Selectboard Minutes

Minutes

Town of Greenfield

Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH

Selectboard’s Minutes

Thursday, April 19, 2018 – 5:30 PM

Selectboard: Chair Robert Marshall, Selectwoman Margaret A. Charig Bliss, Selectwoman Karen Day 

Public: None

Selectwoman Margaret Charig Bliss taking minutes.

Documents for Review/Approval

• A/P Check Register – 04/18/2018
• Payroll
• Crotched Mountain PILOT
• Welfare

5:30 PM: Public Forum

At 5:30 pm, Chairman Robert Marshall opened the meeting.  There being no members of the public present, the board began its weekly work session.

5:32 PM: Selectboard Work Session

At 5:32 pm the board analyzed quotes for a fire tanker from Rosenbauer, Danko and Midwest Fire, considering 16 categories; e.g. chassis, tank size, warranty, lighting and cost. The board decided that Midwest Fire offered the best deal for Greenfield. The total for the tanker, lettered and delivered, was noted to be $239,991 although Selectwoman Day said she had spoken with company representatives and they had cited a slightly lower figure. Danko offered a similar price but the vehicle would not be available until 2019.

Selectwoman Charig Bliss made a motion to purchase the Midwest Fire Tanker, seconded by Selectwoman Day; vote 3-0.

Next the board signed a one-year contract with Jeremy Gagnon Landscaping Corp. for $43,000 to provide mowing and other landscaping as worked out at a special meeting on April 16.

The board signed an addendum to the 2013 PILOT agreement with Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center.  The addendum provides for an additional five years of payments, in accordance with the previous agreements dating back twenty five years. Under the agreement, CMRC will pay $177,411.70 each year for 2018 and 2019, and in 2020 -2022 it will pay the same amount plus an inflation factor.

The board established a system for keeping a calendar that automatically alerts the board to upcoming events to help level out the work and maintain a schedule for such things as annual evaluations and Spirit articles. The calendar will be excerpted to the weekly agenda by the Town Administrator. This calendar will be an internal document used to manage the board's time better.

Next, the board took up an ongoing discussion of a mileage policy and/or travel  allowance for employees who use their vehicles for town business. The issue was sparked several months ago by the fire chief's request for mileage in town. The board opted to continue work on a mileage policy for all employees but to address the chief's request with a $50 per month taxable allowance for in-town business mileage and the current reimbursement for out-of-town business mileage. The taxable allowance is limited to the fire chief at this time and would be re-negotiable for a subsequent chief. The board decided to have Town Counsel suggest language since it is more in the nature of a contract than a policy.

The board accepted with regret, a letter from Lee LeBlanc noting that the Memorial Day parade will not be held this year. Instead, the board approved payment for wreaths for each of the town's war memorials.

The board agreed to a May 1st, 9:30 a.m. closed hearing for a Police Department personnel issue. The hearing needs a public notice one week in advance. The Town Administrator will confirm the date with town counsel. The officer involved may choose to have an open hearing.

The board unanimously accepted the Consent Agenda on a motion by Selectwoman Charig Bliss, seconded by Selectwoman Day and affirmed by Chair Marshall. The motion passed 3-0.

Next the Selectboard took up a conversation about the Town Clerk’s office, noting that Clerk Edith Sleeper continues to be out and that there are two elections approaching. The board discussed ways to identify possible candidates for Deputy Clerk. The discussion will be taken up at a later date.

The board approved an ad to be placed in the upcoming edition of the Spirit by the Barbara C. Harris Center for its Greenfield Community Day, an opportunity for townspeople to enjoy a free breakfast together and help with cleaning up the walking trails and campus of the Episcopal Camp and Conference Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m on June 23.

Lastly, the board set 5:45 p.m. May 10 as the time for another informational session with residents of Gulf Road and Dodge Road to discuss renaming sections of their roads. Residents had made recommendations but they were rejected by the E-911system. The system requires names that cannot be confused with existing roads so emergency responders can quickly identify the area of need.

Adjournment

The time being 7:45, Selectwoman Charig Bliss motioned to adjourn; Chair Marshall seconded and the vote was unanimous 3-0.