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Meeting report · Board of Selectmen
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Board of Selectmen — July 14, 2025

The meeting was substantive and occasionally tense — particularly around the unresolved Christmas event scheduling conflict and the disputed health insurance payment — but most business proceeded smoothly, with disagreement confined to specific votes rather than broad board dysfunction.

Date Monday, July 14, 2025 Duration 2.7h Speakers 10 Public comments 1 Decisions 12 Lively
📄 Agenda

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

German Christmas Market Scheduling Conflict — Community Event Access

An 8,000-person event approved for the same day as a long-standing 600-person community event may effectively cancel or severely disrupt the Christmas House Tour if dates are not separated Affected: 600+ ticketed Christmas House Tour attendees, church volunteers, and broader community participants in a 20+ year Amherst tradition
other high impact
02

Building Inspector Vacancy — Code Enforcement Gap

Vacancy since June 19th; 8 applications received but no hire made yet — ongoing gap in regulatory enforcement affecting all construction activity in town Affected: Property owners, contractors, and developers requiring building permits and inspections across the town
service reduction
03

Police Officer Resignation — Patrol Staffing Reduction

Loss of Patrolman Anthony Colada effective August 2nd reduces patrol capacity; department has 12 applicants but no hire completed, leaving a temporary gap in coverage Affected: All Amherst residents relying on patrol coverage
safety change
04

Rail Trail Project Cost Overrun Risk — Voter-Approved Funding May Be Insufficient

State estimate exceeds voter-approved amount by $300,000; proceeding into engineering could ultimately require a supplemental appropriation or project cancellation Affected: All Amherst taxpayers and voters who approved the rail trail project funding
other high impact
05

Health Insurance Assessment Payment — $64,864 Taxpayer Expenditure Under Dispute

$64,864 paid to NH Interlocal Trust receivership while other municipalities refused payment; potential loss of taxpayer funds if legally contestable and not recovered Affected: All Amherst taxpayers
other high impact
06

Police Department Records Management System — Future $65,000 Annual Cost

Grant covers costs for 4 years, but starting in year 5 the town faces a $65,000 annual recurring obligation; chief recommends beginning to budget now to avoid a future budget shock Affected: All Amherst taxpayers
other high impact
07

Police Command Compensation Gap — Retention Risk

Chief flagged that two captain positions and the chief's position are under-compensated relative to union ranks, creating risk of command-level attrition or unionization pressure Affected: All Amherst residents dependent on stable police leadership
safety change

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approved adding Rick Todd to the fire chief evaluation and interview committee
Rick Todd, former Amherst fire chief and area coordinator, will participate in resume review and interviews. Motion included requirement for non-disclosure agreement.
Passed unanimously (3-0)
23:43
Accept resignation of Patrolman Anthony Colada effective August 2, 2025
Motion to accept resignation due to employment not working out
Approved 4-0
1:16:48
Declare fire department vehicles as surplus equipment
Engine 5 (1991 Pierce), Forestry truck (1982 International), and Tower 1 (1997 Simon Duplex) declared surplus for disposal
Approved 3-1
1:23:16
Explore potential donation of Engine 5 to Milan, New Hampshire
Authorized DPW to explore donation or discounted sale, including obtaining appraisal value
Approved 4-0
1:25:20
Accept donation of Douglas fir tree for holiday display
15-foot tree from Bill and Pat Paxton at 64 Stearns Road, with Holiday Tree Committee covering all relocation costs
Approved 4-0
1:33:54
Authorize North O3 rail trail project agreement
Authorized town administrator to sign NHDOT agreement for project 44351, understanding scope and cost may be amended after engineering study
Approved 3-1
1:49:09
Purchase Ford F350 pickup truck with equipment
$69,423 purchase from Grappone Ford including plow and sander, waiving competitive bidding for state pricing
Approved 4-0
2:02:15
Hire five per diem EMS providers
Nicole Rogers (paramedic), Steven Francis, Christopher Wellen, Emeline Tyler Wallace (advanced EMTs), Michael Onofrio (EMT)
Approved 4-0
2:05:15
Approved consent agenda including AP, payroll, and veteran approvals
Included three veteran approvals under assessing
4-0 approval
2:12:22
Approved electricity supply contract with fixed DASI pricing for 36 months
Conditional upon inclusion of non-appropriation clause; if clause unavailable, defaults to 12-month fixed contract. Authorized town administrator to execute contract.
3-1 approval (one opposed)
2:32:03
Approved June 23, 2025 meeting minutes
Chair abstained from vote
3-0-1 (one abstention)
2:32:37
Approved July 7, 2025 meeting minutes as amended
Chair abstained from vote
3-0-1 (one abstention)
2:33:31

