So Twitter it is.

That section will now become a collection of tweets, each 140-characters max.  This will let me offer micro updates about whatever strikes my fancy.  Less detail, but more often. 

The structure will be a little different than the rest of the site.  For example, these won't show up in the "Recent Posts" list on the navigation bar on the left, nor will you be able to comment on the individual tweets.  If you don't want to come here to read these, you can "Follow me on Twitter" by clicking that link, found at the end of each tweet post.  You will need to set up a Twitter account to do so.  (But come on now, it's 2009 - doesn't everyone have a blog, a tattoo, a Twitter account and a hybrid vehicle?  Yeah, I'm short one of those too.  Alas, so behind the times!)     

So we'll see how this goes.    Thanks, as always, for paying attention.

·         Unanimously to approve the revisions to Section 2.3 of the Appointed Committee Handbook, as amended

·         Unanimously to approve the revisions to Section 2.6 of the Appointed Committee Handbook, as amended

·         Unanimously to approve the April 27th minutes

·         Unanimously to approve the May 4th minutes as amended

·         Unanimously to approve the May Select Board Report as amended

·         Unanimously to approve the street closing and parking request for the Big Bothers/Big Sisters Artisan Craft Fair, per the motion sheet, with the changes:  at the end of the first bullet point, changing "7:00 p.m." to "9:00 a.m.," and adding "except for five meters which shall remain bagged from Spring Street south on Boltwood Avenue until 7:00 p.m."

·         Unanimously to approve the street closing and parking request for the Taste of Amherst, per the motion sheet

·         Unanimously to approve the Special Liquor License for Atkins Cruise Night, per the motion sheet

·         Unanimously to approve the Special Liquor License for a UMass event, per the additional motion sheet

·         Unanimously to appoint Vince O'Connor to the Nyeri Sister City Committee; Rob Kusner to the "Save Our Stop" Task Force (both effective immediately) and Mark Parent to ZBA as an Associate Member and Hilda Greenbaum to ZBA as a full member (both effective July 1) as per the motion sheet, amended to include the these start dates

·         Unanimously to reappoint starting July 1: Ellen Kosmer to CPAC; Laurie Nisoff to Amherst Cultural Council; Thomas Simpson as a Full member of ZBA, filling the unexpired term of Jane Ashby; Barbara Ford, as a Full member of ZBA; Thomas Ehrgood as an Associate member of ZBA; Albert Woodhull as an Associate member of ZBA, per the motion sheet, with the addition of the 7/1 start date

Warrant Articles:

·         Stephanie gave an introductory statement about budget process and collaborative efforts that brought us to this point

Article 22:Operating Budget
Library: Library Trustees and Library Director spoke in favor of their larger requested appropriation, explaining the risks of potential decertification, loss of State funds, loss of access to Federal funds, and inability for patrons to request inter-library loans; also explained that their budget cuts came from reducing new material purchases by 30%.  Finance Committee members explained the process of applying to the State for a waiver to maintain certification, preventing the loss of access to funds and inter-library loans; also explained the desire for parity of reductions across the different budget areas

·         VOTED:  Unanimously to recommend the lower appropriation, (the Fin Com's recommendation) for Article 22 - Library  Services, per the motion sheet

Schools:  Elementary and Regional Schools are in agreement with the Fin Com recommendations; there was discussion re: three of four towns needing to approve the Regional budget, and how Amherst can't be compelled to pay the higher amount approved by Leverett and Shutesbury because the Regional School Committee has subsequently voted a lower budget, which is now the determining factor

·         VOTED: Unanimously to recommend Article 22 - Elementary Schools budget, per the motion sheet

·         VOTED: Unanimously to recommend Article 22 - Regional Schools budget and appropriation, per the motion sheet

Municipal budget areas:  Considered whether SB should have input on where final $275K of personnel reductions should come from; majority sense was no, as the cuts do not represent changes in services provided by the Town (though they certainly affect delivery of those services and functioning of those departments); there was considerable discussion to clarify numbers and answer questions

·         VOTED:  4 in favor, 1 opposed (Weiss) to recommend Article 22 - Public Safety budget, per the motion sheet

·         VOTED:  4 in favor, 1 abstention (Weiss) to recommend Article 22 - Public Works budget, per the motion sheet

·         VOTED:  4 in favor, 1 abstention (Weiss) to recommend Article 22 - Planning, Conservation and Inspections budget, per the motion sheet

·         VOTED:  4 in favor, 1 opposed (Weiss) to recommend Article 22 - Community Services budget, per the motion sheet

·         VOTED:  4 in favor, 1 abstention (Weiss) to recommend Article 22 - General Government budget, per the motion sheet

·         VOTED: Unanimously to recommend Article 22 - General Fund Indebtedness, per the additional motion sheet

·         VOTED: Unanimously to recommend Article 22 - Water Fund budget, per the motion sheet

·         VOTED: Unanimously to recommend Article 22 - Sewer Fund budget, per the motion sheet

·         VOTED: Unanimously to recommend Article 22 - Solid Waste Fund budget, per the motion sheet

·         VOTED: Unanimously to recommend Article 22 - Transportation Fund budget, per the motion sheet

Article 13 - Gas Tax petition:  Gerry and Diana said they supported it; Alisa said she had expected to oppose it, but would support it because of the details it includes; Aaron said he would support it if the language is tweaked a bit; Stephanie said she wouldn't support it because she doesn't feel her personal opinions on broad taxation policies qualify her to offer an opinion in her official capacity

·         VOTED: 3 in favor (Weiss, Stein, Brewer); 1 opposed (O'Keeffe); 1 abstention (Hayden) to recommend Article 13

Article 14 -- FY09 Budget Amendments:  VOTED Unanimously to recommend Part D and to recommend dismissal of Part E
Article 26 -- Capital Program - Equipment:  VOTED Unanimously to recommend
Article 27 -- Capital Program - Buildings & Facilities: VOTED Unanimously to recommend
Article 29 -- Free Cash:  VOTED Unanimously to recommend Free Cash in the amount of $1,200,000
Article 30 -- Stabilization:  VOTED Unanimously to defer a recommendation


Agreed, without votes:

·         None

Requested:

·         For Town Counsel to advise on whether the small corrections to the ZBA charge can be made by the Select Board or requires Town Meeting action

·          That the Chamber be notified of the street closings and parking restrictions for the Taste and Big Brother/Big Sister event

Items to be added to the 6/15 agenda:

·         Town Manager's Report (postponed due to late hour)

·         Member Reports (postponed due to late hour)

·         Set Fall Town Meeting dates (postponed due to late hour)

Items to be added to a future agenda, not necessarily the next one:

·         Consider ZBA Charge alteration/correction, pending advice of Town Counsel

Materials to be brought back to the next meeting:

·         Possibly the ZBA charge info, pending advice from Town Counsel

·         Fall Town Meeting date memo from Kate

Items not resulting in actions, and other topics considered:

·         Diana announced a community celebration picnic sponsored by the Human Rights Commission to be held from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 14th at Groff Park

·         Larry announced that the SEIU said it is willing to seriously consider zero COLA for FY10

·         Stephanie reported that she had reached out to the Fourth of July Parade Committee Chair to see if progress might be made on the Select Board's desire for a compromise regarding parade participation that would allow use of Town equipment.  She and Alisa were invited to attend the Parade Committee's meeting, and had a productive and clarifying discussion.  She said an update or announcement about a mutually-acceptable resolution could happen soon.

I hope I'll do a comprehensive post describing the state of the budget situation, but this is not that post.  So here are some odds and ends:

·         Breaking news:  Tonight I received an e-mail that the mythical parade banner has been located.  People always talk about it, but no one knew where it was - in fact, not everyone was sure it had ever actually existed.  This is good news indeed, as the Hadley 350th parade is coming up June 14th, and they were gonna wonder about this group of anonymous interlopers.

