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Meeting report · Board of Selectmen
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Board of Selectmen — November 24, 2025

The meeting involved substantive fiscal disagreements — a split vote on $200,000 in new staffing, a COLA motion that died without a second, a selectman publicly labeling a budget mechanism a 'gimmick,' and Ways and Means pushback on hiring pace — elevating it above routine, though no major public conflict or community opposition was present.

Date Monday, November 24, 2025 Duration 2.6h Speakers 12 Decisions 5 Lively

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

FY27 Budget — Personnel Expansion Adds ~$200,000 to Operating Budget

Four new/expanded positions totaling approximately $200,000 annually, added to a budget already carrying a 3.2% ($600,000) baseline increase Affected: All Amherst property taxpayers
tax increase
02

Conservation Land Bond — Up to $10 Million

$110–$184 annually per average home over 10 years; $10 million total bond Affected: All Amherst property taxpayers if approved at town meeting
tax increase
03

Employee Healthcare Provider Switch — $250,000 Budget Savings

$250,000 savings to the budget from carrier change, but potential coverage or network changes affecting ~all benefited town employees Affected: Town employees and their dependents covered under municipal health insurance
other high impact
04

Fire Ladder Truck Purchase — $1.9 Million + Capital Reserve

Previously appropriated $1.9 million plus capital reserve funds; formal decision pending December 8th presentation Affected: All Amherst residents dependent on fire protection services
other high impact
05

Police/Fire Radio Dead Zones — Decade-Long Safety Gap Now Being Addressed

$54,000 to eliminate communication dead zones; officers have been operating without reliable radio coverage for years Affected: All residents dependent on police and fire emergency response
safety change
06

E. coli Contamination in Beaver Brook and Caesar's Brook

Historic levels 'well in excess of any recreational acceptable level'; $15,000–$20,000 grant sought for DNA-based source identification Affected: Residents who use or live near Beaver Brook and Caesar's Brook; downstream water quality stakeholders
safety change

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Motion to increase employee cost of living from 3% to 3.5%
Selectman proposed increasing COLA by 0.5% at estimated cost of $38,000, but motion received no second
Failed - no second
13:59
Board voted to move forward with funding all four requested personnel positions
Positions include recreation assistant ($18,000), transfer station attendant ($97,953), fire administrative assistant ($30,000), and police administrative assistant ($45,000)
Approved 3-1 (a speaker dissenting, preferring to let voters decide)
1:55:00
Approved communications system upgrade project as capital project and authorized use of police/fire impact fees up to $54,000
Board approved the project as meeting capital project definition, authorized use of impact fees ($27,000-$28,000 from police, remainder from fire), and waived competitive bidding policy to use Two Way Communications as sole vendor
Passed unanimously (5-0)
2:19:31
Authorized DPW to submit water quality planning grant application
Board authorized submission of pre-proposal to NH Department of Environmental Services for 2026 Section 604B Water Quality Planning Grant and authorized Town Administrator to sign all related documents
Passed unanimously (5-0)
2:33:11
Approved consent agenda
Standard consent agenda items approved
Passed unanimously (5-0)
2:33:17

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
00:06 Recognition of Town Clerk Nancy Demers

Board recognized Nancy Demers for 40 years of service as Town Clerk, presenting her with a special recognition plaque. Demers shared her history with the town starting as deputy in 1985.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Speaker C (Tom Grella), Speaker D (Nancy Demers)
06:00 DAR Donation of Recycled Plastic Bench

DAR representative Kim explained their collection of 1,000 pounds of plastic through NextTracks challenge to earn a bench for donation alongside the lending library at Buck Meadow.

Speakers: Speaker B (Kim), Unidentified speaker
07:43 FY27 Budget Discussion - Draft 4

Finance Director Jacob presented budget draft 4 with 3.2% increase ($600,000), featuring $250,000 savings from health insurance carrier change and minor overtime reductions.

Speakers: Speaker E (Jacob), Unidentified speaker, Speaker H (John)
12:32 Warrant Articles Review

Board reviewed proposed warrant articles totaling $11,654,100, including conservation land bond ($10M), fire equipment ($185K PFAS-free gear), and various infrastructure items.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Speaker G (Fire Chief), Speaker I (Eric)
22:01 Conservation Land Bond Proposal

Conservation Commission presented $6-10 million bond proposal for land acquisition over 10 years, aiming for 15% publicly accessible conserved land with tax impact of $110-184 annually for average home.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
38:39 PFAS-Free Firefighter Equipment

Fire Chief explained $185,000 request for PFAS-free turnout gear to protect firefighters from carcinogens, providing primary set for all firefighters and secondary set for top responders.

