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Meeting report · Board of Selectmen
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Board of Selectmen — February 11, 2025

The meeting was collegial and largely procedural, with the most substantive tension stemming from resident complaints about winter road conditions — addressed defensively but without conflict — and no public speakers present to escalate any issue.

Date Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Duration 1.6h Speakers 10 Decisions 10 Routine

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

Police K9 Unit Established

New program funded by $32,000 grant for years 1–3; ongoing municipal costs expected after grant period ends Affected: All Amherst residents, particularly those who interact with law enforcement or have civil liberties concerns about K9 deployment
safety change
02

Winter Road Treatment Policy Adjustment

Modest policy adjustment to increase salt application in specific storm scenarios; no formal policy overhaul Affected: All Amherst residents and commuters who use town roads during winter weather events
safety change
03

Fire Department Aerial Truck Purchase

$100,000 deposit authorized from fire impact fee fund toward purchase of used aerial platform truck; enhances structural fire response capacity Affected: All Amherst residents dependent on fire department emergency response capabilities
safety change

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approved hiring of John Newell as Community Development Land Use Administrative Assistant
Starting date February 18th, 2025
Unanimous approval by roll call vote
02:46
Approved application to Stanton Foundation for K9 unit funding and authorized letter of support
Grant application for $32,000 to establish canine program covering years 1-3 expenses
Unanimous 4-0 approval by roll call vote (Lyon, Stoughton, Grella all voting aye)
1:00:09
Hire Advanced EMT Brittany Wright at grade 2, step 1, hourly rate $22.45
Motion by Bill (a speaker), seconded by Tom (a speaker)
Approved 4-0
1:21:22
Authorize town administrator to sign grant agreement with NHES for EMT training reimbursement
Motion by Bill (a speaker), seconded by Tom
Approved 4-0
1:27:17
Approve withdrawal of $100,000 from fire impact fee funds for aerial platform truck purchase
Motion by Bill (a speaker), seconded by Tom (a speaker)
Approved 4-0
1:30:09
Approve consent agenda items
Motion by Bill (a speaker)
Approved 4-0
1:30:59
Approve meeting minutes of November 7, 2024
Motion by Peter (a speaker), seconded by Bill (a speaker). Note: Original transcript said 2025 but corrected to 2024
Approved 4-0
1:31:33
Approve meeting minutes of November 13, 2024
Motion by Peter (a speaker), seconded. Note: Original transcript said 2025 but corrected to 2024
Approved 4-0
1:32:03
Approve raffle permit for Milford Rotary annual 100 holes of golf event
Motion by Bill (a speaker), event date June 20, 2025
Approved 4-0
1:32:32
Enter non-public session for hiring discussion
Motion by Bill (a speaker), seconded by Tom (a speaker), pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II(b)
Approved 4-0
1:33:56

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
00:05 Meeting Opening and Attendance

Board meeting called to order with Selectman Peter Lyon attending remotely due to illness. Pledge of Allegiance conducted.

Speakers: Speaker B (Chair), Speaker C (Peter Lyon), Unidentified speaker
01:47 New Hire Approval - John Newell

Board approved hiring of John Newell as Community Development Land Use Administrative Assistant, starting February 18th. Newell has decades of planning and zoning experience.

Speakers: Speaker F (Debbie), Speaker A (John Newell), Unidentified speaker
03:21 Administrative Updates

Updates on water line project completion, leach field construction timing, municipal bond rates, and community power program launch preparations.

Speakers: Speaker F (Debbie), Unidentified speaker
07:17 Hiring Updates - Open Positions

Chair reported on community development director interviews (candidate identified but not yet approved) and town administrator position (dozens of applications received, interviews scheduled for coming weeks).

Speakers: Speaker B (Chair)
08:47 Police K9 Unit Proposal

Chief presented comprehensive proposal for establishing K9 unit with Officer Frederick as handler. Program would be funded by $32,000 Stanton Foundation grant covering first three years of expenses.

Speakers: Speaker A (Chief), Speaker E (Officer Frederick)
1:02:03 Transfer Station Deck Repairs

DPW Manager Eric reported significant issues with the composite decking at the transfer station, with boards popping up and cracking due to winter weather conditions. Proposed temporary solution using plywood overlay at estimated cost of $3,000+ for materials.

Speakers: Speaker H (Eric), Unidentified speaker
1:07:40 Winter Operations Policy Discussion

Eric provided detailed explanation of town's winter road treatment policy following resident complaints about January 31-February 1 storm. Outlined environmental and budget-conscious approach using Green Snow Pro program versus over-application of salt.

Speakers: Speaker H (Eric), Unidentified speaker
1:20:55 Fire Department EMT Hiring

Chief Conley presented hiring of Advanced EMT Brittany Wright at grade 2, step 1, with hourly rate of $22.45.

Speakers: Speaker I (Chief Conley), Unidentified speaker
1:22:03 EMT Training Grant Agreement

Discussion of grant reimbursement program through NH Employment Security that helped fund EMT training for 8 individuals totaling approximately $16,000 in reimbursements.

