Selectboard Minutes
Town of Greenfield
7 Sawmill Road, Greenfield, NH 03047
Selectboard Minutes
Thursday, November 12, 2020 – 4:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairwoman Margaret Charig Bliss, Selectwoman Karen Day, Selectman Robert Marshall
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; David Martin, EMD
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. The Mr. Giammarino is in his office at the Police Station, and EMD David Martin is home alone.
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: David Martin, Emergency Management Director
The Chair welcomed Mr. Martin to the meeting. Mr. Martin outlined recent discussions with the EMRT and a decision to hold-off on another EDDM. He provided an update on the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, which is finalized and awaiting signatures at the State level. Following this update, a conversation about the announcement by Governor Sununu that contact tracing was being refocused on the children, elderly, and contacts associated with long term care homes was held. It was acknowledged that this would remove the backbone of the contact tracing platform and the town would no longer be able to rely on the State to handle contact tracing. The question of whether the town should handle some internal contact tracing among employees was discussed. It was agreed that Mr. Martin would try to find out more information from the State.
5:00 PM: Selectboard Business Meeting
At 5:02 pm, the Chair reviewed the items on the Consent Agenda. A discussion on the possibility of fund balance being used to fund the amount of Capital Reserve Funds that were removed from the 2020 budget was discussed. The Board reached agreement that they would advance a warrant article in the 2021 Town Meeting warrant to replace the funds that were reduced by Emergency Order #56, from the 2020 Capital Reserve Funds. This would provide for the full amount of savings in the original 2020 budget, which would be added back to the Capital Reserve Accounts. The funds would come from fund balance and would have no effect on taxation. The agreement having been formulated, Selectwoman Day moved it as a motion. The Chair seconded the motion. On a roll-call vote the Board voted 3-0 in favor of advancing a warrant article as described to the voters in March of 2021.
Next the Chair asked for the Board’s acceptance of the Minutes of the 11/05 meeting with a motion. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. On a roll-call vote the Board voted 3-0 in favor of the minutes of 11/05.
Next Selectman Marshall moved that the Board authorize the Payroll Manifest of 11/13/2020 in the amount of $32,166.22. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. On a roll call vote, the Board voted 3-0 in favor of approving the manifest and releasing the funds.
Selectman Marshall made a motion for the Board to authorize the A/P Manifest in the amount of $16,534.39, to pay into the NH Retirement System. The A/P Manifest is dated for 11/25. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day. On a roll-call vote, the Board voted to authorize the payment to the NH Retirement System.
A discussion followed on a recent issue with the Cemetery. The Chair, who is also the Chair of the Cemetery Trustees, stated that a vendor to the town cemetery has waived their fees as a gesture of goodwill due to the pandemic. As Chair of the Cemetery Trustees, Ms. Bliss stated that this is a year when the town should be supporting its small business vendors. She asked for the Board’ s direction, which was agreement with support for the town’s small business vendors. The Board agreed. Ms. Bliss stated she would communicate that with the vendor and request an invoice for work at the cemetery.
Next the Selectboard, after a question from Selectwoman Day, discussed the need to have signs on all town buildings directing people to wear masks. It was agreed that the town would create signs with the laminator and have them put up.
6:00 PM: Tom Bascom, Broadband Committee
At 6:00 pm, the Chair welcomed Tom Bascom to the meeting. Mr. Bascom outlined recent discussions between the Broadband Committee and a consulting company called Mission Broadband. Mission Broadband has forwarded a proposal for services with two distinct services offerings. The first is to help with the contract review and vendor negotiation between the town and the chosen vendor. The second part of the proposal is for the provisioning of management services during the contract implementation. Mr. Bascom pointed out that the Committee and Town Counsel are not experts in the technological aspects of the engagement. He stated that it makes sense to have someone evaluate the business terms from a technical standpoint and to have someone manage the installation of the project to ensure that the town is provisioned a solution that the contract intends. The cost for the contract review and negotiation is approximately $5000 and the cost to manage the implementation of the contract is $44,000 and could be included in the bond. A conversation followed about the timing of the contract negotiations. The Selectboard requested that the Administrator discuss the proposal with a specialist at Upton & Hatfield.
The Board heard that a grant was available for the elections expense similar to the GOFERR funds, although the amount of grants was small. There was general agreement to apply for the grant and to support any paperwork necessary thereto.
Mr. Bascom left the meeting at 6:37pm.
The Selectboard discussed additional items including:
- The Friends of the Meeting House have asked the Board to look at the timeline associated with restoration of the Meeting House. They are currently beginning their Capital Fund Raising project and suggested that we apply for the next round of LCHIP funding in 2021 and consider including a warrant article for a Bond in Town Meeting 2022. That would enable construction to begin in 2023.
There being no further business the Board voted to adjourn.
Adjournment
At 6:42 pm, Selectwoman Day made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by the Chair. The motion carried 3-0 in a roll-call vote.