·         Speaking of parades, I had the privilege of being part of the Memorial Day Parade last week.  A funny moment was when we went by a person I know through delivering meals-on-wheels (though she's not on my route) and I could tell by the look on her face that she was thinking "What the heck is SHE doing in the parade?"  Some people only know me as the lunch lady. 

·         Oh, and that other parade:  Yes, I know I meant to follow up on the long and interesting July 4th comments, but that topic wears me out.  Nutshell: we've got a month.  I am still hoping the firefighters and the town equipment will be there.  Stay tuned.

·         I have spent every non-holiday Monday morning for more than a year doing "office hours" at the Black Sheep.  Yet owner Nick Seamon decided that the best way to raise his concerns about the parking restrictions and street closure for the 250th picnic was in a letter to the Bulletin and by complaining during SB public comment.  Maybe I'm invisible?

·         Speaking of letters to the paper, I had a letter published in the Boston Globe a couple weeks ago.  A few years ago, I had one in the NY Times, but it was on a considerably less-weighty subject.

·         The SB has decided to meet twice in July and twice in August (with a possible third meeting 8/31 - scheduling gets a little weird then because of Labor Day.)  If this is successful and productive, I hope we might carry a bi-weekly schedule into the fall and beyond.  We'll see how that goes.  Of course, we met Monday after having last week off, and it was probably my most-clumsily chaired meeting yet, so maybe I need weekly meetings to keep my "skills" up.  Nah.

·         My weird, er, clever husband has turned the Town Meeting warrant into a word design again.  Available on t-shirts, mugs and more from CafePress.  Still time to get yours before TM resumes on the 15th.

·         I'm finding that Facebook is just enough to satisfy my low-intensity blogging urges (SB stuff here, pet pix and what I ate for lunch there,) so that got me thinking:  maybe I should add a Twitter feed to this site.  Surely I could stay more timely with 140-character posts.  But then I realized it would be a long series of:  "is at a meeting."  "is at another meeting."  "is leaving this meeting to go to my next meeting."  So never mind.

·         Last night, for the first time since I started attending SB meetings a couple years ago, I FORGOT to turn on my little digital voice recorder.  Don't know what happened, but I didn't realize it until about 45 minutes in, during the Town Manager's report.  That was bad enough, but I very nearly made it worse by uttering a naughty word when I noticed it.  Swearing on TV = to be avoided.  I may have to record the audio of that part from the ACTV streaming video,  just so there are no holes in my archive, but that might be a little too obsessive.  (Too obsessive?  Moi?)

·         Finishing on a serious note:  our budget situation is terrible.  We are $6.9 million dollars short of level services from FY09 - what it would cost next year (beginning 7/1) to fund everything we are currently funding this year.  That shortfall is equal to more than 10% of our budget.  This means tough cuts, using money from reserves, and pursuing every possible option for new revenue.  (Lots of nitty-gritty detail here.)  The Massachusetts Senate and House are working to reconcile their respective State budget proposals, which are devastating to aid for cities and towns.  (Did you know that the Senate version has only allocated a pittance of the proposed sales tax increase to local aid?  You might have thought the sales tax hike was going to "solve" our problems, but so far, no.)  This is why the local option taxes for meals and lodging are so crucial - they help to take our revenue fate out of the hands of the State, and let us decide as a community if these taxes are appropriate for us.  (And they are!  The meals tax in particular would allow us to reap some tax benefit from all those denizens of our vast non-taxable land supply - students.)  The local option taxes don't come close to solving this year's budget gap, but:  a) without them, we will have to cut more; b) it is an important tool to have going forward.  Please contact our local legislators - Senator Stan Rosenberg and Representative Ellen Story - and let them know that you urge their strong support for these local option taxes. 

As always, thanks for checking in, and for paying attention.

 Voted:

·         To approve the street closure request for Blue Hills Road, per the motion sheet, in a vote of 4 in favor, 1 absent (Weiss)

·         To approve the letter of support for the Open Space and Recreation Plan, in a vote of 4 in favor, 1 absent (Weiss)

·         Unanimously to approve the three Special Liquor Licenses for events at UMass and Hampshire College, and for the Taste of Amherst, per the motion sheet; also to approve the Special Liquor License for the 6/8 UMass event, per the motion provided

·         Unanimously to approve the following Select Board meeting dates:  Wednesday, July 8; Monday, July 27; Monday, August 10, Monday August 24 and Monday, August 31 (and agreed that the necessity of the 8/31 date would be reconsidered later in the summer)

Agreed, without votes:

·         To notify the Chamber of requests for event-related street closures and parking restrictions

·         To ask the Town Commercial Relations Committee to consider the issue of how requests for event-related street closures and parking restrictions affect downtown businesses, and to make a recommendation to the Select Board regarding how such requests might be handled

·         To clarify the parking and street closure information sought by the Chamber for the Taste of Amherst event, and to approve the request at the next meeting

·         To meet every Monday in June (and to do so at Town Hall on Mondays when Town Meeting is not in session,)  and to determine the necessity of meeting before each Town Meting session as those meetings progress

·         That the proposed summer work topics noted in Stephanie's 5/29 "Summer Meetings and Agendas" memo will be listed on agendas as reminders and to prompt status updates; those topics are FY09 Town Manager evaluation process and FY10 goal setting; consideration of a Select Board handbook; issues and details related to committees; a process for establishing SB priorities related to capital spending and CPA funds; exploration of options for aligning with other Western Mass. committees to advocate to the State legislature on regional concerns; a possible role for the Select Board in a revised personnel grievance procedure

·         That Diana will highlight key concepts in the draft minutes and that we will attach Stephanie's post-meeting list to each meeting's minutes

·         To make some changes to the packet process: to observe a firm 9:00 a.m. Friday deadline for submitting packet materials, and to either pick up the packets at Town Hall or to receive them by mail  (Stephanie will notify the board about pick-up availability details)

·         To be mindful about requests to have items prepared for our desks,  per staff time (Stephanie will monitor how this is going with staff in the office and let the Select Board know if changes are needed,) and per expectations of what the SB will do with the materials - i.e, if we are just receiving them, or if we have enough information to act on them that night, etc.

·         That Diana will consider incorporating suggested concepts into a revised draft of the committee appointment policy, including:  that reappointment decisions take into account committee needs; and a one vs. two committee policy and possible parameters for second appointments

Requested:

·         That Larry send out an e-mail to all staff, asking if anyone knows the locations of the Select Board parade banner and the original "Tree City USA" plaque

Items to be added to the 6/8 agenda:

·         Approval of parking and street closure request for the Taste of Amherst

·         Approval of the 4/27 minutes (which will incorporate an edit and highlighted key concepts, and will have the 4/27 post-meeting list attached)

·         Consideration of proposed ZBA charge changes

·         Taking positions on remaining warrant articles

Items to be added to a future agenda, not necessarily the next one:

·         Information about archiving and accessing Select Board materials

Materials to be brought back to the next meeting:

·         The collection of budget update materials John provided in our packets

·         The ZBA charge info that was on our desks

Issues not resulting in actions, and other topics considered:

·         Diana announced an upcoming joint meeting between the Planning Board and the Public Shade Tree Committee regarding planned road work on Sand Hill Road; and announced an upcoming author talk at the Unitarian Meetinghouse

·         Public Comment:  Nick Seamon expressed concern about the Select Board's handling of street closure and parking restriction requests

