Selectboard Minutes
Town of Greenfield
7 Sawmill Road, Greenfield, NH 03047
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, September 23, 2021 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairman Robert Marshall, Selectman Michael Borden, Selectman Mason Parker
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Katherine Heck, Treasurer
Public: Michael McGill, Elizabeth McGill
Documents for Discussion/Signature
1. A/P Check Register dated September 21, 2021 in the amount of $36,339.67
2. A/P Void Check Register dated 7/14/2021 in the amount of $300.00
3. Welfare Voucher
4. Minutes of 9/16/2021
Other letters/ items for Discussion/Signature:
1. Request for signs on Town property – Grand Monadnock Rotary
2. NH Urban and Community Forestry program – Tree care funding
3. Granite State Children’s Alliance – Request for funding
5:30 PM: Public Forum
The meeting was called to order at 5:30pm by Chairman Marshall. The Selectboard began working through the Consent Agenda documents. Chairman Marshal, noting that there were no members of the public present, advanced several items on the Consent Agenda. Selectman Parker moved to approve the A/P manifests and A/P Void Check manifest. The motion was seconded by Selectman Borden. The motion passed on a vote of 3-0 in favor.
The Chair requested a motion on welfare vouchers. Selectman Borden moved to approve the three vouchers. The motion was seconded by Selectman Parker. The motion passed on a vote of 3-0 in favor.
Selectman Parker moved to approve the request by Grand Monadnock Rotary to put signs on Town property to promote a community walk for recovery. The motion was seconded by Selectman Borden. The motion passed on a vote of 3-0 in favor.
The Chair asked for a motion on the Minutes of 9/16. Selectman Borden moved to accept the minutes of 9/16 as presented. Selectman Parker seconded the motion. On a vote of 3-0 the motion passed in favor. This concluded the Consent Agenda items 1-4.
The Board discussed a request from Granite State Children’s Alliance for a Town Meeting budget donation. Granite State Children’s Alliance works with at risk children in the community. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Selectboard requested that the letter be included in the budget season process. Selectman Parker noted his interest in hearing from departments in town that have worked with the agency regarding their effectiveness.
The Board discussed a proposal to treat the Elm tree at the Town Office parking lot against Dutch Elm disease and the large ash trees (Town Office parking lot and Meeting House lot) against the Ash Borer insect. Selectman Borden noted that the Meeting House renovation may impact trees within a 12 foot range of the foundation. After discussion on this point, Selectman Parker made a motion to approve the treatment of the Elm tree, and treatment of the Ash trees as outlined, contingent on a discussion with the vendor(s) about the Meeting House renovation. Selectman Borden seconded the motion and requested that the motion include to instruct the Town Administrator to move forward once the information is received. The Board agreed on this language and the Chair called the vote. The amended motion passed on a vote of 3-0 in favor.
6:00 PM: Michael and Elizabeth McGill, Property Owners
Chairman Marshall welcomed Mr. and Mrs. McGill to the meeting. Chairman Marshall requested an update on a complaint received by the Town regarding property that the McGill’s have recently purchased. Mr. McGill explained three issues that were brought to the Code Enforcement Officer. The first is a dump on a neighboring property, which the property owner has agreed to clean-up and is currently at the property working toward this goal. The second issue is a culvert on Old Bennington Road that floods his property. The McGill’s then stated they have a remedy for this problem by doing site work and landscaping on their own land without assistance from the Town. The third issue is a perimeter drain from a neighbor that has grey water in the runoff.
Code Enforcement Officer Borden provided background on the steps taken for each issue. The issue with the grey water have been resolved, and a dye test and water test confirms that the perimeter drain contains groundwater. At the conclusion of the discussion, Selectman Parker asked the McGill’s if they agreed that the town has satisfied the complaints as outlined. The McGill’s agreed. The McGill’s requested acknowledgement of a property survey showing Old Bennington Road as a 3-Rod road so that the town’s right of way could be measured and they can excavate on their property to drain the run-off from the road culvert. The Selectboard agreed. The discussion ended at 6:36
6:40 PM: Selectboard Business Meeting
Next the Selectboard discussed the meeting on September 30th. The Town Administrator will be away and the Board agreed to cancel the meeting and meet again on October 7th.
The Selectboard reviewed a draft of the Greenfield Spirit. The Board agreed that the draft was ready to print. Separately, the Board reviewed a mailing from ConVal high school regarding registrations for the free lunch program. While all lunches will continue to be free this year, the school and individual families potentially benefit if parents complete the application to the program. The Selectboard agreed that this information will be shared on the Greenfield website and in News and Announcements.
The Selectboard discussed a recent request from the Town of Wilton regarding a proposed move of the Wilton Ambulance program from its current location at 404 Forest Road in Wilton, to the Wilton Fire Station, at 102 Main Street in the center of Wilton (2.3 miles according to Google maps). A presentation showing cost savings associated with the move was reviewed. It was noted that the presentation provides data showing that the move will result in increased call times to parts of Greenfield due to the longer distance to-and-from Wilton center compared to the Forest Road location. At the conclusion of the discussion, Selectman Borden stated that while he thinks that it makes sense for the program to move to the fire station, the Greenfield Selectboard has not received budget numbers sufficient for him to make a decision. A discussion followed. At the conclusion of the discussion the Board members agreed that they are of a consensus that they have not received the information necessary to fully evaluate the proposal and therefore cannot make a decision at this time.
There being no further business the Board voted to adjourn.
Adjournment
At 6:55 pm, Selectman Parker made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by the Selectman Borden. The motion carried 3-0.