To candidates, messages from victory and defeat differ
By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer
Published on April 04, 2008
Whether the election of two new members to the Select Board signals a change in how the board operates and how issues, such as the structural deficit in the town budget, are handled will be determined over time.
Though some residents may already be drawing conclusions about what the wins for Stephanie O'Keeffe and Diana Stein and the defeat of Hwei-Ling Greeney for re-election means for Amherst, the candidates themselves aren't ready to do so.
O'Keeffe said she believes people cast their votes for many individual reasons. She said her votes came from people seeking better collaboration on the board, the setting of priorities and being more open with information to the public.
"We're both looking to bring a different focus to things," O'Keeffe said.
Stein said she believes her votes were cast by people looking for town government to be more democratic and efficient, and those who don't want to see drastic cuts that might change Amherst for the worse.
"I think people share the desire to not destroy the town in the interest of balancing the budget," Stein said.
But Greeney, who lost by a sizable margin, said the results may show that a majority of residents are not serious about getting their town officials to pursue more efficiencies and regionalization of services as a means of trimming the budget, despite the rejection of a Proposition 21/2 override last year.
"The town has to live within budget boundaries," Greeney said. "That message did not resonate with residents."
Stan Gawle, a spokesman for the Amherst Taxpayers for Responsible Change, said he congratulates O'Keeffe and Stein on their victories. His organization had endorsed Greeney and Irv Rhodes as the more fiscally responsible candidates.
"Now with the collaborative board, we look forward to the results they will achieve regarding the structural deficit," Gawle said.
He said his concern is that the new board may push for an override to pay for services.
"If they're serious about not having divisiveness, they need to stop putting overrides on the table," Gawle said.
<h4>Cleaning the streets</h4>
If the downtown streets don't appear as neat and orderly during the month of April, it could be due to an advocate for beautifying Amherst being away from town.
Bill Elsasser, who has frequently cleared the streets of debris and weeds in recent years, said that he will be spending time in Augusta, Ga., where he will be assisting that city make itself look good in advance of the Masters golf tournament.
Elsasser said he hopes there is no noticeable difference in debris along Amherst's streets while he has gone, as he has been growing tired of the clean-up activity. "I'm really burned up on picking up litter," Elsasser said.
Select Board Chairman Gerry Weiss said Elsasser has served as an inspiration for picking up trash in downtown.
Last year, Elsasser came up with the idea of placing several flower pots in downtown areas, and noted he is looking forward to having them return to the streets later this spring.
<h4>Master plan</h4>
A final draft of the comprehensive plan, a document that will provide recommendations for Amherst's future, could be completed by mid-May.
James Wald, chairman of the Comprehensive Planning Committee, told the Select Board at a recent meeting that since the consultants completed a draft of the plan in October, his committee has been working to merge it with feedback obtained from the community through surveys.
Wald said that there has been a deliberate process since 2006, but that the slow schedule should allow more "buy-in" from the community.
The comprehensive plan will likely go to the Planning Board by this summer, before it is brought to a special Town Meeting for endorsement.
<h4>Winter parking</h4>
Residents are once again free to park their vehicles on Amherst streets during the overnight hours.
The overnight parking ban, which is in effect during the winter months, came to an end April 1.
<h4>Meetings</h4>
MONDAY: Select Board, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall, meeting with Board of Assessors.
TUESDAY: Town Meeting Coordinating Committee, 5 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Amherst Pelham Regional School Committee, 7 p.m., library, Amherst Pelham Regional High School; Agricultural Commission, 7 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Jones Library Board of Trustees, 7 p.m., Trustee Room, Jones Library; Public Works Committee, 7 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
WEDNESDAY: 250th Anniversary Executive Committee, 3 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall; Public Shade Tree Committee, 4 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Tree Removal hearing, 5 p.m., for two trees on Dickinson Street, First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall.
THURSDAY: Recycling and Refuse Management Committee, 4:30 p.m., Public Works Meeting Room; Finance Committee, 7 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Joint Capital Planning Committee and Community Preservation Act Committee for Educational Forum, 7 p.m., ACTV Studio; Zoning Board of Appeals, 7:30 p.m.,Town Room, Town Hall for public hearings on request to operate a clothing business at 46 Snell St. and install a ramp and replace windows at Village Park.