Speakers: Speaker G (Fire Chief)
1:00:22 Recreation Department Staffing Request

Recreation Department requested converting part-time admin assistant to full-time ($18,702 from town budget, remainder from revolving fund) to handle increased youth sports workload and provide office coverage.

Speakers: Speaker B (Recreation Director)
1:07:49 Transfer Station Full-Time Attendant Position

DPW Director requested full-time transfer station attendant for safety concerns, cross-training, and revenue generation. Position costs $97,953 including benefits, with estimated $4,000 overtime savings and $10,000+ in new revenue from metal sorting.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:17:36 Fire Department Part-Time Administrative Assistant

Fire Chief requested 24-hour/week administrative assistant for $30,000 to handle data management, payroll conversion, and public-facing duties. Position would free up 25% of Deputy Chief's time ($29,000 value) and 15% of Chief's time ($18,000 value).

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:17:56 Police Department Administrative Assistant/Paralegal Position

Police Chief requested $45,000 position to handle body camera video processing, legal documents, and administrative tasks. Chief cited 15+ hours weekly spent by support captain on video work alone.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:42:19 Position Prioritization and Budget Discussion

Board discussed prioritizing the four requested positions totaling ~$200,000. Recreation ranked lowest priority, fire and police ranked highest due to safety concerns and resource optimization.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
1:58:11 Baboosic Lake Aluminum Treatment Project Update

NH DES received application from Baboosic Lake Association for temporary discharge permit to apply aluminum compounds for controlling cyanobacteria blooms. Public hearing scheduled January 12th at Merrimack Town Hall.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:02:59 Fire Department Ladder Truck Purchase Update

Fire Department evaluating new ladder truck purchase from Pierce Manufacturing using $1.9 million previously appropriated plus capital reserve funds. Formal presentation scheduled for December 8th meeting.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:07:37 Police/Fire Communications System Upgrade

Police Chief requested approval for $54,000 to complete a repeated radio system installation using equipment purchased 10 years ago via grant but never installed. The system would eliminate communication dead zones and improve officer safety.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:21:00 Water Quality Planning Grant Application

Souhegan River Local Advisory Committee requested authorization to apply for a $15,000-$20,000 grant to conduct DNA-based E. coli testing in Beaver Brook and Caesar's Brook to identify contamination sources.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
2:34:55 Holiday Staff Luncheon

Town Administrator announced a catered holiday luncheon for all town staff and volunteers on December 12th from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Potentially controversial issues

01

FY27 Budget Personnel Expansion — Four New Positions (~$200,000)

The board voted 3-1 to add four new staff positions totaling approximately $200,000 in annual costs, over objections from one selectman who felt voters should decide. The Ways and Means committee also expressed concern that hiring all positions simultaneously was too aggressive. This directly affects the tax rate and represents a significant ongoing spending commitment.
Board position: Board approved all four positions to be included in the budget, citing safety, succession planning, and operational efficiency.
Internal dissent
a speaker dissented (3-1 vote), stating a preference to let voters decide rather than the board unilaterally committing to all four positions. Ways and Means also urged staggering hires.
high concern
02

Conservation Land Bond — $6–10 Million Over 10 Years

A bond of up to $10 million for land acquisition would add $110–$184 annually to the average homeowner's tax bill. While the Conservation Commission cited 91% resident support from master planning surveys, this is a major long-term fiscal commitment that will require voter approval and is likely to face scrutiny from taxpayers concerned about cumulative budget pressures.
Board position: Board reviewed the proposal and included a $10 million conservation land bond in the warrant articles for voter consideration.
high concern
03

COLA Increase Proposal — 3% vs. 3.5%

A selectman proposed raising employee cost-of-living adjustments from 3% to 3.5% at an additional cost of $38,000. The motion failed for lack of a second, suggesting the board is not fully aligned on compensation philosophy. This touches on the balance between employee retention and taxpayer burden.
Board position: Motion failed with no second; COLA remains at 3% in the draft budget.
Internal dissent
One selectman proposed the increase but no other board member seconded the motion, effectively killing it without a formal vote.
medium concern
04

