Selectboard Minutes

Minutes

Town of Greenfield

7 Sawmill Road, Greenfield, NH 03047

Selectboard’s Minutes

Thursday, April 30, 2020 – 5:30 PM

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

Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Rick McQuade, Fire Chief, DPW B&G; David Martin, EMD; Michael Borden, Health Officer; Diane Boilard, Deputy EMD

Public:

Documents for Review/Approval:

• Payroll Check Register dated 5/1/2020;
• Assessor’s 2019 Abatement Recommendation(s) – R5-7-1-2; V3-29; R3-2
• Selectboard Minutes – 4/23, 4/27

Other letters/ items for Discussion/Signature:

1. Wilton Ambulance – Update 2020

2. Lot Line Adjustment – Revised Purchase & Sale Agreement / Library

3. DPW Project Management Report Template

4. EDDM – EMD/Selectboard Flyer for Town Departments

5. 2020 Budget Update - 2^nd Quarter

5:30 PM: Virtual Meeting Open – Dial In 1+717-275-8940

The meeting was called to order at 5:30pm. Chairwoman Charig Bliss welcomed everyone to the virtual Selectboard meeting. Chairwoman Charig Bliss opened the meeting and read a statement provided by the Attorney General’s office regarding virtual meetings. “As Chair of the Selectboard, I find that due to the State of Emergency declared by the Governor as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with the Governor’s Emergency Order #12 pursuant to Executive Order 2020-04, this public body is authorized to meet electronically.

Please note that there is no physical location to observe and listen contemporaneously to this meeting, which was authorized pursuant to the Governor’s Emergency Order. However, in accordance with the Emergency Order, I am confirming that we are providing public access to the meeting by telephone.  We are currently working on providing additional access possibilities by video or other electronic means, however, we are a small town and that is not feasible for tonight’s call.

We are utilizing Freeconference.com for this electronic meeting. All members of the Board have the ability to communicate contemporaneously during this meeting through this platform, and the public has access to contemporaneously listen and, if necessary, participate in this meeting through dialing the access number posted online or by following the directions on the Meeting Instructions link from the Selectboard’s page on the website. The Website address is greenfield-nh.gov.

We previously gave notice to the public of the necessary information for accessing the meeting, including how to access the meeting telephonically. If there are problems with access, please email the Town Administrator and he will attempt to help you in real time. In the event the public is unable to access the meeting, the meeting will be adjourned and rescheduled.

Please note that all votes that are taken during this meeting shall be done by roll-call vote.

Let’s start the meeting by taking a roll-call attendance. When each member states their presence, please also state whether there is anyone in the room with you during this meeting, which is required under the Right-to-Know law. “

Each selectperson noted that they were alone, with the exception of Selectwoman Day, who stated that her husband Roger Lessard was in the next room. EMD David Martin is home alone, Jim Morris, is at home.

The Chair stated:  “at this point I would ask that everyone mute their phones by pressing * (star) 6 (six). If there isn’t time for your questions tonight, you can email the Town Administrator and request to be on the agenda during the next meeting. If you have technical difficulties on your end with your computer, laptop, or other electronic device email the Town Administrator if you having trouble connecting in real-time and we’ll try to be of help.

Gov. Sununu’s Emergency Order #16 prohibits gatherings greater than 10 people. We'll ask that - to the extent possible - you submit your questions/concerns/comments to the Town Administrator via email in advance so we can have answers ready. Remember to charge whatever device you are using in advance of the meeting. I can assure you everyone in your town government is doing everything in their capacity to ensure your safety, their safety and Greenfield's future. With that said, I would invite participants to bring issues before the Board.”

5:35 PM: David Martin, Emergency Management Director

At 5:35pm, David Martin, EMD came forward regarding a recent meeting of the Greenfield Emergency Response Team (EMRT). Mr. Martin discussed a town wide informational flyer regarding COVID-19 and the Coronavirus pandemic with the Selectboard. Mr. Martin discussed the question of voting via absentee ballots relative to the pandemic and the fact that this year includes several voting sessions. The Chair explained that this question has been referred to the Town Clerk. Mr. Martin discussed with the Selectboard recent information about the Greenfield State Park and the question of whether it will open during the pandemic. Health Officer Michael Borden provided a document dealing with campgrounds in the State of NH. Town Administrator Patt provided a letter from NHMA outlining a request to the Governor by multiple cities and towns to have State Parks and campgrounds closed. Mr. Martin explained that the Fire Department has received 1000 surgical masks from the State of NH Emergency Operations Center. Mr. Martin asked the Selectboard to consider adopting a town-wide ordinance requiring the wearing of masks in public. Mr. Martin stated that neither the EMD nor the Health Officer have the authority under State statute to enact such a requirement. Mr. Martin stated that the EMRT will be discussing and recommending that local businesses such as the Harvester Market promote the wearing of masks by their employees.

