Selectboard Minutes
Town of Greenfield
7 Sawmill Road, Greenfield, NH 03047
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, June 10, 2021 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairman Robert Marshall, Selectman Michael Borden, Selectman Mason Parker
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Tom Bascom, Broadband Coordinator; Katherine Heck, Treasurer
Public: Ed Durrett, Ray Cilley
Documents for Discussion/Signature
- Payroll Check Manifest dated 5/28/2021 in the amount of $33,209.48
- A/P Check Register dated 6/09/2021 in the amount of $1,862.71
- New Hire Worksheet – Executive/BOS
- Change of Wage Worksheet (3) – Library
- Change of Wage Worksheet - DPW
- Sewer Tax Levy – 2nd Quarter
- Abatement Request – Town Owned Property
- Purchase Order – Fire Dept. turnout gear
- Meeting House Rental Agreement – Sanctuary /multiple dates
- Minutes of 6/03/2021
Other letters/ items for Discussion/Signature:
- NHMBB – Bond Bank Loan Documents
- NHMBB – Bond Bank Certification – Town Clerk
- Recycling Center Operations & Mandatory Recycling
5:30 PM: Selectboard Business Meeting
The meeting was called to order at 5:30pm by Chairman Marshall. There were no issues raised by members of the public during the public comment session (first 15 minutes of every meeting).
The Selectboard reviewed the Consent Agenda items and signed the Consent Agenda documents.
5:45PM: Brian Giammarino, Police Chief
At 5:45pm, the Chair welcomed Chief Giammarino to the meeting. Chief Giammarino provided an update on the Police Department budget. The part-time wage line has been spent down, but the Chief has room to draw from the Full-Time Wage line due to a retirement that has not been filled. Chief Giammarino provided background on the hiring process for a new officer. Hiring new police officers is very difficult at this time. This is partly due to national events, but also because COVID-19 closed the police academy. There are a lot of openings in the towns around Greenfield which creates wage competition. A discussion followed. At the conclusion of the discussion the Selectboard outlined their support for the hiring process and encouraged Chief Giammarino to ask for help if needed.
6:00PM: Selectboard Business Meeting (Contd).
At 6:00pm, the Selectboard Chair went through the Consent Agenda items noting that there were two items for discussion by the Board. The first item is an abatement request from the Tax Collector for the quarterly wastewater tax payment for the Old Town Office, which is now vacant. The Chair outlined issues with the wastewater program’s balance sheet. Revenue is not keeping up with expenses. As a result the town’s abatement of the sewer bill is problematic. The Chair suggested that the Board hold a public hearing with the waste water users to discuss an increase to the rates, and at the meeting the Selectboard can discuss the need for the town to pay for the Old Town Office bill as part of the normal course of business expenses for the building. Once the decision has been made the Board can budget accordingly. Similarly, if the Meeting House is connected to the plant, then the bill for that should be in the budget.
The second item for discussion is a Meeting House application that has been submitted by Selectman Parker in his private capacity. Selectman Parker stated that he would recuse himself from voting on the application. Selectman Parker provided an overview of the application, which is for a weekly church service in the sanctuary and a fellowship time following on the main floor. A discussion followed. At the conclusion of the discussion the Chair asked the members of the public present if there were any comments. Mr. Durrett stated that he was attending the meeting in support of the application. Mr. Cilley stated he was attending the meeting to support the application. A discussion followed. The Chair noted that the facility rental application requires insurance. Mr. Parker explained that during 2020 he purchased the insurance but then the facility was shut down due to COVID-19. He stated that he had an insurance policy but no meetings last year. Prior to purchasing insurance this year he would like to know that he has the facility rental approved. He stated that the insurance is expensive, and he would like to ensure that the facility will be available prior to purchasing the insurance again this year. At the conclusion of the discussion, Selectman Borden made a motion to approve the Meeting House rental application contingent on receipt of the insurance binder. The motion was seconded by Chairman Marshall. On a vote of 2-0 in favor with one recusal, the motion passed.
Next Selectman Borden made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion was seconded by the Chair. On a vote of 2-0 with one recusal, the motion passed.
The Selectboard was advised that DPW Director Morris has emailed three quotes to the Board with a recommendation that Brox Industries provide paving on the remaining portion of East Road. It was noted that Brox had been awarded the project in 2020 but the Selectboard elected to reduce the budget due to COVID-19 and the reported closure of Crotched Mountain. On review of the recommendation, Selectman Parker made a motion to award the paving of the final segment of East Road to Brox Industries. The motion was seconded by Selectman Borden. On a vote of 3-0 in favor, the motion passed.
