Accountability posts
Drafts ready to share. Click to copy, then post. Board of Selectmen · Amherst · April 22, 2026.
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Environmental oversight and procedural failures
During the April 22 Board of Selectmen meeting, the ACC raised serious concerns about the North O2 trail project, citing a lack of early consultation and potential impacts on wetlands and endangered species. The town must follow its own environmental rules.
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Community concerns dismissed/ignored and property rights
Local landowners told the Selectmen on April 22: "I've written three letters... I've never been approached." Residents are reporting that town maps misleadingly show trail connectivity on private property. Property rights must come before trail expansion.
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Response to community tension and postponed decisions
The Selectmen postponed the North O2 rail trail decision until May 11 after intense pushback from the ACC and local abutters. This follows significant criticism regarding how the town has communicated—or failed to communicate—the project to neighbors.
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The North O2 rail trail project is facing a crisis of trust in Amherst. At the April 22 Selectmen meeting, the Conservation Commission (ACC) and local landowners raised red flags that cannot be ignored. 🧵
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First, the ACC expressed significant concern over a lack of early consultation. They warned of potential impacts on wetlands and threatened/endangered species. As one member noted, it's 'not a good look' if the town doesn't follow its own environmental ordinances.
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Second, property rights are at the center of the conflict. Landowners reported feeling ignored, with one resident stating she had written three letters without any response. There is also friction over town maps that appear to show public paths on private land.
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The Board has postponed the decision until May 11 to consult with the ACC and abutters. Residents deserve a transparent process that respects both environmental laws and private property before any more money or planning is committed.
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Longer-form draft.
At the April 22 Board of Selectmen meeting, the discussion surrounding the North O2 rail trail project revealed deep fractures between town planning and community interests. While the project aims to connect to the state rail trail, the process has been marked by significant procedural and communication failures. The Conservation Commission (ACC) voiced serious concerns regarding the lack of early consultation, noting that the project could impact protected wetlands and potentially threaten endangered species. Their message was clear: the town must adhere to its own environmental protocols and ordinances. Simultaneously, local landowners expressed frustration over being sidelined. Residents reported that despite multiple attempts to communicate, they have been ignored, and that town digital resources may be misleadingly advertising 'connected' paths that actually cross private property. In response to this intense pressure, the Board has postponed its decision on the rail trail project until the May 11 meeting. This delay is intended to allow for further consultation with the ACC and affected property owners. Amherst residents should attend the next meeting to ensure that property rights and environmental protections are not sidelined for the sake of project momentum.