Meeting report · Board of Selectmen
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Board of Selectmen — December 8, 2025
The meeting was substantively significant — approving a $2.2M purchase that exceeded the voter-authorized warrant article amount and discussing a potential $10M bond — but board members remained cooperative throughout, all votes were unanimous, and no public comment was received. The tone was deliberative rather than contentious.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
FY27 Budget — $600,000 Operating Increase Affects Tax Rate
$600,000 increase (3.27%) in municipal operating budget; proceeds to public hearing Affected: All Amherst property taxpayers
tax increase
02
Fire Aerial Truck Purchase — $2.217M + Capital Reserve Drawdown
$2.217M purchase approved (contract cap $2.275M); up to $375,000 capital reserve withdrawal authorized above the voter-approved $1.9M warrant article amount Affected: All Amherst taxpayers and residents dependent on fire/rescue services
other high impact
03
Open Space Acquisition Bond — Up to $10 Million
Up to $10M bond on 2027 warrant; potential split into $5M and $10M articles under discussion Affected: All Amherst property taxpayers via long-term bond debt service
other high impact
04
Fire Rescue Capital Reserve Fund — Annual Increase to $400,000
Annual appropriation to capital reserve fund proposed to rise from $267,000 to $400,000 — a $133,000 (50%) increase in annual contribution Affected: All Amherst taxpayers
tax increase
05
12–13 Month Gap in Aerial Fire Coverage
Town will have no dedicated aerial apparatus for approximately 12–13 months; reliant on mutual aid from Milford, Bedford, Merrimack, and Nashua Affected: All Amherst residents requiring aerial fire/rescue response
safety change
06
Pennichuck Water Rates — PUC Hearing Imminent
Rate change pending at January 15th PUC hearing; town manager directed to attend and consider retaining engineering consultant Affected: Amherst residents served by Pennichuck Water Works
fee change
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Consensus approval of FY27 budget draft five at $18,898,485
Board and Ways and Means Committee provided consensus to move forward with the budget to public hearing
Consensus achieved
Addition of January 20th board meeting
Meeting scheduled for warrant posting requirements, time to be determined based on ZBA meeting schedule
Approved
Award of cleaning services contract to MD Building Services
Contract awarded for sum not to exceed $80,262 with additional services up to $10,000, finding it most advantageous to the town
Unanimous approval
Acceptance of Walmart television donation
Accepted Samsung 70-inch flat screen television valued at $548 for fire department training room
Unanimous approval
Approved entering into purchase agreement with Allegiance Fire Rescue/Pierce Manufacturing for new aerial truck
Purchase price not to exceed $2.275 million, contingent on final contract terms acceptable to town and reviewed by town counsel
5-0 unanimous approval
Approved withdrawal from Fire Rescue Capital Reserve Fund
Authorized withdrawal of up to $375,000 to fund difference between warrant article amount ($1.9M) and purchase price
5-0 unanimous approval
Approved contract to sell 2001 E1 aerial truck
Contract with Brindley Mountain Fire Apparatus for 5% brokerage fee, proceeds to general fund then capital reserve via future warrant article
5-0 unanimous approval
Accepted DAR bench donation
Trex bench valued at $409 accepted for Recreation Department
5-0 unanimous approval
Appointed Fire Chief as Emergency Management Director
Chief Don Waldron appointed effective immediately
5-0 unanimous approval
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 03:31 FY27 Budget Draft Five
Discussion of the fifth draft of the FY27 municipal budget totaling $18,898,485, representing a $600,000 increase (3.27%) from the previous year. The budget includes adjustments for Souhegan Regional Landfill District assessment and consolidation of cleaning contract lines.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 10:31 2027 Warrant Articles Review
Systematic review of multiple warrant articles including a $10 million open space acquisition bond, various capital reserve funds, equipment purchases, and facility improvements. Board and Ways and Means Committee provided consensus on most items.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 25:07 Fire Rescue Equipment Capital Reserve Fund Increase
Request to increase the Fire Rescue vehicle and equipment capital reserve fund from $267,000 to $400,000 annually, citing doubled apparatus costs over the past five years due to COVID-era supply chain issues and inflation.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 43:49 Facilities Cleaning Services Contract Award
Award of contract for town building cleaning services to MD Building Services for $80,262 annually plus up to $10,000 for additional services. Selection based on walkthrough participation and municipal references despite not being the lowest bidder.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 53:58 Fire Department Donation Acceptance
Acceptance of a 70-inch Samsung flat screen television valued at $548 from Walmart for use in the fire department training room.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 56:39 Fire Department Aerial Truck Replacement Plan
Fire Chief and committee presented comprehensive plan to replace the department's aerial truck with a Pierce Manufacturing 100-foot mid-mount tower for $2.217 million. Committee worked 3 years evaluating options and selected Pierce due to shorter length (42 vs 48 feet), dealer allocated slot reducing delivery time to 12-13 months, and comprehensive safety features including platform design for safer operations.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Chief Waldron, Deputy Chief, Nick Hilton (Pierce sales rep), Committee members
▶ 1:31:00 Used Aerial Truck Sale Plan
Board approved plan to sell recently purchased 2001 E1 aerial truck through Brindley Mountain Fire Apparatus with 5% brokerage fee (reduced from 10%). Proceeds will go to general fund then be appropriated back to fire vehicle capital reserve fund via future warrant article.
