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Selectboard Minutes

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Meeting date: 
Thursday, December 5, 2019

Minutes

Town of Greenfield

Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH

Selectboard’s Minutes

Thursday, December 05, 2019 – 5:30 PM

 

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

Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator;

Public:

Documents for Review/Approval:

  1. A/P Check Register – 11/26/2019
  2. A/P Check Register – 12/04/2019
  3. Payroll Check Register – 11/29/2019
  4. A/P ACH Register – 12/26/2019 for NH Retirement
  5. Employee Health Insurance Co-Pay Worksheet
  6. Change of Wage Worksheet – DPW
  7. New Hire Worksheet – DPW
  8. Transmittal Letter – Town Buildings CRF
  9. Selectboard Minutes – 11/21/2019
  10. Welfare Voucher

Other letters/ items for Discussion/Signature:

1. Home Healthcare Hospice & Community Services Annual Report

            2. Upton & Hatfield Letter

            3. Stipulation and Release Letter – 11 Hebe Lane

            4. SchoolCare Domestic Partnership Policy

            5. Resident Letter

5:30 PM: Public Forum

At 5:30pm, it was noted that there were no public present for the public forum. The Selectboard began working through the Consent Agenda. The Board voted on a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectwoman Day, 3-0 to accept the Consent Agenda.

5:45 PM: Selectboard Work Session

The Selectboard reviewed a letter and annual report from Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community Services. The letter requests an appropriation for 2020 as part of the health services in the town warrant. The Selectboard approved the request of $500.00.

The Selectboard reviewed a letter from Town Counsel outlining the status of the proceedings at the Board of Tax and Land Appeals with respect to Eversource (PSNH) tax abatement appeals, which is continuing on schedule through December 10, 2019. A final resolution is not expected until after the New Year.

The Selectboard reviewed an employee benefit coverage offered by the town’s employee health insurance provider. SchoolCare’s coverage policy for domestic partnership was reviewed and discussed. At the conclusion of the discussion, Selectman Marshall moved to adopt the coverage. The Chair seconded and called the vote, which passed 3-0. A letter to SchoolCare was signed by the Chair outlining the Board’s vote to adopt. It was noted that there have been no requests for this benefit, which provides health insurance to domestic partners of employees. The Selectboard stated that they were working proactively.

At 6:00 pm, the Chair made a motion to enter into non-public session for the purpose of discussing a tax related issue at the request of a resident. Selectwoman Day seconded the motion. On a roll-call vote of 3-0 the Board entered into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 IIc, reputation.

At 6:05 pm, the Selectboard returned to public session on a vote of 3-0. On a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectman Marshall the Board voted 3-0 to seal the minutes under RSA 91-A:3 III in order to preserve the integrity of the discussion and preserve privacy for the individual.

6:30PM: Stephenson Memorial Library Trustees

At 6:30pm the Library Trustees and Library Director met with the Selectboard. Library Trustee Chair, Bruce Dodge introduced Trustee Kathy Seigars, Trustee Diane Boilard, and Beverly Pietlicki, Library Director. Mr. Dodge provided several thoughts on the Library budget. The budget has been finalized by the Trustees with an increase of approximately 4%. The budget is up $4,887 accounted among salaries, heating fuel, electricity, and an incremental amount for the library post office box. Director Pietlicki outlined her wage and salary research using a salary survey by the NH State library. She stated that the 2020 budget will provide a 5% raise for the library’s part-time positions, which will help bridge a gap in pay. She stated that the State library survey provided data on the 1200-2500 population demographic and the Stephenson Library was well below average within that demographic group. In addition to hourly wages, Director Pietlicki explained that the P-T wages line includes additional hours for substitute hours. These are critical hours to provide coverage for employees with time off benefits.

Selectman Marshall asked about the new awning that was installed as a result of a warrant article in March. Specifically, Selectman Marshall wanted to know if it was easier to cool the children’s area with the awning installed. Director Pietlicki explained that there was an impact during the summer months. During the winter months, the awning has to remain closed. This is causing some solar gain, which can provide some help during the winter months. At times they would like to use the awning. Selectman Marshall asked if there were any plans to use drapes for wintertime months. There are no plans to date.

At the conclusion of the budget discussion, the Trustees and the Selectboard discussed the water line issue, which has left the Library without water for several weeks. Selectman Marshall provided an overview of the issues with the water line from the Town Office to the Meeting House. He noted that the water line map in the Meeting House property file indicated that the library is fed by a water line that intersects with the water line outside the Old Town Office on Route 136. After replacing the water line between the Town Office and the Meeting House, and finding that the Meeting House and Old Town Office had water, but the Library did not, the town is forced to conclude that the library water line did not follow the map in the file. Instead, it is now believed to have been connected to the line between the Town Office and the Meeting House. A discussion followed on whether to continue to try and find the water line to the Library, or, whether to drill a well at the library and take that building off the well line from the Town Office.

At the end of the discussion, it was recorded for the minutes that the consensus of the Library Trustees and the Selectboard is that a well should be drilled at the Library. The Selectboard advised the Trustees that they had a meeting the next day (Friday, December 6th) and would coordinate this information with DPW B&G Manger McQuade.

Library Trustee Chair Dodge provided a tri-fold document outlining outdoor improvements including a new entrance on the east side of the Library as well as a patio and terrace area on the Slip Road side of the old building. These improvements are in the conceptual stage. At some point in the future the Trustees are interested in bringing the plans before the town. The Library intends to use private donations to bring about the patio and terrace.

There followed some discussion on potential well sites in the front of the building, in hopes of connecting to the current inlet piping. The discussion centered on the ability of the well cap to integrate into the landscape work for the patio. The Trustees provided a contact for the B&G department to coordinate with once the well driller has been selected.

7:25 PM: Selectboard Work Session

Selectman Marshall outlined a recent request by the Greenfield Covenant Church to bring the altar, which they own, to their new church addition. The Board reviewed a list of items owned by the Church, on file at the Selectmen’s office. After some discussion, the Board agreed that the church should send a letter to the Board outlining the request. The Board will then have something formal to follow-up on.

Adjournment

At 7:45 pm Selectman Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. The motion carried 3-0.