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Board of Selectmen — September 9, 2025

The meeting was substantive and revealed serious deferred-investment and staffing problems across multiple departments, but the tone remained collaborative and informational with no public opposition, no split votes, and no confrontational exchanges. The weight of unresolved fiscal and service challenges was notable, but the discussion itself was cooperative.

Date Tuesday, September 9, 2025 Duration 2.8h Speakers 7 Decisions 1 Routine
▶ Video

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

Fire Department Staffing — Transition Toward Career Personnel

Acting Chief identified need for career personnel additions estimated at ~$400,000 in annual budget impact; current model described as inadequate for population and call volume Affected: All Amherst residents relying on fire and EMS services
safety change
02

Fire Department PFAS Gear and Radio Replacement

$425,000+ in critical equipment needs including PFAS-free gear ($150,000, mandated by 2026) and portable radios ($275,000); fleet of 5 vehicles with combined age of 92 years also flagged Affected: All Amherst taxpayers; firefighter safety directly at risk
other high impact
03

Babousik Beach — Reduced Summer Operations and Alum Treatment Under Review

Beach staffed only 40 days vs. 50 last year; ~$2,000 revenue decline; alum treatment in DES permitting process with cost not specified at this meeting Affected: Amherst residents using the town beach; all taxpayers if alum treatment proceeds
other high impact
04

Youth Basketball Eliminated for Grades 1–2

Grades 1–2 program likely eliminated entirely; grades 3–4 practices reduced due to loss of Wilkins School multipurpose room Affected: Families with children in grades 1–4 enrolled in youth basketball
service reduction
05

Mechanical Permit Fee Schedule Update — First Revision Since 2013

Scope of increases not yet defined; fees have not been revised in over 12 years, suggesting potentially significant adjustment Affected: Contractors, developers, and homeowners seeking mechanical permits in Amherst
fee change
06

Police Staffing — Clerical and Communications Deficiencies

Chief identified clerical support deficiencies and aging radio and server infrastructure affecting department operations; new phone system expected within 2–3 weeks Affected: All Amherst residents relying on police communications and records services
safety change
07

Community Center Development — Potential $8 Million Capital Project

Chair signaled serious intent to pursue $8 million community center funded partly through development impact fees; town property survey ordered as first step Affected: All Amherst taxpayers and residents seeking recreational facilities
other high impact

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
No formal votes were taken during this strategic planning presentation meeting
This was a continuation meeting for department strategic plan presentations, no voting items on agenda

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 00:35 Recreation Department Strategic Plan - FY27

Director Irene Berry presented strategic plan focusing on four areas: Babousik Beach (cyanobacteria issues affecting operations and revenue), Buck Meadow recreation facility development, pickleball court needs, and expanded programming for all age groups.

Speakers: Speaker B (Director Berry), Speaker A (Chair)
▶ 15:11 Youth Basketball Program Impact from Wilkins School Closure

Recreation department will likely eliminate grades 1-2 basketball and reduce grade 3-4 practices due to loss of Wilkins multipurpose room, creating significant scheduling challenges for indoor programming.

Speakers: Speaker B (Director Berry), Unidentified speaker
▶ 30:26 Community Development Strategic Plan - FY27

Director Christy Drobin presented comprehensive plan covering building permits, zoning, historic preservation, and new online permitting system rollout. Highlighted staffing constraints and need for regulatory updates.

Speakers: Speaker D (Director Drobin)
▶ 46:16 Fire and Rescue Strategic Plan - FY27

Acting Chief presented plan addressing critical staffing inadequacies, with 60 members but only 1 full-time officer. Emphasized need for career personnel, fourth provider position, and administrative assistant restoration. Analysis showed 1,200 medical calls annually averaging 87 minutes each, consuming significant departmental resources.

Speakers: Speaker E (Acting Chief)
▶ 50:53 Fire Prevention and Community Education Services

Department conducts code enforcement, building inspections, fire drills, school safety programs, and community outreach including station tours and safety education for senior residents.

Speakers: Speaker E (Fire Chief)
▶ 50:53 SWOT Analysis - Fire Department Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths include diverse workforce and transport revenue generation. Weaknesses include inadequate staffing for population size, resource limitations, and public misconceptions about department structure.

