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Board of Selectmen — October 8, 2024

The trucking ordinance public hearing generated genuine community division and board hesitation, and the fireworks funding crisis signals a looming difficult decision, but most other business was procedural and the board avoided direct confrontation with the public.

Date Tuesday, October 8, 2024 Duration 1.2h Speakers 13 Public comments 5 Decisions 3 Lively

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

Potential Cancellation or Reduction of Fourth of July Fireworks

Annual fireworks cost has risen to $14,000–$15,000 with fundraising unable to cover costs; committee has signaled the program is unsustainable without a new funding model, threatening cancellation of a longstanding community event Affected: All Amherst residents who attend the annual Fourth of July celebration; described as drawing thousands of attendees
service reduction
02

Repeal of No-Through Trucking Ordinance on Merrimack Road

Would remove existing truck traffic restriction on a residential road, with disputed but potentially significant impacts on road safety, noise, and wear Affected: Residents along Merrimack Road and connecting roads who would experience increased heavy truck traffic; also truckers and businesses who would gain routing flexibility
safety change

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Motion to close public hearing on Merrimack Road no-through trucking ordinance repeal
Board voted to close public hearing but delayed final decision until next meeting to allow more community input
Passed 5-0
12:16
Delayed decision on Merrimack Road trucking ordinance repeal
Majority agreed to postpone final vote to next meeting due to lack of input from Merrimack Road residents, despite some members wanting to vote immediately
Consensus to wait
14:05
Motion to adjourn meeting
Motion made by a speaker, seconded by a speaker, all members voted in favor
Approved unanimously
1:12:56

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
00:05 Public Hearing on Repeal of No-Through Trucking Ordinance on Merrimack Road

Board held public hearing on proposed repeal of no-through trucking ordinance on Merrimack Road. Mixed public input with residents expressing concerns about increased truck traffic and safety, while truckers and business owners supported the repeal citing practical routing needs.

Speakers: Jeannie Liu, Will Loot, Dennis Wheeler, Kevin Grass, Dale White
22:51 Fourth of July Committee Financial Challenges

Committee reported significant financial strain due to rising fireworks costs (from $4,500 pre-pandemic to $14,000 in 2024) and difficulty fundraising the required $15,000 annually. They requested board guidance on whether to continue fireworks or focus resources on July 4th parade and activities.

Speakers: Deb Polchek, Lori
42:38 Budget Meeting Schedule for Ways and Means Committee

Board scheduled multiple department budget review meetings with Ways and Means Committee for late October and early November, covering all town departments.

Speakers: Board members
53:09 Warrant Articles Discussion for FY26

Board reviewed proposed warrant articles for next fiscal year including recurring items like road improvements and equipment, plus new requests for cell tower study and various capital improvements.

Speakers: Board members
1:05:37 Power Truck Plan Status

Chief unable to attend meeting to discuss new truck as deputies are in training and assisting with hurricane response. Discussion postponed to next meeting.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:06:08 Thornton Curry Property Quiet Title Completion

Court process completed and town now owns the property. Legal counsel advising that due to warrant article wording, selectmen can only sell by sealed bid or auction unless voters approve other options.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:08:10 Tax-Taken Properties Authority Discussion

Board discussed broader implications for other tax-taken properties and potential need for new warrant article with 'as justice may require' language for greater flexibility.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:10:33 Boston Post Road Signage Ordinance

Action item to check status of new ordinance for Boston Post Road signage and enforcement.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:11:58 Coffee with a Cop Event Feedback

Positive feedback from recent community policing event with seven citizens attending and good discussion with sergeant.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Potentially controversial issues

01

Repeal of No-Through Trucking Ordinance on Merrimack Road

The proposed repeal directly pits the safety and quality-of-life concerns of residential neighbors against the practical routing needs of truckers and business owners. Five residents spoke publicly with mixed views, and a prior community meeting on nearby Chestnut Hill reportedly drew a large turnout of concerned residents. The board declined to vote immediately, signaling internal hesitation, while some members appeared ready to act — creating tension both within the board and between the board and unheard Merrimack Road residents.
Board position: Delayed final decision to gather more community input from Merrimack Road residents specifically; no vote taken on the repeal itself
Internal dissent
Some board members wanted to vote immediately while a majority favored postponement, reflecting internal disagreement about timing and process
high concern
02

Fourth of July Fireworks Financial Sustainability

Fireworks costs have tripled since pre-pandemic (from $4,500 to $14,000), the committee cannot fundraise the required $15,000 annually, and the program is described as guaranteed to run at a loss. Thousands of residents attend the event, yet contributed only $125 in parking donations. The board faces a choice between canceling a beloved community tradition or subsidizing it with public funds, neither of which is politically painless.
Board position: Deferred to a working meeting with committee members Peter, Danielle, a speaker, and Cynthia to brainstorm solutions; no funding commitment made
medium concern
03

Thornton Curry Property Disposal Authority and Legal Constraints

The board learned that prior warrant article language limits them to selling the property only by sealed bid or auction, removing their flexibility to negotiate or donate. The property serves as a precedent-setting 'bellwether' case for other tax-taken properties. The legal constraint was unanticipated and may force a return to voters, delaying disposition and raising questions about how prior warrant articles were drafted.
Board position: Acknowledged the constraint and directed legal counsel follow-up; considering a new warrant article with broader 'as justice may require' language for future properties
medium concern

