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Board of Selectmen — June 23, 2025

Amherst Board approves traffic study findings, learns of Finance Director's planned departure, and projects $1.6–1.8M budget surplus at June 23 meeting

The meeting was largely procedural and unified. Mild tension arose from the Chestnut Hill Road residents' unresolved quality-of-life concerns, but no public speakers participated and all votes were unanimous.

Date Monday, June 23, 2025 Duration 0.9h Speakers 9 Decisions 8 Routine
📄 Agenda ▶ Video

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Ask MeetingWatch answers from this meeting’s report, transcript, and records — with linked sources.

Summary AI-generated to surface controversy & community impact without bias — always verify against the actual meeting before relying on it.

📋 AMHERST BOARD OF SELECTMEN — JUNE 23, 2025

All votes were unanimous (4-0). Here are the key items from the meeting:

**Finance Director Departure:** The Finance Director stated during the meeting that her goal is to "not do another budget," indicating a planned departure. The board directed the Town Manager to begin recruiting a replacement after summer vacations. This role now includes integrated tax collector responsibilities, making it a significant personnel transition.

**Health Inspector Position:** The board directed the Town Manager to post the health inspector position separately from the building inspector role. The building inspector recently resigned, and this change splits what had been combined duties — a staffing decision with potential budget implications.

**Chestnut Hill Road Traffic Study:** The Traffic Safety Committee presented final results of its study, finding no data-driven basis for truck restrictions or speed changes on Chestnut Hill Road. The committee acknowledged resident quality-of-life concerns but noted its mandate is limited to data analysis. The board accepted the recommendation 4-0.

**Budget Surplus:** The town is projecting approximately $1.6–1.8 million in surplus for FY25 (about $800,000 in unspent funds plus $800,000–$1,000,000 in excess revenue). The Finance Director will present a final budget report at the July meeting.

**Other Actions:** Police Chief Anthony Timole was appointed interim Emergency Management Director during the fire chief search. Approximately $591,000 in budget encumbrances were approved for fire apparatus repairs, road construction, and DPW projects. Trail signage ($893.40) was approved for the Souhegan Greenway. A charitable exemption for 46 Merrimack Road was denied due to non-occupancy and safety code issues. Updated job descriptions for Finance Director and Deputy Tax Collector were approved.

The July meeting will include the final FY25 budget report. If you're interested in how the projected surplus is handled, that's the meeting to watch.

Jun 23, 2025 0.9h long 9 speakers 8 decisions Routine
❝ Notable statements ↔ Drag to browse

“Not only do we have the greatest town in the state, but apparently we have the most gifted athletes in the state too.”

— Unidentified speaker · Opening remarks about multiple state championship wins ▶ 00:15

“What this comes down to is the age old argument of quality of life. And while we understand the resident's perspective, the committee is not tasked with that. We're tasked with bringing data to the board.”

— Unidentified speaker · Traffic Safety Committee explaining limitations of data-driven recommendations vs. resident concerns ▶ 03:02

“My main goal now that the art book reporting is done, is to not do another budget.”

— Finance Director · Discussion of transition plans for Finance Director replacement ▶ 44:39
This meeting — choose a section

Public ⁠impact

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

Approximately $800,000 in unspent funds plus $800,000–$1,000,000 in excess revenue; final report to be presented at July meeting

What was discussed

The town's top financial officer indicated a planned departure; the role now includes integrated tax collector responsibilities. Recruitment to begin after summer vacations.

What was discussed

Permanent position vacant; 3–4 applications received; interim replacement in place; interviews expected first week of July.

What was discussed

Police Chief Anthony Timole takes on dual role during fire chief vacancy; approved 4-0 as interim measure.

