Kusner, on way out, keeps eye on transit
By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer
Published on February 22, 2008
With his sabbatical taking him to Philadelphia on a regular basis, Select Board member Rob Kusner said he is being inspired with "transit-oriented" ideas in the city that could improve public transportation in Amherst.
Kusner told his colleagues on the Select Board that the improvements he would like to see could be done with additional revenue for the transportation enterprise fund.
This could be achieved, he said, by extending the enforcement periods of parking meters to high-demand times, "uniformizing" the prices of parking and doubling the permit parking prices.
With this new money, capital projects that could improve public transit, such as better bus shelters, could be built.
Some of this new money could also be directed at the position of an economic development director, which is not included in Town Manager Larry Shaffer's proposed budget for next year, though is considered a priority for funding should there be sufficient revenue.
The economic development director, Kusner said, could help to find ways of enhancing public transportation that would in turn spur economic development.
Select Board Chairman Gerry Weiss said all ideas for changing parking rules and regulations will first have to be brought before the Parking Task Force for discussion.
<h4>Library late fees</h4>
The issue of whether late fees for materials checked out of the Jones Library and its branches should go to the library may be re-examined.
Currently, all of these fines go to the town's general fund.
Weiss said the concept should be explored because it might give the library more incentive to collect fines, and patrons might be accepting of the penalties knowing they would be going back to the resource they are using.
Shaffer said the town would have to first create a revolving fund in which to place the fines that are collected.
<h4>New police captain</h4>
Scott Livingstone, a member of the Amherst Police Department for 30 years, is slated to be sworn in as a new police captain at Monday's Select Board meeting.
The promotion is being recommended by Chief Charles Scherpa. Livingstone will take over the position vacated by Tim Sullivan, who retired at the end of December.
Livingstone is a Northampton resident and native.
He was promoted to lieutenant in September 2000 and has serves as the night-shift commander.
The son of Ruby Livingstone, of Granby, Livingstone is married to Rhys and has two daughters.
<h4>Meetings</h4>
MONDAY: Budget Coordinating Group, noon, First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Town Meeting Coordinating Committee, 4 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Select Board, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall; Historical Commission, 7:30 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall for public hearings on Amherst College request to move original portions of 1830 Greek Revival homes on South East Street. and Spring Street and demolish the rest.
TUESDAY: Board of Assessors, 4:30 p.m., Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Community Preservation Act Committee, 6 p.m., Second Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Amherst Pelham Regional School Committee, 7 p.m., library, Amherst Pelham Regional High School.
WEDNESDAY: Joint Capital Planning Committee, 8 a.m., Large Meeting Room, Jones Library; Conservation Commission, 7 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
THURSDAY: Finance Committee, 7 p.m., Room 101, Bangs Center.
