There is a wide public view that the Collins Center for Public Management should not have been considered as a consultant to the Amherst Charter Commission because of the center’s close affiliation with the University of Massachusetts.
This creates a clear conflict of interest at a time when UMass is seen as attempting to dominate the town – and eventually town government –through its network of real estate developers, both official and unofficial.
We hope the commission will reconsider this decision. The Collins Center might have high integrity, independence and expertise, but it will never perceived by the public as impartial.
Dick Bentley
Amherst