Selectboard Minutes

Minutes

Town of Greenfield

Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH

Selectboard’s Minutes

Tuesday, February 13, 2018 – 5:30 PM

Selectboard: Chair Margaret A. Charig Bliss, Selectman Stephen Atherton, Selectman Robert Marshall

Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator;

Public:

Documents for Review/Approval

1. A/P Check Register
2. A/P “ACH” Register- NH Retirement
3. Selectboard Minutes
4. Change of Employment Worksheet – Deputy Town Clerk
5. Meeting House Rental Agmt.
6. Welfare

5:30 PM: Public Forum

At 5:30 pm, Chairwoman Charig Bliss opened the meeting. It was noted that there was no one in attendance for the public forum.

At 5:35 the Selectboard began working through the Consent Agenda.

5:45 PM: Selectboard Work Session

At 5:45 pm the Chair opened a discussion on the draft Town Report. The Selectboard reviewed the Dedication page, the Selectboard report, the Town Clerk’s annual report, and the vital records report. A discussion followed regarding the marriage licenses and vital records in general. The Selectboard then proofed the Town Report for spelling and grammar.

Next the Selectboard received a new memorandum of understanding from Franklin Pierce University. This MOU supersedes the last MOU and makes an exception of the Physician’s Assistant courses with respect to the municipal program that FPU has provided. The Selectboard discussed and then the Chair signed the MOU.

The Selectboard received a complaint regarding the Town Clerk’s office from a resident that was frustrated by the recent change in hours and the fact that the Town Clerk’s office was closed for weather.

The Selectboard received a request from the Town Administrator to strike the warrant article regarding the police cruiser lease and to roll the lease payment into the police operating budget as has been the practice in past years. The Selectboard reviewed and approved the request.

Next the Selectboard discussed the warrant articles for Town Meeting. The Selectboard assigned a speaker for each warrant article based on the subject matter strengths of each selectboard member.

Next the Selectboard discussed the Town Clerk budget and the warrant article for the Town Clerk’s department. The Selectboard discussed how to cover additional costs that may arise if the Clerk remains out for a significant length of time.

Next the Selectboard discussed comments on Town Warrant from Town Counsel. Town Counsel made recommendations to the opening paragraph of the Town Warrant to clarify the subjects acted on, on their respective dates (ballot elections on March 13^th, and the business meeting to vote on warrant articles on March 17^th, in 2018).

Next the Selectboard discussed a request from a resident about brush trimming on Dodge Road. The request will be forwarded to the DPW.

Next the Selectboard reviewed a request for an increase to the Elderly Exemption limits. The Elderly Exemption criterion has not been updated in many years. The Selectboard discussed the fact that the Elderly Exemption reduces the amount of assessed valuation for those taxpayers that meet the income exemption criteria. In Greenfield, which has a significant number of tax exempt organizations that pay a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), the amount of taxable property is greatly reduced from the total assessed valuation of all property located in the footprint of Greenfield due to the tax exempt status of a number of large organizations. Prior to the revaluation in 2014 the amount of tax exempt property was $100M. Raising the income exemption criteria will result in shrinkage of the amount of taxable property. Additionally, there are towns that have lower income thresholds, and higher valuations. After a lengthy discussion the Selectboard agreed to table the discussion for review at a later date.

The Selectboard discussed a mileage policy. Selectman Marshall reported that he has been working on combining several different policies that were provided by the Treasurer for review. Selectman Marshall said that he would forward a draft to the Town Office for review.

Adjournment

The time being 9:25 pm, Selectman Marshall moved to adjourn. Selectman Atherton seconded. All were in favor, and the motion carried 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:25 PM.

The minutes are final when approved and signed by the Selectboard. A signed copy is on file in the Selectboard’s office.

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