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Selectboard Minutes

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Meeting date: 
Thursday, July 12, 2018

Minutes

Town of Greenfield

Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH

Selectboard’s Minutes

Thursday, July 12, 2018 – 5:30 PM

 

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

Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator;

Public:

Documents for Review/Approval:

  1. A/P Check Register dated July 2, 2018
  2. A/P Check Register dated July 10, 2018
  3. Payroll Check Register dated July 13, 2018
  4. A/P “ACH” Check Register dated July 13, 2018 to NH Retirement System
  5. New Hire Worksheet – Library PT Aide
  6. Employee Health Insurance Co-Pay Worksheet
  7. Employee Vacation Request – (2)
  8. Public Safety Allowance
  9. Intent to Cut- R3-2-1 & R3-6
  10. Selectboard Minutes - 6/27 & 6/28/2018
  11. Meeting House Rental (2)
  12. Oak Park Rental
  13. Welfare Letter (3)

5:30 PM: Public Forum

At 5:30 pm Chairman Marshall opened the meeting and noted that there are members of the public in attendance for the public forum.  The Selectboard began working on the Consent Agenda items.

Chairman Marshall acknowledged Karen Russell. Mrs. Russell stated that she was there to clarify the minutes, regarding statements from the meeting on June 21st that she attended with her husband. The minutes should reflect that Mr. Russell expressed a concern about having a burn building on the recycling center property because of the flammable materials stored in the recycling center building. She also noted that there is a concern for the water protection area around the town’s property because the site was not capped or lined. That concern was related to the brook in the vicinity of Sawmill Road. The Board thanked Mrs. Russell for her corrections.

Next the Chair invited Robert Wachenfeld to speak. Mr. Wachenfeld stated that large trucks use Old Bennington Road as a cut-through, and are going too fast and creating an unsafe environment for residents who live and travel on the road. He asked if the town could put a weight limit on the road to prevent damage to the road from large trucks. He also asked if the speed limit could be lowered to 25MPH. The Board discussed the option of a weight limit and speed limit enforcement. The Board agreed to forward the speed limit concerns to the police department and to contact DPW about the weight limit suggestion for guidance.

5:45 PM:

The Selectboard continued working on the Consent Agenda. The Board discussed the summer session schedule and noted that the Midwest tanker chassis payment will come due during a week when the Selectboard is not meeting. The Board discussed and agreed that non-contemporaneous signing of documents is the preferred way to deal with payments and documents during the weeks when the Board does not meet. This will allow the Board to sign payroll, A/P checks, and other payments and transfers during weeks when there is no scheduled meeting.

Next the Board discussed maple tree pruning for the maple trees on the Meeting House common. It was agreed that there would be funds allocated in the DPW budget in 2019 to provide for tree pruning to ensure that the trees are maintained and healthy.

At the conclusion of these discussions, Selectwoman Charig Bliss made a motion to accept the Consent Agenda. Selectwoman Day seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0 in favor.

6:30 PM: Budget Advisory Committee (BAC)

The Selectboard was joined by newly elected budget committee members Doug Batty and Jack Moran. Mr. Batty is a member of the fire department and has been applying for grants on behalf of the department. Mr. Moran is a businessman and has served on the Planning Board’s economic development committee for five years. The elected budget committee members requested that a third member, Keith Hickey, be appointed. Mr. Hickey is the Town Manager of Winchendon Massachusetts, and was formerly a town manager in Bedford New Hampshire. Mr. Hickey has experience with and understands town budgets. The Selectboard agreed to provide the appointment, and arrangements were made to swear in the members that have not been sworn-in. Chairman Marshall opened a discussion with the Budget Committee members. He provided a description of past budget practices and provided an overview of the Selectboard’s goals leading up to Town Meeting in 2019. The Chair outlined his hopes that the Selectboard and Budget Committee could, together, reach a consensus on the budget for the upcoming year, and have a strong process for setting a budget that is good for the town. A short discussion followed and then a round of introductions was provided by the BAC members.

Following the introductions, the Board discussed the municipality’s budget, the tax rate setting process, and the use of fund balance by the Selectboard. The group discussed the overall budget process, and held a discussion of goals for the future. The Selectboard and the BAC discussed economic development in Greenfield, and long range planning for the community. Mr. Moran provided an overview of the work that the Economic Development Committee has provided, which included a review of the EDAC’s broadband development efforts, the potential for grants and the need for seed money to engage with broadband providers. Mr. Hickey provided some thoughts on the budget process relative to the town’s revenue. Town Administrator Patt provided background on the town’s PILOT programs and revenue in Greenfield. A discussion on other types of revenue generation was held. Mr. Hickey explained that the town that he manages has been entering into solar agreements. Mr. Moran provided an overview of the EDAC’s solar research and initiatives. Selectwoman Day said that a warrant article was presented to voters some years ago that was passed to limit the amount of taxation on alternative energy installations.

Lastly the BAC discussed the types of information that they need in order to review the current budget and to prepare for the 2019 budget process. A brief discussion was held and it was agreed that the BAC and the Selectboard would meet with department heads together and receive the department heads’ presentations on their budget needs, starting in September.

The Selectboard thanked the budget committee members for attending.

8:00 PM: Selectboard Work Session

The Selectboard reviewed a reply from NHMA legal services regarding a resident’s inquiry about RSA 95:1 in the context of public officials offering or providing services to the town. The Board noted that reply indicated that the RSA explicitly applies to buying real estate, selling or buying goods, commodities, or other personal property of a value in excess of $200. The Board decided to send the question to Town Counsel with a request for additional comment. The Selectboard’s decision included that they would take no action while the question is under review.

The Board reviewed correspondence regarding the Milford-Bennington Railroad. The Board reviewed correspondence from the New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank relative to past grants.

The Selectboard received a preliminary update on the Department of Labor Wage and Hour audit. The final report is due from DOL on July 19th and will be sent to the Board for review.

Chairman Marshall noted that there was a need to enter into non-public session to continue personnel discussions. Selectwoman Charig Bliss made a motion to enter into Non-Public session under RSA 91-A:II a and c, personnel at 8:25pm. The Chair seconded the motion. The motion passed on a roll call vote 3-0.

At 8:59 pm the Selectboard voted 3-0 to enter into public session. While in the public session, Selectwoman Charig Bliss made a motion to seal the minutes pursuant to RSA 91-A:III. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. The motion passed 3-0 in favor.

It was noted for the minutes that the Selectboard accepted a resignation letter from Fire Chief David Hall, effective December 30th, 2018.

The Selectboard reviewed the meeting calendar for July, August and September. It was noted that Administrator Patt would be on vacation at the end of August, Selectwoman Charig Bliss would be away for two weeks in the middle of August, and Selectwoman Day would be away during the first week of September. After discussion the Board agreed to the following meeting days and requested that they be posted. In August the Board will meet on the 2nd and the 23rd  of August and then again on Sept. 13th. Following September 13th the Board will resume weekly meetings.

 Adjournment

At 9:33 pm the Chair made a motion to adjourn the meeting, the motion was seconded by Selectwoman Charig Bliss, the motion carried 3-0.