Selectboard Minutes
Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, October 11, 2018 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chair Robert Marshall, Selectwoman Margaret A. Charig Bliss, Selectwoman Karen Day
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Brian Giammarino, Police Chief; David Hall, Fire Chief
Public: Karen Russell, David Martin
Documents for Review/Approval:
- A/P Check Registers dated 9/28, 10/02, 10/10, 10/15
- Payroll Check Register dated 10/05
- Appointment – Police Officer PT
- Appointment – Police Officer FT
- Proposal from S.R. Jones – New Boston Culvert
- New Hire Worksheet (2) Library & Police Department
- Eversource Pole license -31-1104
- Highway Safety Grant 2019
- State of New Hampshire Notice of Election
- Intent to Cut – R1-01-3- GRVL
- Land Use Change Tax (3)
- Employee Vacation Request - DPW
- Selectboard Minutes – 9/27/2018
- Welfare Letters (5)
5:30 PM: Public Forum
At 5:30 pm Chairman Marshall opened the meeting and noted that Karen Russell, a member of the public, was in attendance for the public forum. Ms. Russell asked if there had been any decisions made with regards the Fire Department training facility, which has been discussed in relationship with the Greenfield Recycling Center. The Chair explained that there have been no decisions made regarding the training facility. He said that currently the Town has a survey company investigating a property line issue along the edge of the property where the town paved the road to the Recycling Center. The Chair also advised that the Selectboard has received a preliminary letter from the State of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Service but that the Selectboard has not had a chance to discuss the correspondence. Ms. Russell said that she had another engagement later in the evening and couldn’t stay to hear the discussion. The Chair invited Ms. Russell to come to a meeting once the Selectboard has had a chance to read the DES letter and hear from the survey company. He said they would put the discussion on the agenda so that people would know it was being discussed.
The Selectboard began working on the Consent Agenda items.
Police Chief Brian Giammarino asked to speak to the Selectboard briefly regarding the Greenfield Police Department police cruisers. Chief Giammarino said that Car 1 and Car 2 are approaching eight years of age. Recently he was informed that Car 1 needed significant repairs and would not pass inspection without the repairs. The Chief explained that the department has been trying to keep the vehicles going so that the acquisition of the next new cruiser would be staggered in relationship to the cruiser that the town bought last year. Unfortunately both Car 1 and Car 2 have serious issues he said. The Chief explained that Car 2 has not been starting and is unreliable. It also has much higher mileage the Car 1. Car 1 has axle problems and needs a new bearing. After discussion, the Chief advised the Selectboard that he needed to purchase a new cruiser and decommission Car 2. Car 1, he said, could be repaired and it would service the department until the new cruiser was on the road. The Selectboard stated that would discuss and let him know what they decide.
5:45 PM: Fire Chief, David Hall
Chairman Marshall recognized Chief Hall and outlined the purpose of the meeting was for the Selectboard to discuss with the Fire Chief the best way to ensure the vitality of the fire department after Chief Hall retires at the end of the year. The Chair explained that the Selectboard is looking for recommendations on how to fill the chief’s position as well as how to promote the esprit de corps that has been the hallmark of the department under Chief Hall. Chief Hall asked the Selectboard if they had formulated their vision for the department. The Chair stated that the Selectboard has received information from the department’s officers and is now seeking help from the Chief. The result will inform the Selectboard’s conversation about how they can best help the department move forward. The Chair stated that the Selectboard has not had that conversation yet and is still in the mode of gathering information.
Chief Hall said that it was his understanding that the Board had been discussing the different options for appointing a new chief and the discussion has been whether to maintain the position as a volunteer, to appoint someone as a part-time chief, or, to appoint a full-time salaried exempt chief. He said that it was his understanding that the two most flexible positions were the volunteer position (with a stipend) and the full time exempt salaried position (employee). A discussion followed on some of the key differences between a volunteer and an employee position. Chief Hall then asked if the Selectboard was interested in having an interim chief until Town Meeting. A member of the department is willing to be the interim chief, if necessary, he said. The Chair stated that the Board has not considered having an interim chief, but if the Board were to decide to bring a warrant article for a full-time position, then having an interim chief would be helpful. The Chair state that the Board was conscious of the need to have a long-term solution, and the Board will be discussing the best way to support the department for its long term success.
