO hosted Town Meeting Moderator Jim Pistrang last week for an informative conversation about Amherst's Representative Town Meeting. Mr. Pistrang also spoke at length about the role that Town Meeting plays in the Amherst Elementary School Building Project. Thanks to all who attended and to Mr. Pistrang for his excellent presentation!

The PGO has received many questions about Question 5. The Town of Amherst provides multiple voter resources on the Town's homepage; see below:

For information about this election and as well as results and related documents about prior elections:

https://www.amherstma.gov/650/Upcoming-and-Past-Election-Information

To see the official ballot (including all six questions):

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/36148

To see details about the Ballot Question (5) Committees:

BOLD: Building Opportunities for Learning and Diversity 

https://www.boldamherstschools.org/

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/35412

SASS: Save Amherst's Small Schools

https://saveamherstssmallschools.wordpress.com/

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/35699

All public documents submitted to the state as well as agendas and minutes from all Building Committee Meetings are available on the ARPS homepage (bottom right of page or see below on this page): www.arps.org

Amherst Elementary School Building Project's Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/Amherst-Elementary-School-Building-Project-968374979880827/?fref=ts

Amherst Elementary School Building Project's website hosted by NV5:

http://wildwood.projects.nv5.com/?doing_wp_cron=1463682371.9666869640350341796875

Amherst Elementary School Building Project's FAQ's:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By0mz4P0v3bWdnpkZ2FRa3l6M0k/view

Voting in Amherst

Early Voting has begun and in this historic election there are many first time voters in Amherst. Read on for the voting procedure courtesy of the Town of Amherst. The procedure for early voting may be slightly different.

Checking In

When you approach the check-in table, first tell the poll worker the name of the street where you live, then the number of your residence, and finally your name. The voter's list is arranged in street order, which assists in keeping your wait time to a minimum.

If you are disabled and need assistance, you may be accompanied by someone who can provide the needed assistance or request a poll worker to provide you with confidential, nonpartisan help.

If your name does not appear on the active list of voters:

The poll worker at the check in table will direct a voter whose name does not appear on the active voter list to the warden for further assistance. The voter may be in "Inactive Status" which will require the completing and signing of an Affidavit of Current and Continued Residency before being able to vote. The voter will also be required to show documentation that establishes their current and continued residency in the town of Amherst. The precinct warden may need to contact the Town Clerk to determine if you are registered in another precinct. If you are listed on another precinct’s list in the Town, you must go to that polling location.

If you are not on any voter list in the Town, but believe you have registered:

You may request a provisional ballot. The provisional ballot allows you to cast your votes, but they will not be counted until the municipal election official determines your eligibility. The municipal election official will review available records, at least those for the last 3 years, to determine eligibility. If eligibility is confirmed, the ballot will be removed from its sealed envelope and grouped with similar ballots and counted in a manner that provides the greatest secrecy. If eligibility cannot be confirmed, your ballot will remain sealed in the envelope until such time as it is required to be kept and then will be destroyed without being viewed.

After Receiving Your Ballot

Once you give your address and name at the check-in table, you will receive a ballot and you can proceed to a voting booth for privacy.

In a primary election, voters who are registered in a political party may only obtain a ballot for that party. If you are an unenrolled voter (commonly referred to as an "independent voter"), you may request the ballot of any party participating in the primary election.

You may vote for the choices available on the ballot or, if you prefer, write in the name of a candidate in the space provided on the ballot.

Once you are done voting, you will proceed to the check-out table. Again, you will provide the poll worker your street address and name. You will then insert your ballot into the ballot box.

Listening Workshop for Amherst Charter Commission on September 20th at 7pm at ARMS

please read this message from the Amherst Charter Commission ... 

The Amherst Charter Commission is holding a series of Listening Workshops to get input for our work on examining our current charter. We are trying to get feedback on our town government--what works and what doesn't--and we are looking for ideas for change! 

Please join us at our Listening Workshop on September 20th from 7-9pm at the Amherst Middle School!

Amherst Solid Waste Survey

TO:  Residents, businesses, employees, and other members of the Amherst community

FROM: Recycling and Refuse Management Committee (RRMC), Town of Amherst

If you live or work in Amherst, we need your help! Regional landfills are closing, and there is growing awareness of the need to preserve our financial and material resources as well as protect the environment and our health through the responsible management of resources and waste.

Please take a few minutes to fill out our survey at http://www.amherstma.gov (click on the blue bin at the bottom of the page), and let us know:

• how you currently manage your waste
• your opinions about waste reduction proposals
• how you would like to help promote Zero Waste in Amherst

Also, public input to our recently released Solid Waste Master Plan (see http://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/35741) will be accepted until September 30.  Your feedback about the plan’s proposals, including suggestions for promoting recycling and waste reduction in Amherst, can be submitted viathe RRMC survey, sent to publicworks@amherstma.gov, or presented at a meeting of the RRMC.

For questions about the Recycling and Refuse Management Committee or the Solid Waste Master Plan, or to help with community outreach, contact John Root, RRMC Chair, at info@johnroot.net or (413) 961-9059.

For information about recycling and Amherst Transfer Station services, visit http://www.amherstma.gov/157/Recycling---Solid-Waste For information and registration instructions for the Household Hazardous Collection Day at the Transfer Station from 9 AM until noon on September 15 (the registration deadline is September 1), see: http://www.amherstma.gov/157/Recycling---Solid-Waste