A discussion regarding the Recycling Center operations was held. On the advice of the EMRT, the recycling center windows have remained closed throughout the pandemic. The Board discussed the possibility of opening the center up given that the State of Emergency is ending at midnight on Friday. It was decided to reach out to the EMD and request feedback prior to the next meeting.
7:00PM: Tom Bascom, Broadband Coordinator
At 7:00pm, the Chair welcomed Tom Bascom and Treasurer Heck to the meeting. The Board has received approval from Bond Bank on the bond application. The Bond Agreement is before the Board. The agreement requires voting on the acceptance of the agreement and resolutions. A brief overview of the documents was provided by the Town Administrator. At the conclusion of a discussion following the overview, the Chair asked for a motion on the agreement.
Selectman Borden made a motion to accept the Bond Agreement, dated July 14th, 2021 for the Town of Greenfield’s Broadband project, as provided by the New Hampshire Bond Bank, in the amount of $493,506. The motion was seconded by Selectman Parker. The Board voted 3-0 in favor and the motion passed. It was noted that the town intends to apply for a matching grant up to 50% of the town’s contribution, or, a combination of grant funding and additional bond funding for the remainder, up to $987,012, as voted by Town Meeting on May 1st..
Next, Selectman Borden made a motion to authorize the Chair to sign the Bond Agreement on behalf of the Board. The motion was seconded by Selectman Parker. The Board voted 3-0 in favor, and the motion passed.
The Chair signed four (4) copies of the Bond Agreement. Following the Chairman, the Treasurer signed the four (4) copies of the Bond Agreement.
Next, Chairman Marshall noted that the Bond Agreement requires that the Selectboard vote on resolutions provided by Bond Bank. This is the Certificate of Vote Regarding Authorization of Bonds and Approval of Loan Agreement with the New Hampshire Bond Bank. The Chair read the resolutions:
RESOLVED: That under and pursuant to the Municipal Finance Act, Chapter 33, N.H.R.S.A., as amended, the New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank Law, Chapter 35-A, N.H.R.S.A., as amended, and other laws in addition thereto, and to votes of the Issuer duly adopted on May 1, 2021 under Article 2 of the Warrant for such annual meeting of the Issuer there be and hereby is authorized the issuance of a $493,506 Federally Taxable Bond of the Issuer (the "Bond") which is being issued by the Issuer for the purpose of financing the furnishing, constructing and installing of facilities and equipment to make a Fiber Optic Broadband Network available to the Town of Greenfield.
The Bond shall be dated as of its date of issuance, shall be in such numbers and denominations as the purchaser shall request, shall mature in accordance with the schedule set forth in Exhibit A to a certain Loan Agreement hereinafter described (the "Loan Agreement"), shall bear a net interest cost rate (as defined in the Loan Agreement) of three and a half percent (3.50%) per annum or such lesser amount as may be determined by a majority of the Board. The Bond shall be substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit B to the Loan Agreement and otherwise shall be issued in such manner and form as the signatories shall approve by their execution thereof.
RESOLVED: That the Bond shall be sold to the Bond Bank at the par value thereof plus any applicable premium.
RESOLVED: That in order to evidence the sale of the Bond, the Treasurer of Issuer and a member of the Board are authorized and directed to execute, attest and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Issuer, a Loan Agreement in substantially the form submitted to this meeting, which is hereby approved, with such changes therein not inconsistent with this vote and approved by the officers executing the same on behalf of the Issuer. The approval of such changes by said officers shall be conclusively evidenced by the execution of the Loan Agreement by such officers.
RESOLVED: That all things heretofore done and all action heretofore taken by the Issuer and its officers and agents in its authorization of the project to be financed by the Bond are hereby ratified, approved and confirmed.
RESOLVED: That the Clerk and the signers of the Bond are each hereby authorized to take any and all action necessary and convenient to carry out the provisions of this vote, including delivering the Bond against payment therefor.
RESOLVED: That the useful life of the project being financed is in excess of
twenty (20) years.
At the conclusion of the reading, Selectman Borden made a motion to adopt the resolutions as read. The motion was seconded by Selectman Parker. The Board voted 3-0 in favor of the resolutions as read.
There being no further business the Board voted to adjourn.
Adjournment
At 8:55 pm, Selectman Parker 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: Selectman Borden, Aye; Selectman Parker, Aye; Chairman Marshall, Aye.