Board of Selectmen — May 13, 2024
Amherst Board approves $307k emergency police tech upgrade while facing internal division over narrowed road grant and potential new stormwater fees.
The meeting featured a lengthy, highly engaged public hearing with 14 speakers expressing conflicting views, alongside significant internal board debate over project scopes and new fees.
Questions about this meeting? Just ask.
Ask MeetingWatch answers from this meeting’s report, transcript, and records — with linked sources.
At the May 13th Board of Selectmen meeting, several decisions were made that will significantly impact Amherst's budget and infrastructure.
One major development involves the 'Safe Streets for All' grant. There is growing concern within the Board regarding the project's scope; while residents expected broader roadway rebuilding, the current plan focuses only on six specific intersections. One Board member noted that this shift in priority—away from major road work—is a significant concern.
Additionally, the Board gave conceptual approval for a $307,100.96 upgrade to the Police Department's communications equipment. The Police Chief reported that the current system is in a critical state, suffering from dead spots and system failures. This major expense will be funded through the town's surplus.
Lastly, the Board is looking into a potential Stormwater Utility fee, which would charge property owners based on the amount of impervious surfaces on their land. This remains a point of contention, with one Board member refusing to move forward with a consultant until more research is done on how similar fees have affected residents in neighboring towns like Dover.
Public impact
Significant capital expenditure of $307,100.96 to address critical system failures and dead spots.
Potential change in traffic patterns, noise levels, and pedestrian safety protocols.
Potential new recurring fee for residents to fund stormwater management.
Topics discussed
A public hearing was held regarding a proposed ordinance to ban certain classes of heavy commercial vehicles from specific roads (notably Boston Post Road). Residents expressed conflicting views regarding safety, noise, vibration, and the potential impact on local businesses and alternate routes.
Will Lou presented a plaque to the Board for the Heritage Commission, recognizing their work in digitizing historical documents and GIS mapping with a 2024 Preservation Achievement Award.
Updates were provided regarding employee open enrollment, the transition to the New Hampshire Retirement System, and the implementation of Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
The board reviewed new monthly financial reporting formats designed to monitor the town's financial health by comparing current performance against the annual plan and previous year metrics. a speaker presented new monthly financial reports including FY24 expense-to-budget, revenue comparisons, tax lien status, impact fees, and investment account updates.
The board discussed proposed updates to the 14-year-old Town Common policy, including fee structures, porta-potty requirements for food/beverage events, and potential alcohol policies for Buck Meadow.
Review and formal approval of the Police CBA effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027.
Approval of minor administrative updates to the previously approved community power plan.
Discussion and approval of revisions to Policy -17 regarding the 457B deferred compensation plan and a 7% town contribution for certain employees.
A proposal to amend the CIP Program Procedures Handbook to remove the SAU representative from the CIP committee to align with other town department treatments.
Review of requests for new street names in the East Village condominium area.
Chief Champoli reported on the appointment of a new patrolman and provided an extensive update on critical communication infrastructure failures, including the need for tower and console replacements.
The Police Chief presented a plan to upgrade obsolete radio consoles and communications equipment, proposing a comprehensive package from Two Way Communications to address dead spots and system failures.
The Board discussed the appointment of Richard Kassenberg to fill the Treasurer position.
A request to use impact fees for planning, engineering, and design work at Buck Meadow Conservation and Recreation area to prepare for a grant application.
Discussion regarding a $2.5 million grant application focused on pedestrian and cycling safety, specifically addressing intersection improvements and the use of granite pavers vs. cheaper materials. The DPW discussed a fundamental change to the grant application, which will now focus on six specific intersections rather than full roadway rebuilding.
A presentation of a 15-year strategic plan for managing town infrastructure, estimating $9.23 million in total project costs and discussing funding via CRF and other grants.
Proposal to award engineering and construction bidding services to Hoyle Tanner for the replacement of three large metal pipes in serious condition near the Spring Road intersection.
Analysis of the relationship between tax base and impervious surface area to determine the viability of a stormwater utility fee; the board decided to delay further action to review case studies.
Review of various tax-related requests including current use assessments, elderly exemptions, and property abatements.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
Proposed No Through Trucking Ordinance
Safe Streets for All Grant Scope
Stormwater Utility Fee
Split votes
Community vs. board tension
Public comment
Decisions logged
Action items
Creating this report cost real money.
MeetingWatch attended, transcribed, and analyzed this meeting on its own dime. If this work is valuable to you, chip in to keep covering Amherst.
Follow Amherst
One email when a new report is published from the Board of Selectmen — or one weekly digest.
grok-4.3, gemma-4-26b, grok-4-fast, claude-opus-4-7 · analyzed 2026-05-30.
Members feature
Ask questions. Get answers with receipts.
Ask about anything covered on this page and get a plain-English answer that links to the report, the official records, and the exact moment in the meeting video.
Create a free accountFree with a MeetingWatch account — no card, no spam.
Already a member? Sign in
Ask questions about any meeting
Open a community, board, issue, or meeting and I can answer from its records — with links to the report, official documents, and the exact moment in the video.
Then reopen this button to start asking.
AI-generated from meeting records — verify against the linked sources. Conversations are stored (privacy).