Mr. Martin shared several items of interest with the Selectboard. He noted that the State of NH is #24 in the United States with the number of exposures per 100,000 people. This put us in the middle of all States relative to exposures, despite the fact that New Hampshire is a smaller rural community. Mr. Martin explained that there are some interesting developments in disinfection that are coming to market. This includes a phone booth structure used in Hong Kong to disinfect a person in 45 seconds, and some long term disinfection products that are meant to reduce surface exposure by continuing to remain working on the surface for a long period of time.

Next the EMD and the Selectboard discussed an EDDM town-wide informational flyer that updates residents on services provided by the town as well as some additional information about resources in the community. At the conclusion of several edits and suggestions, the flyer was deemed appropriate for mailing. Selectman Marshall made a motion to mail out the flyer. The motion received a second from the Chair. On a roll-call vote the Selectboard voted 3-0 in favor of mailing out the flyer.

Selectman Marshall thanked the EMD and the EMRT for their hard work, and outreach. Selectman Marshall asked whether the EMRT had discussed the demobilization of the town Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and if there was a timeline associated with such closure. The Chair echoed this question and noted that over the long-term the crisis would likely pivot from a healthcare crisis to a financial crisis. She asked if the town EOC would stay open during that longer time frame, or whether the EOC was more properly set-up to handle shorter term hazardous events. A discussion followed and the EMD explained that this was an important topic that he would bring back to the EMRT and they would discuss the term of the EOC. He stated that it’s very possible that the virus will be with us for a long time.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Mr. Martin thanked the Selectboard for a constructive meeting. EMD David Martin signed off at 6:32pm. Also signing off were Michael Borden, Rick McQuade, and Diane Boilard.

6:30PM: Selectboard Business Meeting

At 6:30pm the Selectboard discussed the Consent Agenda items and voted on each item separately.

Selectman Marshall made a motion to approve the Payroll Manifest, dated 5/1/2020, in the amount of $27,963.58. The motion was seconded by the Chair. On a roll-call vote the Selectboard voted to approve the Payroll Manifest by a vote of 3-0 in favor.

Selectman Marshall made a motion to accept the minutes of 4/23. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. On a roll-call vote the Board voted to accept the minutes of 4/23, by a vote of 3-0 in favor.

Selectman Marshall made a motion to accept the minutes of 4/27. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. On a roll-call vote the Board voted 3-0 in favor of accepting the minutes as approved.

Next the Selectboard reviewed three different recommendation letters from the Town Assessor (Avitar Associates). The first is an abatement application from NNETO, V3-29. The assessor’s recommendation is for an abatement of $14,600 in value based on the condition of the building. The Board voted in a roll-call vote on a motion by Selectman Marshall and a second by Selectwoman Day, 3-0 in favor of the assessor’s recommendation.

Next the Selectboard reviewed an abatement application submitted by the owners of R5-7-1-2. At the conclusion of the review, Selectman Marshall made a motion to accept the assessor’s recommendation to process an abatement of $4,000 in value and make changes to the tax card denoting a change to the location factor. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. On a roll-call vote the Selectboard voted 3-0 in favor of the abatement as outlined by the assessor.

Next the Selectboard reviewed an abatement application submitted by the owners of R3-2. Based on a review of the abatement materials, the assessor has recommended that the Selectboard deny the application. After review of the application and letter from the assessor, Selectman Marshall made a motion to support the assessor’s recommendation and deny the abatement. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. On a roll-call vote the Board voted 3-0 in favor of denying the application.

The Selectboard heard an update on the Wilton Ambulance program from Town Administrator Patt. The Town of Temple has exited the program and is now a customer of the Town of Peterborough Ambulance. The Wilton-Lyndeborough-Greenfield Ambulance Advisory committee has met and discussed the possibility of the impact of Temple’s exit on the ambulance budget. At this time, due in part to the pandemic, calls are lower than usual overall. It is difficult to know exactly where the call volume numbers will be by the end of the year. The Town of Greenfield’s call volume is a bit higher as a percentage of calls compared to last year. The Board discussed a request by a Wilton Selectman to open the Intermunicipal Agreement between the remaining towns for edits and possibly revisions. After a brief discussion it was decided that the Selectboard did not support that effort at this juncture.

Next the Selectboard reviewed a template for a weekly work report for the DPW Road’s Department. The Selectboard discussed the DPW budget for 2020 in light of the pandemic. At the conclusion of the discussion the Selectboard agreed that the template was finalized. The Selectboard requested that a meeting be posted for 10am on Monday, May 4^th with the DPW Road Manager. It was noted that some or all of the meeting would occur in non-public session.

Selectman Marshall asked about the letter from the Fire Chief relative to the building permit application on Roger’s Road. The Town Administrator noted that this letter had been received prior to the announcement of the pandemic. The letter was forwarded to the Selectboard. Selectman Marshall requested that this be added to the agenda for the next meeting.

Adjournment

At 8:18pm, Selectman Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by the Chair. The motion carried 2-0. Selectwoman Day’s line dropped the call moments before the vote.