Selectboard Meeting Minutes
Town of Greenfield
7 Sawmill Road, Greenfield, NH 03047
Selectboard Minutes
Thursday, December 5, 2024 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairman Mason Parker, Selectman Tom Bascom, Selectman Michael Borden
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Jim Morris, DPW Director
Public: Gary Russell, Jim Fletcher, Jason Bennett
Documents for Review / Approval
- Payroll Check Register dated December 06, 2024 in the amount of $41,051.90
- A/P Check Register dated November 27, 2024 in the amount of $341,803.31
- Fire Department 2024 Stipend Worksheet
- 2025 Wages Worksheet
- Appointment – Deputy Treasurer
- Vacation Requests (2) – DPW
- Intent to Cut – R9-32
- Timber Tax Levy _ R1-23, R1-23-1; R1-20, R1-20-9, R1-21-4; R1-31
- Transfer Request – General Fund to Conservation Account – LUCT Xfer
- Transfer Request – General Fund to Recreation Revolving Fund
- Welfare Voucher – (2)
- Selectboard Minutes – 11/14/24 & 11/21/24
Other letters/ items for Review/Discussion/Signature:
- Deputy Treasurer Documents
- Office Manager Position Documents
- Quote for DPW Garage Doors
- Quote for Sunset Lake Dock
- Concha Vera Construction Quote / encumbrance
- Fire Dept. Turn-Out Gear Quote / encumbrance
- 2025 Draft Budget Worksheets
- 2024 Property Tax Summary
5:30 PM: Public Forum
The Chair opened the meeting at 5:30pm. The Selectboard began working through the Consent Agenda, signing documents and reading letters. The Chair welcomed Gary Russell to the public forum. Mr. Russell outlined an interest from the Forestry Committee to have the town vote on a warrant article in support of combining the George Proctor Recreation Area forest with the Savage Road Town Forest, making the town forest equal to the entire foot print (both sides of the road), which he believes is approximately 100 acres combined. Currently 50 acres +/- is considered the Town Forest. The Board agreed to include a warrant article to this effect. Mr. Russell asked permission of the Board for the Sportsman’s Club to bring an excavator back to the property (in 2025) and to complete the clean-up of the property. The Sportsmen’s Club will use the funds from the George Proctor trust fund to rent an excavator, and purchase materials. The Board agreed to provide permission for the clean-up project.
5:45 PM: Jason Bennett, Resident
The Chair welcomed Jason Bennet, resident of Greenfield. Mr. Bennett has come before the Selectboard to share that he recently reviewed the Veteran’s exemption under RSA 72:35 (100% Disabled Veterans) and found that in Greenfield it is now less than the standard exemption for veterans. Mr. Bennett explained that the Veterans Administration has very stringent guidelines for veterans to be considered 100% service disabled. As a result, he felt that the exemption under RSA 72:35 should be higher than the standard veteran’s exemption. A discussion followed with the Board. The Board thanked Mr. Bennett for bringing this matter forward. It was noted that the change to the standard deduction was voted in at Town Meeting within the last two years but there was no discussion that compared the veteran’s exemptions at that time. The Board stated that this was an unfortunate oversight and thanked Mr. Bennett for bringing this to their attention. The Board discussed the process to increase the disabled veteran’s exemption and concluded it would require a warrant article at Town Meeting. The Board agreed that they would advance such a warrant article and also discuss this at the public budget hearing to gain input from residents. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Board thanked Mr. Bennett for attending the meeting. Mr. Bennett thanked the Board for their willingness to review the current thresholds.
