Selectboard Minutes
Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, January 10, 2019 – 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 Register – 01/09/2019
- Payroll Register – 01/11/2019
- Selectboard Minutes – 01/03/2019
- Welfare Vouchers (3)
Items for Discussion in the Public Session:
1) Financial Policies
2) Sportsman’s Club Event Sign Placement
5:30 PM: Public Forum
At 5:30 pm, Chairman Marshall opened the meeting. It was noted that there were no public in attendance for the public forum.
The Selectboard began working on the Consent Agenda. The Board voted, on a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectwoman Charig Bliss to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion was approved 3-0 in favor.
5:45 PM: David Martin, Emergency Management Director
The Chair welcomed David Martin. Mr. Martin asked for a few minutes to discuss a recent request by the Boys and Girls Club of Souhegan Valley. Mr. Martin explained that the B&G Club would be using the Greenfield Elementary School for certain events. They are required to file an Emergency Management plan with the State of NH. Mr. Martin received a request for a signature on the B&G Club evacuation plan. The Boys and Girls Club intends to use the same protocol as the School District relative to the emergency collection point, which is a town owned building. A discussion followed. At the end of the discussion the Selectboard requested that Mr. Martin arrange to have a representative of the Club meet with the Board. The Board thanked Mr. Martin for bringing the request forward.
6:00 PM: Selectboard Work Session
At 6:00 pm, the Selectboard began working on items from their agenda. The first was a request from the Sportsmen’s Club to place a sign, similar to the library’s temporary event sign, on town property to announce their events. The Selectboard received a permission-form created by the Town Administrator, with indemnification language from the Town’s insurance provider. After some discussion the Board reached a consensus to use the permission form. A discussion followed about the signs that appear on the common, placed by companies and organizations, which appear to be commercial advertisements. The Board reached agreement that those parties have placed the signs without permission. The Board is inclined to have the signs removed. The Selectboard agreed that the request for permission by the Sportsmen’s Club and their willingness to have a permission form on file was a good example of the club’s interest in working with the town. The Board stated that this is what should be happening with the other sign owners, especially with regards the Town Common. The Board continued the discussion and decided to have DPW put up a notice indicating the need for permission. After a suitable period of time the other signs would then be removed. At the end of the discussion, the Chair made a motion to adopt the use of the permission-form, the motion was seconded by Selectwoman Charig Bliss. On a vote of 3-0 the motion passed.
Next the Selectboard discussed the cost to install the remaining light poles that were not completed during the downtown beautification bond. The Board agreed to request DPW Buildings & Grounds Manager McQuade to gather cost estimates for the light poles and their installation. It is believed that there are five poles that could be installed.
The Board discussed the lot line adjustment project with the DPW/Recycling Center property and American Steel. Town Administrator Patt provided the packet of information that will go to the Planning Board. He requested that the Board approve his attendance at the next Planning Board meeting. The Board reviewed the material and requested that the Town Administrator attend a preliminary conceptual consultation with the Planning Board.
The Board began a budget discussion regarding the 2019 budget. The Selectboard discussed the Groundkeeper contract’s impact on the 2019 budget. After some discussion the Board agreed to remove the Groundskeeper line item from Cemeteries and move the total amount to General Government Buildings. The Board intends to have a discussion with people at Town Meeting about whether the cost of the groundskeeper contract has increased sufficiently enough to have the town take over this work. After some discussion the Board noted that the Cemetery budget would be reduced significantly and the General Govt. Bldgs budget would now include $57,240 for Groundskeeper.
At 7pm the Chair noting the time requested a non-public meeting to discuss a matter of personnel. Seeing that the Board was in agreement the Chair made a motion to enter into non-public session. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day and on a roll call vote the Board voted 3-0 to enter into non-public session.
At 7:27pm the Board voted 3-0 to exit non-public session. There were no decisions made or voted during the non-public session. While in the public session, Selectwoman Charig Bliss made a motion to seal the minutes pursuant to 91-A:III in order to protect the reputation of the persons that were discussed in the meeting. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. On a vote of 3-0 in favor the motion to seal the minutes passed in favor.
The Selectboard returned to the discussion on the 2019 budget. The Board went through each department and deliberated on each line item. Changes were made to several budgets including the DPW Buildings and Grounds, DPW, Police and Fire, and Recycling budgets. The changes were compiled and reviewed. The Board asked that the budget changes be made available by Monday, January 14th by email. The Board discussed the Selectboard’s meeting on the 17th
Next, the Board reviewed their calendars. The Holiday Party, originally scheduled for the 17th of January will need to be re-scheduled due to a conflict. Wednesday January 16th was discussed and suggested as a tentative date.
The February 5th Budget Hearing is also a conflict. The Board discussed and decided to change the Budget Hearing to January 31st at 6:30pm.
Adjournment
At 9:27 pm Selectwoman Charig Bliss made a motion to adjourn the meeting, the motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day, the motion carried 3-0.