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Board of Selectmen — June 24, 2024

Amherst BOS fires Community Development staffer with active applications pending — then says nothing when a resident protests it publicly.

The meeting was largely routine with unanimous votes, but was elevated by a citizen's public protest of a staff termination that the board conspicuously did not address, and by a board member's on-record disagreement with the truck weight limit adopted.

Date Monday, June 24, 2024 Duration 1.4h Speakers 9 Decisions 17 Lively

Questions about this meeting? ⁠Just ask.

Ask MeetingWatch answers from this meeting’s report, transcript, and records — with linked sources.

Summary AI-generated to surface controversy & community impact without bias — always verify against the actual meeting before relying on it.

📋 AMHERST BOARD OF SELECTMEN — June 24, 2024: What You Should Know

A resident named Kelly Mullen stood up during Citizens Forum to protest the termination of Deb Butcher, a Community Development employee. Mullen argued that Butcher was qualified, experienced, and that her departure puts active permit and development applications at risk. The Board of Selectmen offered no public response — not a word of acknowledgment, no explanation, no indication that the concern would be followed up on. If you have a pending permit application with the Community Development office, this matters to you directly.

The board also passed a no-through-trucking ordinance restricting trucks over 75,000 pounds on Boston Post Road, Jammer Street, and Mont Vernon/New Boston Road. That's a real safety win — but board member Bill Stoughton said on the record that he preferred a lower weight limit, citing truck mass as an equally important safety factor. He has raised this concern multiple times publicly. He voted yes anyway. Merrimack Road is still not covered; that discussion is scheduled for the next meeting.

On the emergency services front, the board approved a new step-based EMS wage matrix to help recruit and retain firefighters and EMTs. The Fire Chief described it as a major morale boost. It's a needed change. The concern: the board approved the matrix before the written criteria for placing employees on the pay scale have been developed. Staff were directed to create those criteria after the fact. A compensation policy without pre-established placement rules creates real risk of inconsistent or inequitable treatment.

Finally, the Souhegan School Board has requested early renegotiation of the town's athletic facilities lease. The BOS deferred the conversation to the next meeting, but at least one member signaled interest in reviewing all town-school arrangements as part of the process. Residents with kids in Amherst schools — or anyone who cares about how the town and school district share resources — should follow this closely. The next BOS meeting is the time to show up.

Jun 24, 2024 1.4h long 9 speakers 17 decisions Lively
❝ Notable statements ↔ Drag to browse

“The town of Amherst and particularly the community development office is not in a position to let qualified, good employees go... We are not in a position to lose someone like Deb Butcher.”

— Kelly Mullen · Citizen expressing concern about Community Development employee termination 03:24

“I have said previously and publicly on a number of occasions I would prefer a lower limit. And I do believe it's important to safety... the mass of the truck is an equally important factor”

— Speaker D (Bill Stoughton) · Discussing truck weight limits for safety concerns 10:04

“That is a huge step for us. And I can tell you from a morale standpoint was getting people in where they should be is going to help us a whole lot. There's going to be a lot of happy people.”

— Speaker B (Fire Chief) · After approval of EMS wage matrix 58:55

“We often have crew on very steep slopes with unsure footing with chainsaws... this would help reduce the need to do that”

— Speaker H (DPW Director) · Justifying forestry mulcher purchase for safety reasons 1:03:16

“I think it's important that the schools in the town continue to have a good relationship... it's healthy to periodically look at these things and see if adjustments are needed”

— Speaker D (Bill) · Responding to school board's early lease renegotiation request 1:16:45

“We determine the holidays before the year begins, and that's what we should go with”

— Speaker E (Board member) · Discussion about keeping town hall open July 5th despite town clerk taking day off 1:15:57
This meeting — choose a section

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
What was discussed

18-year municipal bond refinancing from 5% to an expected 3.5–4%, potentially saving meaningful interest costs for taxpayers over the bond term

What was discussed

Restricts trucks over 75,000 lbs from using three town roads, with Merrimack Road still pending — affects road safety and infrastructure preservation for a significant residential corridor

What was discussed

New step-based pay structure intended to improve recruitment and retention of EMTs and firefighters; Fire Chief described morale impact as significant — directly affects emergency response capacity for the entire town

What was discussed

Loss of a qualified employee (Deb Butcher) in a small office handling active applications; potential delays or reduced capacity for development review services

Topics ⁠discussed

Each topic expands to quotes and full context.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Board held public hearing to refinance existing notes at 5% with municipal bond bank proceeds expected at 3.5-4% for 18-year term for conservation land purchase.

