Selectboard Minutes
Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, February 07, 2019 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chair Robert Marshall, Selectwoman Margaret A. Charig Bliss, Selectwoman Karen Day
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator
Public: Hunter Carbee, Marcia Davis, Diane Boilard
Documents for Review/Approval:
- A/P Check Register – 02/06/2019
- Payroll Check Register – 02/08/2019
- Permanent Property Tax Exemption – Solar Exemptions (2)
- Selectboard Minutes – 01/31/2019
- Welfare Vouchers –(1)
Items for Discussion in the Public Session:
1) 2019 Budget Review
5:30 PM: Public Forum
At 5:30 pm, Chairman Marshall opened the meeting. It was noted that Hunter Carbee and Marcia Davis were in attendance. Diane Boilard was also in attendance. On invitation by the Chair, Town Administrator Patt outlined the recent changes to the proposed warrant articles 17 & 18 pertaining to the establishment of the Town Forest Maintenance Fund for Mr. Carbee and Ms. Davis. At the conclusion of the explanation Mr. Hunter and Ms. Davis thanked the Board for the explanation and took their leave. Diane Boilard was invited to speak. Ms. Boilard indicated that she expected additional people to join the meeting to discuss some concerns with the Selectboard. After a period of time, Ms. Boilard agreed to outline some thoughts and concerns that were shared recently during a meeting of the committee formed to help with Meeting House fund raising. Ms. Boilard stated that the insurance to use the Meeting House is an issue. The Town should not be requiring insurance. She asked the Board to consider how residents can use the Meeting House at no cost. She stated that the insurance requirement is not inclusive. She stated that residents should not be charged to use the Meeting House. She stated that she wants the Board to discontinue asking insurance from residents. She listened to an explanation of the insurance requirement for the Meeting House provided by the Town Administrator. At the conclusion of the explanation, Ms. Boilard acknowledged the explanation but stated she felt that there should be a way around the insurance requirement. A discussion of “Town Sponsored” events was held. Ms. Boilard explained that residents have already paid taxes and that fees are an “additional tax”. She stated that she is very concerned about the effect of the fees and insurance requirement on volunteers. She stated that she is unhappy with the current practice and wants the process to be more inclusive for town residents. In closing, Ms. Boilard asked for feedback at a future meeting.
The Selectboard began working on the Consent Agenda. The Selectboard voted on a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectwoman Charig Bliss, 3-0 in favor of the Consent Agenda.
6:30 PM: Selectboard Work Session – Non-Public Session
At 6:35pm the Selectboard meeting was joined by Brian Giammarino, Police Chief. Chief Giammarino asked the Board for a non-public session. After a brief discussion by the Chair on the request, Selectwoman Day made a motion to enter into non-public session. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Charig Bliss. On a roll-call vote, the Selectboard voted 3-0 to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3, II c, Reputation.
At 7:50 pm, the Selectboard voted 3-0, on a motion by Selectwoman Day and a second by Selectwoman Charig Bliss to exit non-public session. While in the public session, Selectwoman Charig Bliss made a motion to seal the minutes according to 91:A-3 III regarding reputation and emergency functions. The motion was seconded by the Chair and passed 3-0.
7:50 PM: Selectboard Work Session Contd.
The Selectboard discussed and read the Selectboard report in order to finalize it for Town Report. At the conclusion of the reading the Board agreed that with the addition of several edits, the report is finalized. Next the Selectboard reviewed letters and mail.
Chairman Marshall provided an overview of the warrant article that will appear on the ConVal School District Warrant relating to the funding formula. The current formula is “50-50” (50% apportionment and 50% ADM). The warrant article would change the funding formula to “60-40”. The Board discussed the possible ramifications for Greenfield. The Chair cited a recent newspaper article indicating the towns that could expect a lower percentage of the overall apportionment versus the towns where the apportionment percentage would increase. Greenfield would be a town where the apportionment could decrease.
Adjournment
At 8:31 pm Selectwoman Charig Bliss made a motion to adjourn the meeting, the motion was seconded by the Chair, the motion carried 3-0.