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Selectboard Minutes

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Meeting date: 
Thursday, November 7, 2019

Minutes

Town of Greenfield

Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH

Selectboard’s Minutes

Thursday, November 07, 2019 – 5:30 PM

 

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

Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Library Trustee Chair Bruce Dodge; Library Trustee Diane Boilard; Library Director Beverly Pietlicki; Buildings & Grounds / Fire Chief Richard McQuade

Public: Gary and Karen Russell

Documents for Review/Approval:

  1. A/P Check Register dated 11/06/2019
  2. A/P Check Register dated 11/07/209
  3. Request for Payment Voucher – Capital Reserve Funds
    1. Assessment Capital Reserve Fund - $5,000
    2. Fire/Rescue Capital Reserve Fund - $40,000
    3. Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund - $40,000
    4. Library Buildings & Grounds Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund - $10,000
    5. Master Plan Capital Reserve Fund - $6,000
    6. Meeting House Improvements Capital Reserve Fund - $25,000
    7. Non-Apparatus Fire Department Capital Reserve Fund - $7,500
    8. Police Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund - $10,000
    9. Recycling Center Facilities & Equipment Capital Reserve Fund - $1,000
    10. Town Buildings Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund - $5,000
    11. Forest Fire Fighters Expendable Trust Funds - $500
  4. Meeting House Application – Turkey Raffle fee waiver request
  5. Alcohol Permit Application – Turkey Raffle
  6. Change of Wage Worksheet – Library P-T
  7. Selectboard Minutes – 10/31/19
  8. Welfare Voucher

Other letters/ items for Discussion/Signature:

            1) Abutter Notification of Shoreland Permit Application – Hebe Lane

            2) Town Office Roof File           

5:30 PM: Public Forum

At 5:30pm, Chair Charig Bliss opened the meeting. Gary and Karen Russell were in attendance for the public forum. Mr. Russell discussed the town forestry committee timber bid on the George Proctor Town Forest. Mr. Russell stated that the Sportsmen’s Club would like to hire the winning bidder to clear a portion of the property for a building. The Board requested that the bid package and map of the timber cut be provided. The Board agreed to waive the public forum portion of the Selectboard meeting on the 14th and to meet with the Town Forest Committee to discuss the timber cut.

The Selectboard began working through the Consent Agenda. The Selectboard voted to approve the Consent Agenda on a motion by the Chair, and a second by Selectwoman Day, 3-0 in favor.

5:45 PM: Rick McQuade, Buildings & Grounds Manager

Rick McQuade, Buildings & Grounds Manager provided an update on the broken water line between the Town Office building and the Meeting House. A discussion on the best approach to fix or replace the water line was held. Possible steps include directional boring under Rt. 31/Sawmill Road to install a replacement line, rather than digging up the road; a quote from Mathewson Company to dig a trench from the Meeting House to Sawmill Road; and quotes from companies that use equipment to pinpoint leaks in water lines in order to avoid significant and costly digging on the Meeting House Common. Mr. Russell suggested putting a pressure gauge on the line and using the pressure to estimate the distance to the break. A half a pound of pressure per foot will provide the distance to the break.

Mr. McQuade outlined that he has also had three quotes for drilling a well at the Meeting House. The Board discussed this idea of putting in a well at the Meeting House. Selectman Marshall stated that with the Meeting House project still in the planning stages and with a good chance the foundation will be dug up, it doesn’t make sense to install a well today. Selectwoman Day agreed and stated that she would prefer to have the line fixed as soon as possible. Mr. McQuade stated that he is waiting on the Wash Well company to pinpoint the break. Library Trustee Chair Bruce Dodge asked how long the Library would be without water. Mr. McQuade explained that Digsafe had just completed flagging for electrical lines that day, and there is a State permit required for any digging or directional boring under or adjacent to the State road.

Next, Mr. McQuade stated that there are a number of shingles that have blown off the roof of the Town Office building in the recent windstorm. A discussion followed on replacing the missing shingles. The folder for Ivester Roofing was provided to Mr. McQuade for reference on the installer.

6:45 PM: Selectboard Work Session

The Selectboard took up a discussion on the ambulance service with Fire Chief McQuade. Chief McQuade stated that the Fire Department works well with the Wilton Lyndeborough Temple ambulance service. The service to Greenfield residents continues to be timely and consistent. Discussions of recent issues stemming from the Wilton Selectboard’s interest in the Ambulance Association building were held. Town Administrator Patt reported that the budget for the ambulance service is likely to increase according to a report from Ambulance Chief Desrosiers in a recent ambulance advisory committee meeting.  This is due to the need for additional staffing during the day. Since adding Greenfield, the Chief reported that calls are in line with projections, however, the bulk of calls have occurred during the day and with a significant number on Thursdays. As a result, the ambulance program will need to staff more people during the day. A discussion on the Ambulance program’s budget was held. The discussion ended at 8:00pm. The Selectboard thanked Chief McQuade for his time.

Next the Selectboard reviewed an invitation from the Greenfield Community Congregational Church to have Selectman Marshall attend their church expansion groundbreaking ceremony. Selectman Marshall explained that he has been asked to say a few words at the ceremony. The Selectboard reviewed and approved the request and the statement that Selectman Marshall will read congratulating the Church on their new addition.

Selectman Marshall reported that the Planning Board held discussions on the Class VI road building permit application, and, the request to turn V3-10 (town owned property on Slip Road) into a parking area. The Planning Board will be sending advisory letters to the Selectboard for review. The Selectboard will review and discuss the Class VI road application according to RSA 674:41 upon receipt and discussion of the Planning Board’s recommendation. The Board will issue a decision at the end of that discussion. The Selectboard will make a determination on the request for parking based in part on the Planning Board’s letter.

At 8:50pm, the Selectboard took up a discussion on the 2020 budget. Selectwoman Day encouraged the Selectboard to hold a separate work-session meeting to revisit the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) and determine the Capital Reserve Fund saving amounts and CIP projects that will become warrant articles for Town Meeting. The Selectboard agreed to meet on Wednesday November 13th at 4pm and to hold a work session to discuss the CIP and 2020 budget.

Adjournment

At 9:12 pm Selectman Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. The motion carried 3-0.