Selectboard Minutes
Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Tuesday, June 20, 2017 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chair Margaret A. Charig Bliss, Selectman Robert Marshall, Selectman Atherton absent
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Kathryn Heck, Treasurer
Public:
Documents for Review/Approval
- A/P Check Register (2)
- Waste Water Check Register
- Real Estate Tax Liens – 4 Copies
- Minutes of Selectboard Meeting – 6/13/2017
- New Hire Worksheet – WSI Instructor
- Oak Park Rental
- Welfare Vouchers (2)
5:30 PM: Public Forum
At 5:30 pm Chairwoman Charig Bliss opened the meeting. It was noted that there were no members of the public in attendance during the public forum period. The Selectboard began working through the Consent Agenda.
The Chair motioned to accept the Consent Agenda. Selectman Marshall seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously 2-0.
5:45 PM: Katherine Heck, Treasurer
At 5:45 pm, Treasurer Katherine Heck met with the Selectboard to discuss non-profit fundraising and public/private partnerships involving municipalities. The Chair explained that the Board has had meetings with members of the community that would like to set-up a non-profit organization to raise funds to preserve the Meeting House. One of the questions for the Selectboard is how to manage the relationship between the governing body and the non-profit fundraising organization. Treasurer Heck has been a part of numerous non-profit organizations focused on fundraising for a variety of programs. Mrs. Heck outlined the responsibilities of non-profit fundraising organizations according to IRS guidelines and then contrasted these responsibilities to the laws governing municipal finances. For example, NH RSA 31:95-b outlines the responsibilities to have a public hearing to accept gifts above a certain dollar threshold. A discussion followed about the Town of Hancock, which is in the process of preserving its Meeting House. Hancock worked closely with a non-profit fundraising organization that was started by members of the community to help raise the funds necessary for the preservation work. It was stated in the meeting that Francestown used a similar public/private partnership in order to preserve their Meeting House.
Mrs. Heck provided a presentation entitled Private Money for Public Use: The Administration of Restricted Gifts, and Private Donations. The presentation cited NH RSAs, the New Hampshire Town and Cities publications (NHMA), and information from the NH Government Finance Officers Association (NHGFOA). A discussion of gifts, grants, donations, and trusts, including restricted and unrestricted gifts and donations followed. A discussion on exceptions, including for the acceptance of personal property gifted to the town was discussed. The discussion outlined that the acceptance of personal property does not bind the town to future appropriations for the replacement of, the maintenance of, or the repair of said property. The discussion ended at 7:06 pm.
At 7:09 the Chair moved to open a work session. Selectman Marshall agreed.
7:10 PM: Selectboard Work Session
The Board reviewed the agenda noting that the Baseball Shed has been replaced. A discussion on the Cal Ripken program was held regarding invoice(s) for Greenfield Baseball equipment, which was purchased by the Cal Ripken representative. This equipment will need to come back to Greenfield and be stored in the shed at the end of the season stated the Board.
NNETO LLC (Fairpoint) has filed voluntary non-suit(s) with the court per the settlement agreement. This concludes their responsibility to the Town and will allow a settlement abatement to proceed.
Office Manager Catherine Shaw requested that the Selectmen’s office be allowed to purchase patriotic bunting for the week of July 4th to be hung on the Meeting House. The Board discussed the idea and approved the purchase of the patriotic bunting. The Board also discussed a request to provide several new tables for the meeting house and agreed that tables should be purchased.
The Selectboard then held a lengthy discussion on the Police Chief Search Committee process. They noted that the job description should be finalized so that it can be posted when the employment ad is posted. They would attempt to do this over the next week and adopt a job description at their next meeting on June 27th.
The Board signed four (4) copies of the 2016 Tax Liens for the Tax Collector. These liens will be recorded at the Hillsborough Registry of Deeds.
Lastly, the Selectboard outlined briefly some progress on a Wage & Salary program for Greenfield Employees, which will introduce longevity and merit into a program geared to measuring performance at the annual evaluations.
Adjournment
The time being 8:50 pm, Selectman Marshall moved to adjourn. The Chair seconded. All were in favor, and the motion carried 2-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM.
The minutes are final when approved and signed by the Selectboard. A signed copy is on file in the Selectboard’s office.