Selectboard Meeting Minutes
Town of Greenfield
7 Sawmill Road, Greenfield, NH 03047
Selectboard Minutes
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 – 4:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairman Tom Bascom, Selectman Michael Borden, Selectman George Rainier
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Frank Shea, Sergeant and OIC
Public:
Documents for Review / Approval
- Payroll Check Register dated September 12, 2025 in the amount of $40,428.22
- A/P Check Register dated September 03, 2025 in the amount of $558,747.91
- A/P Check Register dated September 17, 2025 in the amount of $101,970.58
- A/P Void Check Register in the amount of $585.92 for Dall Investments
- A/P “ACH” Check Register for New Hampshire Retirement
- Solar Exemption Application – V4-6
- Employee Vacation – Recycling
- Town Forest Committee – Crushed Gravel invoice
- Milestone Construction LLC – Meeting House CCIP Project invoice
- Welfare Voucher (3)
Other letters/ items for Review/Discussion/Signature:
- Fire Chief Resignation Letter (Planned)
- Auditor Engagement Letter
- CVTC Funding Request
- Avitar Assessing – Institutional Exempt Property Letter
- NHDOT Dept. of Environmental Services Routine Roadway Maint. Culvert Replacement notification
- NHDOT Driveway Permit R4-5-3
- NHDES Report of Alleged Violation R3-19
4:30 PM: No Public Forum
Chairman Bascom opened the meeting at 4:30 pm at the Meeting House. The Board met with Milestone Construction LLC and discussed the entranceway ramp options. The Board and Milestone gathered outside on the driveway and examined plans drawn up by Misiaszek Turpin, the architects for the project. At 5:00 pm, Sheldon Pennoyer joined the meeting. After some discussion, the Board thanked Milestone member Mark Goldstein and Sheldon Pennoyer for their time. The Board moved to the Town Office Meeting Room to start the meeting. The Board arrived at the Meeting Room at 5:25.
5:30 PM: Sergeant Frank Shea
At 5:45pm, the Chair welcomed Sergeant Shea to the meeting. Sergeant Shea is the Officer in Charge of the police department. Sergeant Shea provided an update to the Board regarding the background investigation of a prospective hire for the department. The background of candidate D.C. is complete, and the department recommends the officer be hired by the Selectboard. The officer in question is fully certified as a Police Officer in the State of New Hampshire. Sergeant Shea anticipates an October 1st start date. The Board discussed and approved the new hire on a motion by Selectman Borden, a second from Selectman Rainier and a unanimous vote of the Board in the affirmative.
A discussion followed on the continuing search for Part-Time Officers. Sergeant Shea explained that the PT Police Academy is now meeting just once a year. This presents some logistical issues due to the small number of graduates. This is especially true for the smaller towns, not only because of locality but also because of the increased competition from larger communities.
5:45 PM – Kevin Harte, Crotched Mountain Foundation
At 5:45pm, the Chair welcomed Kevin Harte, Vice President of Advancement for Crotched Mountain Foundation. Mr. Harte explained that he is standing in for John Dash, Director of Operations. A discussion was held and the Chair explained the purpose of the meeting is to provide an overview of the town’s Institutional Exempt Property policy. The policy outlines the steps that the Board is taking to comply with the process outlined by the New Hampshire Board of Tax and Land Appeals, for applications for property tax exemption from Charitable, Religious, and Educational organizations. The Chair stated that the Board is also interested in how the town could partner with local organizations for recreation and community support services. Mr. Harte outlined Crotched Mountain’s property use and programs. A discussion about how the municipality and Crotched Mountain could partner for recreation opportunities and support was held. Mr. Harte provided information about the waterfront properties, one of which has been sold. Mr. Harte explained the mission of Crotched Mountain Foundation, which is now unburdened by the carrying costs associated with the campus that is now owned by Seven Hills New Hampshire. The result is that Crotched Mountain Foundation is able to provide a more efficient program with greater impact because the endowment’s funds are able to focus more closely on the service needs of the individuals in the wider community the organization serves. At the conclusion of the conversation, the Chair thanked Mr. Harte for attending the meeting.