Speakers: Chief Waldron, Finance Director
▶ 1:29:00 Mutual Aid Coverage During Gap Period
Chief confirmed mutual aid agreements with Milford, Bedford, Merrimack, and Nashua to provide aerial coverage during 12-13 month period without town's own aerial truck. Assistant Chief Marshall from Milford spoke about recent tree rescue collaboration and complementary capabilities between departments.
Speakers: Chief Waldron, Assistant Chief Marshall (Milford)
▶ 1:58:45 DAR Bench Donation Acceptance
Board formally accepted donation of Trex bench valued at $409 from Daughters of the American Revolution to Amherst Recreation Department.
Speakers: Board members
▶ 2:03:06 Emergency Management Director Appointment
Board appointed Fire Chief Don Waldron as Emergency Management Director for the town, a required position typically filled by the fire chief.
Speakers: Town Administrator
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
Fire Aerial Truck Purchase — $2.217M Exceeds Warrant Article Amount
The board approved a purchase agreement and capital reserve withdrawal for a $2.217 million aerial truck, which exceeds the $1.9 million voter-approved warrant article by $317,000. The board authorized up to $375,000 in capital reserve withdrawals to cover the gap. While capital reserve withdrawals are a legally available mechanism, taxpayers who voted on the $1.9M figure may not have anticipated the additional expenditure.
Board position: Unanimously approved the purchase at up to $2.275M and authorized up to $375,000 withdrawal from capital reserves to cover the gap above the warrant article amount. The chief cited cost reduction efforts and noted apparatus costs have doubled since 2020.
medium concern
02
$10 Million Open Space Acquisition Bond
A $10 million bond is a significant long-term financial commitment that directly impacts the tax rate for all property owners. A Ways and Means member suggested splitting it into two articles ($5M and $10M) as a hedge against voter rejection, signaling internal uncertainty about public appetite for the full amount. The financing mechanism is also still being refined — a line of credit option was flagged for further research, meaning the final structure is unresolved.
Board position: Consensus to proceed with the warrant article; still evaluating whether to offer a $5M alternative and whether a line of credit is feasible.
medium concern
03
Keno and Games of Chance Opt-Out — Legislative Alert During Warrant Review
During the warrant articles review, a board member raised that the state legislature has passed a law allowing keno and games of chance in towns by default unless the town explicitly opts out via warrant article. This is a values-laden issue — gambling in the community — that was surfaced during the meeting, and a potential warrant article may be shaped by this discussion.
Board position: Board member flagged the issue for potential opt-out warrant article; no formal vote taken.
low concern
04
Used Aerial Truck Sale — Disposition of Public Asset
The board approved the sale of the 2001 E1 aerial truck through a broker (5% fee) with proceeds routed through the general fund back to the capital reserve via a future warrant article. While not deeply contentious, the disposition of a significant public asset and the procedural routing of proceeds adds complexity that residents may want to understand.