6:00 PM: Jim Morris, DPW Director
The Chair welcomed Jim Morris, DPW Director to the meeting. A discussion followed on the Board’s wage guidance. Director Morris outlined his interest in purchasing additional implements for the department’s tractor. These include a mid-mount mower, a 66” rotary sweeper, and a rotary cutter (brush hog). The cost for the three implements is $13,532. The Chair stated that the Board supports these purchases because it provides versatility to the department, and allows the department to complete some mowing jobs at Oak Park, the community garden, and outlying cemeteries. The sweeper replaces the broom on the trackless MT, which has reached its end of life and is currently posted for sale. At the conclusion of these comments, the motion was seconded by Selectman Borden. On a vote of 3-0, the Board voted in favor of purchasing the equipment with left-over funds in the DPW budget.
Next, Director Morris discussed an open position within the department. The position of foreman is open at this time. Director Morris has an internal applicant that the department supports. After a brief conversation, the Board approved the appointment of J.P. to the position of Foreman. A discussion followed on wages and the Board agreed to provide several wage adjustments. At the conclusion of the discussions, the Chair thanked Director Morris for attending the meeting.
6:45 PM: Selectboard Work Session
At 6:45 pm, the Chair outlined the items that the Board will need for interviews at the next meeting. The Chair outlined the meeting parameters for December 12th and 19th.
The Chair noted that the Board should complete votes for encumbrance of funds for work started in 2024 but not yet finished, and any end-of-year spending required by department heads. The Board took up a list of encumbrances and purchases for End-of-Year.
The Board reviewed an order for Fire Department turn-out gear that was placed in March of this year but not yet received. The total amount outstanding is $15,680.11. Noting that the gear is on order has not been received, and may not be received until after the end of December, on a motion from the Chair and a second from Selectman Bascom, the Board voted 3-0 to encumber $15,680.11 from the Fire Department budget, with $11,593.83 coming from Fire Department Turn Out Gear line, and the balance coming from Fire Department’s Uniform Allowance and Heating Fuel -Oil lines.
The Board reviewed a quote for a new dock at Sunset Lake Beach. It was noted that Selectman Borden built the dock for the department nearly 30 years ago. The Recreation Department has submitted a quote from EZDock, a NH company, for a new dock at a cost of $13,680 (including shipping). The Chair made a motion to support the purchase of the dock and to encumber funds from the 2024 budget. The motion was seconded by Selectman Borden. On a vote of 3-0 the motion passed. It was noted that $8,000 will come from the Parks & Recreation department budget, and the remaining $5,680 will come from General Government Buildings.
The Selectboard reviewed a quote from Keene Door, the vendor that installed and repairs the garage doors at the DPW garage. To replace the badly worn garage doors will cost $27,989. The Chair motioned to transfer funds to the Capital Outlay Buildings line in the amount of $27,989.00 and to make this funding available from Personnel Administration. It was noted that the new doors will reduce heating costs in the garage. The motion was seconded by Selectman Bascom. The Board voted 3-0 to transfer funds to the Capital Outlay Buildings line and to encumber the funds for use in 2025 if the work is not completed by year end. The motion passed with a vote of 3-0 in favor.
The Chair discussed the current contract with Concha Vera Construction to complete the DPW equipment garage. Concha Vera’s estimate is that the job will be completed before the end of the year. Depending on weather delays, the Chair stated that the Board may need encumber final payment on the project, but that the Board could revisit this vote at the meeting on the 19th, which is the Board’s last meeting of the year due to the holiday season.
At 7:12 pm, on a motion by Selectman Bascom and a second from Selectman Borden, the Board voted 3-0 to approve the Consent Agenda.
Selectman Bascom outlined his interest in revitalizing the use of the Boston Post Cane and wondered how the Board would determine who the oldest resident in town is. The Board agreed to check with the Town Clerk on this question.
Selectman Bascom outlined his interest in having the Board research the current PILOT programs in place with local non-profits and also to revisit the PILOT concept with Brantwood Camp, now that the five-year revaluation is completed. He noted that the camp has property and land valued at $4.7M.
The Chair reminded the Board that Paul Simon of Park Architecture will return to meet with the Board on December 19th.
Adjournment
At 7:30 pm, the Chair made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by the Selectman Bascom. The motion carried 3-0.