·         Dave Ziomek gave an update on the final steps necessary for completing the submission of the Open Space and Recreation Plan to the State, and the expectation to know about its acceptance in time for its inclusion in grant applications due July 15th

·         Town Manager's Report -- Larry reported on:

·         the Memorial Day parade and ceremony

·         a budget presentation he made to the Amherst Club and his willingness to speak to any group on that subject

·         ongoing meetings about the budget with employees

·         the status of the Police and Fire Chief search committees (the application period for internal candidates has closed; applications will be reviewed, interviews will take place, and applicants will be asked to solve a strategic problem)

·         the completion of the Kendrick Park Committee's work, their recent wrap-up picnic, and plans to present their report to the Select Board after Town Meeting

·         the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission's public hearing on rail service (and noted that a small data sample collected so far by the Town on Amherst train station users splits about 60% - people 18-25, and 40% - 55 and over); and a planned meeting with PVPC Director Tim Brennan to discuss increasing Amherst's involvement in PVPC's work on all subjects

·         the Governor's community budget forum hosted by Secretary Greg Bialecki

·         events marking  the retirement of Lorna Peterson from Five Colleges Inc, and the departure of Esther Terry from UMass for a position at another school

·         the Health Department's screening and discussion of "Unnatural Causes"

·         being interviewed about the budget and human services funding on WMUA's program, Focus

·         attending the Fort River Festival

·         John Musante provided an update on the current State budget situation  and on the Finance Committee's recommendations for Town Meeting on budgets and reserve use; he recommended continued advocacy with State legislators to support local option taxes and to oppose making municipal health care plan changes subject to binding arbitration

·         Larry restated the swimming pool situation: that this summer, War Memorial Pool will not open, the Mill River swimming and wading pools will be open, that Groff Park wading pool will be open; and that in FY10, Town use of the Middle School swimming pool will not be funded

·         Alisa had no new status to report on the Town's Annual Report

·         Alisa gave an update on the work of the committee studying K-12 school regionalization, and the committee's goal of having information available for the FY11 budget discussions; she reported on the recent discussion at AIC in Springfield on the subject, and noted the value of having the Hadley Superintendent be the new President of the Massachusetts Superintendents Association

·         Gerry gave an update on the work of the Police Chief Search Committee, praised its members and its process, and expressed confidence that the group would offer an informed and thoughtful recommendation

·         Alisa gave an update on the Hadley parade:  that the order in which we will be located in the parade is set, but whether participating SB members walk or ride is our option (info about the location/existence of a Select Board parade banner is being sought; determination of how we will participate may be announced at the next meeting)

·         It was reaffirmed that the Select Board would like to see a compromise from the Parade Committee that would allow Town vehicle use in the Fourth of July parade

Voted:

·         Unanimously in a single vote to approve the "Save Our Stop" Rail Service task force charge, with slight amendments, and to grant the task force Special Municipal Employee status

·         Unanimously to approve the proposal for distributing emergency shelter and fuel funds from the Waxman case with slight amendments

·         Unanimously to recommend the Town Manager's Town Budget as presented at the 5/11 meeting (recognizing that the recommendation is based on current - 5/18 - State aid information and expectations, and reserving the right to amend the recommendation regarding funding for the War Memorial Pool at our 6/1 meeting, should State aid allow for cuts only at the Tier 2 level, rather than the expected Tier 3 or 4 levels)

·         Unanimously to approve the Special Liquor License for a UMass event, per the motion sheet

·         Unanimously to approve the April Select Board Report

Agreed, without votes:

·         That SB members would offer comments to Dave Ziomek about the Open Space and Recreation Plan by e-mail, and copy the Select Board; that the SB will schedule another discussion of the OSRP for the 6/1 meeting, to address any significant disagreements about policy; that a letter in support of the plan will be drafted for consideration at that meeting (we didn't discuss this, but Stephanie will do this unless someone else wants to)

·         That until the SOS Task Force is listed on the Citizen Activity Form, applicants should use one of the blank spaces on the CAF to indicate interest in that body

·         That the SB continues to support not allowing Town equipment in the Fourth of July Parade, unless the Parade Committee opens up participation to all comers; that if that committee changes its policy this year, the SB supports Larry allowing Town equipment; that SB members can march in the parade at their option, without any official banners or other such accoutrements

·         That Alisa and Diana would research the technicalities of amending the ZBA's charge to include information about the one-year terms for Associate Members, and bring a recommendation to the Select Board; and that they will bring a recommendation to us regarding an individual's desire to be reappointed for one year of a three-year term; that SB members would consider and comment at the next meeting on Diana's draft reappointment policy from last week (which she will re-send to us, to make sure we all have it)

·         That Alisa will bring a recommendation to the 6/1 meeting regarding how participating Select Board members will be conveyed (by float, car or foot) in the Hadley 350th parade, June 14th

·         That it sure would be nice if a private donor or donors contributed the $41,000 needed to run the pool this year, and to do so by June 1st, so that it could be expected to open by July 1st

Requested:

·         That the SB be notified when the current placeholder sections of the OSRP are finished and available on the Town's web site

·         Not directly, but by implication: that the SOS Task Force be added to the CAF as soon as possible

·         That future updates on any neighborhood's use of private security include information about how that arrangement is positively or negatively impacting the workload of the Police Department

·         Not directly, but by implication:  that both the original Tree City USA plaque and the mythical Select Board parade banner be located (the sense being that someone on staff may know where these are stored)

Items to be added to 6/1 agenda:

·         Follow-up discussion on the OSRP and consideration of a draft support letter

·         Summer meeting dates and agenda plans (postponed due to the late hour)

·         Consideration of a draft committee reappointment policy

Items to be added to a future agenda, not necessarily the next one:

·         ZBA charge and reappointment details

Materials to be brought back to the next meeting:

·         None

Issues not resulting in actions and other topics considered:

·         Public Comment:  Dave Keenan spoke about a plan he will submit to help provide heating assistance to low-income residents in the form of firewood, and spoke in support of funding the War Memorial Pool.  Rob Kusner spoke in support of using the Mutual Aid Agreement as a way of achieving cost-savings via increased collaboration between the Town and UMass police departments.  Larry Kelley spoke in support of allowing Town equipment in the Fourth of July Parade.  Carol Gray spoke in support of funding the War Memorial Pool and urged that budget cuts be distributed fairly across all departments.

·         Town Manager's Report:  Talked about an informal survey being conducted to gather information form passengers at the Amherst Amtrak station, and the intent to present some of that info at the 5/20 meeting on local rail service at the Clarion Hotel in Northampton.  Reported on the Kendrick Park Committee's final report to be issued at a picnic (at Kendrick Park, 5:30 p.m. on 5/20) and the plan to present that to the Select Board at an upcoming meeting.  Informed us about and invited our participation in the Memorial Day Parade:  starting at 9:30 a.m. at Boltwood Avenue and Spring St., and ending with a 10:00 ceremony at the War Memorial Pool. Provided an update about on-going discussions with PVTA about Route 32.  Provided an update on neighborhood concerns relating to properties on Amity and East Pleasant Streets, and on the use of a private security firm by the North Prospect St. neighborhood.  Announced the 5/19 Community Budget Forum with Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki, at  6:30 p.m. in the Town Room.  Gave an update on the Fourth of July Parade, and sticking to the decision to not allow Town equipment to be used unless the Parade Committee allows participation by all who wish to march.

·         Alisa said that the Annual Report is still being edited, and that once done, it doesn't require SB or other approval, and it will be posted on the Town web site.

