AMHERST — An annual performance review for Town Manager Paul Bockelman is recognizing his continued excellent work for the town, with a contract extending to Aug. 31, 2027, that provides a 2% cost-of-living adjustment, boosting his pay to just under $210,000.

In a statement released Friday, 11 days after the Town Council unanimously adopted the review, Town Council President Lynn Griesemer said Bockelman is recognized across Massachusetts as a strong and innovative leader.

“Despite growing fiscal challenges, Paul and the town staff provide a professional approach to the services they offer residents, allowing Amherst to be known as a community on the leading edge of addressing current issues,” Griesemer said. “This includes obtaining many grants to enhance our services.”

Bockelman, who has been town manager since 2016, thanked the 13 councilors for taking the time to review his performance.

“I appreciate the feedback — both positive and constructive — from every member and remain committed to enhancing my performance,” Bockelman said. “Collaborating with the town’s exceptionally talented and dedicated staff makes this demanding work both rewarding and meaningful.”

Bockelman, now in his 10th year as town manager, earned $205,482.52 in fiscal year 2025, according to a municipal gross wages report.

Several councilors shared comments acknowledging the town manager’s efforts in meeting various goals and sub-goals.

“The town manager is very adept at managing an absolutely overwhelming role,” said District 5 Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier, adding how she is thrilled with the appointments of Fire Chief Lindsey Stromgren, Town Clerk Amber Martin, Senior Services Director Lisa Borchetta and Finance Director Sean Mangano.

“I am impressed with how the town manager and his staff have continued to make significant progress on several large projects that are not always at the forefront of council discussions, most notably the elementary school, Centennial water treatment facility, and the absolute rush of paving that happened in the late summer/fall,” Devlin Gauthier said.

“Paul combines his dedication to Amherst, experience in municipal management, ability to work with others, and energy to achieve great results,” said At Large Councilor Andy Steinberg, who is winding down 30 years of municipal service.

Griesemer noted that Bockelman met or exceeded the Town Council’s expectations on many of the tasks in the six performance goals and the expectations of the town manager as laid out in the town charter.

The evaluation was based on three metrics: a numerical rating of his performance for each of the 24 duties outlined in Section 3.2 of the town charter; a numerical rating of his success in realizing the 33 specific action items listed in town manager goals; and written comments of no more than 300 words identifying up to three areas of strengths and three areas in need of improvement.

Across the six town manager goals, Bockelman was rated highest on climate action for meeting or making expected progress on four of the six action items, specifically seeking and obtaining Climate Leader Community designation, updating the fiscal year 2027 capital inventory and supporting the development of bylaws that address battery energy storage and solar siting.

For the remaining five goals, the council rated Bockelman as partially meeting the majority of the action items. More specifically, a majority of councilors stated that the town manager “met or made expected progress” for:

Councilors also provided a set of strengths, including public communications, fiscal stewardship, capital project delivery and staff management, in separate comments.

“The town manager works tirelessly on behalf of the town and is available to attend community events on weekends and evenings and respond to emergencies around-the-clock,” wrote District 4 Councilor Jennifer Taub. “Returning to the scene of the Olympia Place fire at 3:30 a.m. is but one example.”

“He remains unflappable in the face of sometimes demeaning and often ill-informed critics,” wrote District 3 Councilor George Ryan. “The list of accomplishments over the past year is impressive.”

“Some initiatives have taken much longer than I would have liked to see; however, continued integration of climate action with equity, ensuring benefits are felt across all neighborhoods and income levels, will strengthen this important area of progress,” At Large Councilor Ellisha Walker wrote.

Areas in need of improvement were cited in councilor comments, too, with outgoing District 1 Councilor Ndifreke Ette pointing to slow progress on upgrading town infrastructure.

“Roads and sidewalks are in disrepair, with residents seeking greater clarity on how repairs are prioritized and where the list is on the town’s website,” Ette wrote.

There was also concern about a sluggish approach to bringing in new personnel from At Large Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke.

“Speed at which hiring decisions are made: positions are left open for too long, putting even more burden on an overworked staff,” Henneke wrote.

Outgoing District 5 Councilor Bob Hegner referenced concerns with staff morale.

“Town staff have very low morale, due in part to a perceived lack of interest in their welfare by the town manager,” Hegner wrote. “The town is in a highly competitive market for trained staff, yet the town manager does not appear to be making any effort to keep staff happy and committed to the town.”

The Town Council made its assessment after receiving feedback from town employees, board and committee members and the broader community. At the conclusion of this process, the Town Council developed new performance goals.

The performance evaluation documents, including Bockelman’s self-evaluation and the Town Council’s final evaluation memo, are available on the town website at www.amherstma.gov/TMeval