Meeting report · Board of Selectmen
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Board of Selectmen — March 23, 2026
The meeting was largely routine with a clean audit, unanimous contract approvals, and standard reorganization votes. The temperature was elevated briefly by the Board Chair's pointed public objection to a committee nomination and the deferral of the EMS Captain position over unresolved classification details.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
Ambulance Billing Rate Change to 325% of Medicare
Billing rates set at 325% of Medicare reimbursement rates effective January 1, 2026, with automatic future adjustments when Medicare rates change; specific dollar-per-transport impact not disclosed at meeting Affected: All Amherst residents who use Fire/EMS ambulance transport; billing primarily affects insurance carriers under SB 245 framework, though residents with high-deductible or limited coverage plans may see indirect effects
fee change
02
Road Construction Contract — $1.63 Million Multi-Road Project
$1,629,338 contract awarded to Pike Industries; represents significant capital road maintenance investment Affected: All residents who use town roads; particularly those on the contracted road segments
other high impact
03
Underground Fuel Tank Replacement — $456,080
$456,080 contract; transition from underground to above-ground system reduces environmental liability; municipal fleet operations may be affected through early October 2026 Affected: All residents as taxpayers; environmental risk reduction benefits the broader community
other high impact
04
Healthcare Transition to Health Trust — Ongoing
Quotes due April 1, 2026; potential for benefit structure changes affecting municipal employees Affected: Town employees and their families; taxpayers funding municipal health benefits
other high impact
05
Buck Meadow Athletic Field Development — Soccer Fields and Pickleball Courts
Design completion targeted for this year; voter approval required next year; project scope includes two soccer fields, parking, and pickleball courts — capital cost not yet disclosed Affected: Residents seeking recreational facilities; neighbors of Buck Meadow site; taxpayers who will vote on project funding
other high impact
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Election of Daniel Cray as Board Chairman
Motion by a speaker, seconded by a speaker
4-0-1 (one abstention)
Election of Cynthia Docmo as Vice Chair
Motion by a speaker, seconded by a speaker
4-0-1 (one abstention)
Appointment of Library Trustees Alternates
C.J. Butler, Nancy Head, and Jackie McKnight appointed as alternates with terms ending 2027
Unanimous approval
Police Body Camera Contract Extension
Five-year extension with Motorola at $20,800/year approved
Board support indicated
Road Construction Contract Award to Pike Industries
Contract awarded for up to $1,629,338 including winter binder pricing adjustment
5-0
Awarded contract to SRS Petroleum Services for vehicle refueling facility replacement
Contract amount $456,080 for replacing underground fuel tanks with above-ground system
Unanimous approval (5-0)
Approved contract with Nathan Griffith Contracting for library basement repairs
Contract amount $68,492 for water damage repairs covered by insurance
Unanimous approval (5-0)
Adopted policy for automatic ambulance billing rate adjustments
Billing rates set at 325% of Medicare rates per Senate Bill 245, adjusted automatically when Medicare rates change
Unanimous approval (5-0)
Approved consent agenda including finance manifests and permits
Included assessing veteran tax credits and other routine items
Unanimous approval (5-0)
Approved Atlas Fireworks wholesale/retail permit
Permit for Atlas Provision Entertainment Group LLC
Unanimous approval (5-0)
Approved raffle permit for Amherst Garden Club
Tickets to be sold April 1 through May 9, 2026
Unanimous approval (5-0)
Approved multiple meeting minutes
Minutes from May 7, 2025 and March 2 & 9, 2026 sessions
Unanimous approval (5-0) for each
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 00:58 Board Reorganization - Officer Elections
Board conducted annual reorganization, electing Daniel Cray as Chairman, Cynthia Docmo as Vice Chair, and PM as Clerk.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 02:41 Citizens Forum - Planning Board Officer Organization Timing
Kelly Mullen questioned why the Planning Board was holding officer reorganization after hearing land use cases rather than before.
Speakers: Kelly Mullen, Unidentified speaker
▶ 03:51 State Senator Legislative Update
Senator Tim McHugh provided updates on state revenue (66 million ahead of plan), Go North initiative ($1 billion funding), healthcare legislation, tax issues, and car inspection repeal.
Speakers: Senator Tim McHugh, Unidentified speaker
▶ 19:18 FY25 Financial Audit Presentation
Tim Green presented the draft audit showing unqualified opinion, $49.8M net position, $5.7M unassigned fund balance, and first-time single audit due to federal grant expenditures over $750K.
Speakers: Tim Green, Unidentified speaker
▶ 36:34 Library Trustee Appointments
Board appointed three alternates to library trustees: C.J. Butler, Nancy Head, and Jackie McKnight, with terms ending 2027.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 37:02 Police Body Camera Contract Extension
Town Administrator recommended five-year extension with Motorola for body cameras at $20,800/year, saving $2,000 annually from current costs.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 38:56 Buck Meadow Athletic Field Project Update
Recreation Department planning two soccer fields, parking, and pickleball courts with public input sessions; design completion targeted for this year with voter approval next year.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 46:05 Road Construction Contract Award
DPW Director recommended awarding multi-road construction contract to Pike Industries for $1.63M, $50,000 less than Continental Paving bid.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 58:08 Fuel Tank Replacement Project
DPW sought approval to award fuel tank replacement contract to SRS Petroleum Services for $456,080 to replace underground tanks with above-ground system.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:02:53 Library Water Leak Basement Repairs
DPW requesting approval for Nathan Griffith General Contracting to perform basement repairs for $68,492 following water damage covered by insurance claim.
