Welcome!
It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly 7 years since I was sworn in as a Councilor-at-Large on the inaugural Amherst Town Council. Your support in the last three elections made it happen.
For the past 7 years I have worked hard to achieve a number of the priorities I ran on, as well as new ones. One of those priorities has always been moving forward the four major capital projects. I am proud to have supported the new Elementary School Building project and the library expansion project. I can’t wait to see students enter the new elementary school next fall and our residents enjoying an expanded library the following year!
In my three terms on the Council, I have continued efforts to meet our Climate Action Goals and focused on the housing crisis. Here’s how:
- Revising the Residential Rental Bylaw, to make necessary and needed improvements. This revision is a huge win for the health and safety of tenants in our town, as all rentals will need to pass a Town inspection in order to obtain a permit.
- Co-sponsored streetlighting standards that would lower the Town’s energy usage, improve safety, and reduce negative effects of artificial light at night. The Council has asked the Manager to bring it an updated proposal.
- Co-sponsored a series of zoning revisions to allow more opportunities for missing middle housing to be built in Town (duplexes, triplexes, town houses, and converted dwellings). This proposals spurred the Planning Board to begin conversations which resulted in the University Drive Overlay proposal adopted by the Council in 2025.
- Co-sponsored Special Act legislation to allow Amherst to impose fees on the sale of rental properties and properties over 200% of the area median assessed value. If enacted by the state legislature, this would provide an additional revenue stream for affordable housing projects in town.
I have also proven to be team player, co-sponsoring legislation, proclamations, and resolutions with all of the Councilors I have served with over the past 7 years. The relationships I have built through this work has been invaluable.
I’m running for a fourth term to continue what I have started – supporting affordable and attainable housing in Amherst through various avenues, including zoning revisions, moving forward on the remaining major capital projects, continuing addressing climate change, and taking a responsible approach to addressing the fiscal needs both operating and capital, of the Town.
Of particular interest is housing. We need to address our housing crisis. I will continue to put forward legislation that aims to increase the supply of affordable and attainable housing. Councilor De Angelis and I learned a lot from the hearings, comments, and process on our duplex proposals, and I will take that knowledge and build on it. I’ve always advocated for a multi-pronged approach, and that won’t change. The new Housing Production Plan provides several zoning strategies that Would help address this crisis. I plan to start there. Let’s keep it at the forefront of conversations.
