Accountability posts
Drafts ready to share. Click to copy, then post. Board of Selectmen · Amherst, NH · December 16, 2024.
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budget restructuring and voter impact
Dec 16 Amherst Selectmen approved $18.3M FY26 operating budget after shifting $40k grant admin costs to warrant articles. All 5-0. Taxpayers will see these costs on the ballot instead of in the base budget. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/amherst/board-of-selectmen/2024-12-16/ #MeetingWatch #AmherstNH
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school infrastructure funding request
Board discussed $1.5M natural gas line request for Wilkins School from SAU. Members cited cost and competing priorities; no support signaled. Project remains unfunded for now. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/amherst/board-of-selectmen/2024-12-16/ #MeetingWatch #AmherstNH
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new town positions and promotions
Selectmen created new Master Fleet Mechanic position (Grade 12) and promoted current mechanic Tenzin Funsock at $33.28/hr effective Dec 16. Also approved seasonal environmental intern using existing budget. Both 5-0. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/amherst/board-of-selectmen/2024-12-16/ #MeetingWatch #AmherstNH
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capital project funding structure
Rail trail funding options debated: multi-year warrant article (60% threshold) vs annual capital reserve fund. Board plans extra meeting between Christmas and New Year’s to lock in language and seek consensus. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/amherst/board-of-selectmen/2024-12-16/ #MeetingWatch #AmherstNH
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Amherst Selectmen Dec 16 meeting: board approved FY26 operating budget at $18,298,510 after removing $40k in grant admin costs and moving them to warrant articles. Vote 5-0. Change means these costs now require separate voter approval rather than... #MeetingWatch #AmherstNH
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On the rail trail, members weighed a single multi-year warrant article needing 60% approval against an annual capital reserve fund approach with fallback options. Concerns included grant timing risks and voter education. Extra meeting scheduled before year end to finalize wording.
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Board also reviewed $1.5M natural gas extension request for Wilkins School from SAU. Reluctance expressed over cost and timing amid other capital needs. No action taken. Separately, new Master Fleet Mechanic role created and filled via internal... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/amherst/board-of-selectmen/2024-12-16/
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Longer-form draft.
At the December 16 Board of Selectmen meeting, members approved the FY26 operating budget of $18,298,510 after shifting $40,000 in grant administration costs out of the base budget and into warrant articles. The change was approved 5-0. This moves those costs onto the ballot for direct voter review rather than treating them as routine operating expenses. The board also discussed funding options for the rail trail project, weighing a multi-year warrant article against an annual capital reserve fund approach. An extra meeting was scheduled between Christmas and New Year’s to settle on language. Separately, the board declined to signal support for a $1.5M natural gas line extension request for Wilkins School, citing cost and other priorities. Other actions included creating a new Master Fleet Mechanic position and promoting the current mechanic into the role at $33.28 per hour, plus approving a seasonal environmental intern position using existing funds. All votes were unanimous. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/amherst/board-of-selectmen/2024-12-16/ #MeetingWatch #AmherstNH