Around Town: Police have bear of a time with animal complaint

By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer

Published on May 02, 2008

A black bear roaming the neighborhoods to the west of downtown Amherst and going through garbage outside homes on both Sunset Avenue and Dana Street has been removed from town.

The bear was first reported to police on the night of April 26, but police didn't locate it until Tuesday morning, when they were called to Blue Hills Road and found the bear in the backyard.

Sgt. William Menard contacted the Environmental Police, who responded and tranquilized the bear at 10:40 a.m.

The bear was then carefully loaded into the back of an Environmental Police pickup truck and brought to an undisclosed location.

Police have posted photos and a description of the bear-removal action at the department's blog at amherstpd.blogspot.com.

Meeting summaries

With the minutes for past Select Board meetings often coming to the board for approval several weeks after business has already been completed, members are suggesting a revision in the process.

Select Board member Diana Stein said that she appreciates the comprehensive minutes being prepared, and that a briefer version of the minutes would not be informative to members or the public.

"But I find them coming too late for an orderly process," Stein said.

Vice Chairwoman Anne Awad said a briefer format that would record only actions and votes of the board would mean the minutes being readied more quickly.

Currently, three staff members in the town manager's office rotate through the meetings to take the minutes.

Alisa Brewer suggested the work flow in the office could be adjusted so that the minutes could get out sooner.

Town Manager Larry Shaffer said he would see what could be done to improve the situation. "I may go ahead and assign one person to do this and see if it works better than the way we're presently doing it," Shaffer said.

Appointment

Appointed members of boards and committees typically only serve for up to six years, a custom that was adjusted this week when the Select Board agreed to appoint John Gerber to another three-year term on the Conservation Commission.

Shaffer said he brought forward the appointment as an exception to the custom because of the technical expertise Gerber brings to the commission.

Awad said it was a rare and unusual request, but the board unanimously agreed to appoint Gerber for a third term.

Meetings

MONDAY: Select Board, 6:15 p.m., Music Room, Regional Middle School; Finance Committee, 6:30 p.m. Band Room, Regional Middle School; Town Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Regional Middle School auditorium.

TUESDAY: Public Works Committee, 7 p.m., Glass Room Bangs Center.

THURSDAY: Recycling and Refuse Management Committee, 4:30 p.m., Public Works Meeting Room; Kanegasaki Sister City Committee, 5 p.m. Bangs Center.