On the agenda: Amherst meeting — Data Center (Oct 5)

Town Council
Regular Meeting
Monday, October 5, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Town Room, Town Hall
4 Boltwood Ave. Amherst, MA 01002
Virtual Public Meeting Link
Meeting Materials Link
Agenda
Members of the public may attend this meeting virtually via Zoom, by phone by calling
phone +1 301 715 8592, enter webinar ID: 885 1505 7222, or in person. The meeting
will also be live broadcast on Amherst Media channel 17 and Live Stream
Note: The President intends to take up the agenda in the order presented, with the
following exception: Item 7.a., Long-Term Financial Planning Presentation to Four Boards,
will be taken up immediately after Item 1. Call to Order. Per Council Rules, the President
may modify this agenda order at any time. The Council may modify the order by vote at
the meeting.
List of Topics:
1. Call to Order
2. Announcements
a. Visit the new Agenda Center for board and committee meeting information
b. Visit the Community Calendar for Town events
3. Hearings – None
4. General Public Comment – Residents are welcome to express their views for up
to 3 minutes, at the discretion of the Town Council President, based upon the
number of people who wish to speak. If there are more than 10 people wishing to
speak, the public comment will be 2 minutes for each speaker. The Council will
not engage in dialogue or comment on a matter raised during General Public
Comment. Public comments are not reflective of the opinions of the Town
Council.
5. Consent Agenda
 8.a. Referral of Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendments regarding Data
Centers: Article 12 – Definitions and Section 3.3 – Use Classifications and
Standards
 9.a.1-3. Approval of Town Manager Appointments to Amherst Black
Reparations Committee, Community Preservation Act Committee, and
Percent for Art Advisory Committee
 11.a. Approval of September 28, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes
6. Resolutions and Proclamations – None

7. Presentations and Discussion
a. Long-Term Financial Planning Presentation to Four Boards
b. Regional School Agreement Discussion
c. Town Manager Evaluation and 2027 Goals
8. Action Items
a. Referral of Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendments regarding Data Centers:
Article 12 – Definitions and Section 3.3 – Use Classifications and Standards
– Consent Agenda
9. Appointments
a. Town Manager Appointments – Consent Agenda
1)
Amherst Black Reparations Committee: Andrew Grant-Thomas and
Amilcar Shabazz, for terms to expire June 30, 2029; Monica Cage
and Raphael Rogers, for terms to expire June 30, 2028; Kelly Norris
and Sarah Crary, for terms to expire June 30, 2027
2)
Community Preservation Act Committee: George Baitinger,
Historical Commission Representative, for a term to expire June 30,
2027
3)
Percent for Art Advisory Committee: for terms to expire June 30,
2028: Public Art Commission representatives David Feinstein and
Lynne Thompson; Elementary School Building Committee
representative Allison Estes; Amherst Regional High School
student Arpad Bowman; Art Professionals Lucia Monge and Emily
Potter-Ndiaye
b. Town Council Appointments – None
10. Committee and Liaison Reports
a. Town Council Committees: Community Resources Committee;
Governance, Organization, and Legislation Committee; Finance
Committee; Town Services and Outreach Committee
b. Town Committees with Councilor Members: Budget Coordinating Group,
DPW Building Committee, Elementary School Building Committee, Joint
Capital Planning Committee, Jones Library Building Committee,
Transportation and Parking Commission
c. Liaison Reports: Amherst Affordable Housing Trust, Amherst Black
Reparations Committee, Commission for Persons with Disabilities,
Community Safety and Social Justice Committee, Council on Aging,
Human Rights Commission, Public Shade Tree Committee
11. Approval of Minutes – Consent Agenda
a. September 28, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes
12. Town Manager Report
13. Town Council Comments
a. President Report
b. Future Agenda Items
c. Councilor Comments
14. Topics Not Anticipated by the Chair 48 Hours in Advance of this Meeting
15. Executive Session – None
16. Adjourn