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
00:08 Recognition of Championship Sports Teams

Board recognized Souhegan High School championship teams: girls tennis (D2 state champions), boys baseball (20-1 record, state champions), and girls lacrosse (Division 1 runner-up). Seniors shared their college destinations.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Lindsay Heron, Chris Metz, Students
07:08 Christmas House Tour vs German Christmas Market Scheduling Conflict

Sally Hoover representing the church's Christmas House Tour expressed concerns about both events being scheduled for December 13th. The house tour has been running for 20+ years and serves 600 people, while the German Christmas market was conditionally approved for up to 8,000 people.

Speakers: Sally Hoover, Unidentified speaker
19:07 Fire Chief Hiring Update

Town received 12 applications for fire chief position. Staff and board reviewing applications with interviews expected within two weeks. Board approved adding Rick Todd to the evaluation committee.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
24:49 Building Inspector and Health Officer Positions

Building inspector resigned June 19th, position posted with 8 applications received. Discussion about posting health officer position, with disagreement about timing and whether to look internally first.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
26:14 Board Rules of Procedure Amendment

Town Administrator presented amended rules focusing on communication between board members and staff. Board will review and vote at next meeting on July 28th.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
34:32 Police Department Comprehensive Update

Chief provided extensive update covering SWOT analysis, prosecutor performance, body cameras, accreditation progress, technology upgrades, staffing changes, and budget considerations including upcoming resignation and Captain Blake's retirement plans.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:08:48 Police Department Budget and Record Management System

Chief discussed a potential $65,000 annual cost for a new records system starting in year 5 of a grant program, with costs covered for first 4 years. Recommended starting to save funds now to avoid future budget impact.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:15:22 Police Officer Resignation

Chief announced resignation of Patrolman Anthony Colada effective August 2nd, citing employment not working out. Department has 12 applicants and hopes to start interviews next week.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:17:14 Fire Department Surplus Vehicles

DPW Director requested declaring three fire trucks as surplus equipment for disposal through public auction. Board also discussed potential donation of Engine 5 to Milan, New Hampshire.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:28:08 Holiday Tree Donation

Board approved accepting donation of a 15-foot Douglas fir tree from Bill and Pat Paxton to serve as future holiday tree when current tree becomes too large to decorate.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:33:57 North O3 Rail Trail Project Update

DPW Director reported receiving CMAC grant agreement for rail trail extension, noting state estimate is $300,000 higher than voter-approved amount. Engineering phase will provide options including no-build.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:54:02 School Campus Side Path Project

Project accepted into state 10-year plan, though state estimate of $2.033 million is nearly double the town's $1.125 million estimate. Town has sufficient match funds currently saved.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:59:09 DPW Truck Purchase

Board approved purchase of Ford F350 pickup truck with plow and sander for $69,423 from Grappone Ford, waiving competitive bidding requirements to use state pricing.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:03:03 Fire/EMS Personnel Hiring

Board approved hiring five per diem EMS providers: one paramedic, three advanced EMTs, and one EMT.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:05:52 Health Insurance Assessment

Finance Director reported town paid $64,864 assessment due to New Hampshire Interlocal Trust receivership, with legal counsel reviewing options as other towns refused payment.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:12:22 Consent Agenda Approval

Board approved consent agenda including accounts payable, payroll, and three veteran approvals under assessing.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:13:00 NRPC Electricity Supply Contract

Discussion of renewal of town's electricity supply contract through regional aggregation program, with new pricing components requiring board decision on contract structure and length.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:32:37 Meeting Minutes Approval

Board approved minutes from June 23, 2025 and July 7, 2025 (as amended).

