Selectboard Minutes
Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, January 09, 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:
- Payroll Check Register – 1/09/2020
- Vacation Request – Executive
- Welfare Voucher – (2)
Other letters/ items for Discussion/Signature:
1. Fire Dept. Annual Report
2. B&G DPW Annual Report
5:30 PM: Public Forum
The meeting was called to order at 5:32pm. The Chair, noting that there were no members of the public in attendance, began working through the Consent Agenda. On a motion by the Chair, and a second by Selectman Marshall, the Board voted 3-0 in favor of approving the Consent Agenda.
The Board discussed the meeting calendar for the following week. Noting that the Wilton Budget Committee would be hearing the Wilton Ambulance Budget report, the Board agreed to move their regularly scheduled meeting from January 16th to the 15th. The Board requested that the meeting time be posted for Wednesday January 15th. The Board requested that the meeting post for the 16th reference the fact that the Board would be in attendance at the Wilton Budget Committee hearing at the Wilton Town Hall starting at 7pm.
5:45 PM: Richard ‘Rick” McQuade, DPW Buildings & Grounds Manager & Fire Chief
At 5:45, the Selectboard welcomed Mr. McQuade to the meeting. Chief McQuade provided a review of the Fire Department in 2019. The Chief reported on Membership, the Apparatus, Other FD Equipment, and changes at the station, including the close-out of the Assistance to Fire Fighter’s grant for the new exhaust system in the bays of the station. Chief McQuade explained that the Fire Department is revisiting an Explorer’s post in a bid to bring young people into the fire service.
The Selectboard discussed the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) for the Fire Department. Selectman Marshall asked questions about Engine 3 and Mr. McQuade clarified several items on the CIP list. Mr. McQuade said that the next grant application will cover new air packs for the department. The current air packs are nearing their end-of-life. A discussion followed. A discussion on the membership was held. Mr. McQuade provided some insight into his first year as Fire Chief. In the first year he focused on safety and testing equipment. Testing has been accomplished on the equipment, the pumps, hoses, and ladders. Several safety items and repairs were required and those have been addressed successfully. He is going to institute a new round of “Coffee and Conversation with the Fire Chief” on the weekends. The Selectboard held a discussion on the state of volunteerism as it relates to the fire department. Chief McQuade has two new volunteers who have completed their background checks. Unfortunately there have been members that have moved away or been sidelined with illness. The Selectboard discussed sending out an EDDM mailer to residents several times a year in order to attract people to the service.
At 7:05 the Selectboard turned to the annual report of the DPW Building & Grounds department. The annual report provides an overview of the needs of Oak Park, Sunset Lake Beach, the village area, Recycling Center, DPW garage and plant, the Meeting House, and other town facilities: Town Office, Old Town Office, Library, and the Wastewater plant. Mr. McQuade provided an overview of the routine maintenance that is scheduled at each building as well as the completed projects that were accomplished at each facility during the year. The biggest project was the water line installation between the Town Office and the Meeting House, followed by a new well at the Library. During the year a number of other important projects were accomplished, and some were also significant. These include:
- Replacement of the radiant propane heaters in the bay of the DPW Garage
- A new exhaust system installed at the Fire Department through an AFG grant
- New shingles on the dugouts at Oak Park
- Bleachers rebuilt at Oak Park
- 2 new charcoal grills donated by the Girl Scouts and installed at Oak Park
- Replaced the well pump at the Town Office
- Replaced the septic cover (cast concrete) at the Town Office
- Repaired the Town Office roof (shingles)
- New coat of paint/stain on Recycling Center building
- Build a new burn pit at Recycling Center – secured commercial burn permit
- New doors built for recycling windows
- New faucets and water lines, flush valves, and faucets on 1st floor replaced at Meeting House
The annual report also outlines the requirement for snow removal at each of the facilities.
The Selectboard discussed the MT Trackless sidewalk machine and its status. The MT is in the process of a significant overhaul and there have been problems with defective parts. The Selectboard discussed the Groundskeeper contract briefly and requested a meeting prior to budget hearing. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Board thanked Mr. McQuade for his time.
8:00 PM: Katherine Heck, Treasurer & School Board Representative
At 7:59 pm, the Selectboard welcomed Katherine Heck to the meeting. Ms. Heck provided several brief statements about the School Board Representative position and her experience to date. At the conclusion of the brief discussion about the ConVal School District, Ms. Heck requested a non-public session to discuss matters relative to her position in Greenfield as Treasurer. On a motion by the Chair and a Second by Selectman Marshall, the Board voted in a roll-call vote, 3-0 in favor of a non-public session under RSA 91-A: 3 II (a) and (c). At 8:55 pm the Board voted 3-0 to enter into the public session. While in the public session, the Chair made a motion to seal the minutes per RSA 91-A:3 III to ensure the effectiveness of the discussion. The motion was seconded by Selectman Marshall and the vote passed 3-0 in favor.
Adjournment
At 8:58 pm Selectman Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. The motion carried 3-0.