Town Hall is closed today (December 19, 2008) in anticipation of the considerable snow and wind predicted. The decision to close was strongly influenced by the experience from last year when the Town, School, University and Amherst College all shut down mid day during a snow storm, releasing all their employees at the same time causing massive gridlock on Route 9. The Town could not get its ambulances back from the hospital and the plows could not move in Hadley. This year, the Town, University, Amherst College, Town of Hadley and the School District all communicated and coordinated their responses to the anticipated snow storm thereby avoiding the problems of generating significant traffic in the teeth of the storm.
The Town of Amherst and the Town of Hadley have come to an agreement in principle for the provision of ambulance service by Amherst for the people of Hadley. The discussion was at times difficult but important. Total revenue in fiscal year 2010 should be approximately $400,000.00 for just over 700 ambulance calls to Hadley. That revenue along with the stability that a three year agreement provides, allows Amherst to adequately plan and prepare for the
future needs of the Amherst Fire Department. I appreciate the Town of Hadley for all the hard work it invested in making this partnership work.
I attended the Holiday Party hosted by Chancellor Holub of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. It was a great event. The University is facing extremely difficult budgetary issues. It would be naive for the town to think that those budgetary challenges will not affect Amherst. It is important that Amherst support the University as it takes action to meet the budgetary challenges.
I met with Tony Marx, President of Amherst College on Thursday, December 18th. President Marx and Amherst College are also facing considerable challenges that would have been unthinkable six months ago. But the world has changed and even those institutions with the greatest resources have been rendered cautious by the recent economic crisis. Given that, I am very impressed with President Marx's commitment to fully pursue the Lord Jeffery Inn renovation next year.
Best wishes to all of you for a wonderful holiday.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
THANKSGIVING
With the recent passing of Thanksgiving, it is time to say thank you to those who made this
year 's celebration one to remember. Over the last decade, Nancy Pagano, Director of the Amherst Senior Center, has organized and conducted a Thanksgiving Day feast at the Bangs Center. Nancy, along with her many terrific volunteers, prepares a wonderful Thanksgiving Day feast for those who can not get out of their homes and for those who have no place to go for the day. To give of her time and to make this incredible effort speaks volumes to her commitment to the community. So Nancy, thank you for showing us the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
I am also grateful to Susan Strate of the Donahue Institute of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Through her hard work and advocacy, the Census Bureau has approved a challenge to the Town of Amherst census count for 2007. Consequently, the Town of Amherst has increased it's total population to 35,967 or an increase of 1,687. The increase is a result of changes in the group quarter counts. The increase should help in those formulaic grants contingent upon population.
The Fire Department has recently received very exciting news about a grant in the amount of approximately $250,000.00. That funding will be utilized, in part, for fire safety and fire prevention enhancements. I am grateful for Chief Hoyle's efforts to secure this important grant.
year 's celebration one to remember. Over the last decade, Nancy Pagano, Director of the Amherst Senior Center, has organized and conducted a Thanksgiving Day feast at the Bangs Center. Nancy, along with her many terrific volunteers, prepares a wonderful Thanksgiving Day feast for those who can not get out of their homes and for those who have no place to go for the day. To give of her time and to make this incredible effort speaks volumes to her commitment to the community. So Nancy, thank you for showing us the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
I am also grateful to Susan Strate of the Donahue Institute of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Through her hard work and advocacy, the Census Bureau has approved a challenge to the Town of Amherst census count for 2007. Consequently, the Town of Amherst has increased it's total population to 35,967 or an increase of 1,687. The increase is a result of changes in the group quarter counts. The increase should help in those formulaic grants contingent upon population.
The Fire Department has recently received very exciting news about a grant in the amount of approximately $250,000.00. That funding will be utilized, in part, for fire safety and fire prevention enhancements. I am grateful for Chief Hoyle's efforts to secure this important grant.
Have a great weekend.
Larry
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