AMHERST – The University of Massachusetts and the town named the members of a committee that will hire and then work with a consultant to oversee a plan that will address town-gown issues.
In April, Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy proposed that university and town together hire a consultant to look at community-campus issues and that the university and town split the $60,000 estimated cost.
He said that a consultant would be able to assess community campus issues, and look at ways to strengthen the neighborhoods bordering the university and bolster the local economy. Town Meeting agreed to share the cost in May.
Spokesman Edward F. Blaguszewski said the idea with the committee is not just to hire a consultant. Instead “the consultant works with the committee to examine issues on how to move forward.”
The committee’s first task will be to review and approve a request for proposal to hire and work with a consultant. The first meeting is Oct. 30 at 4 p.m. in the community room at the UMass Police Department on East Pleasant Street.
Part of the consultant’s mission will be to review the master plans of the town and UMass “to find areas where they coincide, where they may be in conflict, and where opportunities may have been missed,” according to the press release.
The panel will look at how other college communities have addressed town-gown issues.
“We all recognize the importance of healthy town-gown relations, and this committee will focus on identifying common interests and goals that will strengthen and bind our communities. Collaboration is essential to future prosperity and quality of life,” Subbaswamy said in the press release.
Musante noted, “I’m enthusiastic about the make-up of this committee, and the energy and expertise they will bring to the challenges and opportunities that we face. Amherst has rightly been described as one of the best college towns in America, and that maintaining that success hinges on mutual understanding and partnerships.”
Nancy Buffone, executive director of external relations and university events, and David Ziomek, assistant town manager will co-chair the committee.
Other members from UMass are Enku Gelaye, interim vice chancellor for student affairs and campus life; Niels la Cour, senior physical planner, campus planning; Steve Schreiber, professor of art, architecture and art history; Andy Churchill, senior research fellow, College of Education; Rolf Karlstrom, professor and chair of the biology department and campus neighbor; Amilcar Shabazz, faculty advisor to the chancellor for diversity and excellence; Savannah Van Leuvan-Smith, undergraduate student; an undergraduate student to be named later; John Kennedy (ex officio), vice chancellor for university relations, and Dennis Swinford (ex officio), director of campus planning.
From Amherst, other members are Stephanie O’Keeffe, Select Board chairwoman; David Webber Planning Board chairman and Greg Stutsman Planning Board member; Police Chief Scott Livingstone; Tony Maroulis, executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce; John Kuhn, Kuhn Riddle Architects; neighbors Ken Rosenthal and Phil Jackson; Jonathan Tucker (ex officio), Planning Department director and Sandy Pooler (ex officio, finance director.
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