Amherst Town, MA

Town Council

The Amherst Town Council is holding a work session to discuss the Hampshire Campus Zoning Study, including a consultant presentation and general dialogue. Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per resident, and the Council will not engage in dialogue during that time. The agenda is otherwise procedural, with no votes or decisions scheduled.

• Consultant presentation on Hampshire Campus Zoning Study
• General discussion on zoning matters
• Public comment period (2 minutes per resident)

Cherry Hill Working Group

The Amherst Town Cherry Hill Working Group will meet remotely on August 31, 2026, to discuss updates from the Recreation Director and the June 2nd voted motion. The group will review 'Winter @ Cherry Hill' plans, potential community partners, and the final report. No specific dollar amounts or new ordinances are listed on the agenda.

• Review of voted motion from June 2nd meeting
• Discussion of 'Winter @ Cherry Hill' plans
• Review of potential community partners
• Friends Group follow-up
• Final Report discussion

Amherst Housing Authority

Amherst School Committee

Board of Health

Planning Board

Public Art Commission

Public Art Commission

Jones Library Budget and Investment Committee

The Budget and Investment Committee of the Amherst Town Jones Library is meeting virtually to review the FY2025 audit and discuss the FY2026 and FY2027 budgets. They will also consider a Memorandum of Agreement with the Trustees/Friends and receive reports on the Friends' Annual Fund and Capital Campaign. This is a working session with no votes scheduled on the listed items.

• FY2025 Audit review
• FY2026 Budget discussion
• FY2027 Budget discussion
• Trustee/Friends Memorandum of Agreement
• Friends' Annual Fund and Capital Campaign Reports

Board of Assessors

Library Board of Trustees

Jones Library, Inc. Board of Trustees

The Jones Library Board of Trustees will meet virtually to receive committee reports and vote on two items: the library director's FY26 annual evaluation and the library's FY25 audit. The agenda also includes updates on the library building project, annual fund and capital campaign reports, and budget discussions for FY26 and FY27.

• Vote to approve Library Director's FY26 Annual Evaluation
• Vote to approve Library's FY25 Audit
• Library Building Committee project update
• Annual Fund and Capital Campaign reports
• FY26 and FY27 budget discussions

Human Rights Commission

The Amherst Human Rights Commission is meeting in person to conduct routine business, including electing co-chairs, reviewing commission procedures, and updating its annual report. The agenda also includes discussion of a complaints database and requests from residents. No specific decisions or proposals are detailed in the agenda.

• Election of co-chairs
• Human Rights Commission Procedures review
• Human Rights Commission Annual Report update
• Complaints database discussion
• Requests from residents

Amherst School Committee

The Amherst School Committee is holding a closed-door retreat to review the superintendent search process and establish goals for the coming year. The agenda includes a directed improvement plan for the superintendent and a review of committee norms and policies. No public votes or specific financial decisions are listed on this agenda.

• Review of the superintendent search process
• Directed Improvement Plan for Superintendent
• Setting school committee goals
• Review of norms and policies

Finance Committee of the Town Council

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Amherst Zoning Board of Appeals will meet virtually to review and vote on extending the time limit to open a public hearing for an appeal at 28 Shays St. They will also continue a public hearing on a special permit modification at 408 Northampton Road and open a new hearing for a special permit request at 34 Berkshire Terrace. The agenda includes a discussion on recent zoning law amendments.

• Vote to extend time limit for appeal at 28 Shays St. (ZBA FY2027-02)
• Continued hearing: 408 Northampton Road – modify special permit to allow Resident Manager instead of security guard (ZBA FY2027-01)
• New hearing: 34 Berkshire Terrace – reduce front yard setback to 12.4 ft, enlarge non-conforming structure, add 160 sq ft porch (ZBA FY2027-03)
• Discussion: M.G.L. c. 40A amendments (KP Law update)

Amherst School Committee

The Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committees and Union 26 will hold a joint meeting on August 27, 2026. The agenda consists entirely of procedural items and a closed executive session. No public business, votes, or specific decisions are listed on the agenda.

• Executive session to discuss the reputation, character, or discipline of an individual
• Meeting held at the Library at the Amherst Regional High School, 21 Mattoon Street

Energy and Climate Action Committee

The Energy and Climate Action Committee is meeting virtually to discuss education and outreach efforts, including a landlord heat pump initiative, and advisory items such as the UMASS Climate Plan and transportation. The agenda includes public comment and approval of prior minutes, with no specific votes or dollar amounts listed.