·         Liaison & Representative Reports:  Diana talked about the Public Shade Tree committee, and tree planting efforts including those by the Girl Scouts.  Stephanie talked about the Campus and Community Coalition and bylaws adopted recently by Belchertown and Hadley, aimed at deterring problem behaviors often exhibited by college students.  Alisa talked about the 250th committee and recent picnic on the Common.  Gerry talked about the Committee on Homelessness' reconsideration of its original vote on the proposal for distribution of the Waxman funds, and their interest in using some of that money to provide permanent shelter.

Voted:

·         Unanimously, that Aaron would represent the Select Board in Kanegasaki, Japan (Gerry had been nominated last week, but found he had a scheduling conflict)

·         Unanimously to approve the Town Manager's appointment of David Webber to the Planning Board, for a term to expire June 30, 2010, filling the unexpired term of Susan Pynchon

Agreed, without votes:

·         To seek to adjourn Town Meeting to June 15th instead of June 1st, to allow more time to learn State budget details, so as to better inform budget recommendations and the Finance Committee's report to Town Meeting; and to let Town Meeting members know that they might possibly receive that report with less than the usual two-weeks advance time

·         To cancel the Select Board meetings scheduled before Town Meeting sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays leading up to June 15th, and to change the location of the Monday meetings to Town Hall

·         To affirm the recent decision that we will not meet the week of Memorial Day

·         That Stephanie will consider Aaron's proposed changes to Diana's draft committee term expiration e-mail, incorporate them as she sees fit, and coordinate with Judith so that those can go out this week or next

·         That Stephanie would move to postpone Article 13 to after Article 30

Requested:

·         That the Town Manager's budget recommendation document be made available to Town Meeting members and the public as soon as possible, perhaps by posting it on the Town Web site

Items to be added to the 5/18 agenda:

·         Approve April Select Board Report (draft was not ready for this meeting)

Items to be added to a future agenda, not necessarily the next one:

·         Taking positions on the proposed Town budget and on a pending proposal for reserve use

Materials to be brought back to the next meeting:

·         None

Issues not resulting in actions:

·         Larry's Town Manager's report included:  an update on the progress of the Town's draft vehicle use policy; the swearing-in ceremony of the new UMass Police Chief and the opportunity for closer collaboration between the Amherst and UMass departments; active assistance to help Amherst College identify a partner for the Lord Jeff project;  the first meeting of the Fire and Police Chief search panels; participation in a forum about issues facing the schools; and participation in and attendance at multiple recent events (Ultimate tournament, Survival Center dunk tank, DPW retirement party; A Better Chance benefit)

Voted:

·         Unanimously to nominate Gerry as the Select Board's representative to Kanegasaki, Japan in October; he will think about it and let us know on Monday

Agreed, without votes:

·         To meet at 6:00 p.m. on 5/11, to allow enough time to discuss taking positions on the Town budget and a proposal for use of reserves, among other matters

·         That there should be one letter sent to people with expiring committee terms, expressing that reappointments are not automatic and terms are not limited; asking people to indicate their desire for or against reappointment (instead of one letter to likely reappointees, and another to those unlikely to be reappointed); that Aaron would offer his suggestions to Diana and Alisa for the next draft

·         That some sense of a policy on committee reappointments (if a first-termer would be get preference for a second term, and a new applicant would get preference over a second-termer seeking a third-term, and what criteria might preclude reappointment) is needed very soon; this is difficult to separate from the Committee Appointment Handbook, which we had agreed would be dealt with after Town Meeting, but Diana and Alisa will attempt a draft policy

·         That committee reappointment issues (letter, policy status, appointments) be a recurring agenda item over the next few weeks, due to the time-sensitivity of this subject

·         That the Select Board would consider over the summer if and how it wants to have a larger role in identifying priorities for Community Preservation Act funds, and to coordinate the discussion with the other relevant bodies; and that the issue would not be pursued for the FY10 proposals

Requested:

·         None

Items to be added to the 5/11 agenda:

·         Committee reappointment letter

Items to be added to a future agenda, not necessarily the next one:

·         Discussion of the Select Board role in identifying and advocating for potential Community Preservation Act funding priorities (summer)

Materials to be brought back to the next meeting:

·         None

Issues not resulting in actions:

·         Larry informed us about an ambulance accident that occurred earlier in the day, resulting in damage to the vehicle but no injuries to people

·         Larry announced a May 19th Community Forum to be held in Amherst, and moderated by Secretary Greg Bialecki of the Governor's administration, to discuss issues and ideas related to State revenues and their impact on local aid; additional time and location details to be announced

Voted:

·         To approve the two special liquor license applications, per the motion sheet, in a single vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Brewer)

·         To approve the appointments of Touria Eaton and Sally Fitz to the Agricultural Commission, and Margaret (Rachel) Hankinson to the Public Arts Commission, per the motion sheet, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Brewer)

·         To approve the letter supporting using Federal stimulus funds for the Manhan Rail Trail

Agreed, without votes:

·         That the draft minutes of 4/13 and 4/22 are too sparse and need more information (it was not discussed who would do this or how it would happen)

·         That additional discussion is needed about the Select Board's expectations of the handling of expiring committee terms (to clarify what we think our policy is, and how to communicate and implement that)

·         That additional discussion is needed regarding the Kanegasaki invitation (Stephanie said that she would not be able to accept the invitation; Gerry suggested that the SB reconsider its position in light of Anne Awad's letter; Diana said that an Asian affairs expert she consulted said it was important to accept the invitation)

·         That we will meet on Wednesday, May 6th, as scheduled

Requested:

·         Copies of the grant application materials for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, and reiterated the Select Board's request for more information about grants, in order to establish a standard grant review process

·         That Stephanie get clarification on what kind of recommendations/feedback the Finance Committee is looking for from the SB, per the BCG meeting

Items to be added to the 5/6 agenda (subject to change):

·         Discussion of the Kanegasaki invitation

·         Discussion of the process and communication for handling expiring committee terms

·         Also expected: presentation of Article 13 - Petition, Gas Tax

Items to be added to the 5/11 agenda (subject to change):

·         Budget issues:  Select Board recommendations for the Finance Committee; Select Board support for a reserve use proposal; discussion of CPA use for capital

Materials to be brought back to next meeting:

·         Draft committee term letters (from 5/4 packet)

·         Kanegasaki materials from 4/22 packet and Awad letter from our desks 4/27

Issues not resulting in actions:

·         Heard presentation from Dr. Barbara Love and Epi Bodhi of Health Department's work in learning from and educating Town staff about the role race, gender and class plays in public health.  Town officials, Town Meeting members and community members are encouraged to attend a May 19th event (flier was provided) at the Amherst Cinema featuring parts of the documentary "Unnatural Causes," and a dialogue among participants

·         Epi and Larry provided updates on the H1N1/Swine Flu situation, and Larry read an update from the State's Department of Public Health

·         Larry read Chief Scherpa's letter describing the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in to the record, as required for the grant application

·         Larry referenced the Committee on Homelessness' concerns about the proposed process for distributing funds from the Waxman case; those concerns will be addressed before the proposal comes to the Select Board for endorsement; in the meantime, use of those funds for emergency shelter and fuel assistance is at Larry's discretion

·         Diana spoke of a community service awards reception she attended, and praised the multitude of UMass students participating in community service through volunteering and course work

·         Unanimously to approve the taxi drivers licenses for Frank Orlando Jr. and Monique Santos, in a single vote, combining the motions provided (and correcting Mr. Orlando's address, which was right on the paperwork, but had an error in the motion.)

