Around Amherst: Town eyes stormwater, erosion study

AMHERST — A $40,000 to $50,000 study to address stormwater and erosion issues across town, and specifically in the Farview Way neighborhood, is being considered by the Joint Capital Planning Committee.

The Erosion, Hydrology, and Stormwater Mitigation Study was recently presented to the committee by Aaron Trehub as one of a handful of non-transportation-related projects brought by citizens.

Trehub said the project seems timely, with the town already doing a culvert and flooding assessment. “Basically this is for a study of stormwater erosion issues in Amherst generally,” Trehub said.

Finance Director Sean Mangano said a stormwater enterprise fund may be created that could help with such improvements over the long term. District 1 Councilor Cathy Schoen, who chairs the committee, said she wants to make sure such analysis is not already being done by the Department of Public Works.

Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek said the town is updating its hazard mitigation plan and, with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, “we’re trying to do every culvert on public land and as many on private land as possible.”

Green infrastructure will help to mitigate impacts from a changing climate, he said, with some capital projects already anticipated in the future.

Why Read?

Library trustees are asking Library Director Sharon Sharry and her staff to create a “Why Read?” program, coming as Trustees President Austin Sarat says libraries have to be part of a battle for literacy itself.

Sarat said the public outreach effort is necessary because youth aren’t reading books. “What we know is reading is going to die with our generation,” Sarat said.

Trustee Farah Ameen said the next generation doesn’t like to read books, though trustee Tamson Ely countered that her young grandchildren are reading.

Sharry said reading is a way to gain empathy and understanding of other cultures.

Sarat said reading books is what he’s interested in promoting, not just reading by scrolling on smartphones.

“It’s really good to develop a habit that doesn’t require instant gratification,” Sarat said.

Culvert concern

An after-the-fact notice of intent, including a restoration plan, is being required by the town’s wetlands administrator so water will flow properly through a replaced culvert on the University of Massachusetts campus.

Erin Jacque explained to the Conservation Commission that the culvert was replaced on what is known as Cinder Path, which extends from the campus north behind the North Pleasant Street apartment complexes, at the Amherst-Hadley line.

While the university has an operation maintenance plan notice of intent for the entire campus, allowing them to do certain projects that they provide plan details for, this culvert was not included.

“It was probably the most significant violation I’ve ever dealt with in Amherst,” Jacque said.

Jacque is concerned that, even though UMass is asking for a certficate of compliance, it can’t be issued because the stream is not flowing through the culvert.

Commission members appeared frustrated with the university.

“This happens over and over and over, and it’s really annoying,” Bruce Stedman said.

“This has gone on for a long time, and we’ve seen way too many mix-ups that have happened that we need to avoid in the future with UMass,” said Chairman Andrey Guidera.

College admissions presentation

Jill Margaret Shulman, author of the books “College Essay Confidence” and “College Admissions Cracked,” will shed light on the process for college-bound students and their parents in a presentation April 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Program Room of the Jones Library’s temporary location at 101 University Drive.

Shulman will lead the in-person discussion about writing the college essay, support with the admissions process, stress reduction and community. Books provided by Amherst Books will be available for purchase and signing.

For more information, call 413-259-3223

Song and Story Swap

Singer-songwriters Louise Coombe and Cliff Eberhardt will be at First Church, 165 Main St., Saturday at 7 p.m. for the monthly Song & Story Swap.

The event is in its 31st year and continues to be sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Folkore Society, For information contact Paul Kaplan at 413-687-5002.

Meetings

MONDAY: Town Council, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.

WEDNESDAY: Jones Library Development Committee, 2 p.m.

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