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Board of Selectmen — April 7, 2025

The meeting was largely procedural and collegial, but the $170,000 insurance contract breach, a public safety concern about fire hydrants, a payroll correction, and a transparency process correction introduced meaningful substantive tension.

Date Monday, April 7, 2025 Duration 1.2h Speakers 11 Public comments 3 Decisions 11 Lively
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📋 AMHERST BOARD OF SELECTMEN — April 7, 2025 | What happened and why it matters

Four issues from Monday's meeting deserve your attention:

🔴 $170,000 BUDGET SHORTFALL FROM INSURANCE CONTRACT BREACH

NH Interlocal Trust — the town's health insurer — raised rates from the contracted 9.5% cap to 27.5%, a move Town Administrator Debbie Bender called a breach of contract. That's an unbudgeted $170,000 shortfall. Board member John noted the town is technically not required to pay the higher rate, but no legal action was announced. Staff were directed to find the money within existing budget lines and explore alternative insurers by the next meeting. That gap will require cuts, deferrals, or reallocation elsewhere in the budget.

🔴 FIRE HYDRANT MAINTENANCE CONCERNS

Amherst pays Pennichuck Water $26,000 per month for system maintenance, which includes hydrant flushing. At the April 7 meeting, board member Cynthia raised a concern that hydrants may not be getting flushed on schedule. Hydrants that haven't been flushed can deliver reduced water pressure or rust-laden water when firefighters need them. The board directed Cynthia and Eric to reach out to Pennichuck's local representative. No formal enforcement action or deadline was announced.

🟡 EMS PAYROLL ERROR REQUIRES RETROACTIVE PAY

Grade 3 EMS employees — a higher classification — were being paid just 6 to 7 cents per hour more than Grade 2. The board voted unanimously on April 7 to correct the wage scale for FY26 and pay affected employees retroactively. The total retroactive cost is still being calculated.

🟡 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS WERE BEING CHANGED OUTSIDE PUBLIC MEETINGS

A board member had to explicitly remind colleagues at the April 7 meeting that committee liaison assignments cannot be changed through informal conversations — they must be discussed and decided in public. The reassignment of the Babousic Lake Septic Committee liaison from John to Cynthia was ultimately ratified in public session. The reminder underscores the importance of maintaining open government practices.

Official minutes for this meeting have not yet been published. When they are, they will provide full vote roll calls and member-by-member positions. We'll follow up.

Apr 7, 2025 1.2h long 11 speakers 3 public comments 11 decisions Lively
❝ Notable statements ↔ Drag to browse

“Detectives are often our unsung heroes - it's the proactive work behind the scenes that frequently leads to successful cases”

— Chief Champoli · Recognition of Detective Aspenwall's work on retail theft case ▶ 05:11

“NH Interlocal Trust breached contract - if they hadn't done that and honored all not-to-exceeds, they would have had to go into immediate insolvency”

— Debbie Bender · Explanation of health insurance rate increase crisis ▶ 26:02

“We have a contract which they are in breach of - we technically don't have to pay the higher amount”

— John · Legal implications of insurance contract breach ▶ 31:44

“We'll challenge ourselves to find that money in our budget and present opportunities at the next meeting”

— Lincoln Daley · Response to $170,000 budget shortfall from insurance increase ▶ 33:03

“Suggested that raffle permits may no longer be required by law, based on experience in Milford”

— Speaker A (Daniel) · During discussion of Amherst Garden Club raffle permit approval ▶ 1:06:42

“Expressed serious concern about fire safety due to lack of hydrant flushing, noting potential danger if firefighters encounter hydrants with no water or rusty water during emergencies”

— Speaker H (Cynthia) · Discussing maintenance issues with Pennichuck Water System ▶ 1:08:35

“Emphasized that committee assignments must be discussed and changed publicly in meetings, not through informal conversations”

— Unidentified speaker · Addressing improper attempt to change liaison assignments outside of public meeting ▶ 1:10:41
This meeting — choose a section

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
What was discussed

$170,000 unplanned shortfall from a 27.5% rate hike (up from contracted 9.5%), requiring mid-year budget reallocation

What was discussed

Full bridge closure April 21 through August 22, with final completion September 21 — approximately 5 months of disruption

What was discussed

Exact retroactive cost unknown pending staff calculation; correction also increases Grade 3 wages going forward in FY26

What was discussed

Unknown number of hydrants potentially inadequately maintained despite $26,000/month town payments; risk of compromised fire suppression response

Topics ⁠discussed

Each topic expands to quotes and full context.
Speakers: Will Luke, Danielle Pray
What was discussed

Heritage Commission member Will Luke requested residents display two lights on April 18th to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's ride. Board agreed to participate with town hall displaying lanterns.

