Accountability Posts

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Off-agenda disclosure of a decade-long delay to a major regional transportation project affecting Amherst commuters

⚠️ OFF-AGENDA: Amherst's NH Route 101 project was quietly removed from the FY27-28 transportation plan — delaying construction to 2034-2036. This was NOT on the March 9 Board of Selectmen agenda. Residents had no notice and no chance to weigh in. #AmherstNH

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Split vote and principled disagreement about political use of public town property

Amherst BOS voted 4-1 on March 9 to allow a pro-democracy rally on the town common (March 28). The lone dissenter warned it sets precedent for any political group to use the green. The chair invoked First Amendment rights. That tension is real and unresolved. #AmherstNH

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Procedural risk of authorizing public bidding before required environmental permits are secured

Amherst BOS approved a $1.08M Thornton Ferry Road bridge replacement — but authorized bidding BEFORE wetland permits are finalized. That's an unusual procedural exception. If permits are denied or altered, the town could face contract complications. #AmherstNH

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Taxpayer savings through cooperative purchasing and software modernization

Good news from the March 9 Amherst BOS meeting: a 7-agency police software consortium secured a $1M federal grant and saves $1,827,000 vs. individual procurement. Finance software switch saves another $30K/year. Small town, smart purchasing. #AmherstNH

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🧵 Amherst, NH Board of Selectmen met March 9. Most of it was routine — but one off-agenda disclosure and a split vote on free speech made it anything but. Here's what residents need to know. #AmherstNH

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⚠️ TRANSPARENCY ISSUE: The NH Route 101 improvement project (serving Amherst, Wilton, Milford & Bedford) was REMOVED from the FY27-28 Transportation Improvement Program — pushing construction to 2034-2036. That's a nearly 10-year delay.

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This was NOT listed on the public agenda for March 9. Residents who depend on Route 101 daily had no notice it would be discussed and no opportunity to show up and push back. Officials say they're pursuing restoration via Senate Bill 627 — but no action was taken at the meeting.

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On the split vote: the board approved a pro-democracy 'No Kings' rally on the town common (March 28, 12-2pm) by a 4-1 margin. The dissenting member warned this opens the door to political demonstrations of ANY viewpoint on public grounds.

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The chair's response: 'It's a right to public assembly and free speech. We can't control that message even if we don't like it.' That's a defensible legal position — but the board has now set a precedent it will have to apply consistently, regardless of the political message.

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Also: the board authorized bidding on a $1.08M bridge replacement on Thornton Ferry Road BEFORE wetland permits are finalized. That's an exception to standard practice. If permits come back with conditions or denials, the town could face real complications with any bids received.

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The good news: a 7-agency police software consortium locked in a $1M federal grant, saving $1,827,000 vs. going it alone. And a finance software switch cuts annual costs from $60K to $30K. Solid fiscal moves worth acknowledging. Full meeting recap 👇 #AmherstNH

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Longer-form draft.

**Amherst Board of Selectmen — March 9, 2026: What You Need to Know**

The meeting covered a lot of ground, but one item stands out as a transparency concern: a significant update about NH Route 101 was disclosed during the meeting without appearing on the public agenda. The Wilton-Milford-Amherst-Bedford Route 101 improvement project has been removed from the FY2027-28 Transportation Improvement Program, pushing the expected construction window back to 2034-2036 — a delay of nearly a decade. Residents who rely on Route 101 for their daily commute had no advance notice this would be discussed, and no public comment opportunity was offered. Local officials said they are working to restore funding through Senate Bill 627, but no formal action was taken at this meeting. Items of this magnitude belong on the agenda in advance.

The most contested vote of the evening was 4-1: the board approved a request from Engaged Citizens to hold a pro-democracy "No Kings" rally on the town common on March 28, 12–2pm. The dissenting board member raised a principled concern — that the town has no historical precedent for political events on the common, and that approving this event sets a precedent the town will have to honor for demonstrations of any political viewpoint. The board chair countered by citing First Amendment rights to free speech and public assembly on public property. Both positions reflect genuine values. What's clear is that the board has now established a precedent it will need to apply consistently going forward.

The board also took an unusual procedural step, authorizing the DPW to begin the public bidding process for the $1.08 million Thornton Ferry Road 2 bridge replacement before all required wetland permits are finalized. The board cited project timeline pressures. The risk: if permits come back with significant conditions or are delayed, the town could face complications with bids already received. Residents should watch for how the permit process unfolds.

On a positive note: Amherst is part of a 7-agency police software consortium that secured a $1 million congressional grant and will save $1,827,000 compared to individual procurement. The board also approved a switch in finance software that cuts annual costs from $60,000 to $30,000. These are straightforward wins for taxpayers. Official minutes from the March 9 meeting have not yet been published — check the town website for the full record when they are posted.