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Meeting report · Board of Selectmen
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Board of Selectmen — June 24, 2025

The meeting was largely administrative and collegial, with the only notable tension being the gap between long-standing resident concerns on Chestnut Hill Road and the data-driven recommendation for no action — though no residents appeared in person to press the issue.

Date Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Duration 0.9h Speakers 9 Decisions 8 Routine

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

Budget Surplus of ~$1.6 Million to Unassigned Fund Balance

Approximately $1.6 million surplus (roughly $800K unspent budget plus $800K–$1M excess revenue) projected for unassigned fund balance Affected: All Amherst taxpayers and residents who have a stake in how surplus funds are allocated or used in future budgets
other high impact
02

Public Safety Leadership Gap — Emergency Management Director Vacancy

Interim appointment of Police Chief to dual role during Fire Chief search; duration of interim arrangement not specified Affected: All Amherst residents who rely on coordinated emergency management services
safety change
03

Building Code Enforcement Officer Vacancy

Interim coverage arranged but permanent position not yet filled; interviews expected first week of July Affected: Residents and contractors seeking permits, inspections, or code enforcement actions during the vacancy period
service reduction

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Accepted Traffic Safety Committee recommendation and analysis for Chestnut Hill Road study
Motion by Tom Grella, seconded by John. Committee found no data-supported justification for traffic restrictions despite resident concerns.
Approved 4-0
14:50
Approved trail signage purchase for $893.40
Authorized DPW to purchase 30 triangular trail signs and additional informational signs, subject to documentation of costs.
Approved unanimously
27:37
Appointed Police Chief Anthony Timole as interim Emergency Management Director
Interim appointment while searching for permanent Fire Chief replacement.
Approved 4-0
29:15
Approved fiscal year encumbrances totaling $591,441.17
Included fire vehicle repairs ($45,855.87), DPW projects ($530,585.30), and recreation improvements ($14,693).
Approved 4-0
34:03
Approved additional $8,000 encumbrance for vegetation management plan
Funds from DPW full-time wages for integrated vegetation management plan for rights of way.
Approved 4-0
36:26
Approved job descriptions for Finance Director and Deputy Treasurer
Updated Finance Director role to include tax collector oversight, created formal Deputy Treasurer position.
Approved 4-0
41:58
Denied charitable exemption application for 46 Merrimack Road
Property not currently occupied or complying with safety codes as required by RSA 72:23-V.
Approved 4-0
49:07
Approved property tax abatements totaling $5,877.22
Three separate abatements based on assessor recommendations for property valuation corrections.
Approved 4-0 each
49:56

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
01:08 Athletic Team Championship Recognition

Board planned to recognize multiple state championship teams (girls tennis, boys baseball, football, golf, boys swimming) but most players unavailable due to tournaments and summer activities. Recognition rescheduled to July 14th meeting.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
02:56 Chestnut Hill Road Traffic Safety Study Results

Traffic Safety Committee presented results of comprehensive study including speed and truck traffic analysis. Data showed speeding issues but truck traffic under 1% of total after removing smaller commercial vehicles. Committee recommended no policy changes based on data alone.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
09:43 Trail Signage Funding Request

Community committee requested $893.40 for 30 triangular trail signs for Pabusik Greenway and other mini trails, plus additional smaller informational signs. Signs use national trail system standards and specialized manufacturing.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
28:02 Emergency Management Director Appointment

Board appointed Police Chief Anthony Timole as interim Emergency Management Director while searching for permanent Fire Chief.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
29:19 Building Inspector Resignation and Replacement

Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer resigned. Town arranged interim coverage and posted permanent position, receiving 3-4 applications. Board member Tom Grella volunteered to participate in interview process.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
32:09 Fiscal Year Budget Encumbrances

Board approved various department encumbrances totaling approximately $600,000 for items including fire vehicle repairs, DPW equipment, road construction, and vegetation management plan.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
37:48 Budget Surplus Projection

Finance Director reported approximately $800,000 remaining in current budget plus $800,000-$1 million in excess revenue, totaling roughly $1.6 million surplus for unassigned fund balance.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
39:15 Job Description Updates

Board approved updated job descriptions for Finance Director (adding tax collector responsibilities) and new Deputy Treasurer position to improve continuity.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Potentially controversial issues

01

Chestnut Hill Road Traffic Safety Study — No Policy Change Recommended

Residents living on Chestnut Hill Road have raised concerns about speeding and truck traffic, reportedly over many years. The Traffic Safety Committee's data collection found truck traffic under 1% and recommended no policy changes. The Police Chief acknowledged the study's limitations versus long-term resident experience, noting a week of data cannot capture decades of observations.
Board position: Board accepted the committee's recommendation 4-0 to take no policy action based on available data.
medium concern
02

Building Inspector Vacancy and Interim Coverage

The resignation of the Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer creates a gap in a critical public safety and development oversight role. With only 3-4 applicants and interim arrangements in place, residents and contractors may face delays or uncertainty in permitting and code enforcement during the transition.
Board position: Board accepted the resignation, arranged interim coverage, posted the permanent position, and had Tom Grella volunteer to join the interview panel.
low concern
03

Police Chief Named Interim Emergency Management Director

Appointing the Police Chief as interim Emergency Management Director while simultaneously searching for a permanent Fire Chief replacement raises questions about dual-role capacity and whether emergency management coordination may be stretched thin during a leadership transition.
Board position: Board approved the interim appointment 4-0 as a practical bridging measure.
low concern
04

Finance Director Retirement Signal and Succession Planning

The Finance Director indicated her intention to retire before the next budget cycle. The town is posting a Finance Director position and created a new Deputy Treasurer role to improve continuity, signaling an impending leadership transition in financial oversight at a time when the town is managing a $1.6 million surplus and significant encumbrances.
Board position: Board approved updated job descriptions and will begin recruitment after upcoming vacations.
low concern

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Present athletic team recognition ceremony
Assigned: Board of Selectmen · Due: July 14, 2025 meeting
Submit documentation for $150 additional signage costs and develop signage location and verbiage plan for board approval
Assigned: Trail Committee · Due: Before sign installation
Participate in building inspector interview process
Assigned: Tom Grella · Due: First week of July
Post Finance Director position and begin recruitment process
Assigned: Town Manager · Due: After upcoming vacations
Explore posting separate Health Inspector position
Assigned: Town Manager · Due: Not specified

Notable ⁠statements

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 celebrating multiple state championship teams 00:15
What I can capture in a week does not encapsulate the 30 years that somebody has lived there. I understand their experience is going to be different than mine, but I'm limited to the information that I have at hand. — Unidentified speaker · Police Chief explaining limitations of traffic study data versus resident experiences on Chestnut Hill Road 14:07
Are we doing on excess revenue?... 800 plus 800 is 1.6 dropping into the unassigned fund balance. — Unidentified speaker · Board member calculating projected budget surplus of $1.6 million 38:07
My main goal now that the art book reporting is done, is to not do another budget. — Unidentified speaker · Finance Director expressing intention to retire before next budget cycle 44:39

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
No public comments were identified in this meeting.
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Report composed by claude-sonnet-4-20250514, claude-sonnet-4-6, claude-opus-4-6 · analyzed 2026-06-01.