AMHERST — A new advisory board that was being sought by some residents to provide advice and information to the Town Council through what are called community impact reports will not be created.
But even though the council has rejected forming the Council Advisory Board, a proposal that came from the former Town Meeting Advisory Committee, its concepts will be examined by the Governance, Organization and Legislation subcommittee, with councilors receptive to some of the ideas, including having a framework for creating the community impact reports.
Meg Gage, a former member of the Charter Commission and Town Meeting, told the council the point of the board would be for residents to know they’re being heard and able to offer public feedback, and to make sure people not traditionally participating in Amherst government have a way to do so.
The core of the proposal would be to have a board carry out research requested on the community impact of any proposal, looking at implications of Town Council decisions on the town as a whole.
A memo related to the proposal was sent prior to the council being seated in December:
“It would not bring proposals to the Town Council. Instead, it would be tasked with advising the Town Council by placing new legislation or proposals in the broad context of the public good, viewed systematically, identifying unexpected consequences as well as explicit purposes, and undesired impacts as well as benefits.”
Most of the councilors appeared receptive to having community impact reports as part of discussions.
District 5 Councilor Darcy Dumont said she loves the idea of more input from the community. “I hope we can think about how we can use this resource being offered to us,” Dumont said.
District 1 Councilor Cathy Schoen said there is a need for this type of thinking, but noted that the council can create a working group on any topic that presents itself.
The citizen impact report framework is an excellent way to look at things, said At-Large Councilor Alisa Brewer, though she observed that the new Community Resources Committee is already the place for examining issues from all sides. She said because Town Meeting Advisory Committee only formed after change of government was approved by voters in March 2018.
District 4 Councilor Evan Ross said such a new committee would be superfluous, noting that the council already did extensive research into the East Street School affordable housing project before agreeing to have the property disposed.
And District 3 Councilor Dorothy Pam said the study of impacts is what councilors are elected to do and creating such an advisory board would be disruptive to the work schedule and undermine the Community Resources Committee.
Still, Hilda Greenbaum of Montague Road said there needs to be someone to be the devil’s advocate for the Town Council so its members can understand not only the advantages of a plan, but the drawbacks.
“I really think there’s a need for it somewhere,” Greenbaum said.
John Hornik, who is chairman of the Amherst Affordable Housing Trust that presented the East Street School project, said more eyes on a proposal and having multiple impacts be studied would be a good thing for the town.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