Speakers: Kelly Mullen
What was discussed

Kelly Mullen expressed concern about termination of Deb Butcher from Community Development office, citing her qualifications and impact on pending applications.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Board discussed weight limits for proposed ordinance, settling on 75,000 pounds for three roads to target larger trucks while maintaining business access.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Updates on prosecutor contract amendments, town clerk office closure July 5th, oil painting donation acceptance, and Mont Vernon shared services discussions.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Approved four encumbrance requests totaling approximately $260,000 for road work, design guidelines, software, and police cruisers.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Approved hiring of EMT Nicholas Ariel Harold and firefighter Matthew Emmons, plus new EMS wage matrix to improve recruitment and retention.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Approved $25,190 forestry mulcher purchase to improve safety and efficiency for roadside vegetation management, waiving competitive bidding requirements.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

DPW requested withdrawal of $308,419.72 from the bridge repair/replacement fund to reimburse five completed projects including Boston Post Road, Spring Road culvert, and bridge projects.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Craig reported that Justin Moles donated $1,000 to the Peabody Mill Environmental Center along with a scale model of a former Beaver Brook bridge, built as a Scout project with his late father.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Bill reported receiving a letter from Souhegan School Board requesting early renegotiation of athletic facilities lease agreement and suggested reviewing all town-school relationships comprehensively.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Bill provided update on solar RFP submission, with current plan to install panels on DPW salt shed to service DPW and Buck Meadow buildings, noting high competition expected among tier two towns.

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Potentially controversial issues

01

Community Development Employee Termination (Deb Butcher)

A resident, Kelly Mullen, used the Citizens Forum to publicly protest the firing of a Community Development employee, citing her qualifications and the impact on pending applications. The board's decision to terminate a skilled employee in a department handling active permit and development work raises concerns about service continuity and personnel management transparency.
Board position: The board did not publicly respond to or address Mullen's concern during the meeting — no discussion, defense, or acknowledgment of the termination was recorded.
medium concern
02

No Through Trucking Ordinance — Weight Limit Debate

Board member Bill Stoughton (a speaker) openly stated on the record that he preferred a lower weight limit than the 75,000-pound threshold adopted, citing both safety concerns and the equal danger posed by truck mass. This reflects a genuine internal policy disagreement, even though the final vote was 5-0. The ordinance affects road safety on Boston Post Road, Jammer Street, and Mont Vernon/New Boston Road.
Board position: Adopted a 75,000-pound weight limit, targeting large commercial trucks while preserving access for local businesses.
Internal dissent
a speaker (Bill Stoughton) stated a preference for a lower weight limit on multiple prior public occasions and reiterated it at this meeting, though he ultimately voted with the majority.
medium concern
03

School Board Lease Renegotiation Request

The Souhegan School Board is seeking early renegotiation of the athletic facilities lease, which has potential budget and service implications for both the town and the school community. Board member Bill Stoughton signaled a desire to review all town-school relationships comprehensively, suggesting the scope may extend well beyond a simple lease update.
Board position: Deferred to next meeting for a broader discussion on how to approach renegotiation and the overall town-school relationship.
medium concern
04

EMS Wage Matrix Adoption Without Finalized Placement Criteria

The board adopted a new step-based EMS wage matrix — a significant compensation policy change — while explicitly leaving the written placement criteria to be developed after the fact. This means employees could be placed on the pay scale without transparent, pre-established rules, creating potential for inequitable treatment and future grievances.
Board position: Approved the matrix 5-0, with the caveat that written placement criteria will be developed subsequently by management.
low concern

Community vs. board tension

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
No public comments were identified in this meeting.

