Accountability posts
Drafts ready to share. Click to copy, then post. Board of Selectmen · Amherst, NH · May 12, 2025.
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Split vote on health insurance reveals internal board division before a unanimous reversal — residents should understand the disagreement that shaped the final outcome for employees
Amherst BOS 5/12: A vote on employee health insurance contribution splits FAILED 3-2 before the board reversed course and passed a revised version 5-0. All municipal employees switching from Harvard Pilgrim to CIGNA for FY26.
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Timing of operational assessment during a major leadership transition — residents should follow how this transition unfolds
Amherst BOS 5/12: Fire Chief Matt Connolly retires May 23 after 39 yrs. Board approved a $16K outside assessment of fire dept operations, funded from a vacant deputy chief position. Passed 5-0.
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A grant project stalled by procedural reluctance, with unresolved cost and timeline questions
Amherst BOS 5/12: A motion to authorize $5,000 for a wetland permitting study on the Beaver Brook Bridge grant project failed — no board member would second it. That leaves an $80,000 grant project with unresolved timeline and cost questions.
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Real-world impact on municipal workers and families from a mandatory carrier switch, and how union advocacy shaped the final outcome
Amherst BOS 5/12: Town switching all employee health insurance to CIGNA. Projected savings: $100K+. Police Union pushed for max HSA funding after a prior failed rollout. Board responded — 95/5 split, $2,500/$5,000 HSA funding. Passed 5-0.
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🧵 AMHERST BOARD OF SELECTMEN — May 12, 2025. Several decisions worth knowing about. Thread:
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1/ HEALTH INSURANCE: NHIT is dissolving, so the town must find new coverage for all municipal employees. The board voted 5-0 to switch to CIGNA through School Care for FY26, with projected savings of $100,000+ over staying on Harvard Pilgrim rates.
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2/ But it wasn't smooth. A motion to set employee premium contribution splits (84/16 for the standard plan, 90/10 for the high-deductible HSA plan) FAILED 3-2. At least three members thought that wasn't generous enough for the HSA plan.
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3/ The Police Union president and Police Chief both appeared to push back — citing a prior failed HSA rollout and warning that families with high medical costs need real upfront money to make the switch. The board listened.
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4/ After the failed vote, the board reconsidered. Final result: 84/16 for the Yellow plan, 95/5 for the HSA plan, plus maximum HSA funding — $2,500 for single coverage, $5,000 for families, half contributed upfront. Passed 5-0.
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5/ FIRE DEPT: Chief Matt Connolly is retiring May 23 after 39 years. The board approved a $16,000 contract with Municipal Resources Inc. to conduct an operational assessment of the department — as the chief transition begins. Funded from a vacant deputy chief position. Passed 5-0.
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6/ The board described this as part of the leadership transition. Residents who rely on fire and emergency services should follow how this unfolds.
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7/ BEAVER BROOK BRIDGE: A motion to authorize $5,000 for a wetland permitting study — needed to move an $80,000 grant project forward — failed for lack of a second. No board member would support it, even contingently. The project timeline and cost scope are now uncertain.
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8/ Budget update: Town is tracking roughly $1 million surplus through April 30. Some lines are over budget (sick incentive, overtime), but the overall picture looks stable for FY25. /end
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Longer-form draft.
AMHERST BOARD OF SELECTMEN — May 12, 2025 Meeting Summary The biggest issue at Monday's meeting was health insurance. Because the NH Health Insurance Trust (NHIT) is dissolving, the town must find new coverage for all municipal employees by FY26. The board voted unanimously to switch to CIGNA plans through School Care, with projected savings of over $100,000 compared to staying on Harvard Pilgrim. But the path to that unanimous vote was not straightforward: an earlier motion on how to split premium costs between the town and employees failed 3-2, reflecting real disagreement about whether the proposed terms were sufficient — especially for employees with families on the high-deductible HSA option. Police Chief Anthony and Union President Justin Jerome both appeared before the board to argue that the HSA plan needed maximum upfront funding to work, pointing to a prior rollout that failed due to insufficient employer contributions. The board responded: after the failed vote, they revised the HSA employer contribution to 95% (employees pay just 5%), and approved maximum HSA funding of $2,500 for single coverage and $5,000 for families, with half contributed at the start of the year. That version passed 5-0. Separately, the board approved a $16,000 contract with Municipal Resources Inc. to conduct an operational assessment of the fire department — announced the same night as Fire Chief Matt Connolly's retirement after 39 years of service, effective May 23rd. The assessment is funded from a vacant deputy chief position. The board described the assessment as part of the leadership transition process. Residents who rely on Amherst's fire and emergency services should pay attention to how this transition unfolds. On the Beaver Brook Bridge grant project: a motion to authorize $5,000 for a wetland permitting assessment failed because no board member would second it, leaving an $80,000 grant project with unresolved questions about timeline and potential cost beyond original scope. The board did authorize the Town Administrator to request a timeline extension from the state — but stopped short of committing any additional funds until that extension is confirmed. Other actions: the board approved accelerated state funding for the Papucci Greenway North 3 pedestrian pathway project, renewed a mutual aid agreement with Milford for building inspections, approved an $8,600 transport cost for a new ladder truck, reaffirmed its 7% contribution to the employee deferred compensation plan, and confirmed the town budget is tracking roughly $1 million surplus through April 30.