AMHERST — Community members are invited to submit written comments about Town Manager Paul Bockelman’s performance by Thursday at midnight, part of the annual evaluation done by the Town Council.
The evaluation will assess the town manager’s work, areas for improvement and set future goals.
In addition to the public feedback, councilors will also use input from town employees and board and committee members for the review.
Various documents associated with the evaluation are available online at amherstma.gov/TownManager, including the town manager’s executive and administrative duties, the performance goals that have been set and his self-evaluation.
In that self-evaluation, submitted Oct. 20, reviewing the six goals and 33 action items the Town Council set on Feb. 10, Bockelman wrote that “town operations maintained steady momentum, despite the substantial scope of the objectives, the ongoing demands of daily municipal operations, and the finite resources available.”
Specifically, he pointed to progress the town “made to address the dire need for investment in our infrastructure” such as the ongoing Jones Library expansion and renovation, the new elementary school under construction, the completion of the North Common, the completion of the Centennial water tretament plant in Pelham and road resurfacing.
In addition, he wrote that “the town has continued to invest in leadership and organizational stability: pointing to his recruiting and hiring Finance Director Sean Mangano, Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren, Town Clerk Amber Martin and Director of Senior Services Lisa Borchetta.
“These transitions have required considerable time spent on recruitment, discussions, onboarding, and organizational support, yet they also mark an important renewal of strong institutional leadership for the town,” Bockelman wrote.
Those interested in submitting comments can do so via email to towncouncil@amherstma.gov, online through amherstma.gov/TownManager or by mail to Amherst Town Council, re: Town Manager Evaluation, 4 Boltwood Ave Amherst, 01002.