Speakers: Speaker G (Deputy Heavey), Speaker I (Chief Conley), Unidentified speaker
1:28:25 Fire Department Aerial Truck Purchase

Chief Conley requested approval to withdraw $100,000 from fire impact fee funds for deposit on used aerial platform truck purchase.

Speakers: Speaker I (Chief Conley), Unidentified speaker

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Potentially controversial issues

01

Winter Road Treatment Policy and Resident Complaints

Residents filed complaints about road conditions during the January 31–February 1 storm, suggesting the town's environmentally and budget-conscious salt reduction policy (Green Snow Pro program) may have compromised public safety. This pits fiscal and environmental priorities against resident safety expectations — a values conflict with potential liability implications.
Board position: Supportive of the existing conservative salting policy but acknowledged the need for modest adjustments in specific storm scenarios, deferring to DPW's professional judgment.
medium concern
02

Police K9 Unit Establishment

K9 programs carry known civil liberties concerns — potential for aggressive use, racial bias in deployment, and liability exposure for the municipality. While grant-funded and enthusiastically received by the board, the program was approved without any public comment period. Community members with concerns had no opportunity to weigh in.
Board position: Unanimously enthusiastic; approved grant application 4-0 with strong commendations for the proposal.
medium concern
03

Transfer Station Deck Deterioration — Emergency Repair

Significant structural failure of composite decking at the transfer station required an immediate temporary fix (plywood overlay at $3,000+) with a permanent solution deferred to a future meeting. The deterioration raises questions about original material selection, warranty coverage, and whether the emergency expenditure bypassed normal procurement review.
Board position: Approved the temporary repair approach, directed DPW to return with a permanent solution.
low concern
04

Fire Department Aerial Platform Truck Purchase — $100,000 Deposit

A $100,000 withdrawal from fire impact fee funds for a deposit on a used aerial truck is a significant capital commitment. While impact fees are designated for such purposes, the board approved this without detailed public deliberation about the truck's condition, total purchase price, or alternatives — and with no public comment.
Board position: Approved 4-0 with minimal deliberation recorded in the summary.
low concern

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Coordinate with Emily on community power program meeting for next board meeting
Assigned: Debbie Bender (Acting Town Administrator) · Due: Next meeting
Submit K9 unit grant application to Stanton Foundation with board letter of support
Assigned: Chief Champoli · Due: As soon as possible
Source materials and implement temporary plywood overlay solution for transfer station deck
Assigned: Eric (Public Works Director/DPW Manager) · Due: Very soon (immediate priority)
Return to board with final proposal for permanent transfer station deck replacement
Assigned: Eric (DPW Manager) · Due: Future meeting (unspecified)
Notify all candidates about status of community development director position
Assigned: Board Chair · Due: If not already completed
Continue monitoring progress on aerial truck delivery and provide updates
Assigned: Chief Conley · Due: Ongoing (delivery expected in few months)

Notable ⁠statements

I don't know that I've ever been so happy to eat my own words because I'm going to be tonight and to be proven wrong. When I started out as chief, I know that I had brought in our comfort dog proposal pretty quickly. And during that I said, you know, I just didn't think that a K9 unit would actually work. — Chief Champoli · Explaining his change of position on K9 unit after identifying suitable officers 08:55
This is not a guy who puts his hands behind his back. So nice to see that. I think it was a great example. — Chief Champoli · Describing how presence of K9 unit from another town immediately de-escalated situation with violent repeat offender 47:14
I was so impressed with the professionalism of the proposal, and Officer Frederick, I thank you for that. It speaks not only to both of you, but to the entire department... It makes me proud to sit here and represent you to the citizens of this town. — Selectman Bill Stoughton · Commending the thoroughness of the K9 unit proposal 54:24
I move to approve the planned application to the Stanton foundation... Further, I move to provide a letter of support... largely because I'm not afraid of facing the dog, but I am afraid of facing your daughter. — Selectman Bill Stoughton · Making motion with humorous reference to Chief's daughter supporting the K9 program 1:00:09
We do take an environmentally friendly approach and also budget friendly approach because salt is very expensive now, more than almost doubled in price from just five or six years ago — Eric (DPW Manager) · Explaining winter operations policy in response to resident complaints about road conditions 1:13:20
We may not take as conservative approach with the use of our salt and chemicals, and maybe increase it just slightly...err a bit more on the side of safety in these particular situations — Eric (DPW Manager) · Acknowledging need to adjust winter operations based on feedback from January 31-February 1 storm 1:15:40
I'm still amazed that people will continue to drive as if it's July, no matter what the road conditions are — Tom · Supporting DPW's winter operations approach and emphasizing driver responsibility 1:18:11

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
No public comments were identified in this meeting.
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Report composed by claude-sonnet-4-20250514, claude-sonnet-4-6, claude-opus-4-6 · analyzed 2026-06-01.