Accountability Posts

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Board failed to impose binding conditions after residents documented public safety concerns at prior German Market event

At the 8/25 Amherst BOS meeting, residents described the prior German Market causing gridlock and raising emergency access concerns. The board imposed NO formal conditions — organizers voluntarily added a 6,000-person cap. That's not enforcement. That's hope.

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Unresolved First Amendment conflict between town event scheduling and church access — no formal action taken

A pastor told Amherst's BOS on 8/25 that a Sunday Dec. 14 rain date for the German Market would block his congregation from worship — invoking religious freedom. The board took no vote. They'll 'reconsider' at the next meeting. The date is still on the books.

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Split vote on school impact fee use signals substantive board disagreement

Amherst BOS voted 4-1 on 8/25 to pull $8,428 in school impact fees for a Souhegan High School capacity study. One member voted no. Official minutes will show the reason when published. Worth watching.

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Public land use for workforce housing and internal board disagreement over whether affordability protections should be permanent

Amherst BOS unanimously approved a feasibility study for up to 30 workforce housing units on town-owned land (Old Nashua Road). One board member already pushing back on permanent affordability requirements. The land is yours — the debate is just starting.

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THREAD: Amherst Board of Selectmen met 8/25/25. Residents raised safety concerns, a pastor invoked religious freedom, a split vote surfaced on school funds, and a proposal to build housing on YOUR town-owned land moved forward. Here's what you need to know. 🧵

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1/ GERMAN MARKET SAFETY: Residents testified that the prior event caused severe traffic gridlock and emergency vehicle access concerns. The board did not rescind approval or impose any formal conditions. Organizers voluntarily promised ticketing and a 6,000-person cap — but there is no board-mandated enforcement mechanism.

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2/ RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FLAG: Pastor Michael Sacco told the board a Sunday December 14 rain date would prevent his congregation from holding worship services and explicitly raised religious freedom concerns. The board said it would 'reconsider' the date at the next meeting. No vote. No resolution. Clock is ticking.

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3/ SPLIT VOTE: The board approved an $8,428 school impact fee withdrawal for a Souhegan High School capacity study — but the vote was 4-1. One member voted no. Approval is contingent on Mount Vernon paying its $1,372 share (14%). Reasons for the dissent will appear in the official minutes.

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4/ WORKFORCE HOUSING ON PUBLIC LAND: A citizen group proposed up to 30 townhouse units on town-owned property at Old Nashua Road, with preference for town and SAU employees under a long-term lease. The board unanimously approved a feasibility study — but board member John openly argued against requiring permanent affordability, saying future boards can 'figure it out.' That's a significant policy disagreement about what happens to public land long-term.

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5/ ALSO DECIDED 8/25: ✅ Net metering contract approved — projected $360K over 20 years ✅ Two police cruisers approved: $81,748 for two 2026 Dodge Durangos ✅ $99,310 DPW truck approved (state pricing, competitive bid waived) ✅ Fire/Rescue assessment report accepted and authorized for public release — read it when it drops.

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6/ BOTTOM LINE: The German Market safety issues were heard but not formally addressed. A religious freedom conflict is unresolved. And a proposal to build on town-owned land is moving forward with board members already split on whether affordability protections will last. Stay engaged. Next meeting is in approximately two weeks.

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Longer-form draft.

**Amherst Board of Selectmen — August 25, 2025 Meeting Recap**

Residents showed up to Monday's Board of Selectmen meeting with real concerns — and got mixed results. Here's what happened and why it matters.

**German Market: Safety complaints heard, but no formal action taken.** Multiple residents testified that the prior German Market caused severe traffic gridlock and raised concerns about emergency vehicles being able to get through. The board acknowledged the complaints and pointed to organizer commitments — a 6,000-person attendance cap and ticketing — but did not place any formal, board-imposed conditions on the event's approval. If those organizer commitments aren't met, residents currently have no board-mandated enforcement mechanism to point to. Separately, Pastor Michael Sacco told the board that the proposed December 14 Sunday rain date would prevent his congregation from holding worship services, explicitly raising religious freedom concerns. The board said it would revisit the date at the next meeting, with organizers willing to move to a Saturday. No vote was taken — the conflict is still open.

**Workforce housing on town-owned land: Feasibility study approved, but a key disagreement is already visible.** A citizen group presented a proposal to build up to 30 townhouse units on town-owned property at Old Nashua Road (tax map 2:19-1), prioritizing town and SAU employees under a long-term lease with permanent affordability requirements. The board unanimously approved moving forward with a feasibility study — explicitly reserving any further commitment for separate future votes, which is appropriate. But board member John openly argued against requiring permanent affordability, suggesting a 'reasonable length of time' is enough and that future boards can sort out what happens after. That differs from what the proposal group and board member Cynthia said is a core principle of the project. This is public land. How long it stays affordable — if it's ever developed — is a question residents should follow closely.

**Split vote on school funds.** The board voted 4-1 to withdraw $8,428 from school impact fees for a Souhegan High School capacity study, contingent on Mount Vernon paying its proportional $1,372 share. One member voted no. The reason for that dissent will be in the official minutes when they're published — worth reading.

**Other business:** The board approved a 20-year net metering contract projected to generate $360,000 in revenue/savings, authorized purchase of two police cruisers ($81,748) and a DPW truck ($99,310), and accepted a comprehensive external assessment of the Fire/Rescue Department for public release. The Conservation Commission also unanimously accepted a 34-acre land donation for conservation. The Fire/Rescue report is now authorized for public distribution — when it's released, read it.