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Meet with 4th of July Committee to brainstorm solutions for fireworks funding challenges
Assigned: Peter and Danielle · Due: Before November committee meeting
Check with Sarah from NRPC about scheduling traffic counting systems presentation
Assigned: Will Loot · Due: ASAP to coordinate with board schedule
Complete scheduled budget meetings with Ways and Means Committee
Assigned: Board members · Due: Late October through early November 2024
Follow up with town counsel Stephen about easement requirements for Thornton Curry property
Assigned: Dean · Due: For next meeting discussion
Update COLA assumptions after October data becomes available
Assigned: Bill · Due: October 21st meeting
Follow up with Stephen (legal counsel) about easement requirements for Thornton Curry property and whether new warrant article could apply retroactively
Assigned: a speaker (Gail) · Due: Before next discussion in two meetings
Check on status of new ordinance for Boston Post Road signage and enforcement
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Not specified
Meet with 4th of July Committee to discuss fireworks
Assigned: a speaker and Cynthia · Due: As soon as possible

Notable ⁠statements

If you don't want to live in a busy area, then don't buy your house there — Dennis Wheeler · Arguing against restrictions on truck traffic during public hearing 07:26
Fundraising was a full time job... I can definitely guarantee that [fireworks] will operate at a loss if we do it again — Deb Polchek · Explaining financial unsustainability of continuing fireworks program 32:33
We made $125 asking for donations for parking... and there were thousands of people there — Lori · Describing poor community financial support for fireworks despite large attendance 38:00
Because of the way the Warren article was written, all the selectmen can do is sell it by sealed bid or auction. If you want to do anything else, it appears that you need to be a warrant article. — Unidentified speaker · Legal advice regarding limitations on disposing of tax-taken Thornton Curry property 1:06:08
This is kind of our bellwether case because there are other properties that we have taken for taxes that may or may not be in the interest of the town to retain. — Unidentified speaker · Explaining broader implications of Thornton Curry property decision for future tax-taken properties 1:08:10
If justice may require gives you a lot of flexibility that isn't in what was packed. — Unidentified speaker · Explaining importance of specific legal language in warrant articles for property disposal authority 1:08:56

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
5
Total speakers
0
Addressed
0
Partial
5
Not addressed
Jeannie Liu
00:53
Not addressed
Jeannie Liu expressed concerns about repealing no through trucking ordinances, citing safety issues from speeding and large trucks on roads like Boston Post Road. She emphasized that data doesn't always reflect residents' lived experiences and urged the board to consider these experiences carefully before making decisions. Key concern
Safety concerns about repealing no through trucking ordinances and ensuring resident experiences are considered alongside data
Board response
The chair acknowledged receipt of her email but provided no substantive response to her concerns
The board only acknowledged receipt of her email but did not address her safety concerns or provide any discussion of how they would balance data with resident experiences
Will Loot
03:46
Not addressed
Will Loot argued against repealing the no through trucking ordinance for Merrimack Road, questioning where diverted trucks would go and referencing the large turnout of concerned residents at the previous week's Chestnut Hill meeting. He recommended leaving the current restrictions in place. Key concern
Opposition to repealing the no through trucking ordinance, citing concerns about truck diversion and community opposition
Board response
No direct response from the board to his concerns
The board did not respond to his concerns about truck diversion or address his recommendation to maintain the current ordinance
Dennis Wheeler
05:02
Not addressed
Dennis Wheeler argued that trucks need routes to travel and criticized the blanket opposition to truck traffic without offering alternatives. He contended that the Merrimack Road restriction was never legal and emphasized that trucks have a right to use roads they pay to register for, while noting that cars cause more traffic issues than trucks. Key concern
Support for allowing truck traffic and criticism of restrictions without providing alternative routes
Board response
No direct response from the board to his arguments
The board did not engage with his arguments about truck routing needs or the legality of the current restrictions
Kevin Grass
08:26
Not addressed
Kevin Grass, a resident of Merrimack Road, strongly supported lifting the no through trucking restriction, calling it a knee-jerk reaction that was never legal. He argued the data shows no issues and suggested trying the repeal with the option to revisit if problems arise. Key concern
Support for repealing the no through trucking ordinance, citing lack of data showing problems
Board response
No direct response from the board to his support
The board did not respond to his arguments about the data or his suggestion to try the repeal with monitoring
Dale White
09:58
Not addressed
Dale White, a trucking company owner from Milford, supported lifting the restriction based on his experience rarely seeing trucks on Merrimack Road except for deliveries. He emphasized the financial struggles of the trucking industry and requested that restrictions not be imposed without clear justification. Key concern
Support for lifting the restriction based on personal observation and concern for trucking industry impacts
Board response
No direct response from the board to his testimony
The board did not respond to his observations about actual truck usage or his concerns about industry impacts
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Report composed by claude-sonnet-4-20250514, claude-sonnet-4-6, claude-opus-4-6 · analyzed 2026-06-01.