Speakers: DPW Director, Board Members
▶ 1:05:25 Fire/EMS Ambulance Billing Rate Update
Fire/EMS requesting authorization to implement new billing rates at 325% of Medicare rates per New Hampshire Senate Bill 245, effective January 1, 2026.
Speakers: Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, Board Members
▶ 1:13:48 Fire/EMS Regular Part-Time Captain Position
Fire/EMS requesting creation of regular part-time EMS Captain position with $4,000 annual stipend to provide administrative consistency and supervision.
Speakers: Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, Board Members
▶ 1:25:32 Board Committee Assignments
Discussion and assignment of board members to various town committees and commissions for the coming year, including debate over Planning Board alternate position.
Speakers: All Board Members
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
Board Chair Blocking Planning Board Alternate Appointment Over Attendance
The Board Chair publicly stated he could not support a member's nomination for Planning Board alternate, citing that the individual had voted at a Planning Board meeting despite not having attended for over two years. This raises procedural integrity and governance concerns while also creating visible internal friction over a committee assignment.
Board position: Board Chair opposed the appointment; outcome of the specific nomination is unclear from the record
Internal dissent
Board Chair explicitly stated he could not support the nomination, putting him at odds with at least one other board member who proposed the alternate assignment
medium concern
02
Planning Board Officer Reorganization Timing — Governance Procedural Concern
Citizen Kelly Mullen flagged that the Planning Board was scheduling officer elections after hearing land use cases, meaning cases could be heard by improperly organized leadership. This is a procedural fairness issue that could affect the legitimacy of land use decisions affecting property owners and applicants.
Board position: Board acknowledged the concern and committed to communicating it to the Planning Board chair
medium concern
03
Fire/EMS Regular Part-Time EMS Captain Position — Deferred Over Classification Questions
The Fire/EMS department requested a new part-time captain position with a $4,000 annual stipend, but unresolved employment classification details caused the item to be deferred to the next meeting. The classification ambiguity suggests details that need to be resolved before the board can act.
Board position: Item deferred; board directed staff to resolve classification details and return to next meeting
low concern
04
Ambulance Billing Rate Change to 325% of Medicare
The board adopted a policy implementing new ambulance billing rates at 325% of Medicare rates under NH SB 245, effective January 1, 2026. While the Fire Chief framed this as guaranteeing higher revenue collection for the town, the policy includes automatic future rate adjustments when Medicare rates change, which reduces future board oversight of rate-setting.
Board position: Unanimous approval; board framed it as a revenue and collection guarantee benefit to the town
medium concern
Split votes
Election of Daniel Cray as Board Chairman
4-0-1 (one abstention)
Election of Cynthia Docmo as Vice Chair
4-0-1 (one abstention)
Community vs. board tension
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Communicate Planning Board officer organization timing question to Planning Board
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Not specified
Provide comments on Employee Policy Handbook
Assigned: Board members · Due: By tomorrow (March 24, 2026)
Continue work on Health Trust quotes for healthcare transition
Assigned: Town Administrator · Due: April 1st quote receipt target
Schedule meeting with American Tower for communication tower project
Assigned: Town Administrator · Due: Not specified
Consider skating rinks for next winter season
Assigned: Recreation Director · Due: Next year planning
Execute contract with SRS Petroleum Services and coordinate with other departments on fuel access during construction
Assigned: DPW Director · Due: Project completion by early October 2026
Execute contract with Nathan Griffith Contracting for library repairs
Assigned: Town Administrator · Due: Not specified
Resolve employment classification details for EMS Captain position and return to next meeting
Assigned: Fire/EMS and Town Administrator · Due: Next board meeting
Communicate to Planning Board chair to place election of chair/vice chair at beginning of next meeting
Assigned: Town Administrator · Due: Before next Planning Board meeting
Work with Planning Board chair to ensure board alternate is recognized during meetings
Assigned: Town Administrator · Due: Ongoing
Notable statements
State revenue is 66 million ahead of plan at 103.6% of projections, with strong performance in lottery collections and real estate transfer tax — Senator Tim McHugh · Legislative update on state financial condition ▶ 08:15
Town has unqualified opinion on all opinion units, which is a clean opinion with no reportable findings — Tim Green (Auditor) · FY25 audit presentation highlighting clean financial audit ▶ 19:18
Pike Industries bid came in $50,000 lower than Continental Paving, with both being qualified bidders on the NH DOT pre-qualified list — Speaker I (DPW Director) · Recommending road construction contract award ▶ 47:05
Above ground tanks have less stringent regulations and are overall cheaper to do and easier for inspections — DPW Director · Explaining advantages of new fuel tank system design ▶ 1:01:35
This guarantees us we get payment directly at a higher, mostly higher rate... the fact that we're going to get a guaranteed collection on that money is huge — Fire Chief · Explaining benefits of new ambulance billing system under state legislation ▶ 1:11:30
I can't support you for alternate on that position. I think you at a recent planning board meeting voted and weren't in attendance for over two years — Board Chair · Objecting to Planning Board alternate appointment based on attendance concerns ▶ 1:28:06
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
1
Total speakers
1
Addressed
0
Partial
0
Not addressed
Kelly Mullen
Addressed
Kelly Mullen questioned why the Planning Board was holding officer reorganization after hearing land use cases rather than before, noting that the Board of Selectmen appropriately held officer elections at the beginning of their meeting.
Key concern
Planning board should seat officers before hearing land use cases, not after
Board responsea speaker said they would communicate this concern to the Planning Board
The board acknowledged the concern and committed to communicating it to the Planning Board
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
claude-sonnet-4-20250514, claude-sonnet-4-6, claude-opus-4-6 · analyzed 2026-05-19.