Speakers: Speaker E (Fire Chief)
▶ 50:53 Cost Recovery and Revenue Enhancement Opportunities

Department identified opportunities through additional EMS transports, commercial inspections, grant funding (SAFER grants), and updating mechanical permit fee schedule not revised since 2013.

Speakers: Speaker E (Fire Chief), Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:17:20 Fire Department Equipment and Funding Needs

Fire department outlined critical equipment replacement needs including PFAS-free protective gear ($150,000), portable radios ($275,000), and staffing additions totaling approximately $400,000 in budget impacts. Urgent needs include replacing 20-year-old portable radios, outdated firefighter protective gear due to PFAS-free mandate effective 2026, and five vehicles collectively 92 years old.

Speakers: Speaker E (Acting Chief)
▶ 1:35:43 Police Department Strategic Plan Introduction

Police Chief began presentation of strategic plan with updated goals including maintaining professional standards, addressing staffing needs, drug enforcement initiatives, and records management overhaul.

Speakers: Speaker G (Police Chief)
▶ 1:35:43 Police Department Strengths and Community Outreach

Department maintains strong hiring processes, excelled in community outreach programs, achieved low property crime numbers (around 30 incidents), and has quality accident/criminal investigations.

Speakers: Speaker G (Police Chief)
▶ 1:35:43 Police Department Technology and Equipment Needs

Identified needs for new phone system (implementation expected within 2-3 weeks), portable radio replacements, server upgrades for electronic records storage, and addressing clerical support deficiencies.

Speakers: Speaker G (Police Chief)
▶ 1:35:43 Body Camera Implementation and Professional Standards

Body cameras have become essential for complaint investigations, discovery information, and maintaining professional conduct standards. Guardian Tracking software implemented for accountability and training management.

Speakers: Speaker G (Police Chief)
▶ 1:35:43 Police Accreditation Process Progress

Department making significant progress toward accreditation with goal of completion by next summer. Process requires policy updates, evidence management improvements, and civilian personnel compliance changes.

Speakers: Speaker G (Police Chief)

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Potentially controversial issues

01

Fire Department Staffing Crisis — Need for Career Personnel

The Acting Chief explicitly stated the current all-volunteer model is 'inadequate for operational needs' and that Amherst needs career personnel introduced. This signals a potential shift from a volunteer to a hybrid paid fire department, which carries significant budget implications (estimated ~$400,000 in staffing costs) and could be divisive among residents who value the volunteer tradition versus those prioritizing response capability.
Board position: Board appeared receptive to the assessment but cautioned against using SAFER grants as a permanent solution, signaling awareness of the fiscal complexity. No formal commitment made.
high concern
02

Babousik Beach Cyanobacteria — Reduced Operations and Alum Treatment Under Review

The beach was staffed only 40 days this summer versus 50 last year, with nearly $2,000 in lost revenue. An alum treatment permit is pending with the state DES, and the town faces a potentially significant financial commitment to address the lake's water quality. Residents who use the beach and lakefront property owners are directly affected, and the cost-benefit of treatment options will likely face scrutiny.
Board position: Board directed Director Berry to attend the DES zoom meeting with the Babousik Lake Association and research alternative treatment options including APOD technology and sonic wave therapy. Chair signaled interest in pursuing impact fees for a community center, suggesting openness to long-term investment in recreation infrastructure.
high concern
03

Youth Basketball Eliminated for Grades 1–2 Due to Wilkins School Closure

The loss of the Wilkins multipurpose room will likely eliminate the grades 1–2 youth basketball program entirely and reduce grades 3–4 practice availability. Families with young children enrolled in these programs face a direct service loss with no replacement facility identified yet. This is a concrete, near-term impact on a visible community program.
Board position: Board directed Director Berry to contact Mount Vernon about use of their multipurpose room as a potential alternative. No guarantee of a solution was offered.
medium concern
04

Community Center Development — $8 Million Project and Impact Fee Funding

The Chair explicitly stated the town 'should start seriously looking at' impact fees from new development to fund a potential $8 million community center. This ties infrastructure development to residential growth in a way that may concern residents worried about overdevelopment, and an $8 million capital project is a significant potential tax burden. No public input was solicited on this direction.
Board position: Chair signaled strong support for moving forward with feasibility and impact fee collection. Board directed a survey of town-owned properties for potential sites.
medium concern
05

