Board of Selectmen — February 11, 2025

**Amherst Board of Selectmen — Meeting Recap & Accountability Notes | February 11, 2025**

The Board of Selectmen met Tuesday evening in a largely routine session, voting 4-0 on every item. Several decisions, however, deserve closer public attention — not because they're necessarily wrong, but because they were made without structured public input.

**Police K9 Unit Approved Without Public Comment.** The board unanimously approved applying for a $32,000 Stanton Foundation grant to establish a K9 program, with Officer Frederick identified as handler. Chief Champoli's proposal was detailed and professional. But K9 programs carry well-documented concerns around civil liberties, deployment discretion, and racial bias — and no public comment period was held before the vote. The grant covers the first three years; ongoing costs after that will fall to the town's budget, though no specific figures were presented publicly. If you have questions or concerns about how this program will operate, now is the time to contact the board — before policies are set.

**Winter Road Safety: Complaints Heard, But No Formal Policy Change.** Following resident complaints about icy conditions during the January 31–February 1 storm, DPW Manager Eric defended the town's reduced-salt approach under the Green Snow Pro program, citing both environmental responsibility and cost (salt prices have nearly doubled in recent years). The board endorsed only a vague, discretionary 'slight adjustment' for certain storm scenarios — no formal written standard, no binding policy revision. One selectman suggested drivers bear responsibility for adjusting to conditions. Residents who want a clearer public safety threshold have not yet gotten one.

**$100,000 Fire Truck Deposit Approved Quickly.** The board approved withdrawing $100,000 from fire impact fee funds as a deposit on a used aerial platform truck — a significant capital commitment that passed 4-0 with minimal on-the-record deliberation about the truck's condition, total price, or alternatives considered. Impact fee use for this purpose is appropriate under state law, but residents are entitled to know what they're buying and why. Finally, the transfer station's composite decking is failing due to winter weather, triggering an emergency plywood fix at $3,000+. Questions about the original material's warranty were not answered publicly; a permanent solution has been deferred to a future meeting.

Official minutes for this meeting have not yet been published. You can follow board activity and find agendas at the Town of Amherst's official website. The next board meeting is an opportunity to ask questions on any of these items.