Board position: Unanimously approved 5-0; contract with Brindley Mountain Fire Apparatus authorized with 5% brokerage fee reduced from the original 10%.
low concern
05
12–13 Month Gap in Town Aerial Coverage — Public Safety Risk
The town will have no aerial truck of its own for 12–13 months while the new one is built. Reliance on mutual aid from Milford, Bedford, Merrimack, and Nashua is the sole safety net during this period. While mutual aid agreements exist, response times for aerial apparatus from neighboring towns are inherently longer. Assistant Chief Marshall from Milford spoke to the collaborative relationship and capabilities, but the gap remains a real consideration for residents.
Board position: Accepted the gap as manageable given mutual aid coverage; board member Davenport specifically verified mutual aid adequacy before supporting the purchase.
medium concern
06
FY27 Budget — 3.27% Increase Totaling $18.9 Million
A $600,000 year-over-year increase in the municipal operating budget directly affects the property tax rate for all residents. The budget proceeds to public hearing, where community input will be taken.
Board position: Consensus to advance to public hearing.
low concern
Community vs. board tension
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Research line of credit option for land acquisition bond and modify warrant article language if feasible
Assigned: Town Manager/Finance Director · Due: Next board meeting
Attend Public Utilities Commission hearing regarding Pennichuck water rates and consider engineering consultant
Assigned: Town Manager · Due: January 15th hearing
Provide 30-day written notice to terminate existing cleaning contract
Assigned: Town Staff · Due: By Thursday (December 12th)
Coordinate with staff on final recommendation for land acquisition bond terms and amount
Assigned: Conservation Commission · Due: Next board meeting
Provide final purchase contract
Assigned: Nick Hilton (Allegiance Fire) · Due: End of week
Work with Finance Director on bond financing options for next meeting
Assigned: Town Administrator · Due: Next board meeting
Send contract to town counsel for review
Assigned: Town Administrator · Due: Before final execution
Issue purchase order to secure March build slot
Assigned: Town Administrator · Due: Immediately following meeting
Finalize equipment specifications within $25,000 allowance plus additional $10-15,000
Assigned: Chief Waldron · Due: Before truck delivery
Notable statements
Create two warrant articles if possible, one for 5 million and then one for 10 [million]. This way if the 10 million fails, the 5 million may pass. — Ways and Means member · Suggestion for land acquisition bond to give voters options ▶ 18:38
In the past five years, from 2020 to today, during the COVID and post Covid years... our fire apparatus has literally doubled in price in that same time frame. — Fire Chief · Justification for increased capital reserve fund request ▶ 28:04
Legislature in its infinite wisdom has passed a law saying that... unless a town opts out, you can have keno and games of chance without permission of the town. — Board member · Alert about potential need for opt-out warrant article ▶ 38:32
If you're working on a ladder stick, you are alone on the top of the ladder... I want them to be able to stand next to their supervisor and their supervisor helping them through the process. — Fire Chief · Safety justification for platform aerial truck over straight ladder design ▶ 1:07:27
We went from expecting a 3 to 4 year build time to 12 months to 13 months from when it for a build time with a build start in four months from now — Chief Waldron · Explaining how dealer allocated slot program significantly reduced delivery timeline ▶ 1:31:00
When you as risk managers, as you look at the rarity of an incident and the risk of the incident, when you combine those two, it's actually a exponential hazard model — Assistant Chief Marshall (Milford) · Describing the complexity and risk of high-angle rescues like recent tree climber incident ▶ 1:29:03
I know the work that has gone into it. And I also want to thank the chief for reaching out... I wanted to make sure that the town had the mutual aid that we need from surrounding towns — Board Member Davenport · Acknowledging committee's years of work and importance of mutual aid coverage during gap period ▶ 1:48:09
We shaved off as much as we could, and we got that down to a $2.217 million price. So it still leaves a $317,000 difference between what was approved in warrant article — Chief Waldron · Explaining cost reduction efforts and remaining funding gap above warrant article amount ▶ 1:36:27
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
No public comments were identified in this meeting.
Accountability flags
Documented procedural gaps. Each item links to its source.
Agenda items not discussed
Topics discussed — not on agenda
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Report composed by
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