Print
Share page with AddThis

Selectboard Minutes

Upload file: 
PDF icon consent_agenda_-_signed_09-12-2019.pdf
Meeting date: 
Thursday, September 12, 2019

Minutes revised

Town of Greenfield

Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH

Selectboard’s Minutes

Thursday, September 12, 2019 – 5:30 PM

 

Selectboard: Chairwoman Margaret Charig Bliss, Selectwoman Karen Day, Selectman Robert Marshall

Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; David Martin, Emergency Management Director; Doug Batty, Fire Department Rescue Captain; Todd Mason, DPW Road Manager

Public: Kathleen Carpenter

Documents for Review/Approval:

  1. A/P Check Register – 08/28/2019
  2. A/P Check Register – 09/10/2019
  3. Payroll Check Register – 09/06/2019
  4. A/P “ACH” Check Register – 09/25/2019 / Retirement
  5. New Hire Worksheet – Library P-T
  6. New Hire Worksheet – Police P-T
  7. Change of Wage Worksheet – Library
  8. Request for Payment – Selectboard
  9. Cell Phone Reimbursement – DPW
  10. Selectboard Minutes – 08/22/2019
  11. Meeting House Rental – Friends of the Greenfield Meeting House
  12. Oak Park Rental – Antique Tractor Show
  13. Welfare – (3)

Items for Discussion in the Public Session:

1) Letter to the Selectboard from Kevin Vickery – Town Signs

            2) ZBA letter to the Selectboard – Appeal of Administrative Decision

            3) Scott Farrar – Open House initiation

            4) Downtown Lighting Project – Thank-you Letters

            5) Brownfield Support Letter – V1-9

            6) Recycling Center Supervisor Resumes

            7) American Steel – Steel Road Plate Invoice

            8) School Board Representative - Appointment

5:30 PM:  Public Forum

At 5:30 pm, Chair Charig Bliss opened the meeting. The Selectboard began working through the Consent Agenda items. The Chair recognized David Martin, Emergency Management Director. Mr. Martin explained that he was interested in a charge account for a local business. A discussion followed. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Selectboard instructed the Town Administrator to follow-up on the Emergency Management Director’s request. Following the discussion, the Chair called upon Todd Mason, DPW Road Manager. Mr. Mason asked for a non-public meeting to discuss a personnel issue. The Selectboard on a motion by the Chair and a second from Selectman Marshall, voted with a roll-call vote to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3, II a for a matter of personnel. The Board entered into the non-public session at 5:43 pm. At 5:58pm the Board returned to the public meeting. While in the public meeting the Chair made a motion to seal the minutes under RSA 91-A:3 III to preserve the effectiveness of the meeting. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day and passed 3-0 in favor. It was noted that no votes were taken during the non-public meeting.

5:45 PM:  Doug Batty, Rescue Captain Greenfield Fire Department

At 5:59 pm, Doug Batty met with the Selectboard to discuss an impending license change from EMT basic to ALS EMT, which he said is an intermediate license. Mr. Batty described the difference between the basic level and advanced level EMT license. There a number of drugs and procedures that an ALS EMT can administer that a Basic EMT cannot. Mr. Batty provided an explanation of the types of drugs that he will be able to administer under the ALS license. These include treatment for diabetics. Mr. Batty explained how an emergency call with an ALS license might differ from a call with just the basic EMTs responding. Mr. Batty suggested that the Selectboard check with the town’s insurer in case there is a notification needed by the town to the insurer.

Lastly, Mr. Batty suggested that when the Fire Department grant program is finalized and the exhaust system fully operational, that the Fire Department is thinking about hosting an open house. He will provide more information as the event comes into focus. The Selectboard thanked Mr. Batty for his report and stated that the last open house at the Fire Department was very successful and provided a lot of programs for children, which made the event especially rewarding.

