Posted 12/30/2009

Notice of Public Hearing
Town of Amherst
2009 CDBG funds

The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has designated the Town of Amherst a Mini-Entitlement Community for the purpose of receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Amherst is eligible to receive a maximum of $750,000 in block grant funds for housing and community development and social service activities benefiting low-and moderate-income citizens. In accordance with DHCD regulations the Community Development Committee will hold a Public Hearing on January 21, 2009 at 6:30 PM, the Glass Room, Bangs Community Center, to inform the Amherst community of proposed activities to be included in the Town’s FY 09 Mini-Entitlement CDBG application.

The Town is proposing that the following activities may be included in the Amherst’s application for 2009 CDBG funds:

1. Architectural barrier removal project:
A. Modifications of sidewalks in several areas of Town to improve accessibility.

B. Other accessible modifications in the Pomeroy Lane Village Center.

C. Infrastructure improvements to Town-owned property on Olympia Drive to enable the property to be used for affordable housing.

D. Improvement of roads in census block groups in which at least 51% of households have incomes less than 80% of the area median income.

2. Social Services

A. Continuation of the Town’s childcare tuition assistance program. The Town is requesting citizens’ views on the effectiveness of this activity and suggestions on ways of improving this service.

B. Other social service activities that sustain and expand current Town funded social service activities.

E. General Administration and expenses.

Any person or organization wishing to be heard will be afforded an opportunity. Reasonable accommodations will be attempted upon written request to the Selectmen’s office two weeks prior to the meeting. Written comments may be submitted to the Community Services Department (community@amherstma.gov) or for more information or call (413) 259-3117.

The Town of Amherst encourages the involvement of minority business enterprises and women's business enterprises.

The FY 2009 tax bills will be mailed out the week of December 29th 2008 and the 3rd quarter payment will be due on February 2nd 2009. Anyone wishing to make payments in 2008 can make them at the Central Services Counter in Town Hall. The FY 2009 tax rate is $15.82/thousand of assessed valuation.

View the Fiscal Year 2009 Valuations and Related Documents.

Posted 12/29/2008

Notice of Public Hearing
Town of Amherst
2009 CDBG funds

The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has designated the Town of Amherst a Mini-Entitlement Community for the purpose of receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Amherst is eligible to receive a maximum of $750,000 in block grant funds for housing and community development and social service activities benefiting low-and moderate-income citizens. In accordance with DHCD regulations the Community Development Committee will hold a Public Hearing on January 7, 2009 at 6:30 PM, Room 101, Bangs Community Center, to inform the Amherst community of proposed activities to be included in the Town’s FY 09 Mini-Entitlement CDBG application.

The Town is proposing that the following activities be included in the Amherst’s application for 2009 CDBG funds:

1. Architectural barrier removal project:
A. Modifications of sidewalks in several areas of Town to improve accessibility that may include:
1. South side of Main St. between East St. and Seeleye St.
2. Sidewalks in the Pomeroy Lane Village Center
3. Sides surrounding the Bangs Center

B. Other accessible modifications in the Pomeroy Lane Village Center.

2. Social Services

A. Continuation of the Town’s childcare tuition assistance program. The Town is requesting citizens’ views on the effectiveness of this activity and suggestions on ways of improving this service.

B. Other social service activities that sustain and expand current Town funded social service activities.

C. General Administration and expenses.

Any person or organization wishing to be heard will be afforded an opportunity. Reasonable accommodations will be attempted upon written request to the Selectmen’s office two weeks prior to the meeting. Written comments may be submitted to the Community Services Department (community@amherstma.gov) or for more information or call (413) 259-3117.

The Town of Amherst encourages the involvement of minority business enterprises and women's business enterprises.

The Facilitation of the Community Choices Committee has released a final report to the Budget Coordinating Group. View the final report by clicking the Additional Info link or by visiting www.amherstchoices.org. [Additional info...]

The Amherst Public GIS Viewer now provides a simple way to download deeds for any property in Amherst. Just go to any property in Amherst and click the "Sales" tab. Among the sales history, you'll find a link to download almost any deed dating back to 1968. Click the link below and select the Property Viewer. [Public GIS Viewer...]

The Town of Amherst encourages the involvement of minority business enterprises and women's business enterprises in the fulfillment of this Scope of Services.

In accordance with state procurement regulations the Town of Amherst is requesting proposals for the following:

I. Purchase Description

There is compelling evidence accumulated from many sources – the Amherst Emergency Homelessness Task Force, the Amherst Survival Center, Not Bread Alone and data from the Pioneer Valley Regional Effort to end homelessness – that there are homeless individuals and families who call Amherst ‘home”. The Emergency Homelessness Task Force spent a year identifying the need for emergency shelter. The Task Force concluded that there is a significant population of homeless individuals and families in need of permanent housing. Responding to this study, the Amherst Select Board appointed a permanent Committee, the Committee on Homelessness, to develop both a short-term and long-term strategies for housing homeless individuals and families.

