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.
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📋 AMHERST BOARD OF SELECTMEN — MEETING RECAP: March 23, 2026
This was largely a routine meeting with several sound decisions — a clean financial audit, a road contract awarded to the lower bidder, and necessary infrastructure work approved. A few items deserve closer attention from residents.
🏛️ BOARD REORGANIZATION: Daniel Cray was elected Chairman (4-0-1), Cynthia Docmo as Vice Chair (4-0-1), and PM as Clerk (5-0).
📹 BODY CAMERA CONTRACT: The Town Administrator recommended a 5-year extension with Motorola for police body cameras at $20,800/year ($104,000 total), saving $2,000 annually from current costs. The board indicated support.
💸 AMBULANCE BILLING CHANGE: The board unanimously approved implementing ambulance billing at 325% of Medicare rates, as authorized under NH Senate Bill 245, effective January 1, 2026. The Fire Chief described this as guaranteeing higher revenue collection for the town. The policy includes automatic future rate adjustments when Medicare rates change, meaning future increases won't require a separate board vote.
🏛️ GOVERNANCE CONCERNS: Board Chair Daniel Cray publicly refused to support a member's nomination for Planning Board alternate, stating the individual had voted at a Planning Board meeting after more than two years of non-attendance. If accurate, that raises questions about procedural compliance worth following up on. Separately, resident Kelly Mullen flagged that the Planning Board has been electing officers after hearing land use cases, not before — a sequencing issue the board committed to correcting.
✅ CONTRACTS APPROVED: Pike Industries awarded $1.63M road construction contract (lowest bidder by $50K). SRS Petroleum Services awarded $456,080 for fuel tank replacement. Nathan Griffith Contracting awarded $68,492 for library basement water damage repairs (insurance-covered).
📊 CLEAN AUDIT: FY25 audit showed unqualified (clean) opinion, $49.8M net position, and $5.7M unassigned fund balance.
⏳ DEFERRED: The proposed part-time EMS Captain position ($4,000 annual stipend) was deferred to the next meeting pending resolution of employment classification details.
Public impact
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
$1,629,338 contract awarded to Pike Industries; represents significant capital road maintenance investment
$456,080 contract; transition from underground to above-ground system reduces environmental liability; municipal fleet operations may be affected through early October 2026
Quotes due April 1, 2026; potential for benefit structure changes affecting municipal employees
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
Topics discussed
Discussion and assignment of board members to various town committees and commissions for the coming year, including debate over Planning Board alternate position.
Board conducted annual reorganization, electing Daniel Cray as Chairman, Cynthia Docmo as Vice Chair, and PM as Clerk.
Kelly Mullen questioned why the Planning Board was holding officer reorganization after hearing land use cases rather than before.
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.
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.
Board appointed three alternates to library trustees: C.J. Butler, Nancy Head, and Jackie McKnight, with terms ending 2027.
Town Administrator recommended five-year extension with Motorola for body cameras at $20,800/year, saving $2,000 annually from current costs.
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.
DPW Director recommended awarding multi-road construction contract to Pike Industries for $1.63M, $50,000 less than Continental Paving bid.
DPW sought approval to award fuel tank replacement contract to SRS Petroleum Services for $456,080 to replace underground tanks with above-ground system.
DPW requesting approval for Nathan Griffith General Contracting to perform basement repairs for $68,492 following water damage covered by insurance claim.
Fire/EMS requesting authorization to implement new billing rates at 325% of Medicare rates per New Hampshire Senate Bill 245, effective January 1, 2026.
Fire/EMS requesting creation of regular part-time EMS Captain position with $4,000 annual stipend to provide administrative consistency and supervision.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
Board Chair Blocking Planning Board Alternate Appointment Over Attendance
Planning Board Officer Reorganization Timing — Governance Procedural Concern
Fire/EMS Regular Part-Time EMS Captain Position — Deferred Over Classification Questions
Ambulance Billing Rate Change to 325% of Medicare
Split votes
Community vs. board tension
Public comment
Decisions logged
Action items
Accountability flags
Agenda items not discussed
Topics discussed — not on agenda
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