Selectboard Minutes
Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Tuesday, October 24, 2017 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chair Margaret A. Charig Bliss, Selectman Stephen Atherton Jr., Selectman Robert Marshall
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; David Martin, EMD; Diane Boilard, Deputy EMD; David Hall, Fire Chief
Public:
Documents for Review/Approval
- Minutes of Selectboard Meeting
- Letters to Wastewater Users – Public Hearing Nov. 7th
- Letters to Property Owners on Dodge, Gulf, and Francestown Roads – Public Hearing Nov. 7th
- Employee Vacation Request (2)
- Meeting House Rental
- Welfare
Other items for discussion:
1) Meeting House Kitchen – Clean-up
2) Dollar General – Russell Parking Lot
3) American Legion Antrim Post No.50 - Letter
5:30 PM: Public Forum
At 5:35 pm Chairwoman Charig Bliss opened the meeting. The Chair noted that Selectman Atherton was not in attendance but that the Board would move ahead with the meeting.
Dave Martin, Emergency Management Director came to the Public Forum session to update the Selectboard on progress with selecting a site for an emergency operations center. There followed an extensive discussion about the town’s buildings and facilities; their respective capabilities in terms of food preparation, showers, bathrooms, kitchens, and space for cots. Mr. Martin explained that he is interested in having the Red Cross look at the Town Office, since it has a generator, and evaluate it as an emergency shelter. Other buildings that may work include the Meeting House and the Library.
The Selectboard begins working through the Consent Agenda.
6:00 PM: Dave Hall, Fire Chief
At 6:05 pm the Selectboard welcomed David Hall, Fire Chief to the meeting. The Selectboard outlined a question about a recent invoice for installation of lights and sirens on a personal vehicle. The Selectboard had some questions about how the department outfits its volunteers. Chief Hall provided background and explained that each of the fire department volunteers is issued equipment by the department starting with a radio for their personal vehicles. The town owns the radios and they are installed professionally because the department does not want to be liable for causing damage to a volunteer’s vehicle. In addition to the radios, sirens and lights are also required, and are often provided by the town. There followed a discussion of the department’s policy about issuing equipment. Installation of radios, sirens, and lights or lightbars is done by a professional company because the department does not want to be responsible for the liability that could arise with a non-professional installation of equipment into a personal vehicle. Chief Hall stated that there is a probationary period where new volunteers are issued with basic gear and the department does not pay toward installation of lightbars, sirens, and radios until the volunteer has proven their commitment. Chief Hall stated that when it comes to the lights and some sirens, the volunteers often buy their own. However, he was not in favor of having volunteers have to pay for equipment out of their own pockets, which will then be used in service to the town. The Selectboard was in agreement that the town should furnish equipment, up to a certain level of value. The Chair asked if there was a way to standardize on the equipment that the town provides. Chief Hall explained that he felt the best way to handle new volunteers is to provide a basic level of equipment. He said that if the volunteer at some point wants to purchase something that is beyond the level of equipment that the town provides they would do that out of their own pocket. However, he felt that installation should continue to be done professionally. After additional discussion the Chair moved to approve the installation invoice and the Board voted 2-0 in approval. The Board asked that a fire department policy for equipment installed into personal vehicles be forwarded to the Board for review.
The Selectboard and the Fire Chief discussed a ‘pinning ceremony’ for fire department volunteers. Next the Fire Chief outlined his need to purchase new hoses for the fire apparatus. He noted that he would be purchasing industry standard 1 ¾” hose instead of 2” hose going forward as it was easier to work with. The Chief notified the Selectboard that there would be a November 30th graduation of attendees from the Monadnock Area Fire School. This is the first course for rural firefighters held in the area.
A discussion followed about the upcoming open house at the Fire Department. The Selectboard and the Fire Chief discussed the celebration’s activities, which include a demo of the new Jaws of Life, a ‘kiddie’ firefighter obstacle course, lunch with the Selectboard, and a booth with the Red Cross providing free smoke detectors. The Selectboard asked the Town Administrator to contact the Monadnock Ledger and ask if a reporter could attend the open house.
7:00 PM: Selectboard Work Session
The Selectboard turned to old business and the Consent Agenda. On a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectman Marshall, the Board voted 2-0 to accept the Consent Agenda.
The Selectboard discussed a snow pusher sized for the back-hoe so that DPW Buildings & Grounds could use the back-hoe around town buildings and the DPW loader could be kept at the DPW garage to load salt and sand efficiently during snowstorms. It was noted that the 14’ pusher is too large for the back-hoe arms, and it’s too big for navigating downtown on the main roads.
Next the Selectboard discussed an inquiry from Dollar General regarding the municipal parking lot on Rt. 31. The Selectboard indicated that they were not prepared to sell the municipal parking lot for any reason without bringing the question to Town Meeting first. The Chair noted that the esthetic of Dollar General is not in keeping with the historic buildings in downtown. She stated that Dollar General buildings are not in keeping with the character of the town. Selectman Marshall was in agreement.
Next the Selectboard reviewed a request for a donation from the Antrim American Legion Post #50 and, after a lengthy discussion, determined that the Board could not provide a donation during the year, but that the American Legion could ask for a donation as part of the budget season so that the legislative body could vote on the question.
Selectman Atherton arrives at 7:30 pm.
Selectman Marshall asked the Board to review a Project Proposal document for use by the Town Office and the Selectboard in the future when outside groups or individuals want to undertake a project to benefit the town. There followed a discussion of the Project Proposal document and the Board made some corrections in spelling, and noted that the date of adoption should be included. Following the discussion the Chair made a motion to accept and adopt the proposal document, with corrections. Selectman Atherton seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
Next the Selectboard discussed a notification document from DPW to the Conservation Commission (ConComm). Selectman Marshall has designed a notification document that would allow DPW to notify the ConComm about projects that are near wetlands. The objective would be to have DPW provide the notification towards the beginning of the year, well in advance of the projects. The ConComm would then provide updates and questions to the Selectboard if there were any concerns on their part about specific project locations. Selectman Marshall explained that this would help alleviate issues by providing the ConComm the ability to inform the Selectboard if there are concerns with a particular project location.
Adjournment
The time being 8:37 pm, The Chair moved to adjourn. Selectman Marshall seconded. All were in favor, and the motion carried 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:37 PM.
The minutes are final when approved and signed by the Selectboard. A signed copy is on file in the Selectboard’s office.