Conservation Commission Meeting May 13, 2026

The Town of Amherst Conservation Commission held a meeting on May 13, 2026, focusing on several environmental and land use issues. Key procurement-related discussions included updates on capital improvement projects such as the Wentworth Farm bridge redecking and plans for future bridge work. The commission also discussed emergency certifications related to beaver dam management and sewage backups, with ratification motions passed for emergency actions taken. A significant portion of the meeting addressed environmental remediation efforts at a former manufactured gas plant site, where Eversource representatives presented plans for sediment and soil assessment to inform future cleanup activities. Additionally, the commission reviewed and refined a scoring table for agricultural permit applicants to guide future land use decisions, emphasizing support for young farmers and conservation goals. The commission expressed support for hiring licensed site professionals to conduct soil testing related to contamination concerns on town conservation land, with the town manager's office overseeing procurement and contractor engagement. No formal votes on contract awards were recorded, but several action items related to vendor selection and budget allocations for environmental testing and training were discussed.