Board of Selectmen — November 24, 2025
Amherst board votes 3-1 to add $200,000 in new staff positions to FY27 budget, overriding calls to let voters decide — while also disclosing a decade-long police radio safety gap.
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.
Questions about this meeting? Just ask.
Ask MeetingWatch answers from this meeting’s report, transcript, and records — with linked sources.
📋 AMHERST BOARD OF SELECTMEN — November 24, 2025 Meeting Summary
The board made several significant fiscal and safety decisions at Monday's meeting that residents should be aware of before the FY27 budget vote, currently scheduled for December 22nd.
💼 FOUR NEW STAFF POSITIONS APPROVED — OVER OBJECTIONS
By a 3-1 vote, the board agreed to include four new or expanded positions in the FY27 operating budget: a recreation department admin assistant, a full-time transfer station attendant, a fire department admin assistant, and a police department admin assistant/paralegal. The total annual cost is approximately $200,000 — added to a budget already carrying a $600,000 (3.2%) baseline increase. Selectman Tom Grella cast the dissenting vote, arguing that a commitment of this size should go to voters rather than be decided unilaterally by the board. The Ways & Means committee had also urged the board to stagger the hires rather than add all four simultaneously. The majority disagreed, citing public safety and operational needs. Separately, a motion to raise employee cost-of-living adjustments from 3% to 3.5% (an additional $38,000) died without a second — a sign the board isn't fully unified on compensation either.
📡 A DECADE-LONG SAFETY GAP — FINALLY BEING FIXED
The Police Chief disclosed that officers have been working around radio communication dead zones for years, relying on grant-funded equipment purchased roughly ten years ago that was never installed. His statement: "Luck is not a tactic." The board unanimously approved $54,000 to complete the installation, waiving competitive bidding to use the original vendor. The fix is overdue and welcome — but the decade-long delay deserves scrutiny.
🌿 WHAT ELSE WAS DISCUSSED
The board added a $10 million conservation land bond to the warrant articles, which would add an estimated $110–$184 per year to the average Amherst homeowner's tax bill over 10 years. Voters will decide at town meeting. Also flagged: E. coli contamination in Beaver Brook and Caesar's Brook at levels described as "well in excess of any recreational acceptable level" — the board authorized a grant application for DNA-based source testing. And NH DES is reviewing a permit application to apply aluminum compounds to Baboosic Lake to control cyanobacteria; a public hearing is set for January 12th at Merrimack Town Hall.
The next BOS meeting is December 8th. The budget vote is tentatively December 22nd. Public input matters now.
Public impact
Four new/expanded positions totaling approximately $200,000 annually, added to a budget already carrying a 3.2% ($600,000) baseline increase
$110–$184 annually per average home over 10 years; $10 million total bond
$250,000 savings to the budget from carrier change, but potential coverage or network changes affecting ~all benefited town employees
Previously appropriated $1.9 million plus capital reserve funds; formal decision pending December 8th presentation
$54,000 to eliminate communication dead zones; officers have been operating without reliable radio coverage for years
Historic levels 'well in excess of any recreational acceptable level'; $15,000–$20,000 grant sought for DNA-based source identification
Topics discussed
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.
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.
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.
Board reviewed proposed warrant articles totaling $11,654,100, including conservation land bond ($10M), fire equipment ($185K PFAS-free gear), and various infrastructure items.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Town Administrator announced a catered holiday luncheon for all town staff and volunteers on December 12th from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
FY27 Budget Personnel Expansion — Four New Positions (~$200,000)
Conservation Land Bond — $6–10 Million Over 10 Years
COLA Increase Proposal — 3% vs. 3.5%
Impact Fee Use for Road Reconstruction — 'Gimmick' Dispute
Police/Fire Communications Dead Zones — Officer Safety Risk
Baboosic Lake Aluminum Treatment — Environmental and Public Health
Split votes
Community vs. board tension
Public comment
Decisions logged
Action items
Creating this report cost real money.
MeetingWatch attended, transcribed, and analyzed this meeting on its own dime. If this work is valuable to you, chip in to keep covering Amherst.
Follow Amherst
One email when a new report is published from the Board of Selectmen — or one weekly digest.
claude-sonnet-4-6, claude-sonnet-4-20250514, claude-opus-4-6 · analyzed 2026-06-01.
Members feature
Ask questions. Get answers with receipts.
Ask about anything covered on this page and get a plain-English answer that links to the report, the official records, and the exact moment in the meeting video.
Create a free accountFree with a MeetingWatch account — no card, no spam.
Already a member? Sign in
Ask questions about any meeting
Open a community, board, issue, or meeting and I can answer from its records — with links to the report, official documents, and the exact moment in the video.
Then reopen this button to start asking.
AI-generated from meeting records — verify against the linked sources. Conversations are stored (privacy).