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
02:15
Opened and closed public hearing for bond refunding
No public comments received during hearing
5-0
17:18
Passed no through trucking ordinance with 75,000 pound weight limit
Applies to Boston Post Road, Jammer Street, and Mont Vernon/New Boston Road
5-0
19:37
Approved amended prosecutor contract
Contract clarified as independent contractor position with minor changes
5-0
21:22
Accepted oil painting donation from Beth Smith
1999 painting of Amherst July 4th parade by Gail Hort for town library
5-0
24:22
Approved certificate of authority for conservation land purchase
Map 6, Lot 7 Pawtuckaway Lake Road for $1,400,000
5-0
29:08
Approved DPW encumbrance for road work completion
$133,373.75 for Pike Industries contract completion
5-0
29:33
Approved Community Development encumbrances
$19,000 for design guidelines and $22,000 for new software system
5-0 each
30:21
Approved police cruiser encumbrance
$85,748.20 for two Dodge Durango cruisers
5-0
49:09
Approved hiring EMT Nicholas Ariel Harold
$21.41/hour starting July 1st
5-0
49:46
Approved hiring probationary firefighter Matthew Emmons
$12.67/hour starting July 1st
5-0
58:55
Adopted EMS wage matrix
New step-based pay system for recruitment and retention with written placement criteria to be developed
5-0
1:02:08
Adopted hazard mitigation plan
As amended with feasibility language changes approved by FEMA
5-0
1:06:33
Approved forestry mulcher purchase
$25,190 from Equipment East, waiving competitive bidding requirements
5-0
1:09:18
Approved withdrawal of $308,419.72 from bridge repair/replacement trust fund
Funds to reimburse five bridge/culvert projects: Boston Post Road Bridge, Spring Road culvert, Thornton Ferry bridges (temporary and permanent), and Mount Vernon Road bridge
5-0 unanimous approval
1:12:08
Accepted $1,000 donation to Peabody Mill Environmental Center
Donation from Justin Moles along with bridge model
5-0 unanimous approval
1:12:32
Approved consent agenda items
Motion made and seconded without specific item details discussed
5-0 unanimous approval
1:13:03
Approved meeting minutes from June 10, 2024 with minor correction
Corrected word 'previous' on line 293
5-0 unanimous approval

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X / Twitter — by angle

Board silence on a citizen's public concern about a staffing decision affecting active permit applications
At the 6/24 Amherst BOS meeting, a resident publicly protested the firing of a Community Development employee with active permit applications in her queue. The board said nothing in response. No acknowledgment. No explanation. Nothing.
235/280 chars
Internal policy disagreement on truck weight limits despite unanimous vote
Amherst BOS (6/24) passed a no-through-trucking ordinance for 3 roads — but one board member said on the record he wanted a lower weight limit than the 75,000 lbs adopted. The vote was still 5-0. Merrimack Road still pending.
225/280 chars
Compensation policy adopted without finalized placement criteria, creating risk of inequitable treatment
Amherst BOS (6/24) approved a new EMS wage matrix — a real step for firefighter/EMT retention — but voted to figure out the placement criteria *after* the fact. Employees can now be placed on the pay scale before the rules are written.
235/280 chars
Scope of lease renegotiation potentially expanding beyond athletic facilities, with budget implications
Souhegan School Board wants to renegotiate its athletic facilities lease with the town — early. Amherst BOS (6/24) deferred the conversation but one member signaled interest in reviewing ALL town-school relationships. Watch this space.
235/280 chars

