Selectboard Minutes
Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Wednesday, January 02, 2020 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairwoman Margaret Charig Bliss, Selectwoman Karen Day, Selectman Robert Marshall
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator;
Public:
Documents for Review/Approval:
- A/P Check Register – 12/31/2019
- Selectboard Minutes – 12/30/2030
- Timber Tax Warrant – R10-13 & 13-1, S5-19
- Intent to Cut – Brooks R3-30
Other letters/ items for Discussion/Signature:
1. Letter from resident regarding Zephyr Lake
2. NH Dept. of Environmental Services – PWS Id 0976030
3. Community Revitalization Tax Incentive 79-E Application
5:30 PM: Public Forum
At 5:30, the Chair noted that there were no public present for the public forum. The Selectboard began working through the Consent Agenda. On a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectwoman Day, the Board voted 3-0 to approve the Consent Agenda.
5:45 PM: Todd Mason, DPW Roads Manager
The Selectboard welcomed Todd Mason, DPW Roads Manager to the meeting. Mr. Mason provided some opening remarks to his presentation on the year in review. Mr. Mason provided a hand-out to the Selectboard that detailed a review of the major projects in 2019. Mr. Mason provided details about each of the projects. Using contractors on the projects proved to be successful. Mr. Mason provided an overview of the culvert replacement on Dunklee Hill and on New Boston Extension. In both cases, the engineered drawings approved by the State required equipment that the town does not own. Contracted services were required to install the culverts in both instances. On the Dunklee Hill culvert, the cast concrete headwalls greatly exceeded the engineered specifications, in weight, and the town had to hire two contractors to handle the weight of the headwalls. Mr. Mason explained the difficulties with mud season and then the Board and Mr. Mason discussed tree trimming and ditching planned for the coming year.
Mr. Mason provided an overview of the paving project on East Road. Selectman Marshall asked several questions about the ‘sandwich’ paving project (gravel was laid down over the existing pavement to a depth, then graded and new pavement was applied over the gravel – creating a sandwich effect). The Board and Mr. Mason discussed this application as it was applied on Mountain Road in the past. The Board then discussed the question of using contractor services for ditching, tree trimming, and culvert replacement. The Board wanted to know how many miles of gravel roads could be covered in a year. Selectman Marshall stated that he calculated the amount of funding per year for gravel and contract services based on the DPW crew covering 20% of the gravel roads – about 4 miles a year.
Mr. Mason went over the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) in anticipation of the upcoming year. He stated that all of the equipment is owned outright at this time. The Board discussed the recent repairs to the 6-wheel dump truck. Mr. Mason stated that the most recent repairs were nearly ten thousand dollars. This is one of the unexpected costs that caused the DPW budget to run over this year. After some discussion, the Selectboard noted that there are no purchases of equipment in the next two years, but following that the Loader, Back-Hoe, Grader, and 6-Wheel dump truck all come due in a four to five year period. Selectboard members expressed their concern about how close together all of the equipment replacement occurs. The cost of each piece of equipment is significant and having them all so close together is not feasible. Selectwoman Day asked if the town wouldn’t be better off to replace the 6-wheel dump truck this year. Mr. Mason stated that the Freightliner 6-wheel is ten years old and has had problems since it came to us used.
The Chair, noting the time stated that the Board would need to continue the conversation at another time as there is 7pm appointment. The Board agreed to meet on January 8th to pick up the CIP conversation regarding DPW.
7:00 PM: Ray Cilley, Business District Property Owner
At 7pm, the Chair welcomed Mr. Cilley to the meeting. Mr. Cilley stated that he had dropped off an application for a Community Revitalization Tax Incentive 79-E for the property located at 792 Forest Road. Mr. Cilley pointed out that the property was built in 1820 according to the tax card. The property has been on the market for six years without moving before he bought it. The property is in the village center across from the Harvester Market. Formerly Greenfield Auto, the property has no septic service or water on-site. Mr. Cilley stated that he has hired Fieldstone Engineering to look at installing a bridge to the back of the property. He said that he is interested in the possibility of re-making the blacksmith shop into a functional shop where classes could be held. Selectman Marshall stated that this property is a perfect application of the 79-E program because the property has very little value on its own without facilities. Selectwoman Day stated that she has concerns about the covenant outlined in the RSA. The Board discussed the requirements of RSA 79-E and noted that the Board has 60 days to hold a public hearing on the merits of the application. The application itself requests that the tax assessment be held at its current value for five years, while the revitalization of the building takes place. At the conclusion of the discussion the Board agreed to hold a public hearing on February 6th at 5:45 on a motion by the Chair and a second from Selectman Marshall. The motion passed 3-0 in favor.
7:45 PM: Selectboard Work Session
The Selectboard discussed an email from a resident on Zephyr Lake. The resident is requesting permission to trap the beavers that are causing the water level to rise. The Board discussed the request at length and requested that DPW Manager Todd Mason provide an update on the beaver dam culverts prior to providing permission for trapping.
Adjournment
At 8:06 pm Selectman Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. The motion carried 3-0.