Finance Committee

For the previous Finance Committee that existed prior to the adoption of the Home Rule Charter in 2018, see its archived page.

Committee Charge

Type: Standing
Authority: Amherst Home Rule Charter Section 5.5
Appointing Authority: Town Council
Voting Members: Five (5) Councilors
Non-Voting Members: Four (4) Residents
Term of Appointment One (1) Year
Staff Support: Town Manager or Designee

Membership

Member Appointed Expiration Role
Andrew Steinberg, Chair 2019 2020 Councilor
Cathy Schoen, Vice Chair 2019 2020 Councilor
Shalini Bahl-Milne 2019 2020 Councilor
Lynn Griesemer 2019 2020 Councilor
Dorothy Pam 2019 2020 Councilor

Interested in serving on the Finance Committee? Fill out an online Community Activity Form.

Authority: Section 5.5 of the Amherst Home Rule Charter adopted on March 27, 2018 establishes a Finance Committee of the Town Council.

Responsibility: The Finance Committee shall:

  • Advise the Town Council on all financial matters. The Committee shall review all annual budgets, supplemental budgets and other appropriations, and financial transfers; the capital inventory and capital improvement program and the infrastructure; the purchase, sale, or leasing of land and/or buildings; and borrowing and debt. [Sections 5.1-5.7]
  • Have the authority at any time to investigate the books, accounts, and management of any Town agency and, via a request to the Town Manager, Superintendent, or Library Director, as appropriate, to require officers and employees of the Town to appear before it and to provide information. [Sec. 5.5(b)]

Membership: 

The Committee shall consist of five (5) Councilors as voting members and four (4) residents as non-voting members.

  • One (1) Councilor from this Committee will represent the Town Council on the Participatory Budgeting Commission. [Sec. 10.11]
  • No more than two (2) Councilors from this Committee will represent the Town Council on the Joint Capital Planning Committee (JCPC). [Sec. 5.7(b)]
  • No more than two (2) Councilors from this Committee will represent the Town Council on the Budget Coordinating Group. [Sec. 5.2]

Charge Adopted:  December 17, 2018