Joint Capital Planning Committee: Mar 11, 2026

The Town of Amherst Joint Capital Planning Committee met on March 11, 2026, to review and discuss various capital project requests and budget considerations. Key procurement-related discussions included a $40,000 request for a used fairway mower for Cherry Hill golf course, with considerations of cost and longevity compared to a new mower. The IT department requested $200,000 for scheduled replacement of IT infrastructure, including laptops, servers, and network equipment, and discussed moving a $75,000 cybersecurity software renewal from capital to operating budget. The committee also reviewed capital requests for school facilities, including playground improvements at Crocker Farm, replacement of a special education van, and a maintenance vehicle. Several older capital projects related to soon-to-be-closed schools were proposed for closure to free up funds. A proposal was made to allocate $130,000 for a consultant to conduct a comprehensive facilities study focusing on green energy and operational efficiency at Crocker Farm, as well as a staffing efficiency review for the facilities department. The committee discussed road and sidewalk spending, including Chapter 90 funds and recent appropriations totaling nearly $5 million for road projects. The meeting concluded with plans to review resident capital requests and prepare a report for the town manager and council. Motions to adjourn were passed unanimously.