Selectboard Minutes
Town of Greenfield
7 Sawmill Road, Greenfield, NH 03047
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, October 22, 2020 – 4:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairwoman Margaret Charig Bliss, Selectwoman Karen Day, Selectman Robert Marshall
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Rick McQuade, Fire Chief; David Martin, Emergency Management Director; Todd Mason, DPW Roads Manager
Public:
4:30 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, which has been extended for the 9th time, this public body is authorized to meet virtually.
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. The Selectboard members are each home and alone, the Town Administrator is in his office at home and is alone. Mr. Mason is at the DPW Garage, Mr. McQuade is at his home, David Martin is at his 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 has been lifted however, given the headlines where other States are pulling back from re-opening and the virus appears to be surging in many areas, there is a risk that the Selectboard cannot ignore. For the foreseeable future the Board will continue to meet by conference call as a result. 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.”
4:30 PM: Todd Mason, DPW Road Manager
The Chair welcomed Todd Mason, DPW Road Manager to the call. David Martin, EMD and Rick McQuade, Fire Chief are in attendance. The Chair provided opening remarks to a discussion – stating that the Selectboard has prioritized employee and public safety over the past seven months with a number of changes made to the workplace, and in support of the workplace in several locations. Today the Board is focusing on the reality of the quarantine process that is governed by the State of New Hampshire, because the increasing spread of Covid-19 puts employees at risk of being in close contact with a Covid-19 case. If the State contact tracers call an employee and notify them to quarantine (whether or not they are sick with the virus), the danger is that the DPW could lose the manpower needed to handle a snowstorm, which could mean more people in danger on town roads. A discussion followed on the need to prepare a recovery plan, to keep DPW workers socially distant from each other, and arrange for eating and break times, and, to arrange for sleeping arrangements during multi-day snow storms. Mr. Mason stated that the department has had people sleep in the garage for short periods during “30 hour storms”.
Chief McQuade stated that the State NHDPHHS considers a close contact, for contact tracing purposes, as anyone who has spent 10 minutes or more with a person that subsequently tests positive, for two days prior to the test, whether or not they were wearing a mask. EMD Martin stated that the CDC recently updates its definition of ‘close contact’. The Board heard that these facts contribute to the concern that quarantine/isolation orders could present significant difficulties during the winter season.
Mr. Mason stated that he understood the concerns and that the department is currently scheduling the work so that employees are working remotely from each other, practicing social distancing, and doing everything it can in order to remain healthy.
The Selectboard discussed a return to work protocol in case employees are asked to quarantine (whether they test positive or not), and Chief McQuade stated that the only concern he has is that the State is providing employees with the ability to return to work 24 hours after the symptoms subside if they have quarantined for 10 days. The Chief stated he wanted to review this time frame as he wasn’t sure that was enough time for a town policy. Selectman Marshall suggested that the issue with quarantine is a difficult one and it might be of interest to write a Spirit article letting people know that this was a concern in case the town runs into a situation with the DPW department (similar to Peterborough Fire Department’s quarantine of twelve firefighters).
6:00 PM: David Martin, Emergency Management Director
David Martin questioned whether the State has a back-up plan for public works. He stated that he would contact the State EOC to see if they have any thoughts. Mr. Mason stated that there is very little availability for snowplow contractors. The Town has a part-time person signing on again this year, but everyone else has already signed on for contracts with larger snow removal companies (landscape companies). A discussion followed on snow storm protocols and whether the town should update its practice for significant snow events. There were no decisions made on this point during the meeting.
6:30 PM: Selectboard Business Meeting – Old Business and Consent Agenda
The Chair took up a discussion of the Consent Agenda. The Board reviewed the A/P Check Manifest dated 10/21/2020 in the amount of $46,131.59, and an A/P Manifest for a Void Check for $22.00 dated 10/20/2020; and on a motion by Selectwoman Day and a second from the Chair, the Board voted by roll-call vote to accept the manifest and authorize expenditures therein, or any corrective actions thereto, 3-0 in favor.
The Board reviewed the 2020 Equalization Worksheet from the NH Department of Revenue, and on a motion by Selectwoman Day and a second from the Chair, the Board voted by roll-call vote to sign the equalization cover sheet for the NH Department of Revenue, 3-0 in favor.
Next the Chair requested that the Board review the Minutes of 10/15/2020. On a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectman Marshall, the Board voted by roll-call vote, 3-0, to accept and approve the minutes with a corrected spelling of the acronym ‘GOFERR’.
The Board reviewed an abatement for R9-39-1 in the amount of $258.23 for interest that accrued due to a faulty escrow check, and for R4-31-3 for tax that was incorrectly entered (Veteran’s exemption), and on a motion by the Chair and a second from Selectwoman Day, voted 3-0 in favor of the abatement requests.
The Selectboard heard a report from Selectman Marshall on several items for discussion including:
- A request from the Friends of the Meeting House that the Selectboard consider applying for the second round of LCHIP funding in order to receive grant funds for the Meeting House in 2021
- A request from the same committee for a 2022 warrant article for Town Meeting, to have fund raising through the sale of plaques in support of certain parts of the Meeting House (naming plaques)
Selectman Marshall, noting the time left the meeting to attend the ConVal Selectmen’s Advisory Committee meeting.
There being no further business the Board voted to adjourn
Adjournment
At 7:05 pm, Selectwoman Day made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by the Chair. The motion carried 2-0 in a roll-call vote.