Town Council Sep 14, 2026

The Town Council of Amherst, MA held a regular meeting on September 14, 2026, with a focus on several key topics including the adoption of a clean energy infrastructure bylaw and discussions on amendments to the regional school district agreement. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to public comments and council deliberations on the proposed clean energy bylaw, particularly concerning setback distances for solar photovoltaic installations near private wells. After extensive debate, the council passed amendments increasing the no disturbance buffer from 100 feet to 200 feet for private wells, aligning protections with those for public water supplies. The council also discussed the need to update the regional school district agreement to reflect the town's new form of government and address capital project financing, among other issues. Additionally, reports were given on ongoing procurement activities, including a waste management RFP process and a DPW building committee review of facility needs. The meeting concluded with various liaison reports and council comments, with no further votes taken.