6:15 PM:  Selectboard Work Session

The Selectboard received the Recycling Center Supervisor applications (resumes and cover letters) from seventeen applicants. Notice of the position was posted in the Ledger Transcript, at the Greenfield Post Office, at the Town Office, on the Greenfield website, on Indeed.com, and on the New Hampshire Municipal Association (NHMA) website. The posting notice on the NHMA website and at the Town Office indicated an end date of 9/12/2019. The Selectboard reviewed the applications and discussed the qualifications of the applicants. Three finalists were selected. Two of the finalists have solid waste operator certification in the State of New Hampshire. The Selectboard discussed and, on a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectwoman Day voted 3-0 to hold a meeting on Wednesday September 18th starting at 6pm to interview candidates. The Chair requested that the meeting be posted as a non-public meeting under RSA 91-A:3, II,b the hiring of any person as a public employee.

6:55 PM: Friends of the Greenfield Meeting House

At 6:55 pm, Ray Cilley and Kathy Seigars came before the Selectboard to review the Friends application to rent the Meeting House for an Oktoberfest fund raiser. The application was complete and signed by the Selectboard. Mr. Cilley indicated that the State of New Hampshire would need a copy as part of the Friend’s liquor license application for the event. There followed a discussion of the event, including the plan for the set-up and the how the tent will be situated.

7:30 PM: Kathleen Carpenter, Resident

At 7:30 pm, Kathleen Carpenter joined the Selectboard. Ms. Carpenter is a former Planning Board member and chairperson. Ms. Carpenter resigned from the Planning Board in early July. Ms. Carpenter opened the meeting with an explanation of her work schedule, which prevented her from visiting with the Selectboard until now. She discussed her resignation from the Planning Board and stated that she wanted to make herself available in case the Selectboard had any questions about her departure, or the status of the Planning Board when she was Chairperson. There followed an explanation of some issues with the Planning Board, which created frustration for her, and her later realization of how she might have handled things differently when she was on the board. Specifically, Ms. Carpenter stated that the Ex-Officio member of the Planning Board, Selectboard member Marshall, made it very difficult for her to be an effective Chair. She stated that there were several occasions when the discussions would devolve into heated situations where she felt she was being yelled at. She provided background on her work for the FAA and as a Realtor in New Hampshire as examples of her ability to work in stressful environments and be effective. However, she stated, the Planning Board meetings were very difficult even though she had asked people at the meetings, and outside of the meetings to work on better communication. Ms. Carpenter provided some thoughts and ideas about her goals for the Planning Board and acknowledged that there were things that needed to be fixed prior to her departure. She provided an example of the process to provide Lot Line Adjustments (LLA). The LLA hearing parameters were in the process of being simplified  and there had been some differences on the Planning Board about when the work product should be shared with Town Counsel.

The Selectboard Chair outlined the Selectboard’s commitment to providing an excellent work culture for the employees and their recent efforts to include boards and committees in the cultural discussion. The Chair acknowledged that the Selectboard has little recourse with elected officials on other boards, which is why they were interested in meeting with all of the boards and their members to discuss how the Selectboard can support them. Ms. Carpenter explained that with her work schedule she was tired and the Planning Board was “too much commitment at the end of the work day”. She stated that she hoped that the Selectboard would increase their efforts at collaboration. At the conclusion of the discussion, she thanked the Selectboard for taking the time to meet with her.

7:52 Selectboard Work Session – Old Business

The Selectboard went through the list of old business items. A brief discussion was held on progress for each item. A discussion was held regarding a financial planning presentation that was provided to the Planning Board by the Treasurer. The Board discussed several vacancies on boards and committees, including the position of Moderator.

Selectman Marshall reported that he had a list of items for discussion, some of which he would put off due to the lateness of the hour. The Board discussed having Mr. Marshall send his list in advance of the meeting so that if possible, the Town Office can gather information prior to the meeting. After some discussion, it was agreed that the Selectboard members would send items in advance of the meeting to the Town Administrator to be included on the Consent Agenda or Old Business.

Adjournment

At 8:40 pm The Chair made a motion to adjourn the meeting, the motion was seconded by Selectman Marshall, the motion carried 3-0.