AMHERST — Residents have seven weeks to apply for a vacancy on the six-member Jones Library board of trustees.
The opening, created by Jonathan McCabe’s resignation Monday, will be filled at a joint meeting of the trustees and the Select Board Sept. 12. Residents are asked to submit a letter of interest to the Select Board by 4 p.m. Sept. 7.
McCabe resigned Monday, submitting a letter to the town clerk stating “that board responsibilities are consuming more of my time than I am able to devote.”
But he also issued a longer statement expressing continued support for the project to renovate and expand the Jones Library and to seek state funding for this project, noting that it would help promote the community’s economic, racial and ethnic diversity and ensure there is money for other building needs, including an elementary school, fire station and Department of Public Works.
“Drawing down state subsidies for these important projects will free up local capital funds for a much needed new fire station and Department of Public Works depot that are not eligible for state subsidies,” McCabe wrote. “This is just common sense.”
Vacancies in elected townwide office require a roll call vote of both bodies, with the winning candidate receiving a majority of votes of the remaining filled seats on both boards. In this case, a minimum of six votes from the 11 members of the two boards is required for election.
Such elections for Jones Library trustees are not unusual, with the last occurring in September 2012 when trustee Emily Lewis resigned upon moving to Easthampton and Robert Pam was the lone applicant for filling the vacancy. Current trustees president Austin Sarat was appointed in April 2011, one of three people who applied for the position after the departure of Kathleen Wang three months earlier.
Letters of interest may be submitted by email to selectboard@amherstma.gov or in writing to Select Board, Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Ave., Amherst, 01002. They should include a summary of reasons for wishing to serve, qualifications and experience.
The person elected will serve until the next annual election, and can seek reelection.
Anyone with questions should contact Debra Puppel, assistant to the town manager, at 259-3001 or puppeld@amherstma.gov.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
