Selectboard Minutes
Town of Greenfield
7 Sawmill Road, Greenfield, NH 03047
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, April 27, 2023 – 5:00 PM
Selectboard: Chairman Michael Borden, Selectman Tom Bascom, Selectman Mason Parker
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Brian Giammarino, Police Chief
Public: Janice Pack
Documents for Discussion/Signature
- Payroll Check Register dated 4/28/2023 in the amount of $32,684.50
- DRA Revised Appropriations report – MS232-R
- Timber Tax Levy – R2-4 & R2-4-1, V4-24
- Meeting House Restoration – Architect Invoice 2201-05
- Transmittal Letter – Trustee of Trust Funds Request
- NHDOS-DMV – Inspection Station Approval
- Minutes of 4/20/2023
Other letters/ items for Discussion/Signature:
- Sportsmen’s Club Request – Kids Day, Cord Wood, ATV Permission
- McInnis letter- R4-72
- HEB Engineering - Bridge letter
- CVTC – Thank-You Card
No Public Forum
5:00 PM: Brian Giammarino, Police Chief
The Chair opened the meeting at 5:00 pm and stated that due to a ConVal Selectmen’s Advisory Committee meeting the meeting will close at 6:45pm.
The Chair welcomed Brian Giammarino, Police Chief. Chief Giammarino asked the Board to enter into a non-public session to discuss a complaint against the police department and to protect the privacy of community members.
Selectman Parker made a motion to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3, II a&c. Selectman Bascom seconded the motion. The Board voted 3-0 in favor of the motion and entered into non-public session.
At 5:43pm, the Board voted 3-0, on a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectman Parker to enter into the public session. While in the public session, Selectman Parker made a motion to seal the minutes to protect the privacy of residents in the community. The motion was seconded by Selectman Bascom. The Board voted 3-0 to seal the minutes. It was noted for the minutes that the Selectboard has completed its initial investigtation of a complaint against the police department and the police chief.
The Selectboard signed documents and reviewed the Consent Agenda.
5:45 PM: Budget Advisory Committee
The Chair welcomed Janice Pack, Chair of the Budget Advisory Committee. The purpose of the meeting is to reflect on Town Meeting and review the 2023 budget process in advance of the 2024 budget season. Ms. Pack noted that her committee members were unable to attend but that they expressed their views in advance so that Ms. Pack could share them with the Board. Ms. Pack stated that there are at least two open positions on the committee and that the committee could be larger if more people wanted to get involved.
The Chair stated that he felt that Town Meeting went well. He said that there were two complaints made at the meeting. The first that the town should provide more opportunities for members of the public to discuss the budget. The second was in the form of an amendment to reduce the operating budget, which failed. Ms. Pack stated that the operating budget is not a good place to make an amendment to the budget since so many of the costs in that portion of the budget are fixed costs (insurance, bond payments, Ambulance), which are outside of the control of the town. Selectman Bascom agreed and stated that there are several other areas that provide the town more flexibility, but the important thing is to determine if more communication is necessary so that people understand why the budget increased. A discussion followed in which the consensus is that the budget lines are very reasonable once the costs are understood. Selectman Parker suggested the Saturday budget session with department heads works well and should continue. Ms. Pack stated that the Budget Advisory Committee appreciated the Saturday budget session as it allowed the committee to get a good understanding of the overall budget by listening to the department heads’ presentations. It was suggested that the Saturday session with the department heads be advertised to the public and held at the Meeting House so that people could attend and hear about the budget needs prior to the public hearing. A discussion followed about whether townspeople would be interested if the Board held a mid-year budget review.
6:30 PM: Selectboard Work Session
At 6:30pm, the consent agenda was approved on a motion by the Chair, and a second by Selectman Bascom, all in favor.
The Board reviewed the upcoming monthly schedules and discussed the annual employee appreciation day. A summer meeting calendar will be posted.
The Board discussed and authorized a request to the Friends of the Greenfield Community Meeting House for reimbursement of the town for expenses associated with architectural services for the restoration of the Meeting House. The request will be noted on the agenda for the next meeting per RSA 31:95-b.
The Selectboard requested that the DPW receive support to follow-through the purchase of a DPW-based asset management program.
There being no further business, the Board voted to adjourn.
Adjournment
At 6:48 pm, The Chair made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by the Selectman Bascom. The motion carried 3-0.