Tony Maroulis, the executive director of the Amherst area Chamber of Commerce, sent a letter in support of Holub to UMass president Jack Wilson.
UMass chancellor Robert C. Holub AMHERST - While the future of University of Massachusetts Chancellor Robert C. Holub is still being discussed, Amherst officials and business owners are hoping that the chancellor will be able to stay.
Holub met with top university officials last week to discuss his three-year performance evaluation, but nothing has been resolved.
According to reports, the committee evaluating Holub has recommended that he not be reappointed.
While some have been critical of Holub’s leadership style as well as his ability to communicate, those in town whom Holub has worked with praised him.
In a letter to UMass President Jack M. Wilson, Amherst Area Chamber Executive Director Tony Maroulis wrote: “On behalf of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors representing the Chamber’s 600 businesses in Amherst, Hadley, and 8 surrounding towns, I am writing to urge you to retain Dr. Robert Holub as Chancellor.
He wrote that Holub “has been a great friend to the town and the business community,” noting that Holub received the chamber’s “2011 A+ Award, recognizing exceptional community achievements.
“More than any other Chancellor in recent memory he has tried to develop win-win partnerships with adjacent towns and the University,” Maroulis wrote.
“Over the past three years, considerable work has been done under the Chancellor’s direction to repair and revitalize Town/Gown relations,” according to the letter. “From economic development projects like the UMass-Gateway project and support for the downtown Business Improvement District to social efforts like making strides toward correcting off-campus student rowdiness, the Chancellor’s work has been an incredible step toward making the town and the area whole.”
“Continuity is important,” said Town Manager John P. Musante, who also would like Holub to stay. “We have a certain sense of momentum. We think our town-gown relationship is getting stronger.”
Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno earlier this month reported that he was asked to participate in Holub’s evaluation.
In a letter dated April 21, the mayor wrote “it is indeed a pleasure to provide an exceedingly favorable response and evaluation.” He wrote that he has appreciated “a great working relationship” with Holub.
Some have been critical that Holub wanted to investigate the possibility of establishing a medical school with Baystate Health in Springfield without talking to trustees and othe officials at the UMass campus.
The evaluation committee held forums and took comments from students, faculty, staff, community and political officials among others. The committee is slated to be present at the June 8 Board of Trustees meeting unless something is resolved in the meantime, officials have said.
As of Friday there had been no resolution.
Wilson is leaving the post at the end of June and will be replaced by President Robert L. Caret who has also been involved with meetings with the chancellor.
Holub, one of four finalists for the position just three years ago, replaced John V. Lombardi who left amid controversy Sept. 1, 2007 to become the Louisiana State University System. Thomas W. Cole Jr. served as interim for one year.