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:33:59 DPW Tree Removal Recognition

Board member praised DPW for excellent work removing a 5-foot diameter tree that fell across New Boston Road, restoring power within 3-4 hours.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:35:05 December 13th Event Scheduling Conflict

Discussion of scheduling conflict between two groups wanting to use town facilities on December 13th, with one group refusing to share the date.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:38:00 Fourth of July Committee Appreciation

Board chair praised the Fourth of July committee for excellent festivities, parade, and vendor coordination.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:39:04 250th Anniversary Committee Discussion

Discussion of potentially forming a separate committee for the town's 250th anniversary celebration in 2026, separate from the Fourth of July committee.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Potentially controversial issues

01

German Christmas Market vs. Christmas House Tour Scheduling Conflict

A 20+ year community tradition serving 600 ticketed guests (church Christmas House Tour) is directly threatened by a newly approved German Christmas Market on the same date (December 13th) that could draw up to 8,000 people. The church representative stated flatly they cannot operate on the same day, creating a zero-sum conflict between an established community institution and a newly permitted large-scale event. Parking, traffic, and atmosphere concerns are concrete and unresolved.
Board position: Board acknowledged the conflict but made no definitive resolution; directed the Town Administrator to reach out to German Christmas Market organizers about logistics. The board appeared to recognize someone would need to change dates but deferred action.
high concern
02

Building Inspector Vacancy and Health Officer Position Posting

The building inspector resigned June 19th, leaving a gap in code enforcement. Disagreement emerged among board members and staff about whether to post the health officer position simultaneously and whether to look internally first. Multiple concurrent vacancies in regulatory positions create public safety and service delivery risks.
Board position: Board authorized posting the building inspector position (8 applications received) and debated timing on the health officer vacancy; no final resolution on health officer posting strategy.
Internal dissent
a speaker, a speaker, and a speaker expressed differing views on whether to post the health officer position now versus looking internally first, indicating internal disagreement on hiring strategy.
medium concern
03

North O3 Rail Trail Project — Cost Overrun Risk

The state's cost estimate is $300,000 higher than the voter-approved amount. Signing the NHDOT agreement could commit the town to a project where ultimate costs exceed what voters authorized. A board member dissented on the vote. Additionally, a Bicycle Pedestrian Committee member warned that federal transportation funding for bike/pedestrian projects may be eliminated going forward, making these grants potentially irreplaceable — adding pressure to proceed despite cost uncertainty.
Board position: Board majority (3-1) authorized the Town Administrator to sign the NHDOT agreement, proceeding into the engineering phase which will surface options including no-build.
Internal dissent
One board member voted against authorizing the rail trail agreement, likely citing the cost discrepancy between state estimates and voter-approved funding.
medium concern
04

Electricity Supply Contract — 36-Month Commitment with Dissent

The board approved a 36-month fixed electricity supply contract over one member's objection. Locking the town into a multi-year energy contract carries financial risk if market rates fall. The board conditioned approval on a non-appropriation clause, but the availability of that clause was unconfirmed at the time of the vote.
Board position: Board majority (3-1) approved 36-month fixed DASI pricing, contingent on non-appropriation clause; defaults to 12-month contract if clause unavailable.
Internal dissent
One board member voted against the 36-month contract, reason not specified in the record.
medium concern
05

Police Department Compensation Gap for Non-Union Leadership

The Police Chief disclosed that the two captain positions and chief position are inadequately compensated compared to the 16 union-covered positions, raising the risk of captains seeking union membership. This signals a structural compensation problem that could affect command-level staffing stability and future budget obligations.
Board position: Board received the information; no formal action taken. The chief flagged this as a matter requiring attention.
medium concern
06

Health Insurance Assessment — Town Paid Despite Other Towns Refusing

The town paid a $64,864 assessment related to the NH Interlocal Trust receivership while other municipalities refused payment. This raises questions about whether the payment was legally required and whether the town acted prematurely, potentially disadvantaging taxpayers relative to peer communities.
Board position: Payment was made; board directed legal counsel to review options for recovery or recourse. Finance Director and Town Administrator continuing to monitor.
medium concern
07

