About Us :

The Town of Amherst, located in the lovely Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, is a diverse, inclusive community offering numerous educational and cultural opportunities. Host to Amherst College, Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the Town enjoys a tradition of open professional government, a high level of government services, quality education, support for open space and agriculture and respect for its history.

The charter of the Town of Amherst is the Amherst Town Government Act. Registered voters of the Town elect its legislature (a 254-member Representative Town Meeting) and its chief executive officer (a 5-member Select Board), as well as a 5-member School Committee, a 6-member Board of Library Trustees, and the Moderator of Town Meeting, as well as other officials that are not, strictly speaking, part of Amherst Town Government.

The Town's chief administrative officer is the Town Manager, who is appointed by the Select Board and is responsible for all Town departments, employees, and functions except the schools and libraries. A Superintendent of Schools is appointed by the School Committee, and a Library Director is appointed by the Library Trustees.

Town Government also includes more than 30 regulatory and advisory boards, committees, and commissions appointed by the Select Board and Town Manager, and a Finance Committee appointed by the Moderator to advise Town Meeting on financial matters.