Candidates Night Questions Hit DPW Truck Controversy

Selectmen candidates in Amherst faced tough questions about town management and procedures, specifically a recent vehicle purchase controversy, during a candidate forum on Thursday.

Candidates Dwight Brew, John D’Angelo, Reed Panasiti and Marilyn Peterman touted their intentions to make local government more transparent and responsible to public inquiry. This openness is especially important in the wake of a public outcry over the current board’s long silence on the town administrator’s paid leave related to a botched truck purchase.

Amherst selectmen had purchased a $150,000 dump truck in October under the notion that the vehicle would be paid for through a five-year lease purchase agreement. The agreement fell through due to the fact that the town was in a default budget, something the board was not aware of after already paying for the truck in full.

Town administrator Jim O’Mara was put on paid leave in December due to a month-long investigation into the issue, which lasted longer than the board had intended. No answers were given to concerned voters and local media outlets until after O’Mara had returned to town hall, which has called the local government’s transparency into question.

Incumbent Brew was on the defensive when responding to an audience question on how he would manage the decisions made by the board in the last for months. He said that it was a complicated issue and, while the board had to stay silent during the investigation for legal reasons, they should have done a better job of communicating certain information to the public.

The fact that citizens were in the dark and expecting the worst should have been handled better, said Brew. He added that he has been a part of the efforts to avoid any issues like this in the future.

Some have focused the blame on the board for the controversy, while others have focused it on the town administrator. Former selectman Peterman has been outspoken against O’Mara and her belief that he is not providing proper management to the town.

“Somebody didn’t know what they didn’t know, and when that happens you can get into trouble,” said Peterman at the forum.

D’Angelo and Panasiti have both said that the public works truck controversy was the reason they joined the race. Newcomer D’Angelo said that he wants to see the full results of the investigation and focus on knowing all factors before making decisions.

Issues are better left out in the open so that citizens can fully understand them, react and go on without losing their trust in government, he said.

Former selectman Panasiti said that the board needs to come together and address issues that cause widespread criticism, and understand more aspects of the Right-To-Know law.

Peterman is also focusing her campaign on transparency to the public and the press.

“We are where we are because the members of this board of selectman and others have not been forthright with not only the public, but also the press,” she said.

The Candidates Night was sponsored by the American Association of Women’s Southern NH Branch, and also featured candidates for the zoning board, Amherst school board, and cemetery trustees. It can be watched on demand online or during the following schedule on Channel 21: Sunday: 3:30AM, 4:45PM, Monday: 6:00AM, 8:50AM, 4:50PM, Tuesday: 9:35AM, 2:32PM, Wednesday: 6:00AM, 5:25PM, Thursday: 9:26AM, Friday: 1:31AM, 4:00PM, Saturday: 6:00PM.