Town Reimbursed For Snowtober Costs

Here are some of the important things you missed at this week's Board of Selectmen meeting:

• The Town of Amherst received a reimbursement of $41,180.42 from FEMA towards the costs incurred from the Snowtober storm. The board approved the funds.

• Amherst Fire Chief Mark Boynton encouraged selectmen to support the Emergency Management Performance Grant. This grant would give the town $43,700 in matching funds for emergency generators at government and emergency buildings. The town needs to raise the same amount in order to receive these funds, which is being put before voters on election day. The board agreed that the grant is a great deal to get much-needed generators to keep the town and emergency services running during outages.

• Amherst Police Chief Peter Lyon is narrowing down his options for two new cruisers for his department. He is recommending two Ford vehicles at the cost of $23,940 each.

• DPW director Bruce Berry discussed his plans on continuing the road reconstruction projects this summer. The work includes the North Hollis Road Crossing off of Route 101A, which the State DOT has cited as the fourth highest in need of repair. Berry said the town will pay for the $125,000 project upfront, and then the DOT will reimburse 90 percent of that amount after the project is complete.

• Berry also recommended extending the road contract with Continental Paving, Inc. for the summer work of the road construction within the road bond. The company said it would hold on labor and fuel cost increases, which are projected to rise again this year. The board voted to extend the contract with Continental. The cost of the work, which is being payed for by the voter-approved road bond, is estimated to be about $1,454,338.85.