AMHERST — A series of affordable housing developments in progress, construction beginning on a new elementary school and the possibility that an expanded and renovated Jones Library will get underway are being highlighted by town officials in their annual State of the Town addresses.

During abbreviated remarks required by the town charter this week, Town Manager Paul Bockelman, in addition to expressing gratitude to municipal employees, officials and residents, focused on the new rental and homeownership opportunities that will be available to low- and moderate-income people.

“The message here is we’re making our town better for generations to come, while stretching the town’s precious tax dollars at every opportunity by winning state and federal grants, partnering with businesses and other donors, and practicing sound financial planning,” Bockelman said.

Between groundbreaking for the new $99 million elementary school and receiving a general contracting bid that should turn a $15.8 million town investment into a $46 million building project at the Jones, as well as choosing potential sites for a new South Amherst fire station and Department of Public Works headquarters, Bockelman said “things are moving.”

This is also shown in the pre-COVID Destination Amherst vision, which is now being delivered.

“The new North Common has transformed downtown Amherst,” Bockelman said. “We’ve created a welcoming green space with park-like amenities that serves as a magnet for gatherings. We now have families, visitors and young people enjoying the center of town in ways we had not seen previously.”

Bockelman also thanked private businesses and developers for offering new places to live, shop and eat.

“It’s all too easy for people to take potshots at you and town staff, especially in this political climate. We’re fortunate to have elected and appointed officials who take on these roles,” Bockelman said. “You don’t take it on for the accolades, but to make it a better place.”

And he suggested relentless optimism, even in the face of financial challenges and a new U.S. president.

“Like many, were bracing for headwinds as a new federal administration takes over with values that are likely out of step with the town of Amherst’s stated values,” Bockelman said. “As Pete Buttigieg says, here in moments like this, our salvation will come from the local and state levels.”

Council President Lynn Griesemer observed that she was giving her address on the sixth anniversary of the members of the first Town Council being sworn in at the high school and the ongoing charter review is an interesting thing.

“It’s been six years. We’ve all learned a lot. There are some things probably some us would like to change as well, and this is the time to have that discussion,” Griesemer said.

Mentioning the building projects in progress, Griesemer applauded the progress on affordable housing and a permanent homeless shelter, the discussion of a Resident Oversight Board for police, having money set aside for a youth empowerment center and enacting recommendations from the African Heritage Reparation Assembly.

But ranked choice voting at town elections, a fee on transfers of property and voting rights for permanent noncitizen residents have to be refiled as legislation by state Sen. Jo Comerford and state Rep. Mindy Domb.

Accomplishments in 2024 included the completion of the Pomeroy Lane roundabout and North Common, adopting bylaws related to rental registration and nuisance properties, policies related to safety and speed zones, 21 proclamations and resolutions, and holding celebrations, including 20 years of same sex marriage, with District 2 Councilor Pat De Angelis a member of the panel, and the 30th anniversary and visit from the sister city in Kanegasaki, Japan.

“What we are going to find this year is the budgeting is going to be tough, and we already know that,” Griesemer said.

She also thanked the councilors. “I want to thank all of you for the work you do on behalf of the town of Amherst,” Griesemer said, while also appreciating town staff, residents, Amherst Media and giving a special shout-out to Athena O’Keeffe as clerk of the council, for her patience, diligence and reliability.

Other reports

This year, officials from both the Amherst and Amherst-Pelham Regional schools and libraries delivered their annual reports in written form.

The report for the elementary schools, where there are 982 grades K-6 students at three schools, highlighted budget challenges and achievement gaps, the use of the iReady math curriculum in grades K to 5 and piloting the new writing curriculum ThinkSRSD in those same grades, and that Wildwood School art students exhibited their work at Amherst College’s Mead Art Museum.

For the regional schools, where there are 1,207 students across six grades, the report highlights a wide range of academic offerings for college prep, the Innovation Pathway in advanced manufacturing, and the rollout of a new bullying and harassment reporting platform and a revised anti-bullying implementation plan.

Among accomplishments highlighted at the Jones Library was providing research assistance and loaning materials for the Cambodians in Amherst exhibit at the Amherst Historical Society and Museum; accepting Ed Wilfert’s extensive collection of Amherst center property research and additions to the Clifton Johnson and Emily Dickinson collections; and helping to coordinate a fundraising visit from actor John Lithgow.

Also delivering a written report was Judith Souweine, Amherst’s elector under the Oliver Smith Will. Souweine wrote that even though there were no applicants for money available from Smith Charities in 2024, a $1,200 gift was provided to a local nursing student after she graduated from school.

In addition to nursing students, who must apply before their 21st birthday and be accepted to or enrolled in a nursing program to obtain a degree, others who are eligible to receive monies are: first-time brides who have lived in Amherst or one of the other eight member cities and towns for at least three years; widows with shared children under 18; and tradesperson apprentices, who must apply before their 19th birthday and then serve as an apprentice in an eligible trade from ages 19 to 21.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.