Topics ⁠discussed

Each topic expands to quotes and full context.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Discussion of multiple state championship wins by Amherst high school teams, with plans to recognize teams on July 14th. Teams include girls tennis, boys baseball, football, golf, and boys swimming.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Traffic Safety Committee presented final study results showing no data-driven need for truck restrictions or speed changes, despite resident concerns about quality of life issues.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Request for $893.40 to purchase 30 triangular trail signs plus smaller informational signs for the Souhegan Greenway and other local trails.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Appointment of Police Chief Anthony Timole as interim Emergency Management Director while searching for new fire chief.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Building inspector/code enforcement officer resigned; interim replacement secured and permanent position posted with 3-4 applications received.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Approval of various department encumbrances totaling approximately $591,000 for equipment, repairs, and projects including fire apparatus and road construction.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Finance Director reported projected surplus of approximately $800,000 in unspent funds plus $800,000-$1M in excess revenue for FY25.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
What was discussed

Approval of updated job descriptions for Finance Director and Deputy Tax Collector positions, incorporating tax collector role into finance department.

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Potentially controversial issues

01

Chestnut Hill Road Traffic Safety Study — Data vs. Quality of Life

Residents raised concerns about truck traffic and speeding on Chestnut Hill Road, but the Traffic Safety Committee's data-driven methodology found no justification for restrictions or speed changes. This creates a conflict between resident-perceived quality-of-life harms and the committee's quantitative mandate — leaving affected residents without the relief they sought.
Board position: Accepted the Traffic Safety Committee's recommendation unanimously (4-0), deferring to the data-driven findings despite acknowledged resident concerns.
medium concern
02

Finance Director Departure and Recruitment

The Finance Director stated her goal is to 'not do another budget,' indicating a planned departure. The board directed the Town Manager to begin recruiting a replacement. This is a significant personnel transition for a role that now incorporates tax collector responsibilities.
Board position: Board directed the Town Manager to begin recruitment after summer vacations.
low concern
03

Health Inspector Position — Separated from Building Inspector Role

The Town Manager was directed to post the health inspector position separately from the building inspector role. This represents a change in how these services are staffed, with potential budget implications.
Board position: Board directed the Town Manager to post the health inspector position separately.
low concern
04

Charitable Exemption Denial — 46 Merrimack Road

The board denied a charitable exemption application 4-0 on grounds of non-occupancy and safety code non-compliance. Depending on the applicant and the property's intended use, this could affect a nonprofit or community-serving organization.
Board position: Unanimously denied the exemption based on non-occupancy status and failure to meet safety code requirements.
low concern

Community vs. board tension

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
No public comments were identified in this meeting.

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Accepted Traffic Safety Committee recommendation on Chestnut Hill Road study
Board accepted formal recommendation and analysis despite resident disagreement with findings
4-0 approval
Approved trail signage purchase
Authorized purchase of signs for $893.40 subject to documentation of costs, with DPW to handle ordering
4-0 approval
Appointed interim Emergency Management Director
Police Chief Anthony Timole appointed as interim Emergency Management Director
4-0 approval
Approved budget encumbrances
Multiple encumbrances approved including fire vehicle repairs ($45,855.87), DPW projects, and road construction ($435,973.06)
4-0 approval
Approved vegetation management plan encumbrance
$8,000 encumbered from DPW wages for integrated vegetation management plan
4-0 approval
Denied charitable exemption application
46 Merrimack Road exemption denied due to non-occupancy and safety code non-compliance
4-0 denial
Approved job descriptions
Finance Director and Deputy Tax Collector job descriptions approved with tax collector role integration
4-0 approval
Approved meeting minutes
Minutes from June 4 and June 9, 2025 meetings approved
4-0 approval for both sets

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Finance Director departure and recruitment
Amherst BOS (6/23): Finance Director signaled she's leaving — said her goal is to 'not do another budget.' Board directed Town Manager to begin recruiting a replacement. Role now includes tax collector duties.
209/280 chars
Organizational change — health inspector position separated from building inspector
Amherst BOS (6/23): Board directed Town Manager to post health inspector as a separate position from building inspector — a staffing change with potential budget implications.
175/280 chars
Chestnut Hill Road traffic study — resident concerns vs. data-driven findings
Amherst BOS (6/23): Chestnut Hill Rd residents want truck restrictions. Traffic Safety Committee said data doesn't support it. Board voted 4-0 to accept that finding.
166/280 chars
High-impact fiscal decision coming — budget surplus disposition
Amherst BOS (6/23): Town projecting ~$1.6–1.8M budget surplus for FY25. Final report comes at July meeting. That's your tax dollars — pay attention to how they're allocated.
173/280 chars

