Your area Not set — showing everywhere
Meeting report · Board of Selectmen
Creating this report cost real money. Help fund coverage →

Board of Selectmen — December 9, 2024

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.

Date Monday, December 9, 2024 Duration 2.5h Speakers 9 Decisions 4 Lively

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

Loss of $370,000 ACC Funding in FY26 Revenue Budget

$370,000 reduction in projected revenue compared to FY25, with no identified replacement source Affected: All Amherst taxpayers who may face higher tax rates or reduced services to compensate for the revenue loss
budget cut
02

Baboosic Lake Aluminum Sulfate Treatment — Potential $300,000–$500,000 Town Expenditure

Initial $50,000 warrant article; total remediation estimated at $300,000–$500,000 over multiple years Affected: All Amherst taxpayers funding treatment; lake-area residents most directly affected by ongoing health and recreational impacts
other high impact
03

Fire Department Tower Truck Replacement — Bonding Up to Five Years

Current truck requires $200,000+ in repairs or $900,000 refurbishment; new bonding strategy uses fund balance year one to defer tax impact Affected: All Amherst taxpayers who would fund multi-year debt service; residents relying on fire department aerial capability
other high impact
04

Employee Longevity Pay and Shift Differential Extension to All Town Employees

Estimated $18,000 additional cost in FY25 Affected: All Amherst taxpayers (increased personnel costs); all non-police town employees (new benefit)
other high impact
05

Thornton Ferry House Demolition

$25,000 budgeted ($16,870 demolition + ~$5,000 asbestos abatement, with contingency) Affected: All Amherst taxpayers funding the demolition
other high impact

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approved modification of personnel policy to extend longevity payments and shift differential from police CBA to all town employees
Motion to modify existing personnel policy regarding longevity payments and shift differential to match police collective bargaining agreement terms
Unanimous approval (5-0)
52:07
Defer all warrant article votes to next week's meeting to handle everything in one slate
Board agreed to review but not vote on individual warrant articles tonight to avoid confusion
Consensus agreement
1:23:48
Include $25,000 in budget for Thornton Ferry house demolition
Amount covers $16,870 demolition estimate plus $5,000 for asbestos abatement
Consensus agreement
2:07:17
Approved meeting minutes for November 18th, 2024
Motion made by a speaker, seconded, passed on voice vote
Approved unanimously
2:25:30

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
14:28 Baboosic Greenway and Thornton Ferry Road Parcel

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.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
16:16 North O2 and North O3 Funding Concerns

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.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
18:58 Baboosic Lake Water Quality Treatment

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.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
46:26 Employee Benefits and Longevity Pay

Board discussed extending increased longevity pay and shift differential from police union contract to all town employees, estimated cost $18,000 for FY25.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
53:02 Fire Department Tower Truck Purchase

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.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:08:23 Budget Draft Updates and Changes

Finance Director presented budget draft #3 with changes including MS4 initiative ($157,500), road rebuild funding ($100,000 increase), and various personnel adjustments.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:19:09 Budget Approval Timeline and Process

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.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:23:37 Warrant Articles Review and Organization

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.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:52:05 Pig Road Trail Classification

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.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:57:50 Thornton Ferry Property (TF1) Disposition

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.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:13:01 Revenue Budget Projections

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.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Potentially controversial issues

01

Baboosic Lake Water Quality Treatment — Town Funding for State-Owned Water Body

A resident (Obadiah Dart) made an emotional public appeal citing serious health impacts from cyanobacteria, including personal medical costs, while the board openly questioned whether taxpayers should fund treatment of a state-owned lake. The $50,000 initial ask is part of an estimated $300,000–$500,000 total remediation effort, raising significant equity and fiscal concerns.
Board position: Receptive but undecided; board agreed to include a warrant article but expressed philosophical reservations about the town's financial responsibility for a state-owned body of water.
Internal dissent
a speaker explicitly questioned the town's role in funding treatment of a publicly/state-owned lake, creating visible tension with the petitioner's urgent health-based appeal.
high concern
02

North O2 and North O3 Trail Projects — Funding Structure and 60% Supermajority Threshold

The projects historically pass at approximately 58% approval, meaning they are likely to fail if the warrant article requires a 60% supermajority. The board discussed multi-year vs. single-year funding with total costs potentially exceeding $200,000 by FY29, and acknowledged that full costs including administrative and spur connector expenses had not yet been disclosed to voters. a speaker stressed the need for full transparency.
Board position: Board directed staff to clarify all costs and prepare complete warrant article language before next week's meeting; emphasized transparency.
medium concern
03