• Landlord Heat Pump Initiative
• Coordination with Local Groups
• Education Series
• UMASS Climate Plan
• Transportation and regional/state policy updates

Local Historic District Commission

The Amherst Local Historic District Commission will hold a virtual meeting to consider two public hearing requests from Rachel Stevens to construct accessory dwelling units at 290 and 321 Lincoln Ave. The commission will also approve minutes, take public comment, and hear a staff report. The meeting is remote-only per state law.

• Public hearing: 290 Lincoln Ave (11C-58) – proposed accessory dwelling unit
• Public hearing: 321 Lincoln Ave (11C-93) – proposed accessory dwelling unit
• Approval of minutes
• Public comment period
• Staff report

Affordable Housing Trust Fund

The Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust is meeting virtually to vote on two housing developments: a Way Finders project at East Street and Belchertown Road, including converting 10 market-rate units to affordable, and an Amherst Community Land Trust project at 174 Amity Street requesting an additional $30,000 in equity investment. The board will also discuss potential advocacy and outreach on Accessory Dwelling Unit resources for homeowners, along with routine items like public comment and minutes approval.

• Vote on Way Finders development at East Street and Belchertown Road, including converting 10 market-rate units to affordable
• Vote on Amherst Community Land Trust development at 174 Amity Street with $30k additional equity investment request
• Discussion on advocacy and outreach for Accessory Dwelling Unit resources for homeowners
• Public comment and approval of minutes
• Town updates and topics not anticipated by the chair

Amherst Housing Authority

The Amherst Housing Authority will vote on its Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget, the executive director's salary, and a bid award for the Project 008118 parking lot paving project. The board will also consider appointing a housing representative to the Community Preservation Act Advisory Committee and approve meeting minutes and financial reports. Public comment and discussion of property management, leased management, and facilities reports are also on the agenda.

• Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget vote
• Executive Director Salary vote
• Project 008118 Parking lot Paving Project BID award vote
• Elect Housing Representative to 2026-2027 Community Preservation Act Advisory Committee vote
• Approval of Minutes and financial reports (Warrant, Quarterly Reports)

Amherst School Committee

The Amherst School Committee will vote on the appointment of a SY26-27 Dual Language and Multilingual Education Liaison. The body will also receive a report from Attorney Sankey regarding an investigation into caregiver reports of restraint and seclusion in the district. The meeting is held in a hybrid format at the Town Room in Town Hall.

• Vote on SY26-27 Dual Language and Multilingual Education Liaison
• Attorney Sankey report on investigation into restraint and seclusion reports

Board of License Commissioners

The Amherst Board of License Commissioners will hold a virtual meeting to review new license applications for University Drive, LLC d/b/a Little Petroni's, including liquor and common victualler's licenses. The board will also consider a special short-term liquor license for the Amherst BID on the Town Common. Public comment is permitted via Zoom or telephone, but in-person attendance is not allowed.

• New Liquor License Application for University Drive, LLC d/b/a Little Petroni's
• New Common Victualler’s License Application for University Drive, LLC d/b/a Little Petroni's
• Special Short-Term Liquor License SST-26-39 for John Page, Amherst BID, All Alcohol, 9/27/26, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Town Common

Amherst Cultural Council

The Amherst Cultural Council is meeting virtually to review its grant evaluation criteria, discuss a Block Party Representation Crew, and plan the upcoming grant cycle calendar. The agenda also includes routine items like public comment and approval of minutes.

• Review of Grant Evaluation Criteria List
• Block Party Representation Crew discussion
• Grant Cycle Calendar Review and Scheduling of Meetings

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Subcommittee

The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Subcommittee will meet virtually to discuss community outreach priorities, committee recruitment, and the town DEI newsletter. The meeting includes public comment and approval of previous minutes.

• Facilitated Community Outreach (staff reopening priorities; Your Jones Library Month)
• Committee Recruitment (student; general)
• Town DEI Newsletter(s)
• Minutes (7-15-26)

Planning Board

The Amherst Planning Board will hold a virtual meeting to discuss potential zoning amendments allowing housing in the Professional and Research Park (PRP) district, review proposed revisions to the East Amherst Historic District, and hear a presentation on the Hampshire Campus Zoning Study. The meeting also includes routine items like minutes, public comment, and reports.