·         To recommend Article 19 - CPAC Open Space -- Johnson property, in a vote of 4 in favor, 1 abstention (Weiss); Aaron will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         To recommend Article 20 - CPAC Open Space - Olendzki property, in a vote of 4 in favor, 1 abstention (Weiss); Aaron will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         Unanimously to recommend Article 24, Reserve Fund; Diana will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         Unanimously to recommend Article 25 - Capital Program - Chapter 90; Gerry will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         Unanimously to increase fines for parking violations in bus stops, per the motion provided (amended to make the correction: "effective" May 30th)

·         Unanimously to approve the Special Liquor License for a UMass event, per the motion sheet

Agreed, without votes:

·         To sign the letter provided to the Select Board, in support of the block grant proposal made by the Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Collaborative

·         That any Select Board member interested in attending the Tree City USA Awards Conference on May 8th in Sturbridge, should contact Diana for more information

·         To defer a recommendation on Article 22 - FY10 Operating Budget

·         To defer a recommendation on Article 26 - Capital Program - Equipment

·         To defer a recommendation on Article 27 - Capital Program - Buildings & Facilities

·         To defer a recommendation on Article 29 - Free Cash

·         To defer a recommendation on Article 30 - Stabilization

·         To deal with revisions to the Appointed Committee Handbook after Town Meeting

·         That each SB member would look into the status of agenda and minutes web postings for the boards and committees to which we are liaison, and follow up with them directly

·         That we will sign a letter to MassHighway (to be provided by Rob Kusner) in support of federal stimulus money for completing the Manhan Rail Trail

Agreed, without votes, regarding the Select Board's Town Meeting plans:

·         That Select Board meetings held in the Music Room would be scheduled for 45 or 50 minutes, to allow us to get in to the auditorium on time

·         That meetings in the Music Room would not include public comment, and that if members of the public have an issue to address with us during that time, that they should call or e--mail us to see if we can otherwise accommodate them on the agenda

·         That while we hope to not have to meet before every TM session, we can't know yet which of those scheduled times won't be necessary, so we will keep all our currently-scheduled pre-TM meetings and decide at each one whether to keep or cancel the next one

·         That if Town Meeting doesn't meet on any of its scheduled dates, the Select Board would still meet on those Mondays (and would do so at Town Hall, rather than the ARMS Music Room) but would cancel any non-Monday meetings (including the 5/27 date, even though it is the only SB meeting scheduled that week)

·         That when speaking to Article 1, Diana will thank all the boards and committees, on behalf of the Select Board, whose work has served Town Meeting and contributed to the creation of the warrant articles

·         That the Select Board will receive the draft scripts ahead of time, so that we know the speaking order and motions for the articles (noted also as a request below)

·         That in the interest of efficiency, we will take a minimalist approach to speaking to recommendations on the articles, adding new or additional info when necessary, but otherwise letting "for all the reasons previously stated" suffice

Requested:

·         That the Audit Report information and 3rd quarter budget update be made available in the appropriate places on the Town web site

·         That Stephanie and Diana, as JCPC reps, be able to explain to Town Meeting why the Library and Town Hall maintenance work in the capital plan is not eligible for CPA funds

·         That we receive in our next packets a copy of the e-mail Gerry sent to the Housing Partnership/Fair Housing Committee with questions about how CPA funds might address the expiration of Rolling Green's affordability requirement in 2013, and the risk of the town's affordable housing stock falling below the 10% threshold

·         That the Select Board get copies in the next week or two of the new letters regarding expiring committee appointments  (Alisa and Diana are handling this)

·         That the Select Board get a copy of the letter we sent to committees about posting agendas and minutes on the web, and a copy of the status report on such postings that Mary Streeter had sent to us (Stephanie is handling this)

·         That information about the Health Department's May 19th social justice documentary screening and event be posted on the Town web site

·         That the Select Board receive the draft Town Meeting scripts ahead of time, so that we know the speaking order and motions for the articles (Stephanie will handle this or coordinate it with Kate)

·         That Alisa gets us more information about the Hadley 350th Parade, so we can decide whether to walk, be on a float, be in a classic car, etc.

·         That in the interest of saving paper, we no longer receive agendas, minutes and decisions of Planning Board, ZBA and  Design Review Board in our packets, and instead receive just their agendas by e-mail

Items to be added to the 5/4 agenda:

·         Signing the letter in support of Federal stimulus funds for completing the Manhan Rail Trail

·         Briefing on the Health Department's grant-funded work about how inequality affects health

·         Approval of the 4/13 and 4/22 minutes, distributed at this meeting

Items to be added to a future agenda, not necessarily for the next meeting:

·         Personnel Proposal discussion - postponed due to late hour and to allow for more research; Gerry will let Stephanie know when it is ready to be scheduled again

Materials to be brought back to the next meeting:

·         Draft minutes from 4/13 and 4/22

·         Unanimously to approve the March Select Board report

·         Unanimously to approve the appointment of Wm Levine to the Agricultural Commission, per the motion sheet

·         Unanimously to approve a Special Liquor License for a UMass event in May, per the motion sheet

·         Unanimously to approve the request for street closings and relaxed parking for the Community Fair, per the motion sheet

·         Unanimously to approve the street closings for the 250th Celebration picnic, per the motion provided (amended to include the name of the event)

·         Unanimously to recommend Article 12  - Petition - Special Act- Resident Aliens; Gerry will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         To recommend Motion 1 (Affordable Housing) of Article 18 - CPAC - Administrative, in a vote of 4 in favor, 1 abstention (Weiss); Alisa will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         To recommend Motion 2 (Historic Preservation) of Article 18 - CPAC - Administrative, in a vote of 4 in favor, 1 abstention (Weiss); Alisa will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         Unanimously to recommend Motion 3 (appraisals and surveys) of Article 18 - CPAC - Administrative; Alisa will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         Unanimously to recommend Motion 4 (CPA membership dues) of Article 18 - CPAC - Administrative; Alisa will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         To not recommend Article 23 - Petition - Human Services Budget, in a vote of 4 in favor, 1 abstention (Stein); Gerry will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         To not recommend Article 28 - Petition - 79 South Pleasant St., in a vote of 4 in favor, 1 absent (Aaron had recused himself); Stephanie will speak to this at Town Meeting

Agreed, without votes:

·         That Diana would send a letter (draft was provided) to the Governor, seeking money for the Solar Lunchbox Project -- solar panels for the cafeteria at the High School; that it would be signed by her and note that it is on behalf of the Select Board; that she will cc Representative Story, Senator Rosenberg, the Regional School Committee Chair, and Stephanie Ciccarello

·         That we would try a different order for asking questions  during the Town Manager's Report, doing so after each item with an eye toward saving bigger questions to the end

·         That Gerry would write a letter to the Housing Partnership/Fair Housing Committee regarding concerns about affordable housing stock falling below 10% and asking if CPA money should be prioritized to address this issue

·         To defer a recommendation on Article 13 - Petition - Gas Tax, until the motion language is available

·         That we would advocate as individuals for any of the State budget amendments we support, with the sense being that the SB as a body may not want to support all of them, and multiple calls from individuals may have more impact; and that we can continue to advocate as Select Board members for those issues we have already gone on record supporting, i.e., local option meals and lodging taxes, closing the telecom loophole and removing health care plan design from collective bargaining

·         That Stephanie should accept the invitation to Kanegasaki, Japan

Requested:

·         A copy of the Rail America PowerPoint presentation (this was not an actual request: Larry mentioned that he would send it to us if we wanted it, and we didn't follow up on that specifically, but I believe that we would like to have that, based on the level of interest all expressed in our rail corridor)

Items to be added to the 4/27 agenda:

·         Discussion of increasing fines for parking violations at bus stops (postponed because it required additional information)

·         Discussion of Gerry's Personnel Proposal memo (postponed due to the late hour)

·         Progress Report on Committee Reappointment Process (postponed due to the late hour)