Speakers: Chief Champoli, Tom
What was discussed

Chief Champoli recognized Detective Aspenwall for successfully apprehending repeat retail theft suspect Chad Hurdle, who had committed multiple felonies across NH stores including seven thefts in Amherst.

Speakers: Victoria, Ann
What was discussed

Victoria and Ann from the Foundation for Amherst Education requested use of town green for community picnic on May 30th from 4-9pm to support school facility improvements.

Speakers: Danielle Pray
What was discussed

Multiple reappointments to various town committees including Rick Katzenberg as Town Treasurer and new appointment of John Silver to Recreation Commission.

Speakers: Debbie Bender, John, Lincoln Daley
What was discussed

Town Administrator Debbie Bender reported NH Interlocal Trust breached contract, increasing health insurance rates from 9.5% to 27.5%, creating unexpected $170,000 budget shortfall.

Speakers: Debbie Bender, John, Eric
What was discussed

Discussion on purchasing vs. renting AED unit for town hall emergency preparedness. Board voted to purchase unit for $1,607 rather than rent at $100/month.

Speakers: Eric Slazik
What was discussed

Director Slazik announced bridge closure from April 21st through August 22nd for reconstruction, with final completion by September 21st.

Speakers: Debbie Bender, John
What was discussed

Correction needed for Grade 3 EMS wage scale which was improperly set only 6-7 cents above Grade 2, requiring retroactive pay adjustments.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Board approved a notice of intent to cut from the Amherst Conservation Commission, with future applications to have a quick two-week turnaround process.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Board approved a raffle permit for the Amherst Garden Club's annual garden sale from April 3 to May 10, 2025, with drawing on May 10.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Board member raised concerns about Pennichuck Water System not flushing hydrants regularly despite $26,000 monthly maintenance costs, creating potential fire safety issues.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Discussion about reassigning the Babousic Lake Septic Committee liaison role from John to Cynthia, with clarification that such changes must be discussed publicly in meetings.

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Potentially controversial issues

01

Health Insurance Rate Crisis — NH Interlocal Trust Contract Breach

The NH Interlocal Trust unilaterally raised rates from 9.5% to 27.5%, creating an unexpected $170,000 budget shortfall. This is controversial because it involves a contract breach by a vendor, forces difficult budget reallocations that may affect services or staffing, and ultimately puts pressure on taxpayers. The board acknowledged they are technically not obligated to pay the higher rate, adding legal complexity.
Board position: Directed staff to find the $170,000 within existing budget and explore alternative insurance providers; no immediate resolution reached.
high concern
02

AED Purchase vs. Rental — Lone Dissenting Vote

While a modest expenditure, the 4-1 vote reveals a genuine philosophical or fiscal disagreement on the board about how to handle capital purchases vs. ongoing rental costs. John's dissent signals concern about spending priorities.
Board position: Majority approved one-time purchase of AED for $1,607 rather than $100/month rental.
Internal dissent
John voted against the purchase; his specific stated reason is not detailed in the summary but he was the sole dissenter.
low concern
03

Fire Hydrant Maintenance Failure by Pennichuck Water System

Board member Cynthia raised a public safety concern: Pennichuck Water is collecting $26,000/month in maintenance fees but allegedly not flushing hydrants regularly. This could mean firefighters encounter no water or rust-clogged hydrants during emergencies. The outsourced nature of the service limits the board's direct leverage.
Board position: Directed Cynthia and Eric to engage the local Pennichuck representative to address the flushing schedule; no formal enforcement action taken.
medium concern
04

Liaison Reassignment Process Correction

A board member explicitly stated that committee liaison assignments were being changed through informal conversations outside of public meetings, contrary to open government norms. The reassignment of the Babousic Lake Septic Committee liaison was ultimately ratified publicly, but the attempt to handle it informally raised a transparency concern.
Board position: The board member corrected the process and insisted all such changes be discussed publicly; reassignment from John to Cynthia was formally approved at the meeting.
medium concern
05

EMS Wage Scale Error Requiring Retroactive Pay

A payroll error left Grade 3 EMS workers only 6–7 cents above Grade 2, an apparent inequity that required correction and retroactive adjustments. While the board voted unanimously to fix it, the error raises questions about payroll oversight and the fiscal impact of retroactive payments on an already stressed budget.
Board position: Unanimously approved correction and directed staff to calculate retroactive pay owed.
medium concern

