AMHERST — During most of the five-year existence of the Amherst Town Council, the 13 councilors have dispensed with the formality of using titles, addressing each other almost exclusively by their first names.
As the third iteration of the Town Council commences, though, a previously amended rule of procedure allowing each councilor to state a preference for how they are addressed is prompting eight councilors to request that they continue to be called on by their first names, four councilors to ask to be called by their titles and one to suggest he be referred to just by his surname.
“There’s something to be said for distinguishing between the individual and the role,” said District 3 Councilor George Ryan, who at Monday’s meeting asked to be called “Councilor Ryan.” “I would make a suggestion, that at least in this body, perhaps a bit of formality would be helpful in the long term.”
At Large Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke explained that in the first council, the rules of procedure in chapter 6, section 3K, required councilors to be addressed by their first name.
In the second council this rule was changed to allowing councilors a say in how they want to be addressed.
District 5 Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier said the shift in rule was to make sure councilors were comfortable in how they are addressed. Council President Lynn Griesemer said the Governance, Organization and Legislation committee felt a discussion was warranted as the new council takes office.
“This is highly unusual,” said At Large Councilor Andy Steinberg.
“I think that the first council we came to the conclusion that we work together as individuals and as people, there’s a sense of first name identification that went with it, and I think it did work well. But I certainly respect the people who have made the decision that they want to be recognized in a more formal sense.”
Councilors proceeded to make their requests.
“I think because representation is important and I come from sociocultural locations and identities that are underrepresented, I’m going to request to be Councilor Lord,” said District 3 Councilor Hala Lord said. “To the public, I’m Hala.”
“I would prefer to be addressed as Councilor Walker in meetings,” said At Large Councilor Ellisha Walker.
“In similar to what George’s comment was, I’m going to change my preference to asking to be called Councilor Hanneke during meetings,” Hanneke said.
Others, though, said the first name protocol works for them.
“I’d like to continue to be called Cathy,” District 1 Councilor Cathy Schoen said. “So we’re going to have an interesting dynamic here, if we mix them up.”
“Ana still works for me,” Devlin Gauthier said.
“I would continue to prefer to go by Lynn,” Griesemer said, adding that she didn’t want to challenge people to pronounce her last name.
“I would like to be called Pat,” said District 2 Councilor Pat DeAngelis, after initially joking her colleagues could her call “Mike.”
“Bob works for me,” said District 5 Councilor Robert Hegner.
“I’m going to stick with Pam, since now there’s only one,” said District 4 Councilor Pamela Rooney, noting that the departure of District 3 Councilor Dorothy Pam means there will be no confusion.
“I’m going to stick with Andy,” Steinberg said.
“I’ll stick with Jennifer, too,” said District 4 Councilor Jennifer Taub, noting she would go with Councilor Taub if that were written into the policy.
District 1 Councilor Ndifreke Ette said there is only one Ette in Amherst and his last name is easier to say. “Given the difficulty in pronouncing my first name, I think I will go with Ette,” Ette said.
With each councilor having a laptop and using Zoom, even when meeting in person, Devlin Gauthier suggested people put their preferred names and pronouns on the screen, though councilors can also opt against having this identity.
Walker said she would put her preferred title and pronouns on her screen.
“I think it just might make for a comfortable environment, one for ourselves and with each other, but also for the public who comes to public comment,” Walker said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