Fire Department Equipment Deficit — $425,000+ in Critical Replacements

The department identified $150,000 for PFAS-free gear (mandated by 2026), $275,000 for portable radios, and a vehicle fleet with a combined age of 92 years. These are not discretionary requests — the PFAS gear replacement is a regulatory requirement. The scale of deferred investment signals budget pressure ahead for taxpayers.
Board position: Board received the presentation without committing to funding. No votes taken; items flagged for FY27 budget process.
medium concern
06

Increase in Police Complaints — Transparency and Accountability Concerns

The Police Chief noted an increase in complaints against officers in recent years, stating 'I've never seen as many as I have seen in the last couple years.' While the Chief framed these as 'almost never really an issue,' the public acknowledgment of a trend may concern residents about police conduct or community relations, even as the department seeks to address it through body cameras and accreditation.
Board position: Board appeared supportive of the body camera program and accreditation process as accountability mechanisms. No critical questions raised.
medium concern
07

Mechanical Permit Fee Schedule Not Updated Since 2013

The fire department and community development department were directed to revise fees that have not changed in over a decade. Fee increases will affect contractors and developers, and potentially indirectly affect housing costs for residents undertaking renovations or new construction.
Board position: Board directed both departments to collaborate on a revised fee schedule. No timeline set.
low concern

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Attend DES zoom meeting with Babousik Lake Association regarding alum treatment permit
Assigned: Director Berry (Recreation) · Due: Thursday night (September 12, 2025)
Research alternative cyanobacteria treatment options (APOD technology, sonic wave therapy) and report back to board
Assigned: Director Berry (Recreation) · Due: Not specified
Call Mount Vernon regarding use of multipurpose room for youth basketball
Assigned: Director Berry (Recreation) · Due: Tomorrow (September 10, 2025)
Survey town-owned properties for potential community center sites
Assigned: Director Berry (Recreation) · Due: Not specified
Complete rollout of Cloud Permit online permitting system
Assigned: Director Drobin (Community Development) · Due: Within the next month
Work together to revise mechanical permit fee schedule
Assigned: Fire Chief and Community Development · Due: Not specified
Implement new phone system with Zoom licensing
Assigned: Police Chief · Due: Within 2-3 weeks
Continue accreditation process toward completion
Assigned: Police Captain Blake · Due: Next summer

Notable ⁠statements

We were only staffed 40 days this summer as opposed to the 50 last summer... The revenue for the town beach had almost a $2,000 decrease from last year — Director Berry · Discussing impact of cyanobacteria on Babousik Beach operations and town revenue ▶ 06:50
I am 99% positive... it does not look like we will be able to offer youth basketball for grades one and two — Director Berry · Impact of Wilkins School closure on recreation programming ▶ 15:37
If we were to move forward with [community center], we could be collecting impact fees from the new development... we should start seriously looking at those impact fees — Board Chair · Discussion of funding mechanisms for potential $8 million community center project ▶ 20:23
The current staffing model is inadequate for operational needs. The population, the commercial volume, commuter traffic, they all generally require a greater on hand resource availability than we currently offer. — Speaker E (Fire Chief) · Addressing need for operational changes in fire department staffing model ▶ 50:53
The current staffing model is inadequate for operational needs... Amherst is at the point of needing some amount of career personnel introduced to the system — Acting Fire Chief · Addressing critical staffing shortages in fire department with only 1 full-time officer for 60-member roster ▶ 57:55
The SAFER grant is a good opportunity. It's only for a three year window... I wouldn't like that to be a solution. It's more of an opportunity that provide for longer term examination. — Unidentified speaker · Cautioning about using federal grants as temporary solution rather than long-term fix ▶ 1:26:00
I can't tell you how much things have changed in the last few years... complaints against officers, and they're almost never really an issue, but we have to investigate them. I've never seen as many as I have seen in the last couple years. — Speaker G (Police Chief) · Describing increased workload from public complaints and need for transparency ▶ 1:35:43

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 2026-05-19.