Selectboard Minutes
Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, October 18, 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:
- A/P Check Registers dated 10/18/18
- Payroll Check Register dated 10/19/18
- Selectboard Minutes – 10/11/2018
- Welfare Letters (3)
5:30 PM: Public Forum
At 5:30 pm Chairman Marshall opened the meeting. David Martin, EMD asked to be recognized for the public forum. Mr. Martin engaged in a brief discussion about Emergency Management issues with the Board. Following the conversation, the Chair recognized Robert Wachenfeld. Mr. Wachenfeld explained he was following up on his concerns with traffic on Old Bennington Road. Large trucks are still a concern. The Selectboard asked the town administrator to follow-up with the Police Department and then contact Mr. Wachenfeld. It was noted for the minutes that the Chair has noted that County Road could be posted for 25 mph so as to be consistent with Old Bennington Road.
The Selectboard began working on the Consent Agenda items. Todd Mason, DPW Roads Manager asked if the Selectboard had any questions regarding the S.R. Jones culvert replacement proposal. The Selectboard reviewed a contract prepared by the Town Administrator. Mr. Mason discussed the possibility of Sandford Engineering putting an intern on site while the culvert is replaced. The Selectboard requested that Mr. Mason contact the Town of Francestown DPW and find out the schedule for their bridge replacement to assure that some residents would not be isolated should the road be closed at both ends simultaneously. The Selectboard requested that the contract be reviewed by Town Counsel, noting that time is of the essence to get this moving before winter arrives.
The Selectboard voted 3-0 on a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectwoman Charig Bliss to accept the Consent Agenda.
6:30 PM: Budget Advisory Committee
The Selectboard welcomed Jack Moran and Doug Batty, members of the Budget Advisory Committee to the meeting. A two-year budget detail report was provided for discussion. It was noted that the 2019 budget is in draft format. Town Administrator Patt provided a brief overview of the draft budget noting a change in law starting January 2019 with regards the to decrease in interest on unpaid taxes, which will result in lower income to the town. There followed a brief discussion on the welfare budget, the personnel administration budget, and the ambulance. It was noted by both the BAC members that they were looking forward to discussions with the Department Heads. Reading the budget report in a vacuum is not as enlightening as participating with the department heads. It was agreed to postpone the October 25th budget meeting and to talk about the budget after the BAC member have had a chance to sit through the Department Head presentations. The Selectboard thanked the BAC members for their participation in the 2019 budget process. The Chair expressed his interest in working with them as they come up to speed with their questions and concerns about the 2019 budget.
At 7:41 the Chair made a motion to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:II c. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Charig Bliss. On a roll call vote the Board voted 3-0 to enter non-public session. At 8:00 pm the Selectboard voted 3-0 to exit non-public session and enter the public meeting. While in the public session, Selectwoman Charig Bliss made a motion to seal the minutes according to RSA 91-A:III in order to maintain the effectiveness of the non-public session and any discussions held in the non-public session. The motion was seconded by the Chair and passed on a vote of 3-0.
8:00 PM: Leah Conway, Welfare Director
At 8:15pm, Leah Conway Welfare Director came before the Selectboard to discuss the 2018 budget and also to discuss the projected 2019 budget. The current budget is expended by over 90% for the year and Ms. Conway believes that the budget will go over by year’s end. The projected 2019 budget has increased by nearly five thousand dollars to $36,000. The largest expenditure in the welfare budget is for Rent. Other expenses such as Food are over budget significantly. A discussion followed and it was noted for the Selectboard that there is no way to predict which line items will go over. A few years ago, the Unanticipated Expense line was significantly over budget. The Unanticipated Expense line item is for mortgage payments. This year apartment rentals is significantly over the budgeted amount; $19,550 on a budget of $7,000. Ms. Conway explained that many of the circumstances are outside of the applicant’s control. She noted that at least one applicant is expecting to pay the town back. A conversation followed about a question posed by the Budget Advisory Committee with respect to a practice in another town. At the conclusion of the conversation the Board requested that Unanticipated Expense and Rent be combined as Housing to better reflect the expense. It was also noted that the Selectboard needed to make available funding for the next few months. On a motion by Selectwoman Day and a Second by Selectwoman Charig Bliss, the Board voted to transfer $2,500 from the Personnel Administration Contingency line to the Welfare budget as an interim solution. It was noted that if there was an additional need the Board would vote to move additional funding. The motion was called and the vote was 3-0 in favor.
The Chair asked several questions about the number of hours required to service the community. Ms. Conway stated that the position should be manageable with 5 hours a week; however she acknowledged that during the holidays the position can require much more time. At the conclusion of the meeting the Selectboard thanked Ms. Welfare Director for her hard work.
Work Session Contd.
The Selectboard reviewed a letter from Attorney Serge regarding the Fairpoint lawsuit. The Town Administrator was instructed to follow up with Atty. Serge.
Next the Chair read a letter from the State of New Hampshire Division of Parks and Lands regarding a permission to close the road from Forest Road to Rte. 136 at Oak Park (the gravel cut-through). The consensus of the Selectboard was to close the road with barriers on the Rte 136 end as soon as possible. Public access will still be available on the Forest Road side. The Chair was requested to speak to DPW Manager Mason in order to plan the closure well in advance. The Chair stated he would work with DPW and with their schedule to help close the road.
Adjournment
At 9:13 pm Selectwoman Charig Bliss made a motion to adjourn the meeting, the motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day, the motion carried 3-0.