• Presentation on Hampshire Campus Zoning Study priorities and ideas
• Review of proposed revisions for the East Amherst Historic District
• Discussion of potential zoning amendments to allow housing in the Professional and Research Park (PRP) district
• Form A (ANR) subdivision applications
• Upcoming ZBA and SPP/SPR/SUB applications

Finance Committee of the Town Council

The Finance Committee is meeting to review current financial policies, the OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits) finance plan, and the pension funding timeline and budget impact once fully funded. They will also hear a brief report from the Budget Ad Hoc Subcommittee. Public comment is included.

• Review of current financial policies
• Review of OPEB finance plan and how it will function
• Pension funding timeline and budget impact once fully funded
• Brief report from Budget Ad Hoc Subcommittee

Historical Commission

The Amherst Historical Commission is meeting virtually to hold a public hearing on a request to remove the second floor of a porch at 33 Phillips St, replacing the second-floor door with a window. The commission will also elect a chair and vice-chair and take public comment. The meeting is remote-only per state law.

• Public hearing on 33 Phillips St (11A-37): remove second-floor porch, replace door with window (continued from July 21, 2026)
• Election of chair and vice-chair
• Public comment period

Town Council

The Amherst Town Council will hold a regular meeting with several action items, including a first read of a proposed zoning bylaw amendment for clean energy infrastructure and an appropriation for PFAS monitoring and remediation. The consent agenda includes approvals for Pelham Treasurer-Collector services and town manager appointments. No public hearings are scheduled.

• FY27-06A PFAS Appropriation for Monitoring and Remediation (consent agenda)
• Proposed Zoning Bylaw Article 18: Clean Energy Infrastructure (first read)
• Proposed amendment to Zoning Bylaw Section 5.011 on Accessory Dwelling Units (conditional)
• FY27-04B Pelham Treasurer-Collector Services (consent agenda)
• Appointments to Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee: Caroline Gurek and Anders Olson

Town Council

The Amherst Town Council is holding a public forum to hear comments on several supplemental budget appropriations, including services for Pelham, care and custody at Wildwood Elementary School, and PFAS monitoring and remediation. More than half of the meeting will be devoted to public comment.

• FY27-04B Pelham Treasurer-Collector Services
• FY27-04C, FY27-05B Wildwood Elementary School Care and Custody
• FY27-06A PFAS Appropriation for Monitoring and Remediation

Finance Committee of the Town Council

The Amherst Town Council Finance Committee is holding a special meeting to take public comment on several supplemental budget appropriations, with more than half the meeting devoted to public input. The committee will then make a recommendation to the Town Council on these items, which include services for Pelham, school care and custody, and PFAS monitoring.

• FY27-04B Pelham Treasurer-Collector Services
• FY27-04C, FY27-05B Wildwood Elementary School Care and Custody
• FY27-06A PFAS Appropriation for Monitoring and Remediation

Design Review Board

The Amherst Design Review Board is meeting virtually to review an application for removal and replacement of existing signs at 253 Triangle Street. The board will also discuss its upcoming meeting schedule and recruitment of new members, and will approve minutes. The meeting is remote-only, with public access via Zoom or telephone.

• Application DRB-26-9: sign removal and replacement at 253 Triangle Street
• Discussion of upcoming meeting schedule
• Recruitment of new Design Review Board members
• Approval of minutes

Elementary School Building Committee

The Elementary School Building Committee is meeting remotely to receive a construction update and review invoices. The agenda is largely procedural, with no votes or major decisions listed.

• Construction update
• Invoice review
• Public comment period

Cable Television Advisory Committee

The Amherst Cable Television Advisory Committee is meeting virtually to discuss the cable license ascertainment process, including a community survey update, Amherst Media's business plan, town equipment and capital needs, and draft license agreement updates. They will also review Comcast's Form 100 filing and confirm upcoming meeting dates. This is a working session with public comment, not a final decision-making meeting.

• Community survey update on cable needs
• Amherst Media business plan status report
• Town equipment and capital needs review with IT Director
• Draft license agreement updates
• Comcast Form 100 filing review and Q&A

Jones Library, Inc. Board of Trustees

The Jones Library Board of Trustees will vote on the library director's FY26 annual evaluation, approve the FY25 audit, and adopt a Banned Books Week proclamation. Committee reports will cover building project updates, annual fund and capital campaign status, and the FY26-27 budget. Public comment is limited to five minutes.

