Selectboard Minutes
Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Tuesday, December 19, 2017 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chair Margaret A. Charig Bliss, Selectman Stephen Atherton, Selectman Robert Marshall
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator;
Public: Ken Paulsen
Note: Selectboard Meeting on December 12th was cancelled due to weather.
Documents for Review/Approval
- AP Check Register
- Payroll Check Register 12/15/2017
- EOY Transfer from General Fund to Oak Park Fund
- EOY Transfer from General Fund to Conservation Fund
- Abatement S2-22
- Land Use Change Tax R1-1-4
- Employee(s) Vacation Request
- Selectboard Minutes
- Welfare (2)
Other Items:
1. Eversource Pole Licenses
2. Purchase Order – New England Emergency Equipment
3. Purchase Order – H.P. Fairfield Equipment
5:30 PM: Public Forum
At 5:35 pm Chairwoman Charig Bliss opened the meeting. The Chair noted that there was no public at the public forum session.
The Selectboard began working through the Consent Agenda.
5:45 PM: Building & Grounds Manager, Rick McQuade
At 5:50 pm, the Selectboard welcomed Buildings & Grounds Manager, Rick McQuade, to the meeting. Mr. McQuade provided printed copies of his proposed 2018 budget and 2017 YTD spending. The Board reviewed the proposed budget. The budget is slightly less overall than the 2017 budget. Mr. McQuade explained that he has updated the line items associated with the municipal building budgets to better reflect his sense of their needs for 2018. During the ensuing discussion, the Selectboard 1) confirmed their interest in re-bidding the Groundskeeper bid 2) discussed the MT Sidewalk tractor and confirmed their interest in seeing an alternative quotes for equipment in time to make decisions for the 2018 warrant, and 3) discussed their vision for Oak Park at length with Mr. McQuade. Topics included the tennis courts, grooming and care of the walking track, proposed projects to beautify and make the park safer for people at dusk, and the desire for a welcome kiosk. The Board questioned whether it would be helpful to have an architectural drawing or plan created that would provide for a common vision for the park. Lighting was discussed and an architectural concept drawing for lighting around the walking track was suggested. The Selectboard questioned whether to keep or remove the tennis courts. The Board discussed amongst themselves whether to hold an informational meeting with members of the EDAC, the Trails Association, and the Oak Park Committee in order to discuss the future of the park and how it can contribute to the town’s identity.
The Selectboard and Mr. McQuade discussed the outside lights at the Library, which have been problematic. Mr. McQuade feels that they need replacing with a better class of outdoor lighting. Mr. McQuade discussed the new tables at the Recycling Center, which were constructed on hinges so that the tables can be lifted up and pinned to the building to better enable snow removal and cleaning. Mr. McQuade told the Selectboard that in 2018 he would like to rebuild the Recycling Center walkway to the compactor because the current one has weathered and is showing signs of wear. After some additional discussion the Selectboard approved the B&G budget and thanked Mr. McQuade for his time.
7:00 PM: Selectboard Work Session
The Selectboard Chair opened a work session to discuss the 2018 budget and other business items. The Chair noted that the appointments for the December 12th meeting, which was cancelled due to weather, were not all able to reschedule for tonight’s meeting. The Board noted that there is still an interest in speaking with the School Board Representative regarding the 2017 ConVal School District budget.
At 7:05pm, Police Chief Brian Giammarino stopped in to provide the Selectboard with a copy of the US Marshal’s press release on the NH Joint Fugitive Task Force, which includes thanks to the Town of Greenfield for Chief Giammarino’s involvement as a Deputy U.S. Marshal. Chief Giammarino outlined several key statistics associated with the Marshal’s arrest records, and then outlined a number of additional metrics from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office relating to the work of the Greenfield Police Department.
Selectman Marshall asked a question about the third police cruiser, currently in rotation. Chief Giammarino affirmed that his understanding was that the police department has only two cruisers and when the life span of the third cruiser is up there will only be two cars in the department.
At 7:45PM on a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectman Marshall the Selectboard voted in a roll-call vote to enter into non-public session 3-0. At 7:58 PM the Selectboard voted to come out of non-public session on a vote of 3-0. On a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectman Marshall the Board voted 3-0 to seal the minutes.
The Selectboard returned to the work session and took up a discussion on the DPW department. The Selectboard discussed the question of using SB38 funding to purchase a Ford F550 Plow Truck for use on the municipal roads, as outlined in a letter from Victoria Sheehan, Commissioner of the NH Department of Transportation. After consideration the Chair moved the question of encumbering funds from the 2017 budget in the amount of $5,762.28 and to use $65,489.72 of SB38 funding to purchase the Ford F550 from Grappone Ford on State bid pricing and the plow, bed and hydraulics from Fairfields Equipment; using the Grappone Ford quote of $46,082.00 and the Fairfield quote of $25,170.00 and the vote was seconded by Selectman Marshall. The motion passed on a vote of 3-0.
The Selectboard then compared calendars and voted to move their regularly scheduled meeting from Tuesday January 2nd to Thursday, January 4th at the normal time of 5:30pm.
Adjournment
The time being 9:00 pm, The Chair moved to adjourn. Selectman Marshall seconded. All were in favor, and the motion carried 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM.
The minutes are final when approved and signed by the Selectboard. A signed copy is on file in the Selectboard’s office.