Selectboard Minutes
Town of Greenfield
7 Sawmill Road, Greenfield, NH 03047
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, March 04, 2021 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairman Robert Marshall, Selectwoman Karen Day, Selectman Michael Borden
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Richard McQuade, DPW Building & Grounds Manager
Public: Kent Vincent
5:30 PM: Virtual Meeting Open – Dial In 1+717-275-8940
The meeting was called to order at 5:30pm. Chairman Marshall welcomed everyone to the virtual Selectboard meeting. Chairman Marshall opened the meeting and read a statement provided by the Attorney General’s office regarding virtual meetings. “As Chair of the Selectboard, I find that due to the State of Emergency declared by the Governor as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with the Governor’s Emergency Order #12 pursuant to Executive Order 2020-04, which has been extended for the 14th time, this public body is authorized to meet virtually.
Please note that there is no physical location to observe and listen contemporaneously to this meeting, which was authorized pursuant to the Governor’s Emergency Order. However, in accordance with the Emergency Order, I am confirming that we are providing public access to the meeting by telephone. We are currently working on providing additional access possibilities by video or other electronic means, however, we are a small town and that is not feasible for tonight’s call.
We are utilizing Freeconference.com for this electronic meeting. All members of the Board have the ability to communicate contemporaneously during this meeting through this platform, and the public has access to contemporaneously listen and, if necessary, participate in this meeting through dialing the access number posted online or by following the directions on the Meeting Instructions link from the Selectboard’s page on the website. The Website address is greenfield-nh.gov.
We previously gave notice to the public of the necessary information for accessing the meeting, including how to access the meeting telephonically. If there are problems with access, please email the Town Administrator and he will attempt to help you in real time. In the event the public is unable to access the meeting, the meeting will be adjourned and rescheduled.
Please note that all votes that are taken during this meeting shall be done by roll-call vote.
Let’s start the meeting by taking a roll-call attendance. When each member states their presence, please also state whether there is anyone in the room with you during this meeting, which is required under the Right-to-Know law.
Each selectperson noted that they were alone. The Selectboard members are each home and alone, the Town Administrator is in his office at home and is alone. Mr. Borden is in his home and is alone. Mr. McQuade is home alone.
The Chair stated: “at this point I would ask that everyone mute their phones by pressing * (star) 6 (six). If there isn’t time for your questions tonight, you can email the Town Administrator and request to be on the agenda during the next meeting. If you have technical difficulties on your end with your computer, laptop, or other electronic device email the Town Administrator if you having trouble connecting in real-time and we’ll try to be of help.
For the foreseeable future the Board will continue to meet by conference call as a result. We'll ask that - to the extent possible - you submit your questions/concerns/comments to the Town Administrator via email in advance so we can have answers ready. Remember to charge whatever device you are using in advance of the meeting. I can assure you everyone in your town government is doing everything in their capacity to ensure your safety, their safety and Greenfield's future. With that said, I would invite participants to bring issues before the Board.”
5:30 PM: Selectboard Business Meeting
The Chair opened the meeting at 5:30. The Chair welcomed the Board members and noted that this is the last meeting before Election Day, and is Selectwoman Day’s last meeting night as a Selectboard member.
At 5:35 pm, Kent Vincent joined the Selectboard and reported that he was calling from his home and was alone in the home. The Chair welcomed Mr. Vincent and invited follow-up to recent discussions with the Selectboard. The first item for discussion is the closing time of Zephyr Lake beach, which Mr. Vincent contends is at 6pm or dusk, which was how he remembers the original signs reading. The beach policy on the website states that the hours are 6AM-10PM and this was printed on the new signs. Research into the original sign is needed. A discussion about parking on Zephyr Lake Road and the town’s winter parking ban followed. At the conclusion of the discussion, Mr. Vincent stated that he was concerned about the difference between the treatment he received by the Police Department and the town, over a parking issue that occurred on his property, compared to the way that the Police Department and DPW handled a recent parking issue on Zephyr Lake Road. The recent issue seems much more lenient in the face of the winter parking policy that the town enforces compared to the treatment that he received. The Chair noted that the Selectboard supports the decision of the Police Department and the DPW and feels that the decision making in the recent case was sound and equitable. The Chair stated that the Board could not compare the recent situation with something that happened more than ten years ago. Mr. Vincent stated that the second issue that he was bringing to the Board was the level of Zephyr Lake and he requested that the Selectboard revisit the installation of the beaver dam culverts to ensure that they are doing the job that was intended. Selectman Borden stated that he was the person who brought the DPW employees out to the beaver dam in the Fire Department’s boat. He would ensure that the department inspects the dam again. At the conclusion of the discussion the Chair stated that the Board was appreciative of Mr. Vincent’s time and for bringing his concerns forward so that they could be addressed and the Board informed.