X thread

1
THREAD: Here's what happened at the Amherst Board of Selectmen meeting on June 24, 2024 — and what residents should be paying attention to. 🧵
141/280
2
1/ A resident named Kelly Mullen used Citizens Forum to protest the termination of Deb Butcher from the Community Development office. Mullen cited Butcher's qualifications and warned of harm to pending permit applications. The board offered zero public response.
262/280
3
2/ No board member acknowledged Mullen's concern. No justification for the termination. No indication of follow-up. A resident raised a legitimate service-continuity concern and was met with silence. That's worth noting.
220/280
4
3/ The board passed a no-through-trucking ordinance (75,000 lb limit) for Boston Post Road, Jammer Street, and Mont Vernon/New Boston Road — 5-0. But board member Bill Stoughton said on the record he preferred a lower limit, citing truck mass as a safety factor.
262/280
5
4/ Stoughton had raised this concern 'previously and publicly on a number of occasions' before voting with the majority anyway. The vote was unanimous, but the policy disagreement is real. Merrimack Road is still pending — next meeting.
236/280
6
5/ The board approved a new step-based EMS wage matrix — a legitimate move to improve recruitment and retention. The Fire Chief called it a major morale win. But the placement criteria — who goes on which step — won't be written until after the policy is in effect.
265/280
7
6/ That means employees could be slotted into pay levels before there are transparent, written rules governing how that's done. The board acknowledged this and directed staff to develop criteria later. It's a process gap worth watching.
236/280
8
7/ The Souhegan School Board has asked for early renegotiation of its athletic facilities lease. The BOS deferred to next meeting, but Stoughton flagged interest in reviewing ALL town-school arrangements comprehensively. The scope of this could grow quickly.
258/280
9
8/ On the positive side: the board approved refinancing existing notes at a lower rate (expected 3.5–4% vs. current 5%) for the $1.4M conservation land purchase — an 18-year bond that could save taxpayers meaningful interest costs.
231/280
10
9/ All votes were 5-0. But unanimous votes don't mean no concerns exist — this meeting had a citizen protest ignored, a stated policy disagreement overridden, and a compensation framework adopted without its own rules. Stay engaged. /end
237/280

Facebook — long form

📋 AMHERST BOARD OF SELECTMEN — June 24, 2024: What You Should Know

A resident named Kelly Mullen stood up during Citizens Forum to protest the termination of Deb Butcher, a Community Development employee. Mullen argued that Butcher was qualified, experienced, and that her departure puts active permit and development applications at risk. The Board of Selectmen offered no public response — not a word of acknowledgment, no explanation, no indication that the concern would be followed up on. If you have a pending permit application with the Community Development office, this matters to you directly.

The board also passed a no-through-trucking ordinance restricting trucks over 75,000 pounds on Boston Post Road, Jammer Street, and Mont Vernon/New Boston Road. That's a real safety win — but board member Bill Stoughton said on the record that he preferred a lower weight limit, citing truck mass as an equally important safety factor. He has raised this concern multiple times publicly. He voted yes anyway. Merrimack Road is still not covered; that discussion is scheduled for the next meeting.

On the emergency services front, the board approved a new step-based EMS wage matrix to help recruit and retain firefighters and EMTs. The Fire Chief described it as a major morale boost. It's a needed change. The concern: the board approved the matrix before the written criteria for placing employees on the pay scale have been developed. Staff were directed to create those criteria after the fact. A compensation policy without pre-established placement rules creates real risk of inconsistent or inequitable treatment.

Finally, the Souhegan School Board has requested early renegotiation of the town's athletic facilities lease. The BOS deferred the conversation to the next meeting, but at least one member signaled interest in reviewing all town-school arrangements as part of the process. Residents with kids in Amherst schools — or anyone who cares about how the town and school district share resources — should follow this closely. The next BOS meeting is the time to show up.

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Review Merrimack Road truck weight limits
Assigned: Board · Due: Future meeting
Continue efforts to contact Vertex regarding cell service
Assigned: Dean Shankel · Due: 2 weeks
Work together to provide written description of EMS matrix placement criteria
Assigned: Dean Shankel, Bill Stoughton, Debbie · Due: Not specified
Meet with fire truck committee and report back on tower truck options
Assigned: Fire Chief · Due: Next Wednesday, report in 4 weeks
Submit invoice for forestry mulcher by Sunday to use FY24 funds
Assigned: DPW Director · Due: Sunday
Schedule discussion of Merrimack Road truck ordinance for next meeting, followed by public hearing
Assigned: Board · Due: Next meeting
Discuss school board lease renegotiation request at next meeting and determine approach
Assigned: Board · Due: Next meeting
Implement quarterly CRF reimbursement requests going forward for better tracking
Assigned: DPW and Finance · Due: Ongoing
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Report composed by claude-sonnet-4-20250514, claude-sonnet-4-6, claude-opus-4-6 · analyzed 2026-06-01.