In the News

Amherst Voter Veto Petition Update

At its meeting on April 5, 2021, the Amherst Town Council voted to authorize borrowing to fund the expansion and restoration of the Jones Library.

The vote margin was 10 in favor, 2 opposed, and 1 abstaining.

Subsequent to that Town Council vote, residents ...

Amherst Fire Department Hiring

The Amherst Fire Department is hiring a Firefighter/EMT-A or Firefighter/Paramedic. 

Do you enjoy helping people and serving your community? Do you want to be a part of a fulfilling profession within an outstanding and progressive fire department?...

Town Manager Paul Bockelman seeks volunteers to serve on Town Boards and Committees

Town Manager Paul Bockelman seeks volunteers to serve on Town Boards and Committees.

The Town has over 30 boards and committees that support the work of Town government and each has multiple residents who are members. Terms of service are typically three y...

Amherst Seeking New Recreation Director

Do you want to be in charge of a dynamic Recreation Department in the center of the Five College area? The Town of Amherst, Massachusetts is looking for an exceptional Director of Recreation to join our Leadership Team and provide top-level services to ou...

April Proclaimed as Arbor Month in Amherst

Arbor Month Proclamation

Council Sponsors: Councilors Darcy DuMont and Sarah Swartz and Community Sponsor: Public Shade Tree Committee

WHEREAS, in 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the...

Council Issues Citation Recognizing UMass Hockey - 2021 NCAA Champions

WHEREAS, sports bring communities together and help us develop and strengthen social bonds; and

WHEREAS, the team members, coaches, and support staff of UMass Hockey have shown dedication and devotion to their sport and their team throughout their incredib...

Dog License Reminder

The Amherst Town Clerk's office would like to remind dog owners that it’s time to obtain your 2021 dog tag and license. The licensing year starts April 1st and ends March 31st of each year, so all 2020 tags have now expired. State law requires all dogs si...

STREET SWEEPING SCHEDULE 2021

The Town of Amherst Department of Public Works has begun sweeping the Main routes and hills that receive the most sand during the winter months.  After completing these areas the DPW will begin sweeping the various sections of town, if ...

Upcoming Town Drinking Water PFAS Sampling

Upcoming Town Drinking Water PFAS Sampling - What is it? Should I be concerned?

The Town of Amherst Water Department, with funding and guidance from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP), will be sampling the Town’s public ...

2021 Human Rights Commission Youth Hero Awards

The Human Rights Commissions primary purpose is to promote a community of mutual respect and to honor the diversity of our community.   We strive to promote attitudes of compassion and concern for our neighbors.  To encourage these value...

Think Before You Swim!

With warming Spring air temperatures, please be aware of swimming this early in the year. Bodies of water such as Puffer's Pond can still be very COLD and swimming can be dangerous due to the risk of shock to the human body, which can occur in a ...

Affordable Housing Lottery: Aspen Heights in Amherst

Overview:

Aspen Heights Amherst is a brand-new, 88 unit rental apartment community located in Amherst on 408 Northampton Road. There will be 11 affordable apartments ready for occupancy starting in Summer of 2021. All affordable apartments will be rented t...

Statement Denouncing Violence and Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders

March 18, 2021

As more information is released about the tragedy in Atlanta on Tuesday, we are disturbed and heartbroken. This horrific crime - a white man murdering mostly Asian-American women - occurs during a time in which acts of violence and other hat...

Scheduled Water Main Flushing

     The Water Division of the Public Works Department will begin its annual systematic water main flushing programs to clean the distribution system on Monday, April 26, 2021 (weather permitting).  Water Division perso...

Council Proclaims April as Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month

2021 Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month Proclamation

Council Sponsors: Councilors Alisa Brewer, Lynn Griesemer, and Mandi Jo Hanneke; 

Resident Sponsor: Marlene Musante, Member of the Board of the Children’s Advocacy Center

WHEREAS...

Amherst Launches New Online Engagement Platform

The Town of Amherst is pleased to announce the launch of a new online engagement platform for community members called Engage Amherst. At a time when in-person meetings are still limited due to COVID-19, the Town of Amherst offers Engage Amherst as an add...

Cultural Council Awards Grants for Local Programs

Georgia Barnhill, chair of the Amherst Cultural Council, is pleased to announce the awarding of 40 grants totaling $45,755, for cultural programs in Amherst and nearby towns. Proposals for music and theater events, visual artists, and programs featuring t...

Amherst Reaches Homebound Individuals with Vaccine

The Town of Amherst has been coordinating efforts to reach homebound individuals in a commitment to ensure they have access to a vaccine. Amherst Public Health Director Emma Dragon, Fire Chief Tim Nelson and Senior Center Director Mary Beth Ogulewicz have...

Amherst Secures Competitive Cybersecurity Grant

It was announced this week that Amherst has been selected to participate in the Massachusetts’ Cybersecurity Awareness program. This program will make end-user cybersecurity training, assessment, and simulation tools, which will be administered ...

Town Awarded $825,000 in CDBG Grant Funds

Earlier this week, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that Amherst was one of 41 communities to receive funds in the most recent round of the 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Awards.  

The Town of Amherst will receive $825,000 ...

Northampton and Amherst Approved as Collaborative Regional Vaccination Site

City of Northampton and Town of Amherst join forces to distribute up to 5,000 vaccinations per week  

Today it was announced that the Northampton Health Department has been approved as the lead community in a regional collaboration with the Town o...

Town & Amherst BID Receive Local Rapid Recovery Grant

The Town of Amherst, in conjunction with the Amherst Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), has received a Local Rapid Recovery Program grant from the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative (MDI) under the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Communi...

Open Air Burning Permits Now Available

Open Air Burning Permits for yard clean-ups are now available from the Fire Department.  State regulations allow burning from January 15th to May 1st.  Application and payment for burning permits are now done online!  

In order t...