Next the Chair noted that the Consent Agenda is before the Board. Selectman Borden moved the Consent Agenda and the motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. On a roll call vote the Board voted 3-0 in favor of accepting the Consent Agenda: M. Borden – Aye, K. Day – Aye, Chairman Marshall – Aye.
The Chair stated that the Consent Agenda includes a Payroll Check Manifest in the amount of $30,496.53. Selectman Borden made a motion to accept the Payroll check manifest and to release the funds therein. Selectwoman Day seconded the motion. On a roll-call vote, the Board voted 3-0 in favor: M. Borden – Aye, K. Day – Aye, B. Marshall – Aye.
The next item on the Consent Agenda is an abatement request from the Tax Collector for R1-21-4, for interest associated with payments on three lots that were timely but not applied correctly – resulting in credit on one lot and interest on the other two. Interest resulting from the misapplied payments should be abated. Selectman Borden stated that he would make a motion to abate the interest as requested. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. On a roll-call vote the Board voted 3-0 in favor of the motion: Selectwoman Day, Aye; Selectman Borden, Aye; Chairman Marshall, Aye.
Next, the Chair stated that the Tax Collector has forwarded account information for the Board to review. The information is relative to a pending abatement request and includes payment history by a resident. Selectwoman Day stated that the Board should discuss this in a non-public session under RSA 91-A: II c, reputation - because it involves previous discussions with the Board about hardship associated with tax payments. Selectman Borden seconded the motion. On a roll-call vote the Board voted 3-0 in favor of the motion to enter non-public session; Selectwoman Day, Aye; Selectman Borden, Aye; Chairman Marshall, Aye.
At 7:10 pm, the Selectboard voted on a motion by Selectman Borden, and a second from Selectwoman Day to enter the public session. On a roll-call vote the Board voted 3-0 in favor of the motion to enter public session; Selectwoman Day, Aye; Selectman Borden, Aye; Chairman Marshall, Aye.
While in the public session, Selectman Borden made a motion to seal the minutes under RSA 91-A:III in order to protect the reputation of the applicant. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. On a roll-call vote the Board voted 3-0 in favor of the motion; Selectwoman Day, Aye; Selectman Borden, Aye; Chairman Marshall, Aye. It was noted for the minutes that in consideration of the exemplary payment efforts made by the taxpayer, the Board would request a formal abatement application from the Tax Collector.
Next, the Selectboard reviewed the Minutes of 2/25/21. Selectman Borden made a motion to accept the minutes as written. Selectwoman Day seconded the motion by Selectman Borden. On a roll-call vote, the Board voted 3-0 in favor of accepting the minutes: M. Borden – Aye, K. Day – Aye, B. Marshall – Aye.
Chairman Marshall took up other items of business. The first is an updated EDDM mailer for the Broadband Public Hearing scheduled for March 18th. The mailer was discussed briefly and approved by the Board.
Next the Selectboard discussed the Spirit Articles that are coming from the Board. The first is an outline of the Oak Park Town Meeting business meeting decision. After discussion it was agreed that the Town Administrator would provide a brief overview of the budget for the article. The second Spirit Article was agreed upon after a short discussion.
The Chair stated that seeing no further business for the evening, he would like to thank Selectwoman Day for her many years of service to the Town of Greenfield. Selectman Borden agreed and wished Ms. Day good luck in her future endeavors.
There being no further business the Board voted to adjourn.
Adjournment
At 7:38 pm, the Selectwoman Day made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by the Selectman Borden. The motion carried 3-0 in a roll-call vote: M. Borden – Aye, K. Day – Aye, B. Marshall - Aye.