Split votes

Purchase of AED unit for Town Hall ($1,607 one-time vs. $100/month rental)
4-1

Community vs. board tension

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
3
Total speakers
2
Addressed
0
Partial
0
Not addressed
Will Luke
▶ 00:53
Addressed
Will Luke from the Heritage Commission requested the town participate in commemorating the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's ride on April 18th. He proposed that residents and the town hall display two lights (candles or lanterns) in windows to honor the historic 'one if by land, two if by sea' signal. Key concern
Request for town participation in historical commemoration by displaying two lights at town hall
Board response
Board members engaged positively, with Danielle Pray saying she had already bought lanterns and agreeing to encourage participation. They discussed implementation details and expressed support for the idea.
The board was receptive and supportive, with the chair indicating she would encourage the commemoration and had already taken steps to participate
Victoria and Ann
▶ 12:19
Addressed
Victoria and Ann from the Foundation for Amherst Education requested use of the town green for a community picnic on May 30th from 4-9pm to support school facility improvements. The event would expect approximately 100 attendees with no registration required, accepting donations. Key concern
Request for permission to use town green for a community fundraising picnic
Board response
The board approved the request unanimously (5-0), granting use of the town green for the event.
The board voted 5-0 to approve the use of the town green for the community picnic on May 30th

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approved Foundation for Amherst Education use of town green for community picnic May 30th, 4-9pm
Event expects ~100 attendees, no registration required, accepting donations
5-0 unanimous approval
Reappointed Rick Katzenberg as Town Treasurer for one-year term ending March 2026
Handles investment of $20-40 million in town funds received twice yearly
5-0 unanimous approval
Approved all board and committee reappointments and new appointments
Multiple committees including Conservation, Heritage, Recreation commissions
5-0 unanimous on all appointments
Approved purchase of AED unit for town hall
Rescue One AED for $1,607 vs. $100/month rental option
4-1 approval (John opposed)
Authorized RSA 155-B hazardous building order for SKF Realty LLC property
Structural roof truss repairs required by October 1, 2025 due to snow load risk
5-0 unanimous approval
Approved promotion of Dan Callahan to Facility Maintenance Technician
Permanent promotion from interim position, Grade 11 Step 3 at $29.57/hour
5-0 unanimous approval
Approved EMS wage scale Grade 3 revision for FY26
Corrects inadequate pay differential between Grade 2 and 3, includes retroactive pay
5-0 unanimous approval
Approved notice of intent to cut from Amherst Conservation Commission
Motion made and seconded, all members voted in favor
Approved unanimously
Approved raffle permit for Amherst Garden Club
Permit covers April 3 to May 10, 2025, with drawing on May 10 at Wilkins School during annual garden sale
Approved unanimously
Reassigned Babousic Lake Septic Committee liaison from John to Cynthia
John requested reassignment due to workload, Cynthia agreed to take the position
Approved by consensus
Motion to enter non-public session
Session entered at 7:43 PM under RSA 91-A:3(II)(a) for personnel matters including dismissal, promotion, compensation, or disciplining of public employees
Approved by roll call vote

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Unplanned $170,000 budget shortfall from insurance contract breach and risk of service impacts
Amherst's health insurer raised rates from 9.5% to 27.5% — breaching its contract. That's a $170K hole in the town budget. BOS 4/7/25: staff directed to find the money by next meeting. Watch your budget closely, Amherst.
220/280 chars
Public safety risk from alleged hydrant maintenance failure despite significant monthly payments
Amherst pays Pennichuck Water $26K/month for hydrant maintenance. At the 4/7/25 BOS meeting, a board member raised the alarm: hydrants may not be getting flushed. That could mean no water in an emergency. No enforcement action was taken.
237/280 chars
Payroll oversight failure and unplanned retroactive costs
Amherst BOS 4/7/25: EMS Grade 3 workers were paid only 6–7 cents more per hour than Grade 2 — a wage scale error now being corrected with retroactive pay. Board voted 5-0 to fix it. Retroactive cost still being calculated.
222/280 chars
Open government process concern — government decisions initiated outside public view
At the 4/7/25 Amherst BOS meeting, a board member reminded colleagues: you cannot reassign committee liaisons through informal conversations outside public meetings. The Babousic Lake Septic Committee liaison change was ratified publicly — but the informal attempt is a process concern.
286/280 chars