·         Progress Report on Committee Agendas/Minutes Postings (postponed due to the late hour)

·         Other recurring Member Reports:  Liaison & Representative Reports; Annual Report Update; Hadley Parade Update; Chair's Report (postponed due to the late hour)

·         Approval of minutes (postponed because none were ready for approval)

Items to be added to a future agenda, not necessarily for the next meeting:

·         Discussion of Select Board participation in the Fourth of July Parade and an update on the parade situation

Materials to be brought to the next meeting:

·         Personnel Proposal memo

·         To sign the Annual Town Meeting Warrant, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss)

·         To approve the new all-alcohol liquor license for J's Cuisine, per the motion sheet, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss)

·         To approve the closing of the Spring St. Parking lot on Saturdays from May 2, 2009 to November 21, 2009 from 7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for the Farmers Market, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss)

·         To approve the bagging of three parking meters as shown on a map provided, for Extravaganja (4/25/09) per the motion sheet, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss)

·         To approve the closing of a block of Henry Street for the annual Cushman May Day celebration (5/2/09) per the motion sheet, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss)

·         To approve acceptance of the easement and gift parcel of Tietjen property on South East Street, per the motion provided by Dave Ziomek, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss)

·         To recommend to Town Meeting Article 21, Regional School District Assessment Method, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss); Alisa will speak to this at TM

·         To recommend to Town Meeting Article 5, Atkins Corner Right of Way Issues, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss); Aaron will speak to this at TM

·         To recommend to Town Meeting Article 1, Reports of Boards and Committees, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss); Diana will speak to this at TM

·         To recommend dismissal of Article 2, Transfer of Funds - Unpaid Bills, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss); Diana will speak to this at TM

·         To recommend to Town Meeting Article 3, Optional Tax Exemptions, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss); Stephanie will speak to this at TM

·         To recommend to Town Meeting Article 4, Authorization for Compensating Balances, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss); Stephanie will speak to this at TM

·         To recommend to Town Meeting parts A, B, C and F of Article 14, FY09 Budget Amendments, and to defer recommendations on parts D and E, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss); Diana will speak to this at TM

·         To recommend to Town Meeting Article 15, Accept MGL Ch. 32B, Sec. 18A - Medicare Enrollment for Retirees, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss); Diana will speak to this at TM

·         To recommend to Town Meeting Article 16, Retirement Assessment, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss); Alisa will speak to this at TM

·         To recommend to Town Meeting Article 17, Regional Lockup Assessment, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss); Alisa will speak to this at TM

·         To approve the appointments of Dan Lee and Victoria Oliva to the Human Rights Commission, per the motion sheet, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss)

·         To approve the amended Special Liquor License for a 4/6/09 UMass event, per the motion sheet, in a vote of 4-0, 1 absent (Weiss)

Agreed, without votes:

·         That the Select Board was pleased with and appreciative of Larry's progress and accomplishments thus far on the FY09 Performance Goals (from 2/3/09 memo)

Requested:

·         That the Select Board be updated on the how the Spring Street sidewalk work will or will not affect the Farmers Market, once that is known

·         That the Select Board's Town Manager Goals memo and the Town Manager's Update on Goals memo both be posted on the SB page of the Town web site

·         That a copy of the draft JCPC list of recommended FY10 capital funding, and the tiered list what wouldn't get funded at different levy percentage levels, be included in the SB packets for 4/22

·         That if there is a list available of communities that received Federal Transportation Stimulus money for non-TIP projects, Diana would like a copy

Items to be added to the 4/22 agenda:

·         Discussion of the Personnel Proposal, which was postponed so all could be present for that

·         Discussion of the invitation to Kanegasaki, Japan, which is being continued from the 4/13 meeting, to give people a chance to think about it before a decision is made

·         Consideration of the Draft March Select Board Report, which was postponed because not everyone had a chance to read it

·         Approval of the 4/6 meeting minutes, postponed because they were not ready yet

Items to be added to a future agenda, not necessarily for the next meeting:

·         Nothing

Materials to be brought to the next meeting:

·         Personnel Proposal, originally in the 4/6 packet

·         Draft Select Board Report, originally in the 4/13 packet

·         Sent the SB an April Fools e-mail last week, about how I was going to start tightening up agendas by scheduling items in shorter increments, using a stopwatch to keep time, and speaking faster as necessary.  Apparently, it was all too in keeping with my, um, orderly style of meeting management, and no one knew it was a joke.  Should I worry?

·         Stan Rosenberg's annual municipal conference was Saturday at the Clarion in Northampton.  This was my second time.  Fascinating presentation of info from a Franklin County study on school regionalization (PowerPoint available here.)  No good news in the session on Federal Stimulus.  Others went to the Municipal Relief session, and if there was anything hopeful there, I'm sure I would have heard about it by now.  Senate President Therese Murray ended the conference with her keynote about how utterly broke the State is, and how the fiscal picture seems to get worse every day.  I think the whole thing depressed me, even though this wasn't exactly new information.  I went home and took a long nap.

·         Nice League of Women Voters event last Friday evening at the Amherst Woman's Club.  It was a joint celebration of the Town's 250th birthday, the League's 70th birthday and publication of the seventh edition of "Your Amherst Government."  The new edition doesn't seem to be on the web site yet, but the previous edition is here.  Like all the League publications, the new one is a tremendous resource, and so well done. 

·         On the subject of cool local links, have you checked out Digital Amherst yet?  Great info.  Or how about Alison Donta-Venman's Amherst By the Numbers blog?  She was Chief Data Cruncher for the Facilitation of Community Choices Committee, and she really knows her way around a spreadsheet.

·         The Red Sox head to the West Coast later this week, and Monday's Oakland game is at 10:05 p.m.  Last night's SB meeting ended at 10:04 - warrant articles! - so if next week is similar, I'll still see the game.

·         Is it just me, or does Dave Keenan seem to be in the paper all the time these days?  What's up with that? 

·         The warrant review meeting was Friday morning (not the League/TMCC one - the one with Town Counsel, the Moderator, Fin Com Chair, etc.)  It was primarily to familiarize everyone with what's on there and to identify any questions or problems.  We also tweaked things a little bit, trying to give the optimal order to articles so that the budget consideration can start June 1st.  We're down to 30 articles total, with 20 to do before the budget.  The current draft article list is here.  The SB signs the warrant next Monday, 4/13.

·         Last night's Select Board meeting featured a visit from a noisy drunk guy.  When he first came in to the Town Room, it seemed like he might be doing maintenance or setting something up - he was carrying a bunch of stuff, and seemed to be unpacking it.  But he got a little stranger and noisier, so Larry went to check it out.  Just a drunk guy doing who knows what, and "waiting for a friend."  Larry asked him to wait in the hall, but eventually he came back in.  He was sitting quietly for a while, but started making noises again.  You can hang out at SB meetings to your heart's content (heck, I did...) but you can't be disruptive.  Another wacky Monday night at Town Hall. 

·         Perhaps the best news I've heard lately:  Larry is in discussions with Cooley-Dickinson to open an emergency room or urgent care facility in Amherst.  Imagine!  Think about how far away CDH is from here, especially in traffic on Rte. 9 and on Damon Road in Northampton.  Lucky us - and MANY thanks! - for our amazing EMS folks, but what a difference to have local emergency care.  I'm thinking about how great that would be for seniors - and it would help make Amherst an even more attractive retirement community.  It would really be a major quality of life enhancement for all of us, and I am excited about this possibility. 

·         Are you a local artist?  The Public Arts Commission is seeking proposals for art to be displayed in Town Hall and to decorate the columns in the Boltwood Garage.  Click here for details.  If you do the columns, you have to be prepared for people to mar your work by accident, with their car doors and mirrors.  Don't ask me how I know this.