All Roads Lead Home, the Pioneer Valley’s Plan to End Homelessness, recognizes that housing alone is necessary but not sufficient to house homeless individuals. “People who are homeless or at risk of homelessness come from every community, but they are unable to access services they need in some communities.” The conclusion is that varied, flexible social services must be part of any successful strategy to provide permanent and stable housing for homeless individuals.

The Town is seeking an agency interested in developing housing for homeless individuals. As an incentive, the Town is requesting proposals from interested agencies to complete a feasibility study that identifies the most effective options for housing homeless individuals and families that will include supportive services. It is hoped that the agency responding to this proposals will use this information to a first step in developing housing for homeless individuals. The development of housing for homeless individuals will be a private effort by a not-for-profit agency with relevant experience as described below.

Please see link below for complete Request for Proposal.

[Additional info...]

/DocumentView.asp?DID=1792

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Amherst, Massachusetts. In 2007, 7271 mosquito samples were tested throughout Massachusetts for WNV and sixty-five samples were positive. Amherst had no WNV positive mosquito samples identified in 2007.

WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito infected with the virus. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection.

People have an important role to play in monitoring for WNV and protecting themselves and their loved ones.

Avoid Mosquito Bites
• Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours - The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. Otherwise, take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing.
• Clothing Can Help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
• Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home
• Drain Standing Water - Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently.
• Install or Repair Screens - Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

West Nile Virus Confirmed in Mosquitoes
Amherst, Massachusetts
Press Release 1

Report Dead Birds
• Dead crows or blue jays may be a sign that WNV is circulating among the birds and mosquitoes in an area. Call 1-866-MASS WNV to report a dead bird. By reporting dead birds, you can play an important role in monitoring WNV.

The Amherst Health Department will continue to work closely with the MDPH and other agencies. The Amherst Health Department has Fact Sheets on West Nile Virus available at the Health Department located on the 2nd Floor, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst and Town Hall, Mezzanine, 4 Boltwood Walk, Amherst.

Information about WNV and reports of WNV activity in Massachusetts during 2008 can be found on the MDPH website at www.mass.gov/dph under A for arbovirus in the Health Topics A to Z index. Recorded information about WNV is also available by calling the MDPH Public Health Information Line at 1-866-MASS-WNV (1-866-627-7968).

The Amherst Board of Registrars will hold a voter registration session for the September 16, 2008 State Primary at the Town Clerk’s Office, Town Hall, on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you have moved within the Town of Amherst, notify the Town Clerk of your new address by the above last day to register.

Eligible persons may also register to vote using a Massachusetts Official Mail-in Voter Registration Form. Registration forms must be postmarked before midnight on August 27, 2008 in order to vote in the State Primary.

Mail-In Voter Registration Forms are available at the Town Clerk’s Office and Central Services Counter in the Town Hall.

You are encouraged to check your voter status online at: www.amherstma.gov.

A group of local volunteers created the Amherst July Fourth Parade Committee. Since 2002, the private group has done a remarkable job in organizing and conducting a parade to celebrate July 4th in Amherst. However, there has been controversy over the Committee’s refusal to allow potential parade participants from displaying signs protesting various actions by government. With that in mind, I have repeatedly urged the Parade Committee not to exclude organizations and individuals who wish to use the July 4th parade as a means to protest certain governmental action or to advocate for a particular position. I have met frequently with parade organizers to promote the concept that July 4th is a time that all Americans should celebrate the birth of this nation and the principles of freedom inherent in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. In particular, the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, generally considered to be the most important Article in the Constitution, guarantees freedom of speech with remarkable clarity. How is it that on the nation’s birthday, in Amherst, any American can be denied their constitutional right to freedom of speech on Town owned streets during a celebration ostensibly devoted to that freedom so denied? I am sorry to report that I have not been able to successfully communicate that irony to the July Fourth Parade Committee.

The Town of Amherst cannot and should not obstruct or prevent a private parade from occurring in Amherst. Consequently, I will not attempt, in any fashion, to prevent the Parade Committee from conducting the July 4th Parade in 2008. I will continue to encourage communication with the July 4th Parade Committee in order to achieve the changes that I believe are correctly sought. However, moving forward, I believe the proposed change will correct the problem of excluding certain forms of free speech during the July 4th Parade.

As a result, the Town of Amherst shall sponsor a parade in celebration of the Fourth of July, 2009. All groups will be invited to participate, and with the exception of obscenities and hate crimes, freedom of speech will be allowed. The LSSE Department, which is responsible for the fireworks and community events on July 4th, will be asked to organize and manage the July 4th Parade, also.

Please follow link to view the University Drive Project Final Report, 11/20/2008.