X thread

1
🧵 AMHERST BOARD OF SELECTMEN — April 7, 2025: Four issues residents need to know about. A contract breach, a fire safety concern, a payroll error, and a transparency process issue. Thread 👇
189/280
2
1/ INSURANCE CONTRACT BREACH: NH Interlocal Trust raised Amherst's health insurance rates from the contracted 9.5% to 27.5% — a move the Town Administrator called an outright breach. That's $170,000 in unplanned costs. Board member John noted the town is technically not obligated to pay the higher rate.
304/280
3
2/ No resolution was reached at the meeting. Staff were directed to find $170,000 within existing budget lines and explore alternative insurers by the next meeting. That money has to come from somewhere — departments, staffing, or services. Residents should be watching closely.
278/280
4
3/ FIRE HYDRANT SAFETY: Amherst pays Pennichuck Water $26,000/month for system maintenance. Board member Cynthia raised a serious concern: hydrants may not be flushed on a regular schedule. Unflushed hydrants can produce no pressure or rusty water when firefighters open them during an emergency.
296/280
5
4/ The board's response: asked Cynthia and Eric to contact Pennichuck's local rep. No formal notice, no contractual enforcement, no timeline. For a public safety issue, residents should monitor whether follow-up happens.
220/280
6
5/ EMS WAGE ERROR: Grade 3 EMS staff were being paid only 6–7 cents per hour more than Grade 2. The board voted 5-0 on 4/7 to correct the scale for FY26 and pay retroactive compensation. The exact retroactive cost is still being calculated.
240/280
7
6/ This correction comes at the same time as the $170,000 insurance gap. The retroactive cost is unknown. Residents deserve to know the final number and how it will be funded.
175/280
8
7/ PROCESS ISSUE: A board member had to publicly remind colleagues at the 4/7 meeting that committee liaison reassignments cannot happen through informal conversations outside public meetings. The Babousic Lake Septic Committee liaison reassignment from John to Cynthia was ultimately approved on the record — but the attempt to bypass that process is worth noting.
365/280

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📋 AMHERST BOARD OF SELECTMEN — April 7, 2025 | What happened and why it matters

Four issues from Monday's meeting deserve your attention:

🔴 $170,000 BUDGET SHORTFALL FROM INSURANCE CONTRACT BREACH
NH Interlocal Trust — the town's health insurer — raised rates from the contracted 9.5% cap to 27.5%, a move Town Administrator Debbie Bender called a breach of contract. That's an unbudgeted $170,000 shortfall. Board member John noted the town is technically not required to pay the higher rate, but no legal action was announced. Staff were directed to find the money within existing budget lines and explore alternative insurers by the next meeting. That gap will require cuts, deferrals, or reallocation elsewhere in the budget.

🔴 FIRE HYDRANT MAINTENANCE CONCERNS
Amherst pays Pennichuck Water $26,000 per month for system maintenance, which includes hydrant flushing. At the April 7 meeting, board member Cynthia raised a concern that hydrants may not be getting flushed on schedule. Hydrants that haven't been flushed can deliver reduced water pressure or rust-laden water when firefighters need them. The board directed Cynthia and Eric to reach out to Pennichuck's local representative. No formal enforcement action or deadline was announced.

🟡 EMS PAYROLL ERROR REQUIRES RETROACTIVE PAY
Grade 3 EMS employees — a higher classification — were being paid just 6 to 7 cents per hour more than Grade 2. The board voted unanimously on April 7 to correct the wage scale for FY26 and pay affected employees retroactively. The total retroactive cost is still being calculated.

🟡 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS WERE BEING CHANGED OUTSIDE PUBLIC MEETINGS
A board member had to explicitly remind colleagues at the April 7 meeting that committee liaison assignments cannot be changed through informal conversations — they must be discussed and decided in public. The reassignment of the Babousic Lake Septic Committee liaison from John to Cynthia was ultimately ratified in public session. The reminder underscores the importance of maintaining open government practices.

Official minutes for this meeting have not yet been published. When they are, they will provide full vote roll calls and member-by-member positions. We'll follow up.

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Research budget options to fund $170,000 health insurance increase and explore alternative insurance providers
Assigned: Lincoln Daley and Debbie Bender · Due: Next meeting
Purchase AED unit for town hall and arrange installation
Assigned: Debbie Bender · Due: Not specified
Calculate retroactive pay costs for EMS wage scale correction
Assigned: Debbie Bender · Due: Next meeting or via email
Research raffle permit legal requirements and handle future intent to cut applications
Assigned: Lincoln Daley · Due: Ongoing
Update website to reflect Cynthia as Babousic Lake Septic Committee liaison instead of John
Assigned: Jennifer (Administrative staff) · Due: Immediate
Work with local Pennichuck Water System member to address fire hydrant flushing schedule issues
Assigned: Cynthia and Eric · Due: Not specified
Review action item list together before next meeting
Assigned: a speaker and Pam · Due: Before next meeting
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Report composed by claude-sonnet-4-20250514, claude-sonnet-4-6, claude-opus-4-6 · analyzed 2026-05-19.