·         To elect Stephanie as Chair, in a vote of 4 in favor, 1 absent (Brewer)

·         Unanimously to keep the system of rotating the Vice Chair position alphabetically among members on a monthly basis

·         Unanimously to elect Aaron as Clerk

·         Unanimously to approve the Common Victualler's License for J's Cuisine, per the motion sheet

·         Unanimously to proclaim April 25, 2009 Arbor Day in Amherst

·         Unanimously to authorize the flying of the Children's Memorial Flag in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, per the motion provided

·         Unanimously to elect Gerry as Select Board representative to the Police Chief search panel

·         Unanimously to elect Aaron as Select Board representative to the Fire Chief Search panel

·         Unanimously to recommend the zoning bylaw article on Taxi Services; Alisa will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         To recommend the zoning bylaw article on the Municipal Parking District, in a vote of 3 in favor, 2 opposed (Weiss, Stein); Aaron will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         Unanimously to recommend the zoning bylaw article on B-G & B-VC Lot Frontage; Gerry will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         Unanimously to include the Select Board in the Mullin Rule article

·         Unanimously to recommend the article on the Mullin Rule; Alisa will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         Unanimously to recommend the article to rescind the General Bylaws, Article IV, Housing Review Board; Diana will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         Unanimously to recommend the article amending the Town's Human Rights Bylaw; Gerry will speak to this at Town Meeting

·         Unanimously in a single vote to approve the four special wine and malt liquor licenses as detailed on the motion sheet

·         To approve the minutes of the March 16th and 23rd meetings, in a single vote, of 3 in favor, 2 abstaining (Brewer, O'Keeffe)

Agreed, without voting:

·         To separate the taking of minutes from the Clerk's position, which had been a recent arrangement based on convenience

·         To find an alternative to Select Board members doing the minutes, because it hinders full participation

·         That the BID presentation on Friday at 9:00 a.m. at Amherst Cinema would be informational and not deliberative, so potential attendance of a Select Board quorum is not an Open Meeting Law concern

Requested:

·         That Larry consider options for staff handling of Select Board minutes

·         That the proposal for distribution of emergency shelter and fuel assistance funds from the Waxman case be considered by the Committee on Homelessness before coming to the Select Board for endorsement

·         That the Select Board be informed of the Town's plans, once they are formalized, for better coordination of information and service referrals in eviction cases

·         Informally, to learn if the new score board planned for donation at Community Field will be solar-powered

·         More information about how and where retiree benefits are accounted for in the budget, with an emphasis on making the budget presentation as logical as possible

Items to be added to the 4/13 agenda:

·         Personnel Proposal (postponed due to the late hour)

·         Member Reports: JCPC Update, Municipal Breakfast Reports, Annual Report Update, Hadley Parade Update, Liaison & Representative Reports (postponed due to the late hour)

·         Chair's Report (postponed due to the late hour)

·         Consideration of draft March Select Board Report (wasn't completed in time for this meeting)

Items to be added to a future agenda, not necessarily 4/13:

·         None

Materials to be brought back to the next meeting:

·         Personnel Proposal document

COLLABORATION

It was and is a core principle of mine that the Select Board's authority - and capacity for leadership - rests with its ability to work together effectively.  As individual members we have no power.  To me, this means a bunch of things.

We can't be blazing our own trails outside of meetings.  It is easy to think of egregious ways that this can happen, but being vigilant about keeping it from happening in small and inadvertent ways is even more challenging.  I try to check myself on this constantly - especially in the Chair's role - in dealing with staff, in expressing myself in "official" e-mails or letters, to the media, or on this site, and especially, in dealing with the Town Manager.  I also try to keep my colleagues mindful of this.  Each of us undeniably has influence, and we have to channel that influence responsibly - through the full board.  I feel good about how we're doing with this. 

Disagreeing is important; agreeing is more important.  Sharing our thoughts on issues is vital.  Vigorous discussion helps to challenge and clarify our positions.  But at the end of that discussion, we need a Select Board position.  Sometimes that's the majority view.  Other times, it's taking a step back from specifics to refocus on the broader concept on which we have consensus.  Either way, it is directing the forward momentum toward the body's point of larger agreement.  To each of our credit, I think we are doing that admirably.  For sure, sometimes it is necessary - in order to stay true to ourselves and those of like-minds whom we represent - to go on record emphatically opposing the SB's position.  But even then, we do it respectfully and collegially, and then we move on.  The tone of the Select Board is very positive, and though we have a wide spectrum of strongly-held beliefs, we are working well together.  This impresses me.

External collaborations:  There are other bodies with which we need to collaborate, including "formal" ones like other committees, and informal ones, like the business community.  It is tougher to judge how we're doing with this on a large scale, but in general, it feels pretty good.  We interact with other committees mostly at entities like Budget Coordinating Group and Joint Capital Planning Committee (and I am on both) and those seem pretty positive.  As within our own body, it doesn't mean we and they are always agreeing, but it does mean that our work feels productive.   We deal with the business community through licensing, through responsiveness to concerns (parking, permitting, zoning, etc.) through committee liaisonships (Town Commercial Relations Committee, Promoting Downtown Amherst) and through attending events, like Chamber breakfasts.   I think we're doing pretty well with all of this stuff.  We can do more and better, no doubt, but I think we're doing OK.  To really know for sure, one would need to ask reps from the various groups how they view their relationship with the Select Board.  They are unlikely to give me (or the press) an unvarnished answer. 

Town Manager collaboration:  This might be our most complicated and important relationship.  It is complicated for lots of reasons, particularly because the Amherst Town Government Act leaves, oh, a fair bit of room for interpreting the responsibilities and jurisdictions of each position.  Add politics and the evolving sensibilities of the town and the Select Board, and this is not a simple thing.  In general, I would say that we and he are doing pretty well with this.  Larry has been very responsive to concepts put forth with clarity by the Select Board, despite having to endure some protracted efforts to establish that clarity.  The more we try to speak with one voice, the easier it is for him; and the more he reinforces that only the singular voice of the body can direct him, the easier it is for all of us.  He's been Town Manager for three years.  In that time, 4 of the 5 Select Board members who hired him have gone, and he has had to deal with three different Chairs.  His management of the town can't wait for our individual and group learning curves.  All things considered, I think he's handling this very well, and we're all doing the best we can to make a weird system work.

PRIORITIZATION

To me, prioritization means directing the appropriate amount of time and energy to issues relative to their importance in a larger context.  It involves a lot of balance - between things we need to react to, and things we want to prepare for; and between things that are important to one of us versus things that are important to the group.  It needs to happen across and within meetings, and it needs to consider both the short term and the big picture.

Agendas:  I feel that we are working with a better-defined structure of what happens when.  We now have a master calendar that helps us to plan and incorporate recurring issues across the year.  We have given increased time and attention to primary responsibilities such as the budget and improving our Town Manager evaluation and goal-setting process.  I try to appropriately time agenda items and then guide those discussions productively at the meetings.  I am generally pretty satisfied with how meetings are going.

Judgment calls:  Priorities are in the eye of the beholder.  My attempts to balance my priorities with those of other members feels OK to me, but my colleagues might feel differently.  Some members of the public think we're spending way too much time on X and not nearly enough time on Y.  I think this is the nature of the beast.

Still far to go:  Do I think everything we address is a high priority, or that we deal with each issue optimally?  HA!  But I feel like we are proceeding purposefully and I hope we're getting better as we go along. 

