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Date: 1/9/2024
AMHERST — The first Town Council meeting of 2024 moved along swiftly Jan. 2 with the swearing in of newly elected members, the election of a council president and vice-president and the swearing in of other town positions.
Town Clerk Sue Audette administered the oath to new District 1 Councilor Ndifreke Ette, new District 3 councilors Heather Hala Lord and George Ryan, and new District 5 Councilor Robert Hegner. The four join the returning councilors making up the 13-member panel.
District 2 Councilor Lynn Griesemer, who has served as council president since 2018 was nominated by Ryan to again serve in that position.
At Large Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke was also nominated for president by Councilor District 5 Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier.
In her statement prior to the vote and acknowledging five years of Amherst’s current form of government, Griesemer said as president she would look forward to taking a hard look at the Town Council charter, rules of procedure and the roles of president and vice president.
“I am sure that each of you as counselors have thoughts about changes you would like to see,” she said.
Among her thoughts, Griesemer said were ways to have the president’s role manageable, the prioritizing of issues and potential ways to shorten council meetings.
Hanneke said, “Choice is good and change is healthy,” noting that the council needed a choice in leadership, something she said it had been lacking since 2021. Hanneke also offered criticism of Griesemer’s terms as president, citing failure to share opportunities for councilors and delegate responsibilities.
“In her time as president, Lynn has not lived up to her promises regarding the role of the presidency, I will,” she said.
Hanneke also said she would ensure the council vice president would be ready to assume the role of president.
Griesemer was reelected by a 10-1 vote, with Hanneke and Devlin Gauthier both abstaining and Councilor At Large Ellisha Walker casting the only vote for Hanneke.
Devlin Gauthier was nominated by District 4 Councilor Pam Rooney, to return as vice president, going up against Walker, who was nominated by Hala Lord.
Devlin Gauthier promised a forthcoming term of no complacency while Walker noted that her acceptance of the nomination was not a reflection of Gauthier’s prior service as vice president.
By a 9-3 vote with Griesemer abstaining, Devlin Gauthier was reelected as vice president.
Those also sworn in at the meeting in addition to the council were new School Committee Member Deborah Leonard, Housing Authority Member David Williams, Oliver Smith Will Elector Judith Souweine and Jones Library Trustees Eugene Goffedo and Robert Pam.