X thread

1
🧵 Amherst Board of Selectmen met 6/23/25. All votes were 4-0. Here's what happened — including some significant items worth tracking. Thread:
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1/ The Finance Director stated her goal is to 'not do another budget' — indicating a planned departure. The board directed the Town Manager to begin recruiting a replacement after summer vacations.
197/280
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2/ Why does that matter? The Finance Director role now includes integrated tax collector responsibilities. This is one of the more consequential personnel transitions the town faces.
182/280
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3/ The board also directed the Town Manager to post the health inspector position separately from the building inspector role. The building inspector recently resigned, and this effectively splits what had been combined duties — a staffing change with potential budget implications.
282/280
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4/ On Chestnut Hill Rd: residents have raised concerns about truck traffic and speeding. The Traffic Safety Committee presented a data-driven study finding no justification for restrictions. Board accepted it 4-0. The committee acknowledged the quality-of-life concern but said data is their mandate.
300/280
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5/ The town is projecting a surplus of ~$1.6–1.8M for FY25 (~$800K unspent funds + $800K–$1M excess revenue). The Finance Director will present a final budget report at the July meeting.
186/280
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6/ Police Chief Anthony Timole was appointed interim Emergency Management Director (4-0) while the town searches for a new fire chief. One person now covering both roles.
170/280
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7/ Other approvals: ~$591K in budget encumbrances (fire apparatus repairs, road construction, DPW projects), $893.40 for trail signs, updated job descriptions for Finance Director and Deputy Tax Collector, and denial of a charitable exemption at 46 Merrimack Road. /end
269/280

Facebook — long form

📋 AMHERST BOARD OF SELECTMEN — JUNE 23, 2025

All votes were unanimous (4-0). Here are the key items from the meeting:

**Finance Director Departure:** The Finance Director stated during the meeting that her goal is to "not do another budget," indicating a planned departure. The board directed the Town Manager to begin recruiting a replacement after summer vacations. This role now includes integrated tax collector responsibilities, making it a significant personnel transition.

**Health Inspector Position:** The board directed the Town Manager to post the health inspector position separately from the building inspector role. The building inspector recently resigned, and this change splits what had been combined duties — a staffing decision with potential budget implications.

**Chestnut Hill Road Traffic Study:** The Traffic Safety Committee presented final results of its study, finding no data-driven basis for truck restrictions or speed changes on Chestnut Hill Road. The committee acknowledged resident quality-of-life concerns but noted its mandate is limited to data analysis. The board accepted the recommendation 4-0.

**Budget Surplus:** The town is projecting approximately $1.6–1.8 million in surplus for FY25 (about $800,000 in unspent funds plus $800,000–$1,000,000 in excess revenue). The Finance Director will present a final budget report at the July meeting.

**Other Actions:** Police Chief Anthony Timole was appointed interim Emergency Management Director during the fire chief search. Approximately $591,000 in budget encumbrances were approved for fire apparatus repairs, road construction, and DPW projects. Trail signage ($893.40) was approved for the Souhegan Greenway. A charitable exemption for 46 Merrimack Road was denied due to non-occupancy and safety code issues. Updated job descriptions for Finance Director and Deputy Tax Collector were approved.

The July meeting will include the final FY25 budget report. If you're interested in how the projected surplus is handled, that's the meeting to watch.

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Coordinate with coaches to schedule team recognition ceremony
Assigned: Traffic Safety Committee · Due: July 14th meeting
Provide documentation for $150 small signs cost and develop verbiage/location proposals for board approval
Assigned: Trail Committee · Due: Before sign ordering
Post permanent building inspector position and coordinate interviews with Board member Tom
Assigned: Town Manager · Due: First week of July
Post health inspector position separately from building inspector role
Assigned: Town Manager · Due: Not specified
Provide final budget report at July meeting
Assigned: Finance Director · Due: Next meeting in July
Begin recruitment process for Finance Director replacement
Assigned: Town Manager · Due: After vacations in coming weeks

Accountability ⁠flags

Documented procedural gaps. Each item links to its source.

Agenda items not discussed

Topics discussed — not on agenda

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Report composed by claude-sonnet-4-20250514, claude-opus-4-6 · analyzed 2026-06-01.