Town Services and Outreach Committee Jun 4, 2026

This was a regular meeting of the Town Services and Outreach Committee of Amherst, MA, held on June 4, 2026. The committee discussed two main topics: street lighting policy and waste hauling services. Regarding street lighting, the committee reviewed past presentations and considered whether to assist the town manager in drafting an updated lighting policy. They discussed technical aspects such as color temperature, lighting standards, and the potential for vendor input to inform policy updates. The committee agreed to obtain the current policy, invite a lighting vendor to present, and draft a summary document to guide future policy development. On waste hauling, the committee focused on the upcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) for waste, recycling, and compost collection services. They emphasized the need for Mimi Kaplan, the consultant, to draft an RFP that includes options for pay-as-you-throw systems, composting phased in over time, and the use of the town transfer station as a consolidation site. The committee expressed a desire to receive the RFP promptly to evaluate costs and options, noting the importance of competition among vendors. The meeting concluded with approval of meeting minutes and discussion of future agenda items, including field maintenance and local traffic issues.