Around Town: Amherst may get even greener
By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer
Published on May 16, 2008
Making Amherst a greener and more environmentally friendly town by requiring building projects to be more energy efficient and sustainable is the purpose of a warrant article coming before Town Meeting.
Town Meeting member Nina Weyl is proposing the article that would request the Planning Board develop a bylaw mandating that newly constructed town buildings, commercial and office buildings and multiple residence structures meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.
Weyl said this would likely increase the cost of buildings, but over a 20-year period the energy savings from using less power and water would likely be eight times the additional costs.
The article is advisory and will examine what other cities, like Boston and San Francisco, have done.
"I'm just recommending that we as a town do this piece of homework," Weyl said.
The Select Board has not yet taken a position on the article.
The board is endorsing a bylaw, modeled after similar ones in Northampton, Easthampton and Greenfield, that would seek to curtail police response to false alarms.
The bylaw would give warnings to homeowners and business owners, as well as school administrators, when there are false alarms, with fines of $50 kicking in at the fourth response and $200 for eighth and subsequent responses.
Police Chief Charles Scherpa said 75 percent of the 1,000 residential alarms a year are repetitive.
"Monetarily, and safety wise, it's a good move," Scherpa said.
Select Board Chairman Gerry Weiss said police officers need to be responding to real emergencies. "To respond to false alarms is not a good use of their time," Weiss said.
Fare increases
Residents will get an opportunity to provide feedback to the the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority about proposed increases in what it charges riders.
Select Board member Anne Awad said PVTA officials will be at the Bangs Community Center's Council on Aging offices May 29 at 12:30 p.m. to listen to senior citizens and those who use paratransit.
Awad said PVTA will be spending $1.5 million more on gasoline this year than it had budgeted. Despite this, there are no plans to cut routes.
Those who can't make the session are also welcome to send comments to PVTA, 2808 Main St., Springfield, MA 01107, or by email to publichearings@pvta.com.
Future of the Parade Committee
Larry Kelley's recent departure from the July 4th Parade Committee doesn't indicate that he won't have a role in organizing and running the parade, only that he will no longer speak for the group.
"My resignation doesn't mean I've given up on the parade," Kelley said this week.
In fact, Kelley said he will continue to do fundraising for the private parade and making sure that it continues beyond this year.
On his blog, Kelley writes: "Working with fellow volunteers these past seven years has been an honor and a pleasure. I have decided however that my, perhaps overly, protective nature simply will not allow me to cease and desist defending our dream: A celebration to make Rockwell proud."
With his service on the committee ending, Kevin Joy and Helen Thelen will be the ones to provide official comments on the parade.
"I will no longer be speaking for the committee," Kelley said.
The town is expected to begin its own July 4 parade next year.
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: Amherst School Committee, 7 p.m., library, Amherst Pelham Regional High School; Planning Board 7:30 p.m. Town Room, Town Hall for public hearings on proposal to construct a parking lot and addition to the Smith House at 22 Hitchcock Road; proposal for renovation and addition at 101 South Pleasant St.
WEDNESDAY: 250th Anniversary Marketing Committee, 1:30 p.m., Bangs Center; 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.
THURSDAY: Zoning Board of Appeals, 7:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall for public hearings on requests to renew a flag lot at 275 Potwine Lane; to renew a flag lot at 75 North East St., 7:45 p.m.
