Selectboard Minutes
Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, March 28, 2019 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chair Margaret A. Charig Bliss, Selectman Robert Marshall, Selectwoman Karen Day
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Rick McQuade, Fire Chief
Public:
Documents for Review/Approval:
- A/P Check Register – 03/27/2019
- Timber Tax Levy – R8-6 & R4-18
- Intent to Cut – R1-11, R4-4, R4-4-1
- Intent to Excavate – R1-1-3 Gvl
- Selectboard Minutes – 03/14 & 3/21
- Welfare Voucher
Items for Discussion in the Public Session:
1) Utility Appraisal Proposal
2) HealthTrust Proposal
5:30 PM: Public Forum
At 5:30 pm, Chairwoman Charig Bliss opened the meeting. Seeing there were no public present for the public forum, the Selectboard began working through the Consent Agenda. The Selectboard voted on a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectwoman Day, 3-0 in favor of the Consent Agenda.
5:45 PM: Rick McQuade, Fire Chief
At 5:45pm Rick McQuade, Fire Chief met with the Selectboard. Chief McQuade provided an overview of the Fire Department for the year to date. Chief McQuade complimented the Greenfield Fire Department member for their selflessness, dedication, teamwork, and professionalism. Chief McQuade provided an update on the performance of the Wilton Ambulance service. The ambulance service is professional and personable. The transition from Peterborough to Wilton has been seamless. There have been no hiccups to date. There has been one call covered by mutual aid since the beginning of the year due to three simultaneous calls occurring, which took the Wilton ambulance out of service. The call was covered by Peterborough in a mutual aid response. That coverage was seamless.
Next, Chief McQuade provided a training update. Chief McQuade outlined his interest in taking training “back to the basics”. Chief McQuade stated that while the department has a significant number of certified individuals, include a high ratio of EMT medical providers, he is noticing that refresher courses on training basics is necessary because it’s important that everyone have good ‘muscle memory’ for the basic firefighter functions. Chief McQuade provided an overview of recent calls of note to illustrate the kinds of calls that have occurred since the beginning of the year. One of the auto accident calls required the use of the Jaws of Life. The new eJaws functioned perfectly and were incredible in the field. Conversely, the Chief explained that there are some components in the fire department that are older that need to be refreshed and made workable. This includes a waterline gauge on Engine 3, which is required for firefighter safety. The pumps on the various vehicles also need testing.
Next, Chief McQuade outlined progress on departmental SOP and SOGs. The SOGs are important for accountability at a fire scene. The Chief’s initiative to provide basic training will include the SOGs.
Chief McQuade explained that the Explorer Post has been approved and the department was able to keep the Post 13 designation (which corresponds to the Station number).
At 6:20 pm, Chief McQuade asked for a non-public session to go over a personnel matter. Selectwoman Day made a motion to enter into a non-public meeting. The motion was seconded by the Chair. On a roll-call vote the Board voted 3-0 to enter into non-public session. At 6:30pm the Board voted 3-0 to exit non-public session. While in the public session, the Chair made a motion to seal the minutes according to RSA 91-A:3 in order to maintain the confidentiality of a personnel discussion. The motion was seconded by Selectman Marshall. The Selectboard voted 3-0 in favor of sealing the minutes.
Chief McQuade thanked the Selectboard for their time.
6:30 PM: Selectboard Work Session
At 6:35pm the Selectboard took up a work session. The Board discussed the Recycling Center Supervisor’s report on the landfill closure document that was outlined in a letter from the State of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). A discussion followed regarding the need of the town to file the report. The Board requested that the Town Administrator research the form’s requirements in advance of the Board signing off on the report.
Next, the Selectboard reviewed a letter from Town Counsel regarding the question of whether the town can require insurance for facility rentals. This is a follow-up on a concern expressed by a resident. The letter outlined several court cases that have been resolved and then noted how the interpretations of those court cases have come to shape how municipalities act with regard to facility-use requests. At the conclusion of the discussion the Board reached a consensus that the town should have a facility use policy.
Next, the Selectboard reviewed quotes and recommendations from staff on a new copier rental. The Selectboard voted on a motion by Selectman Marshall and a second by Selectwoman Day to approve a lease agreement with Konica Minolta for a contract with an unlimited copy capacity and no charges for color or black and white overages, and to authorize the Town Administrator to sign the contract. The Board voted 3-0 in favor of the motion.
The Board discussed the upcoming Spirit newsletter and requested that the Town Administrator research whether the Spirit required a bulk mailing permit or whether EDDM mailing could be used to mail the newsletter.
The Board held a series of discussions outlining the needs for crosswalks to be painted in the downtown area; the re-appointment of Selectman Marshall to be the Planning Board Liaison (Ex Officio); the possibility of a developer purchasing the old Welcome House – with some discussion centered around the role of the town’s property next door; the question of whether the Rymes property, which used to house gas pumps, could be sub-divided; and lastly, whether the Board should move its meeting night to accommodate ConVal Selectboard Advisory Committee meetings. The Selectboard indicated that the meeting nights would continue on Thursdays but for those meetings that coincide with a SAC meeting, the Board may post an earlier meeting.
Next the Selectboard discussed the May 4th Community Conversation meeting about the Meeting House restoration. The Board discussed the possibility of forming a committee to help the Selectboard work through the issues of preserving and upgrading the Meeting House. The Board discussed the requirements of such a committee noting that the committee would have to be:
- Fair
- Open to all town residents
- Responsible for a survey regarding the Meeting House uses and restoration priorities
- Responsible to a mission that will be provided by the Selectboard
The Selectboard discussed the work of a Meeting House committee and decided that the Chair would write a draft mission statement and guidelines document for adoption prior to May 4th.
Next the Selectboard reviewed the possibility of holding a joint meeting of town boards in the June timeframe. The Selectboard would like to cross pollinate understanding across the different boards; including the different boards’ missions, potential areas of overlap, and common goals.
The Selectboard would like to promote collaboration among the different boards in town, in an effort to help the various boards and their members have a greater understanding of their particular role in town, and also to share common goals so that people serve with a better understanding of what constitutes the best interest of the town. The Selectboard hopes to set a date as soon as possible for this meeting.
Adjournment
At 9:00 pm Selectman Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting, the motion was seconded by the Selectwoman Day, the motion carried 3-0.