Chief Hall stated that it was important that the town continue to support and make vibrant the bunk-in program. He said that the town clearly needs bunk-ins as the number of people available to respond to calls during the day is just three people (the Chief, EMD David Martin, and Lieutenant Simmonds). He stated that Mr. Martin recently took a part-time job and will be out of town three days a week. As a result, the day-time shift is a concern. Chief Hall said that there has been some decline in call volume this year, and, as a result, high-end training is necessary to keep people engaged. He said that three things make for a good volunteer experience: leadership, training, and call volume. Along with these three components, a good department benefits from good training, good equipment, and a quality firehouse.
A discussion on the firefighter stipend followed. Chief Hall then stated that the department could look at advertising for bunk-ins for the day shift. He suggested that promoting a career path development for those individuals that do not have the ability to have a fire department affiliation where they live would provide the incentive for people to affiliate with Greenfield. This would keep the bunk-in program vibrant. A discussion followed about per diem pools vs. part-time employees for day-time coverage. Chief Hall discussed some recent conversations he has had with Wilton regarding their ambulance service. The Board and Chief Hall discussed some of the advantages that Wilton may provide compared to the Peterborough service.
Next the Chief outlined the training needs of the department. He stated that the department needs one night of EMS and one night of Fire Training per month. He said that members need to recertify bi-annually. The conversation moved on to a discussion on the posting of the chief’s position internally in the department before going to the wider external market. It was noted that the discussion was better held as a non-public, in order to discuss the position in more detail as it relates to internal candidates.
Ken Paulsen asked if he could have permission to take video on the 30th at the Meeting House, before the Selectboard heads into non-public. A brief discussion followed and the Board was of a consensus that Mr. Paulsen could take video of the Meeting House LCHIP presentation.
The Chair asked for a motion to enter into non-public session for the purpose of discussion under RSA 91-A:3 II a, b, and c. The Motion was made by Selectwoman Day with Selectwoman Charig Bliss providing a second. On a roll-call vote, the Selectboard voted 3-0 in favor of holding a non-public meeting starting at 7:50 pm.
At 8:25 pm, Chief Hall left the meeting. At 9:15 the Board voted 3-0 to exit non-public session. While in the public session, Selectwoman Charig Bliss made a motion to seal the minutes under RSA 91-A:3 III. The Chair seconded the motion. The motion was called and passed 3-0 in favor. It was noted for the minutes that the Selectboard had agreed to post the position of Volunteer Fire Chief internally, with a competitive stipend. While in the public session the Board requested that a joint meeting with Wilton Ambulance be scheduled so that a conversation between Wilton and Chief Hall could be held with the Selectboard.
Next the Selectboard reviewed the contract from S.R. Jones. It was noted that the contract was not sufficient for the Selectboard to engage with the company. The Board requested that a contract be pursued that would be sufficient for both parties.
The Board reviewed communication from Meridian Land Services. Meridian outlined an issue with the field work. They cited some differences in the field work compared to the survey company that did an unregistered survey for ASPE. Meridian is submitting a change order for $500 based on a conflict between their field work and the work done for ASPE. After a brief discussion the Board agreed to the change order from Meridian, not to exceed the amount quoted in the email from Jonathan Lefevbre.
Next the Selectboard reviewed a letter from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services regarding the fire department’s interest in a regional training facility located at the Recycling Center. The Chair outlined several statements in the letter and accompanying document for attention by the Board. The Selectboard discussed the letter, which makes suggestions that the town consider seeking legal counsel and the advice of a qualified person regarding the risk associated with the ‘burn building’. At the conclusion of the discussion the Selectboard requested that Sandford Engineering provide a quote on drawing up a plan to deal with water runoff and concerns at the recycling center.
The Board discussed the need for a new cruiser and noted that of the quotes provided by Chief Giammarino for review. It was agreed that the Chief should pursue the Dodge Charger based partly on his review and supporting conversation, and also due to its lower price point than the other alternatives (Ford SUV, and Ford Sedan).
The Board discussed the need for a non-public session on the 18th at 4:30pm in order to finalize the town administrator’s annual review amongst the Board members. The Board requested that the meeting be posted.
Adjournment
At 10:05 pm Selectwoman Charig Bliss made a motion to adjourn the meeting, the motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day, the motion carried 3-0.