Accountability posts
Drafts ready to share. Click to copy, then post. Board of Selectmen · Amherst, NH · July 14, 2025.
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Board deferred action on a scheduling conflict that effectively threatens cancellation of a long-standing community event
Amherst's Christmas House Tour (20+ yrs, 600 guests) may be wiped out by a new German Christmas Market approved for the SAME DAY — Dec. 13. The church says they can't coexist. The board's response on 7/14? 'We'll reach out about parking.' No date resolution. #Amherst #NH
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Town made a disputed $64,864 payment that peer municipalities refused, raising questions about fiscal stewardship
Amherst paid a $64,864 health insurance assessment on 7/14 — while other NH towns REFUSED the same payment. Legal counsel is now reviewing options. The money's already out the door. Taxpayers deserve to know why Amherst paid first and asked questions later. #Amherst #NH
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Board committed to a project where state cost estimates exceed what voters authorized, over one member's objection
The state's cost estimate for Amherst's North O3 Rail Trail is $300K OVER the voter-approved amount. The board voted 3-1 on 7/14 to sign the NHDOT agreement anyway. One member dissented. If engineering confirms the gap, voters may need to be asked for more — or the project dies. #Amherst
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Structural police compensation gap flagged by chief, no board action taken
Amherst's Police Chief told the board on 7/14 that the two captain positions and chief's position are undercompensated vs. union ranks — and captains might seek union membership. No action taken. This is a command-level staffing risk that affects everyone in town. #Amherst #NH
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🧵 Amherst Board of Selectmen met 7/14/25. Several decisions deserve public attention — including a scheduling conflict that could kill a 20-year community tradition, a disputed $64,864 payment, and a infrastructure project where costs are already outpacing what voters approved. Thread:
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1/ CHRISTMAS EVENTS CONFLICT: Amherst's Christmas House Tour has run for 20+ years, serving 600 ticketed guests. A newly approved German Christmas Market (up to 8,000 people) was permitted for the SAME DAY: December 13th. The church rep said flatly: 'We cannot operate on the same day.'
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2/ The board's response? Direct the Town Administrator to ask the German Christmas Market organizers about parking and porta-potties. No commitment to resolve the date conflict. No protection for the existing event. A 20-year tradition now hangs on an informal outreach call.
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3/ RAIL TRAIL COST OVERRUN: The state's estimate for the North O3 Rail Trail extension is $300,000 MORE than what voters approved. The board voted 3-1 on 7/14 to sign the NHDOT agreement and proceed to engineering. One member dissented — likely over the funding gap.
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4/ A Bicycle Pedestrian Committee member warned the board that federal funding for bike/pedestrian projects may be eliminated going forward — adding pressure to proceed despite the cost uncertainty. The engineering phase will surface a 'no-build' option, but the town is now committed to the process.
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5/ DISPUTED INSURANCE PAYMENT: The town paid a $64,864 assessment tied to the NH Interlocal Trust receivership. Other municipalities refused the same payment. Amherst paid first — legal counsel is now reviewing options for recovery. Taxpayers should ask: why was this paid without legal review first?
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6/ POLICE COMPENSATION RISK: The Police Chief told the board that 16 of 19 department positions are union-covered and well-compensated — but the two captain positions and chief's position lag behind. Captains could seek union membership. No board action taken. This is a retention and budget risk.
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7/ ELECTRICITY CONTRACT SPLIT: The board approved a 36-month fixed electricity supply contract 3-1. The non-appropriation clause that conditions the deal wasn't confirmed available at the time of the vote. One member opposed locking in a multi-year rate. Final contract hinges on clause availability.
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8/ The next Board of Selectmen meeting is July 28th. The amended Rules of Procedure are up for a vote. The Christmas event conflict, rail trail engineering scope, and 250th anniversary committee are all expected to continue. Show up or stay informed. #Amherst #NH
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Longer-form draft.
**Amherst Board of Selectmen — July 14, 2025 Meeting Recap** The Board covered a full agenda on Monday, but several decisions warrant closer public attention. **Christmas Event Scheduling Conflict:** Amherst's Christmas House Tour — a church-run community tradition in its 20th+ year serving 600 ticketed guests — is now directly threatened by a newly approved German Christmas Market scheduled for the exact same date: December 13th. The market has been conditionally approved to draw up to 8,000 people. The church's co-chair, Sally Hoover, told the board directly: "We will not be able to operate on the same day." The board acknowledged the conflict but issued no directive to resolve it. The Town Administrator was asked to reach out to the German Christmas Market organizers — specifically about parking and crowd logistics, not about changing dates. Residents who care about preserving this long-standing community event should contact the board before the December date becomes locked in. **Rail Trail Cost Gap:** The board voted 3-1 to authorize the Town Administrator to sign a state NHDOT agreement for the North O3 Rail Trail extension. The problem: the state's cost estimate is $300,000 higher than the amount voters approved. Proceeding into the engineering phase is not a final construction commitment, and the scope may change — but the town is now formally in the pipeline. One board member voted against the authorization. A community advocate also warned the board that federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure may be cut going forward, making these grant opportunities potentially non-renewable. Voters should watch for whether a supplemental appropriation request is eventually required. **Disputed $64,864 Insurance Payment:** The Finance Director reported that Amherst paid a $64,864 assessment tied to the NH Interlocal Trust (the town's former health insurance pool, now in receivership). Other municipalities in the same situation have refused to pay. Amherst paid. Legal counsel is now reviewing options — but the money is already out the door. The board directed staff to continue working with attorneys on possible recovery, but no clear outcome was identified. Taxpayers are entitled to a clear explanation of why this payment was made before the legal review was complete. **Other notable items:** The Police Chief flagged a compensation gap for non-union command staff (two captains and the chief) that could push captains toward union membership — a budget and leadership stability concern that received no formal board action. The board also approved a 36-month fixed electricity supply contract on a 3-1 vote, contingent on a non-appropriation clause whose availability was unconfirmed at the time. The next meeting is July 28th at Amherst Town Hall.