Fire Department Surplus Vehicle Declaration — 3-1 Vote

Declaring three aging fire trucks as surplus removes equipment from the department's inventory. One board member dissented, possibly reflecting concern about disposing of fire safety assets or the process used.
Board position: Board majority (3-1) declared Engine 5 (1991), a 1982 forestry truck, and Tower 1 (1997) surplus for public auction, while separately exploring donation of Engine 5 to Milan, NH.
Internal dissent
One board member voted against the surplus declaration; specific reasoning not detailed in the record.
low concern

Split votes

Declare three fire department vehicles as surplus equipment
3-1
Authorize North O3 Rail Trail NHDOT project agreement
3-1
Approve 36-month fixed electricity supply contract with DASI pricing
3-1

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Reach out to German Christmas market organizers regarding parking, porta potties, and crowd numbers
Assigned: Town Administrator · Due: Before next meeting
Review amended rules of procedure for vote
Assigned: Board · Due: July 28th meeting
Meet this week to review fire chief applications and select 3-4 top candidates
Assigned: Staff and Selectmen Grella · Due: This week
Begin building inspector interviews
Assigned: Town Administrator · Due: This week
Provide quotes for communications tower construction drawings including cellular capability
Assigned: Police Chief · Due: End of July
Obtain appraisal value for Engine 5 and contact Milan, NH about potential donation
Assigned: DPW Director · Due: Next meeting
Continue working with legal counsel on health insurance assessment options
Assigned: Town Administrator and Finance Director · Due: Next meeting update
Begin interview process for new patrol officer position
Assigned: Police Chief · Due: Next week
Contact town administrator about non-appropriation clause availability and coordinate contract execution
Assigned: Emma (NRPC representative) · Due: Tomorrow (July 15, 2025)
Execute electricity supply contract if non-appropriation clause included; otherwise pursue 12-month alternative
Assigned: Town Administrator (Lincoln) · Due: July 15, 2025
Pass along board's appreciation to DPW for tree removal work
Assigned: Town Administrator · Due: Not specified
Reach out to Fourth of July committee to inquire about bandwidth for 250th anniversary planning
Assigned: Town Administrator · Due: Before next meeting
Continue discussion of 250th anniversary committee formation at next meeting
Assigned: Board · Due: Next meeting

Notable ⁠statements

We as the church have already decided that we will not be able to operate on the same day. It's just not fair to our ticket goers. — Sally Hoover · Expressing firm position that Christmas House Tour cannot coexist with German Christmas market on same day 16:23
I think I can come up with in the last 12 months three or four different scenarios where these body cameras have likely saved us potential lawsuits. — Police Chief · Highlighting the value of the body camera program for protecting the department 48:52
16 of my 19 positions are well compensated. Those are all union positions. I think both the two captains positions and the chief's position need to be looked at. — Police Chief · Addressing compensation issues for non-union leadership positions to prevent captains from joining union 1:03:09
I would really look to do something where we continue to budget for the money for the record system... start saving that money... so that we don't get hit with a cost down the road that we're not anticipating — Police Chief · Discussing potential $65,000 annual cost for new records system starting in year 5 1:08:48
I don't know what the value of a life is. It's invaluable. So that's just where I'm at with it — Selectman · Supporting donation of fire engine to Milan, NH rather than selling at auction 1:19:56
We have started to hear in the background that the federal transportation budgets are no longer going to include any funding for bicycle and pedestrian work going forward. So if we turn down these grants, we're pretty much all done — Bicycle Pedestrian Committee Member

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
1
Total speakers
0
Addressed
1
Partial
0
Not addressed
Sally Hoover
07:07
Partial
Sally Hoover, co-chair of the Christmas and Amherst House tour, expressed concerns about conflicts with the German Christmas market scheduled for the same day (December 13th). She explained that both events would create traffic, parking, and crowd management issues that would negatively impact the idyllic atmosphere of their house tour. Key concern
Scheduling conflict between Christmas house tour and German Christmas market on December 13th, creating parking, traffic flow, and crowd management problems
Board response
The board acknowledged the conflict and discussed potential solutions. They indicated this would require further discussion and coordination between all parties, with some board members suggesting someone would need to change dates.
The board acknowledged the concern and indicated they would work on finding a solution, but made no definitive decision to resolve the conflict during this meeting

Accountability ⁠flags

Documented procedural gaps. Each item links to its source.

Agenda items not discussed

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