Meeting Minutes
Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, February 20, 2020 – 3:00 PM
Selectboard: Chairwoman Margaret Charig Bliss, Selectwoman Karen Day, Selectman Robert Marshall
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator;
Public:
Documents for Review/Approval:
Documents List:
- Payroll Check Registers– 2/21/2020
- A/P Check Register – 2/19/2020
- Selectboard Minutes 2/13/2019
Items for Discussion/Signature in the Public Session:
1. NH- ENS Forms
2. SB170 Broadband Initiative
3:00 PM: Selectboard Work Session
At 3:05pm, the Chair called the meeting to order. Selectwoman Day opened a discussion relative to Broadband and SB170. The Selectboard discussed the opportunity for the town to bond for the installation of broadband to every home. Selectman Marshall stated that the towns of Dublin and Hancock have put the question of a bond on the warrant this year. Selectwoman Day stated that she feels that the Board should call Consolidated Communications and set-up a meeting. Selectman Marshall explained that there is an RFP process. He stated that the Selectboard should not be the committee that researches the parameters of SB170 but is concerned that Greenfield doesn’t have the volunteers required for such a committee. Selectwoman Day stated that people have wanted it forever and the Board needs a meeting to show that Town government is being responsive. There followed a discussion about TDS, a local company that has been building out facilities in Antrim and Bennington. The Selectboard agreed to bring this up at Town Meeting and invite people to volunteer for a steering committee. At 3:35 the discussion on Broadband concluded.
Next the Selectboard discussed a draft covenant for a recent RSA 79-E application. The covenant is modeled on covenants created by other towns. The Selectboard requested that the document be sent to Town Counsel for review. The Selectboard discussed the scope of work-and-use portion of the covenant.
Next the Selectboard discussed a recent invoice received by DPW for diagnostic work. The vendor is a sole proprietor and does not have the ability to provide the insurance that the town requires from vendors. A discussion followed on whether the town could utilize a low risk vendor for diagnostics and still maintain effective risk management practices for the town. At the conclusion of the discussion the Selectboard stated that they would allow the vendor to provide diagnostic work and would review similar cases in the future on a case by case basis. The Selectboard outlined the need for DPW to discuss with the Selectboard prior to engaging with companies that do not have insurance.
The Selectboard took up a discussion on the Gravel Road plan for 2020. A spreadsheet for calculating gravel costs and priority of roads was reviewed. A discussion followed and the Board requested that the spreadsheet add notations for high traffic ‘cut-throughs’; destinations; seasonality; steep slopes; and make several formatting changes. The Board members would research traffic counters and roads designated by the Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Selectboard discussed meeting with the Planning Board and the ConComm in April to discuss goal setting with respect to the gravel roads and the Capital Improvements Plan.
Next the Selectboard worked on a letter to Edith “Dee” Sleeper, the Town Clerk. After several changes, the Board requested that the final copy be ready at the next meeting.
At 4pm, the Chair made a motion to enter into non-public session under RSA 01-A:II (a), and (c), to discuss a personnel matter. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. On a roll-call vote of 3-0 the Board entered into non-public session. At 6:35pm the Selectboard voted 3-0 to enter into public session. While in the public session, the Chair made a motion to seal the minutes under RSA 91-A:III to preserve the effectiveness of the discussion. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day and voted 3-0 in favor. It was noted that the Selectboard has requested a meeting be posted for 4pm on Monday, February 24th.
Adjournment
At 6:45 pm Selectman Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. The motion carried 3-0.