Selectboard Minutes

Town of Greenfield

7 Sawmill Road, Greenfield, NH 03047

Selectboard Minutes

Thursday, February 29, 2024 – 5:30 PM

Selectboard: Chairman Michael Borden, Selectman Tom Bascom, Selectman Mason Parker

Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Jim Morris, DPW Director; David Martin, EMD

Public: Gary Russell, Michael McCann, Donna Andrews

Documents for Review / Approval

1. Payroll Check Register dated 3/1/2024 in the amount of $32,105.59
2. Change of Employment Worksheet – DPW
3. Deputy Forest Fire Warden Appointment
4. NH ENS - PPOC
5. Vacation Request – Exec
6. Welfare Voucher – (2)
7. Selectboard Minutes

Other letters/ items for Review/Discussion/Signature:

1. Road Posting – RSA 41:11
2. Sportsmen’s Club – 4H Club Presentation
3. United States Post Office – Authorized Refund/Credit Letter

5:30 PM: Public Forum

The Chair welcomed Gary Russell of the Sportsmen’s Club. Mr. Russell is following up on a request of the Club to host 4H Archery lessons at the George Proctor Recreation Area. Per the original agreement between the Town and the Club, Mr. Russell is in attendance to provide an overview of the program and the sponsoring organization. The Board discussed the archery program and agreed that they support working with 4H. A discussion followed about the necessary insurance paperwork that 4H needs to provide. At the conclusion of the discussion the Board thanked Mr. Russell for attending the meeting.

5:45 PM – Coach Road culvert issues

The Chair welcomed Michael McCann and Donna Andrews to the meeting. The Chair opened the meeting by describing the Coach Road culvert at the top of the hill. Director Morris shared pcitures of the culvert and described the drainage system associated with the road. A discussion followed and it was noted that the culvert at the top of the hill is not tied to the drainage system for the rest of the road. DPW Director Morris offered two solutions, the first to install a leaching basin at the culvert exit. The cost of the basin and stone was shared along with an estimate that the project would take 10 man-hours with several pieces of equipment. The other alternative is to connect the culvert to the drainage system that carries water from the top of the hill to the bottom through 12 separate catch basins. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Selectboard suggested that it would prudent to determine the width of the Right-of-Way (R.O.W) associated with the road to ensure that DPW can install a leaching basin if necessary. The Board asked for additional information about the drainage liability and widths of the R.O.W. if known.

6:30 PM – David Martin, Emergency Management Director

At 6:25pm, the Chair welcomed David Martin, EMD to the meeting. Mr. Martin provided an overview of recent discussions with the NH Department of Homeland Security regarding grants that may be available to the town. There may be a grant available that would allow the town to pave a troublesome road, which would prevent the kinds of erosion and washouts that happen frequently on Coach Road. Director Morris stated that Coach Road costs between $5,000 - $8,000 a year in repairs due to washouts. A discussion followed. Selectman Parker made the point that he prefers that the Board set priorities and then research applicable grant opportunities to meet those priorities, rather than be alerted to a grant opportunity and then hunt for a project that meets the grant criteria. Selectman Bascom concurred that the Board should receive the information up front. The Board discussed with the EMD the possibility of having the NH Dept. of Homeland Security provide a list of their grant programs so that the Board could review the information and determine if grant opportunities aligned with the Selectboard’s priorities.

7:00 PM – Selectboard Work Session

Director Morris asked the Board if the town was interested in selling the MT Trackless. A discussion followed and the Board agreed that the town could hold an asset sale.

The Selectboard received an inquiry from a Dublin based committee regarding the Greenfield Selectboard’s stance on the ConVal consolidation plan. After some discussion, the Board stated the following: “the Greenfield Selectboard is strongly in favor of the proposed consolidation plan.” It was noted for the minutes that in addition, the Board is of a consensus that the plan does not go far enough and that many future steps will need to be taken.

At 7:27pm, the Chair requested a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Selectman Bascom made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Selectman Parker seconded the Motion. On a vote of 3-0 in favor the motion was approved.

The Selectboard discussed the upcoming revaluation of all town property.

The Selectboard discussed the Board’s meeting schedule leading up to Town Meeting. The Board would like to speak with the Police Chief and the Fire Chief about the 2024 budgets.

Adjournment

At 8:04 pm, Selectman Bascom made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by the Chair. The motion carried 3-0.