INFORMATION

Providing more information about how Town government works has been my purpose since being elected to Town Meeting three years ago.  (I can't decide now if that seems like a very long or very short time ago...)  People need to know what's going on in order to care about, participate in, and monitor their government. 

Concrete progress:  I am very proud of what the SB has accomplished in this area.  Some of the big stuff:  our packets are now on the Town web site, so the public can see the same info we have; our agendas note key upcoming issues, events and topics; we have made expanded Town Manager Reports a significant element of each meeting; we put forth formal memos detailing our budget policies and our goals for the Town Manager; we are giving higher priority to our committee liaison and representative reports at meetings; we are issuing monthly written reports of our work.  Also, internal information sharing has improved, via the post-meeting list, which summarizes the results of each meeting.  This is distributed to the Select Board office, Select Board members and the Town Manager the day after (usually) each meeting, to ensure that everyone has the necessary information, and to see if we all interpreted the outcomes and expectations the same way (and if not, we know to readdress them at the next meeting.) All good, and again, still more to do.

The flip side:  Ironically, I have been able to provide less info on my web site.  Partially, this is due to time and logistics - really, something has to give.  But partially, it's also because my "voice" has had to change - first, by being elected, and again, on becoming Chair.  Because I'm committed to collaboration as the best path for being productive, that stifles my inner critic -- it's tough to be collaborative and critical at the same time.  This doesn't mean I haven't expressed disagreement with what we're doing or how we're doing it - I do both, here and in meetings - but it does mean keeping that stuff in perspective. Among the biggest adjustments has been accepting that sometimes it's better to keep my mouth shut.

So that's a little check on how my campaign intentions compare to the reality.  What about other elements of this "job?"

THINGS I'VE LEARNED

There are more moving parts to all of this than people can possibly know.  While "full sunshine" seems like the goal for good government, it oversimplifies the reality.  Sometimes plans and projects would be compromised by making too much information available too soon.  Sometimes information is sensitive for other reasons.  We want this to be black and white:  "The taxpayers have a right to know!"  But it is grayer than that.  Unfortunately, with so many outrageous examples of corruption and waste in government, some people assume that's the norm for all government.  That is sad.  And annoying.

It is easier to criticize how things work than to make them work better.  This is true on its face, but even more so when you consider the structure of how things work.  This is my "it would be different if I were Queen" refrain.  Buy-in and agreement are required for everything, and what seems like a brilliant and obvious idea to you will surely seem outrageous and stupid to someone else - someone whose help you need to make it happen.  Governing by fiat and decree would be easy; democracy and - here's that word again - collaboration - are much tougher.  And that's a good thing.  (Or so I keep telling myself...)

Few people see an issue from other than their own perspective.  I understand this.  Really I do.  But it is among the biggest frustrations of this position.  Whether you think your issue is the greatest crisis facing the town, or whether you think your opinion is demonstrably "right," for me, it is just another on a long and often contradictory list.  Good politicians can make you feel like they share your priority and pain.  I am not a good politician.        

My inclination is to trust.  Too much.  You can probably point to a hundred examples of it on my TM blog, the inAmherst site, and here:  I defer to committees and to staff, assuming that their processes and expertise are sound.  My expectation is that things are under control, that details are being attended to, and that stuff works the way it's supposed to.  Some people I deal with are the opposite, and tend to doubt anything that isn't proven to them.  Reality - surprise! - is somewhere in the middle.  I'm still trying to figure out how to handle this.   

Don't believe everything you read.  Not here.  Not on other blogs.  Not in the newspaper.  There is a startling amount of error, omission and misinformation out there.  A lot of it is minor, but not all of it.  I decided early on that I would just look picky and defensive if I tried to correct every detail I knew to be wrong.  So instead, I just laugh. 

This isn't supposed to be a full-time job.  How people hold down real employment at the same time they serve on the Select Board is a mystery to me.  Or maybe I let the position, particularly as Chair, expand to fill the time available.  But that isn't how this is supposed to be.  I still don't know what parts I should not do, or do less of, but I am finding a better balance between SB stuff and regular life in the last couple months. 

Policy is elusive.  Everyone agrees that the Select Board is the Town's policy-making authority.  No one seems to agree what "policy" actually is.  Or isn't.  There is a lot of overlap with actions, decisions, procedures, details and opinions.  And there is a lot of murkiness as to appropriate areas of policy jurisdiction.  Gaining clarity and making progress in this area is the big challenge for the next year.

Focus on the positive.  I was going to include a section about the things I've screwed up, wish I'd done differently, didn't do at all or otherwise regret.  Nah.  Bad karma.  

Your feedback is most welcome.  And as always, thank you for paying attention.

Voted:

·         Unanimously to approve the taxi licenses for Michael McCarthy and Jan Sobiech, per the motion sheet

·         Unanimously to approve the design concept dated 11/4/08 for the Food For Thought section of the North Pleasant Street sidewalk and adjacent parking spaces, per the motion sheet and contingent on the Public Transportation and Bicycle Committee's review of the bump-out

·         Unanimously to approve the Cottage Street Parking Changes per the motion sheet

·         Unanimously to approve designating the DPW as the Town's permitting authority for trenches, per MGL 82A, Section 2, 520 CMR 14.00

·         Unanimously to approve setting the trench permit fee at $35

·         Unanimously to approve reducing fees for three other permits to the following amounts:  Driveway Permits - $50; Drainage Permits - $100; Street Opening Permits - $100.

·         Unanimously to endorse the PVPC Joint Transportation Committee's 3/18 letter to the Governor encouraging a more equitable distribution of economic stimulus funds (Stephanie will write and sign a brief letter expressing the Select Board's support, to be sent to the Governor and other key legislators, attaching a copy of the 3/18 letter)

·         Unanimously to authorize the DPW's installation of temporary lane closures on Lincoln Ave. and Sunset Ave. (per the PowerPoint printout from our packet:  Figure 9 - Half Closure Option) to evaluate their effectiveness for traffic calming, prior to September 8, 2009

Agreed, without voting:

·         That Alisa is our unofficial liaison to the Hadley 350th Parade; that she will file a "placeholder" application by the 4/3 deadline for the Select Board's participation; that she would check to see about the possibility of SB members riding in convertibles in the parade, instead of on a float; and that she will report back with additional relevant information

·         That the Select Board's request at the 3/16 meeting for ten years of employee compensation information would be subsumed by the Budget Coordinating Group's efforts to determine optimal data to be collected across Town, School and Library budgets, which will occur as soon as possible following Town Meeting 

·         That the Select Board should have copies of the draft town-wide traffic calming policy to consider and offer comment on as part of the feedback process; that the draft should be analyzed and reviewed by the the Public Works Committee, the Public Transportation and Bicycle Committee, and the Disability Access Advisory Committee; that public comment should be sought through public meetings (meetings seeking public participation - not merely posted public committee meetings) and other mechanisms (such as the Town web site) and that the resulting feedback should inform the recommendation that is ultimately brought to the Select Board (Guilford indicated that such input-gathering could be completed by the end of the public school year, and that either a proposal or a status update could be ready for the Select Board in July.)

Requested:

·         That the approved Cottage Street parking changes be reviewed for effectiveness with a report back to the Select Board by June 30th

·         That UMass be amply notified of the lane closure planned for Lincoln and Sunset, so that students and staff can be made aware that this will occur at the beginning of the school year in the fall

Items to be added to the 4/6 agenda:

·         Approval of the 3/16 minutes (postponed, because they had not yet been read)

Items to be added to a future agenda, not necessarily 4/6:

·         Consideration of the proposed revisions to the Committee Liaison Policy (postponed because several members haven't dealt with it yet)

Materials to be brought back to next meeting:

·         None, as of now; once the agenda is set, that may change