Selectboard Minutes
Town of Greenfield
7 Sawmill Road, Greenfield, NH 03047
Selectboard’s Minutes
Monday, November 27, 2023 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairman Michael Borden, Selectman Tom Bascom,
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator;
Public:
Documents for Review / Approval
- A/P “ACH” Register dated 11/15/2023 in the amount of $34,821.96
- Selectboard Transfer Requests
- Transfer from Conservation Acct to General Fund for poison ivy removal
- LUCT Tax Levy – R6-3-1 Warrant
- Vacation Request – Recycling Center
- Security Camera System Invoice
- Police Department Computer (3) Invoice
- IT Installation Services Invoice – Police Department
- DPW Purchase Order – Gravel Crushing & Equipment Rental
- DPW Capital Equipment Purchase – Pinnacleview Equipment
- Welfare Voucher (4)
Other letters/ items for Review/Discussion/Signature:
- Greenfield Community Center Resolution
- Greenfield Community Center CDFA Grant Application - update
5:30 PM: Jesseca Timmons, Friends of the Greenfield Community Meeting House
At 5:30, the Chair opened the meeting and noted that the Board would be having a short meeting due to a meeting of the Planning Board at 7pm. The Chair stated that due to the short meeting schedule and the need for the Board to review any last minute items pertaining to a Community Center Infrastructure Program (CCIP) grant there will be no public forum. The Chair welcomed Jesseca Timmons of the Friends of the Greenfield CommunityMeeting House. A discussion followed regarding the CCIP grant. Ms. Timmons presented two draft grant documents for the Board to review. The first is a schedule for the Community Center located in the Greenfield Meeting House and the second is a list of community stakeholders that support the proposed grant project to restore the Center’s building. A discussion followed. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Board approved the proposed Community Center monthly schedule and expressed their appreciation for the community center partners that are in the process of completing a Memorandum of Understanding for use of the Community Center. At the conclusion of the discussion the Board thanked Ms. Timmons and the Friends for their hard work in helping to prepare the grant application to the New Hampshire Community Developmet Finance Authority.
6:15 PM: Selectboard Work Session
The Selectboard reviewed the budget and revenues year-to-date. The Board reviewed the savings in the DPW budget and the Personnel Administration budget due to a member of the DPW being out with an injury for over seven months. The savings were evaluated in light of a request by the DPW Director to replace the town’s sidewalk machine with a tractor and snowblower. The sidewalk machine has been with the town for nearly twenty years and has reached its end of life. The Director is unsure if the sidewalk machine will make it through the winter. There are a number of significant issues. Comparing the cost of another dedicated sidewalk machine to a tractor, the sidewalk machine is significantly more expensive than a tractor according to DPW, with the sidewalk machine alone approaching $180k before attachments. A dedicated sidewalk machine for the amount of sidewalks in Greenfield makes purchasing another sidewalk machine prohibitive. DPW has located a Kubota tractor that can be purchased for a third of the cost of a sidewalk machine package, and for which mowing attachments can be purchased separately and run on the three point hitch system of a tractor. The Selectboard reviewed a request for purchase of a Kubota LX series 40HP tractor and snowblower for $55k. The Board held a discussion and at the conclusion of the discussion found that the request was prudent and with savings in the budget from unforeseen personnel absence that the Board has sufficient funds at the end of the year to purchase the tractor with a front snowblower. The Board discussed whether it was feasible to follow the purchasing policy guidelines to go out to bid for a tractor. Guidance from DPW is that it is very difficult to find a tractor and snowblower in stock of the correct size and horsepower and that availability presents significant uncertainty. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Selectboard members agreed that with supply chain issues still affecting the economy, it would be prudent to purchase the tractor and take delivery prior to winter if possible. The Board voted on a motion by the Chair and a second from Selectman Bascom to waive the purchasing policy, 2-0. The board voted on a motion by Selectman Bascom and a second by the Chair, 2-0 in favor of making the purchase.
The Selectboard reviewed the Consent Agenda and invoices from the IT company for installation of systems at the Police Department (14 Francestown Road). The Board voted 2-0 to approve the invoices on a motion by the Chair and a second from Selectman Bascom. The invoices include new computers, low voltage cabling, and relocation and installation of the department server. Separately, the Board reviewed an invoice for the installation of security system and cameras and approved the invoice on a motion by Selectman Bascom and a second by the Chair, 2-0.
There being no further business for the evening, the Board adjourned the meeting.
Adjournment
At 6:48 pm, Selectman Bascom made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by the Chair. The motion carried 2-0.