Selectboard Minutes
Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chair Margaret A. Charig Bliss, Selectman Stephen Atherton Jr., Selectman Robert Marshall
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Todd Mason, DPW Road Manager; Carol Burgess, Recycling Center Supervisor; Rick McQuade, DPW Buildings & Grounds Manager; Brian Giammarino, Police Chief; Glenn Roberge, Sergeant; Jonathan Quigley, Patrolman; Catherine Shaw, Office Manager; Jim Morris, Heavy Equipment Operator
Public:
Documents for Review/Approval
- A/P Check Register
- Payroll
- Intent to Cut – R10-13-1 & R10-13
- Employee Vacation Request
- Minutes of Selectboard Meeting
- Welfare
5:30 PM: Public Forum
At 5:30 pm Chairwoman Charig Bliss opened the meeting. There was no one present for the public forum.
5:30 PM: Selectboard Work Session
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 3-0.
The Selectboard reviewed a letter to Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation (CMRC) regarding the rental agreement between the town and CMRC. The letter was not reviewed by Town Counsel at the time of the meeting. The Board agreed that once Town Counsel had reviewed the letter, the Chair would sign on behalf of the Board.
6:00 PM: Selectboard Staff Meeting
At 6 pm, the Selectboard and the full-time employees met to discuss the 2018 budget season. The Chair opened the meeting by providing an overview of a wage and salary program that the Selectboard has worked on over the course of the year. The program is based on market data gathered in 2016 and will be tied to the annual evaluation process. The Chair explained that the program is meant to provide full-time employees with a road map for their employment with the town of Greenfield. The program is not a guarantee of a specific wage but an illustration of the Selectboard’s intent to provide an environment where employees’ tenure is recognized. The program is also based on the commitment by the Board to review Greenfield’s place in the the municipal market on a regular basis. The Board anticipates that wage and salary reviews will be conducted locally every 2-3 years and across a wider market every five years. Selectman Marshall noted that previously the town reviewed wages in the year 2000 and didn’t examine them again in detail until 2016. He stated that this was too long a period to stay current with the market. The Chair explained that the town needs a predictable process so that employees and selectboard members can turn to the process every year during budget season and work through a predictable wage schedule.
Next the Chair outlined changes to the annual review process. The annual reviews will be held each year and based on the job descriptions. Job descriptions are currently being updated by the employees so that all job descriptions for full-time employees will be up-to-date at the same time starting in 2017. Evaluations will be completed with the Town Administrator and then forwarded to the Selectboard for review.
Selectman Atherton then explained several aspects of the program in layman’s terms to re-assure the employees that the process would start with the employees current salaries and move forward based on annual performance reviews.
7:30 PM: Selectboard Work Session
The Selectboard discussed the upcoming police chief candidate interviews, the interview process, and received individual binders on questions and interview do’s and don’ts from Primex. After a brief review of the binders, the Selectboard discussed the selection process and then agreed to schedule October 5th for interviews in non-public session at 6pm in the Town Office meeting room. The Board will use time at their next meeting to determine the choice of questions and the interview parameters.
The Selectboard then discussed the idea of having quarterly reviews with Department Heads. Selectman Marshall commented that he was in support of this suggestion by the Chair, because it would allow the Selectboard greater visibility into the department’s annual budget.
Next the Selectboard discussed an open house at the Fire Station to celebrate the fire department’s volunteer fire and emergency rescue personnel for their outstanding service, and to recognize the milestones that the department has achieved over the past two years. This discussion ranged across a number of topics. Selectman Marshall stated that he was particularly interested in ensuring that taxpayers are provided an opportunity to see how their support has provided for the transformation of the fire department into a high functioning organization. The Selectboard discussed using the post office’s everyday direct mailer to invite residents to the open house. The discussion ended with the suggestion that the Fire Chief provide some feedback on the best venue and whether or not he would like to have the event tied to Halloween or some other theme.
Adjournment
The time being 9:20 pm, Selectman Marshall moved to adjourn. The Chair seconded. All were in favor, and the motion carried 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM.
The minutes are final when approved and signed by the Selectboard. A signed copy is on file in the Selectboard’s office.