Amherst Landlords Face Rental Permit Deadline Today as Drought Restrictions Kick In
AMHERST — Residential landlords in Amherst must renew their rental permits by the close of business today, June 15, or face a late fee — the most immediately time-sensitive item on an otherwise steady Monday that also has the town managing active drought-related water restrictions and a standing swimming alert at Puffer's Pond.
TOWN HALL
Property owners with residential rentals in Amherst hit today's hard deadline for Annual Rental Registration Renewal; the town has been reminding landlords for weeks that permits not renewed by June 15 will incur a late fee.
Two active alerts on the town's website deserve a look before residents head outdoors. The town has posted a swimming update for Puffer's Pond — the public notice does not elaborate, so anyone planning to swim there should check amherstma.gov for current conditions before going. On water use more broadly, Amherst is now enforcing significant water use restrictions required under its Water Management Act Registration in response to the Connecticut River Valley drought. The town stresses that its own water supply remains stable, but compliance with the state-mandated restrictions is not optional.
Town offices will be closed this Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.
Two larger planning items continue to move through Town Hall. Town Manager Paul Bockelman has submitted his proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget to the Town Council, encompassing municipal operations, the public schools, regional schools, the library, and capital spending for the July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 fiscal year. Separately, the town's collaboration with MassDevelopment — the state's development finance agency and land bank — on future potential uses of the Hampshire College campus is ongoing. Residents who want a say in a different planning process have until July 1 to submit feedback on the draft Downtown Design Standards, which establish a shared vision and design guidelines for public improvements and private development downtown.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
No new coverage from Patch, MetroWest Daily News, or The Boston Globe in this cycle.
COMING UP
Tuesday, June 16: The Finance Committee of the Town Council, the Amherst School Committee, and the Cherry Hill Working Group all meet in the evening; a District 5 community meeting is also on the calendar in person.
Wednesday, June 17: The Jones Library Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Subcommittee and the Human Rights Commission both convene; Summer Seminars at UMass Downtown are also scheduled.
Thursday, June 18: "Cultural Humility in Community: Responding to Harm, Building Toward Healing" appears on the town community calendar.
Friday, June 19: Town offices closed for Juneteenth.