Gordon conducts own town survey

By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer

Published on February 29, 2008

Protecting funding for education and public safety are important to residents, according to initial results from a survey being conducted by a Town Meeting member.

Nancy Gordon, of Pease Place, told the Select Board that she has sent postcard questionnaires to a random sampling of 330 of the more than 5,000 people who voted in last May's Proposition 21/2 override election. So far, 55 postcards have been returned.

While schools, fire and police ranked as the three areas residents would least like to see cut, the library, senior services, recreational services and affordable housing all were given little support by the respondents.

The majority of those who returned the cards noted they would not support any type of override this year, while 14 people, or less than half of the 29 opposed to an override, expressed support for having an override that would be between $1 and $2 million.

Across the board departmental cuts met with disapproval by most of the respondents. In fact, 38 of the postcards noted a preference for elimination of some specific services altogether if it meant protecting other services.

Gordon, who again is challenging incumbent moderator Harrison Gregg for his position at the April 1 elections, said she has spent around $300 on the project. The 2008 questionnaire follows a similar effort Gordon conducted last year in advance of annual Town Meeting.

<h4>Cowles Lane parking</h4>

Vehicles that are parked facing the wrong way on Cowles Lane during Saturdays and Sundays, presumably by people attending masses at St. Brigid's Church, could soon be issued written warnings and tickets.

Town Manager Larry Shaffer said he has received complaints that some vehicles are parked facing traffic, yet no enforcement has been done. Shaffer termed this as "an institutional reluctance to issue tickets."

Shaffer told the Select Board Monday that he will soon instruct police to place warning advisories on the windshields of vehicles parked illegally on the street, even if they belong to people attending the weekend masses.

He also plans to speak with the Rev. John Smegal and ask him to speak to the issue to the congregation "from the pulpit" and post notices in the church bulletin.

<h4>‘Farewell'</h4>

A rare opportunity for the Select Board members to say a formal good-bye to a colleague was presented by Rob Kusner's pending departure from the board.

Kusner, who is not seeking reelection April 1, attended what he expects to be his final meeting Monday. For the next month Kusner will remain on sabbatical from the University of Massachusetts, where he teaches math, and will commute weekly to Philadelphia, Pa., as well as travel to Germany.

Chairman Gerry Weiss thanked Kusner for his three years of service and efforts to do the best for the town. "We'll miss you and wish you the best," Weiss said.

Kusner thanked his fellow board members, as well as former board member Robie Hubley, from whom he said he learned a great deal about the job.

"This isn't so much a farewell as it is an Auf Wiedersehn, which in Amherst would probably be translated as ‘until our next meeting,'" Kusner said.