Accountability posts

At the September 9, 2025 Board of Selectmen meeting in Amherst, department directors presented their FY27 strategic plans — and the picture that emerged is one of significant deferred investment across public safety, recreation, and infrastructure. No votes were taken, but the decisions the board will face in the coming budget season were put squarely on the table.

The most urgent issue may be the Fire Department. The Acting Chief told the board directly that the current staffing model is 'inadequate for operational needs' for a town of Amherst's size and commercial traffic. With 60 members but only one full-time officer, and 1,200 medical calls per year averaging 87 minutes each, the department said career personnel need to be introduced — a shift that carries an estimated $400,000 annual budget impact. On top of that, the department has $425,000+ in critical equipment needs: PFAS-free protective gear ($150,000) is required by a mandate taking effect in 2026, portable radios ($275,000) are 20 years old, and five department vehicles have a combined age of 92 years. None of this spending was committed at the meeting — it all goes into the FY27 budget process.

For families with young children, a more immediate concern: Recreation Director Irene Berry told the board she is '99% positive' that youth basketball for grades 1–2 will be eliminated this year due to the closure of Wilkins School, which housed the multipurpose room the program depended on. Grades 3–4 practices will also be reduced. The board directed Berry to contact Mount Vernon about using their facility as an alternative, but no solution has been confirmed. Separately, Babousik Beach was open only 40 days this summer — down from 50 in 2024 — due to cyanobacteria, with revenues dropping roughly $2,000. An alum treatment is in the state DES permitting process, and the board directed staff to research other options including APOD technology and sonic wave therapy. No funding commitment has been made.

Also worth watching: the Board Chair stated that Amherst 'should start seriously looking at' development impact fees to help fund a potential $8 million community center, and directed staff to survey town-owned properties for possible sites. And the Police Chief noted an increase in complaints against officers in recent years, saying 'I've never seen as many as I have seen in the last couple years,' while noting they are 'almost never really an issue.' The department pointed to body cameras and an ongoing accreditation process as its accountability response. FY27 budget season is approaching. These are the numbers residents should be following. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/amherst/board-of-selectmen/2025-09-09/ #MeetingWatch #AmherstNH