• Vote on Library Director FY26 Annual Evaluation
• Vote to approve FY25 Audit
• Vote to approve Banned Books Week Proclamation
• Capital Campaign Report from Development Committee
• FY26 and FY27 Budget discussion from Budget and Investment Committee

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold public hearings on four items: a continued appeal regarding ADU floor area calculations at 27 Newell Court, a continued request for a special permit to convert a four-unit building to a duplex at 112-114 N. Whitney Street, a request to extinguish a restaurant special permit at 40 University Drive, and a request to modify a special permit condition at 408 Northampton Street to allow a resident manager instead of a security guard.

• Continued appeal of building commissioner's ADU floor area calculations at 27 Newell Court
• Special permit request to change use from four-unit building to non-owner-occupied duplex at 112-114 N. Whitney Street
• Request to extinguish restaurant special permit at 40 University Drive and regulate use via site plan review
• Request to modify special permit condition at 408 Northampton Street to allow resident manager instead of security guard

Energy and Climate Action Committee

The Energy and Climate Action Committee will receive a greenhouse gas emission inventory update from a UNH fellow, discuss a retreat, and review education and outreach initiatives including a Landlord Heat Pump Initiative and coordination with local groups.

• Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory Update Presentation by UNH Sustainability Institute Fellow James Ordway
• Retreat Discussion
• Landlord Heat Pump Initiative
• Coordination with Local Groups
• Education Series

Department of Public Works Building Committee

The Amherst DPW Building Committee is meeting to review the scope of work for the design of a new Department of Public Works building, including program verification and site evaluation. The design team from Weston & Sampson Engineering will introduce themselves and provide an update on the work plan and schedule. The meeting includes public comment and approval of previous minutes.

• Review of scope of work: program verification and update
• Review of scope of work: site evaluation and concept development
• Introduction of Weston & Sampson Engineering design team
• Update on work plan status and schedule by WSE
• Scheduling future meetings (tentatively 8/26 and 9/16)

Community Safety and Social Justice Committee

The Community Safety and Social Justice Committee will meet virtually to discuss updates on CRESS and DEI, a report on the ROB open letter, YEC funds and location, and ICE updates related to the sanctuary city bylaw. The committee will also vote on membership and co-chair nominations and plan a retreat and future in-person meeting.

• ICE updates and sanctuary city bylaw discussion
• CRESS and DEI updates
• ROB: GOL update and open letter
• YEC funds and location
• Membership/Co-Chair nomination and vote

Transportation and Parking Commission

The Transportation and Parking Commission will meet virtually to discuss and potentially act on several items, including a traffic plan for the opening of Amethyst Brook School, next steps for the commission's development, a public meeting and recommendation for the West Street crosswalk at Mt Holyoke Drive, and parking rules at Kendrick Park. Public comment will be taken, but no decisions are listed as final on the agenda.

• Report on traffic plan for Amethyst Brook School opening
• West Street crosswalk at Mt Holyoke Drive – public meeting and recommendation
• Parking rules at Kendrick Park
• Next steps to develop Commission

Valley Green Energy Working Group

The Valley Green Energy Working Group will hold a virtual meeting to discuss updates on Valley Green Energy and local energy advocacy, and hear from Henry Herndon of the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire. The meeting also includes public comment periods and approval of prior minutes.

• Discussion with Henry Herndon of Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire
• Valley Green Energy Updates
• Local Energy Advocates Updates
• Approval of minutes from July 23, 2026 meeting

Conservation Commission

The Amherst Conservation Commission is meeting virtually to discuss land use updates, review a proposed change to a solar facility's transformer containment system, and consider a final draft of its Conservation Land Management Policy, including hunting policy. The commission will also issue an Order of Conditions for a property and act on several requests for Certificates of Compliance for completed projects.

• Amended Notice of Intent by PureSky Energy for transformer containment change at 191 West Pomeroy Lane solar facility
• Review of final clean draft of Conservation Land Management Policy and discussion of hunting policy
• Issue Order of Conditions for 194 College Street (DEP#089-0770)
• Requests for Certificates of Compliance: Middle Street culvert, Potwine Lane culvert, ARHS Track & Field, 246 College Street 17k Substation
• Compliance update on Canton Ave