Board of Selectmen — December 9, 2024
Amherst faces a $370,000 revenue gap in FY26, a deteriorating fire truck with no resale value, and an unresolved debate over who pays to fix a cyanobacteria-contaminated lake — all heading toward a single decisive budget meeting before January.
The meeting was largely procedural and budget-focused, but Obadiah Dart's emotionally charged health testimony about Baboosic Lake and the board's open debate about taxpayer responsibility for a state-owned resource introduced genuine tension, while unresolved fiscal questions around the ACC funding loss and tower truck bonding added underlying pressure.
Questions about this meeting? Just ask.
Ask MeetingWatch answers from this meeting’s report, transcript, and records — with linked sources.
**Amherst Board of Selectmen — December 9, 2024 Meeting Recap**
Amherst's budget season is entering the final stretch, and the December 9th Board of Selectmen meeting surfaced several issues that will directly affect taxpayers in 2025 and beyond.
**A $370,000 Revenue Gap in FY26.** The proposed FY26 operating budget starts with $370,000 less revenue than FY25 because the town's ACC funding is gone, with no replacement source identified. The board is projecting conservatively on interest income and other revenues, but acknowledged that the gap will need to be addressed — through spending cuts, increased taxes, or some combination. No mitigation strategy has been finalized.
**Baboosic Lake Cyanobacteria Treatment.** Resident Obadiah Dart gave a pointed public appeal, describing personal health costs he incurs weekly to manage the effects of cyanobacteria exposure at Baboosic Lake. He asked the board to include a $50,000 warrant article as a first step toward a total remediation estimated at $300,000–$500,000. The board was sympathetic but made no funding commitment, and one member explicitly raised the question of whether Amherst taxpayers should bear the cost of treating a state-owned water body. That philosophical and fiscal debate is unresolved — voters may ultimately be asked to weigh in at Town Meeting.
**Fire Tower Truck.** The town's current aerial truck has no resale value and faces either $200,000+ in repairs or a $900,000 refurbishment bill. The board is exploring a five-year bonding strategy that uses the town's fund balance to cover the first year's cost, deferring the visible tax impact. The strategy still requires review by Town Counsel and hasn't been approved. Separately, a potentially less expensive used truck from Texas is under evaluation — an inspection trip needs to happen before year-end.
**What Was Formally Decided on December 9th:** The board unanimously approved extending longevity pay and shift differentials — previously exclusive to the police union contract — to all town employees, at an estimated additional cost of $18,000 in FY25. The board also agreed by consensus to budget $25,000 for demolition of the hazardous house on the Thornton Ferry property ($16,870 for demolition plus ~$5,000 for asbestos abatement). All warrant article votes were deferred to next week's meeting, which is the last scheduled meeting before January. That meeting will effectively set what voters are asked to decide at Town Meeting — it's worth attending or following closely.
Public impact
$370,000 reduction in projected revenue compared to FY25, with no identified replacement source
Initial $50,000 warrant article; total remediation estimated at $300,000–$500,000 over multiple years
Current truck requires $200,000+ in repairs or $900,000 refurbishment; new bonding strategy uses fund balance year one to defer tax impact
Estimated $18,000 additional cost in FY25
$25,000 budgeted ($16,870 demolition + ~$5,000 asbestos abatement, with contingency)
Topics discussed
Bicycle Pedestrian Committee recommended against selling a town parcel due to its strategic location for the planned Baboosic Greenway rail trail and potential for trailhead parking, community gardens, and other recreational uses.
Committee expressed concerns about warrant article requiring 60% approval for North O2 and North O3 projects, noting historical passage rates of approximately 58%. Later discussion covered multi-year vs. single-year funding options with updated cost projections showing combined totals ranging from $29,600 (FY25) to $200,000+ (FY29), with project oversight costs and spur path connector costs needing clarification.
Discussion of warrant article to reclassify portion of Pig Road as Class B trail (no motor vehicle access) from Merrimack Road to Lassard property boundary, approximately 1,900 feet.
Board discussed options for TF1 property including 'as justice may require' article vs. specific easement provisions. House demolition estimated at $16,870 plus $5,000 for asbestos abatement, with board leaning toward retaining property rather than selling.
Obadiah Dart from Baboosic Lake Association requested $50,000 warrant article for aluminum sulfate treatment to address cyanobacteria caused by internal phosphorus loading, estimated total cost $300,000-$500,000.
Board discussed extending increased longevity pay and shift differential from police union contract to all town employees, estimated cost $18,000 for FY25.
Fire Chief provided update on potential used tower truck purchase from Texas, currently on hold pending inspection trip and permit approval timeline. Board later discussed a five-year bonding authority strategy for tower truck replacement, using fund balance for first-year costs to avoid immediate tax impact. Current truck has no resale value and requires $200,000+ in repairs or $900,000 for complete refurbishment.
Finance Director presented budget draft #3 with changes including MS4 initiative ($157,500), road rebuild funding ($100,000 increase), and various personnel adjustments.
Board discussed finalizing the operating budget with final tweaks needed by next week's meeting, which is the last meeting before January. SRLD project administration costs still need clarification.
Board reviewed various warrant articles including CRFs for communications ($40,000), computer servers ($15,000), bridge repair ($300,000), DPW equipment ($130,000), and a new 4th of July fireworks CRF ($12,500) for the country's 275th anniversary in 2026.
FY26 proposed revenue is lower than FY25 due to loss of $370,000 ACC funding. Interest on investments projected at $450,000 (conservative estimate), with meals and rooms tax showing slower growth.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
Baboosic Lake Water Quality Treatment — Town Funding for State-Owned Water Body
North O2 and North O3 Trail Projects — Funding Structure and 60% Supermajority Threshold
Fire Department Tower Truck — Bonding Strategy and Tax Impact
Thornton Ferry Property (TF1) — Retention vs. Sale and Demolition Cost
Baboosic Greenway Parcel — Recommendation Against Sale
FY26 Revenue Shortfall — Loss of $370,000 ACC Funding
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.
claude-opus-4-6, claude-sonnet-4-6, claude-sonnet-4-20250514 · analyzed 2026-06-01.
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).