Impact Fee Use for Road Reconstruction — 'Gimmick' Dispute

Selectman John (a speaker) characterized the use of impact fees for road reconstruction as a 'gimmick,' while the Board Chair defended the practice by pointing to achieved strategic goals (road reconstruction funding rose from ~70s% to 80%). This signals underlying disagreement about fiscal strategy and transparency in how capital funds are deployed.
Board position: Board Chair defended the approach as effective and results-oriented.
Internal dissent
a speaker (John) publicly called the impact fee approach a 'gimmick,' though the Chair pushed back directly, indicating a substantive philosophical disagreement on budget mechanics.
medium concern
05

Police/Fire Communications Dead Zones — Officer Safety Risk

The Police Chief revealed that officers have been operating in radio communication dead zones using equipment purchased via grant 10 years ago that was never installed. His statement that 'luck is not a tactic' signals a long-standing public safety gap. While the board unanimously approved the $54,000 fix, the decade-long delay raises accountability questions.
Board position: Board unanimously approved $54,000 for the communications upgrade, waiving competitive bidding to use the sole vendor Two Way Communications.
medium concern
06

Baboosic Lake Aluminum Treatment — Environmental and Public Health

NH DES is reviewing an application to apply aluminum compounds to Baboosic Lake to control cyanobacteria blooms. Aluminum treatment in a public-use lake is environmentally sensitive and may concern residents who use the lake for recreation. A public hearing is scheduled for January 12th at Merrimack Town Hall.
Board position: Board acknowledged the application and directed staff to post information on the town website; no position taken on the treatment itself.
medium concern

Split votes

Motion to fund all four requested personnel positions in the FY27 budget
3-1
Motion to increase employee COLA from 3% to 3.5% (~$38,000 additional cost)
Failed — no second

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Provide finalized SLRD numbers for budget
Assigned: Finance Director Jacob · Due: December 8th meeting
Vote on budget and warrant articles
Assigned: Board of Selectmen · Due: December 22nd meeting (pending SLRD numbers)
Recommend fund balance allocation for warrant articles
Assigned: Town Administrator and Finance Director · Due: December 8th meeting
Provide school campus side path project construction timeline
Assigned: Eric Slazik · Due: Before next budget vote
Prepare revised budget including all four approved positions for December 8th meeting
Assigned: Finance Director · Due: December 8, 2025
Provide formal presentation on ladder truck purchase with revised figures and cost estimates
Assigned: Fire Chief · Due: December 8, 2025
Track revenue streams from O2 fund to ensure 75% funding sustainability can be maintained long-term
Assigned: Recreation Director · Due: Ongoing reporting at budget reviews
Post Baboosic Lake treatment information and hearing details on town website
Assigned: Staff · Due: Before January 12, 2025
Contact Two Way Communications to begin communications system installation
Assigned: Police Chief (a speaker) · Due: Next day (will call tomorrow)
Submit pre-proposal application to NH DES for water quality grant
Assigned: SORLAC/DPW · Due: December 5th, 2025
Send invitations for holiday staff luncheon
Assigned: Town Administrator (a speaker) · Due: Before Wednesday (prior to December 12th event)

Notable ⁠statements

I characterize it as a gimmick... After many years of such gimmicks, I would not characterize as being a gimmick — John (Selectman) · Disagreement over using impact fees for road reconstruction instead of direct budget funding 15:14
I'm focused on what we've accomplished with that money. And we have met and exceeded that goal. It was in the 70s somewhere. We're at 80% — Board Chair · Defending road reconstruction budget approach, citing achievement of strategic goals 17:07
91% of residents say Amherst should protect more open space and natural resources. So this came out as like the top theme and priority when we did the master planning process — Conservation Commission · Justifying the $6-10 million conservation bond proposal based on master plan survey results 28:28
We have a succession plan problem and we don't have anyone cross trained in some of these positions — Unidentified speaker · Discussing need for administrative support across multiple departments 1:38:09
If we have Bill Gates moved into town, I think it'd be a great idea. All four positions. But unfortunately... the people at the polls are going to decide — Unidentified speaker · Expressing concern about budget impact and preferring voter approval 1:55:24
There's no way we can bring all these new people on this year. Not all at once. Maybe we have to stagger it a little bit — Ways and Means member · Ways and Means committee expressing budget concerns about hiring all positions simultaneously 1:51:21
As far as I'm concerned right now, we've been lucky. Luck is not a tactic and I am interested in getting this repeated project underway as soon as I can. — Police Chief · Emphasizing urgency of communications system upgrade due to safety concerns and dead zones 2:07:37
Historic testing suggests that we've had levels well in excess of any recreational acceptable level from the standpoint of swimming, fishing, exposure, human exposure. — Speaker J (SORLAC representative) · Describing severity of E. coli contamination problem in local waterways 2:21:00

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