Accountability Posts

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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🧵 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Longer-form draft.

📋 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.