6:45 PM – Brantwood Camp
At 6:45pm, The Chair welcomed William (Bill) Gurney, Trustee of Brantwood Camp and Executive Director, Amy Boyd to the meeting. The Chair provided opening remarks and explained that the purpose of the meeting is to share the Institutional Exempt Property policy and the steps that the Selectboard is taking to comply with the process for granting exemptions outlined by the New Hampshire Board of Tax and Land Appeals (BTLA). Director Boyd acknowledged that the Camp did not file all of their A-12 information and said that this was due to staff turnover. The Chair outlined that the Board is also interested in partnership opportunities where the communities overlap in areas of recreation and community support services. The Brantwood Camp representatives shared their mission and explained how organizations such as the Greater Monadnock Rotary help support tuition services to the camp programs. The discussion outlined other opportunities where Brantwood Camp might have a fit with the town’s recreation department and other support services. A brief discussion on past communication relative to a payment in lieu of taxation was held. At the conclusion of the conversation, the Chair thanked the representatives for attending the Selectboard meeting.
7:15 PM – Selectboard Work Session
At 7:12pm, Sheila Nichols of the Greenfield Police Regionalization Committee came forward and asked to be recognized. The Chair welcomed Ms. Nichols to the meeting. Ms. Nichols provided an update to the Board on the committee’s progress in publishing a survey for residents that will help inform the Board about how resident’s feel about their current police services. Ms. Nichols suggested that the survey reply date be changed and outlined the committee’s intent to put up posters and flyers and host a table at the Oktoberfest program at Oak Park.
At 7:35pm, the Selectboard held a discussion about their earlier meeting with Milestone Construction and Sheldon Pennoyer regarding the design of the new entrance to the meeting house. The discussion centered on two options for configuring the entrance. The original option was based on collaboration between Milestone Construction, the construction manager, and Misiaszek Turpin, the architect for the project. The second option was suggested by Sheldon Pennoyer, architect, and resident of Greenfield. Mr. Pennoyer’s suggestions were incorporated into a drawing by Misiaszek Turpin and provided to Milestone and the Board. This option has additional expense that is outside of the scope of the original project, which would need to be covered by donations, fund raising, and the contingency funds in the original guaranteed maximum price (GMP). The additional cost would be the responsibility of the Selectboard if fund raising and the contingency are not sufficient. The Board deliberated on the two options and reached the conclusion that they were of a consensus that Mr. Pennoyer’s suggestions create a more accessible approach to the building, improve the ability of the town’s department of public works to maintain the walkway, and is a better fit to the building for the community. The Selectboard concluded that the handicap ramp should be moved to better align with the handicap parking spaces. After these deliberations, Selectman Borden made a motion to accept the amended design as discussed, which is based on the second option drawn up by the architect, and for funds to come from contingency, fund raising, donations, and if needed from the capital expenditure line for “buildings” in the town budget. Selectman Rainier seconded the motion. The Board voted 3-0 in an affirmative, unanimous vote for Sheldon Pennoyer’s vision for the front entrance.
A discussion followed regarding whether the recovery air system was necessary given that the building’s air exchange is significant (due to the age of the building). At the conclusion of the discussion, Selectman Borden volunteered, in his position as Building Inspector for the Town of Greenfield, to have a discussion with the architect and the engineer to the project in order to determine the necessity of the air exchange unit in the basement and report back to the Board.
At 8:30pm, the Selectboard reviewed the HVAC proposal for the Stephenson Memorial Library and discussed how the project might be staged over time. The Board suggested that a meeting with the Library Trustees would help determine how the project might be incorporated into the 2026 budget.
At 8:41pm, the Chair requested that the Board discuss the Consent Agenda. The Board voted 3-0 to approve the remaining Consent Agenda items.
The Board discussed the meeting schedule for September and outlined their interest in meeting with several town officials in future meetings.
The Board selected November 15th as the Saturday for the Budget Summit and expressed optimism that the CCIP Meeting House project might be completed before that date.
Adjournment
At 9:05 pm, Selectman Rainier made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Selectman Borden. The motion carried 3-0.