Selectboard Meeting
Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, January 30, 2020 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairwoman Margaret Charig Bliss, Selectwoman Karen Day, Selectman Robert Marshall
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator;
Public:
Documents for Review/Approval:
- A/P Check Register
- Payroll Check Register
- Sewer Tax Abatement
- Forest Stewardship Plan for Current Use Assessment: R3-30
- Vacation Request (3): (2) Police, (1) Executive
- Selectboard Minutes 1/23
Other letters/ items for Discussion/Signature:
1. 2020 6-Wheel Dump Truck Quotes – Mack, Western Star, Peterbilt
2. Tax Exempt Leasing Budgetary Quote – 2020 6-Wheel Dump Truck
3. Milton CAT Backhoe Quote
5:30 PM: Selectboard Budget Work Session – No Public Forum, No Appts.
The meeting was called to order at 5:30pm. The Selectboard began reviewing the draft 2020 budget.
At the conclusion of the review, the Selectboard took up a discussion on the purchase of a 2020 6-wheel dump truck. The Selectboard reviewed the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) chart and then turned to an examination of the quotes provided by DPW. Three quotes were examined for a MACK cab and chassis, a Western Star cab and chassis, and a Peterbilt cab and chassis. A Monroe dump body and plow set is quoted for each truck. The Board reviewed the specifications for each truck and noted the differentiating features for each vehicle as forwarded by DPW Manager Todd Mason. An expired State contract for an International 6-wheel dump truck was reviewed for reference. A new contract will not be ready in time for the Greenfield budget hearing.
At the conclusion of the review, the Selectboard reached a consensus to support the DPW recommendation of a MACK 6-Wheel dump truck. The Board requested that the truck lease/purchase warrant article be updated with the quote information received from the MACK dealership and continuing with a $50,000 down payment in 2020. The lease/purchase will occur over five years with payments starting in 2021. A trade-in value will be provided in the near future and will be added into the lease agreement at the time the lease is finalized. The Board noted that the CIP chart shows that there are a number of trucks and equipment that are coming due all within the same time period. 2023 has five vehicles/equipment payments occurring in the same year, and over several years. This compression of payments poses a significant budget issue for taxpayers. In order to alleviate some of the compression, and because the current Freightliner dump truck is experiencing substantial repair costs, the Board is moving the 6-wheel dump truck up by a year.
The Selectboard turned to the Capital Reserve Fund savings warrant article and discussed the question of whether to contribute funds to the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. The Selectboard noted that they had originally earmarked $80,000 for the Highway Capital Reserve Fund. With the $50,000 deposit on a new dump truck warrant article, the question is whether to put the remaining $30,000 in to the highway reserve fund. The Selectboard discussed future needs in the CIP and concluded that funding the Capital Reserve Fund was necessary this year. The Board reached a consensus to budget the remaining $30,000 for the reserve fund.
Next, the Selectboard reviewed the total budget and discussed some of the most significant drivers in the overall budget. These are primarily the Gravel Roads Maintenance warrant article for $50,000, the Meeting House Improvements Capital Reserve Fund for $50,000, the down-payment on the MACK six wheeler for $50,000, and increases to the Library Director Wages and Library Part-Time Wages. The Selectboard discussed the overall budget impact compared to 2019. The overall budget is up 5.5% over 2019.
Adjournment
At 7:35 pm Selectman Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. The motion carried 3-0.