Fire Department Tower Truck — Bonding Strategy and Tax Impact

The town's current tower truck has no resale value and requires either $200,000+ in repairs or $900,000 in full refurbishment. The board is exploring a five-year bonding authority strategy using fund balance for the first year to avoid an immediate tax impact — a financial maneuver that delays voter cost recognition and requires legal vetting. The used Texas truck is on hold pending inspection.
Board position: Board signaled support for the bonding/fund balance strategy but deferred final decision pending legal review by Town Counsel.
medium concern
04

Thornton Ferry Property (TF1) — Retention vs. Sale and Demolition Cost

The board debated whether to sell or retain the TF1 property. a speaker argued against selling ('you can only sell it once'), while a speaker expressed urgency about demolishing the existing house as a safety liability. The board agreed to include $25,000 in the budget for demolition — a concrete expenditure — while the longer-term disposition remains unresolved.
Board position: Consensus to retain the property for now and fund demolition; warrant article language still being refined.
low concern
05

Baboosic Greenway Parcel — Recommendation Against Sale

The Bicycle Pedestrian Committee formally recommended the town not sell a strategically located parcel needed for the Baboosic Greenway rail trail and associated recreational amenities. Any future decision to sell would conflict with the committee's strong public recommendation and the broader trail planning effort.
Board position: Board received the recommendation without voting; no decision made to sell at this meeting.
medium concern
06

FY26 Revenue Shortfall — Loss of $370,000 ACC Funding

The proposed FY26 revenue budget is materially lower than FY25 due to the loss of $370,000 in ACC funding, which will likely require either spending cuts or increased tax burden on residents to maintain services.
Board position: Board acknowledged the shortfall and noted a conservative approach to revenue projections; no mitigation strategy finalized.
medium concern

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Accelerate inspection trip to Texas to evaluate used tower truck before year-end
Assigned: Fire Chief · Due: Before December 31st (to meet bond hearing deadlines)
Send lake treatment information and permit application details to Town Administrator
Assigned: Obadiah Dart · Due: Not specified
Provide administrative cost estimates for grant projects (North O2/O3, CMAC, solar grant, TAP grant, RTP grant)
Assigned: DPW Director Eric · Due: Next meeting
Incorporate longevity pay changes and election machine costs into final budget draft
Assigned: Finance Director Debbie · Due: Next meeting
Prepare final operating budget with last tweaks and updated SRLD figures
Assigned: a speaker (Budget Manager) · Due: Next week's meeting
Send updated North 02/03 project cost spreadsheet to all board members and clarify spur path connector costs
Assigned: a speaker (Eric) · Due: Tomorrow (via email)
Collaborate on warrant article language for North 02 and North 03 projects with all costs included
Assigned: a speaker (Eric) and a speaker · Due: Next week's meeting
Check with Stephen (Town Counsel) about five-year bonding authority using fund balance for first-year costs
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Next week's meeting
Send Baboosic Lake operating budget to board members
Assigned: a speaker · Due: After meeting
Verify CRF warrant article order matches prior years for voter guide consistency
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Next week's meeting
Send natural gas line discussion materials to Jennifer for next meeting agenda
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Before next meeting

Notable ⁠statements

The committee strongly recommends against selling this parcel due to its key placement in both the development and use of a fully accessible trail system and larger recreational needs of the community. — Speaker B (Bike Ped Committee) · Recommendation regarding Thornton Ferry Road parcel and Baboosic Greenway development 14:28
If you live on a lake in New Hampshire that experiences cyanobacteria, you have to be taking L-Serine... you're paying 20 grand a year property taxes, you want to go use a lake. And I got to take a go to GNC every week to basically combat the effects of this. — Speaker D (Obadiah Dart) · Health concerns related to cyanobacteria exposure at Baboosic Lake 27:07
I'm just trying to figure out the role of the town here and the taxpayers basically paying to treat a state owned, a publicly owned body of water. — Speaker G (Bill) · Questioning town's financial responsibility for treating state-owned lake 35:29
Whatever we do, I think we'll want to try to do now so that we are upfront with the voters as to what we're asking... No kidding. This is what it's going to cost and this is what the taxpayers are going to come out of pocket for. — Unidentified speaker · Emphasizing need for complete transparency on North 02/03 project costs 1:42:01
It is currently the town's liability. And, you know, I would like to see it come down, be put in a safe condition sooner rather than later... I really think it needs to be done, you know, soon, in the next 12 months. — Unidentified speaker · Expressing urgency about demolishing the house on Thornton Ferry property 1:59:32
You can only sell it once... I think it makes more sense to retain it at this time — Unidentified speaker · Advocating for keeping Thornton Ferry property rather than selling for immediate revenue 2:01:52
I like good surprises, I don't like bad surprises — Unidentified speaker · Explaining conservative approach to revenue projections, particularly interest income 2:19:49

Public ⁠comment

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

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.

Report composed by claude-opus-4-6, claude-sonnet-4-6, claude-sonnet-4-20250514 · analyzed 2026-06-01.