Town of Greenfield
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
Thursday – February 5, 2004 – 5:45 pm
Present: Selectmen: Selectman, Conrad Dumas Selectman, William Brooks; Selectman, George Rainier
Meeting opened at 5:45 pm
Administrative Assistant, Debra Davidson was taking minutes
Department Heads:
Appointments:
No Appointments were scheduled to allow for a work session until 6:30 when the Board adjourns for a Public Hearing to discuss the proposed 2004 Budget
On – going matters:
1. Budget – Selectmen reviewed & briefly discussed the public hearing which is scheduled for 6:30
2. Dowtown Project – The Town has received the approved septic design, as well as the pre-qualification statement. Selectmen approved the advertisement for RFQ for the wastewater project. The RFQ will be advertised in the Monadnock Ledger, Peterborough Transcript and the Union Leader.
3. Septic Pump at Town Office – The pump was not installed this week, it is back ordered, when it comes in it will be installed immediately by Bill Harper.
4. Legal –
· Crotched Mtn. – We are still waiting for the remaining $50,000r of PILOT for 2003 – It was discussed that the Town should send them a letter next week and remind them of this unpaid balance.
· Ellis – No update from Attorney Teague regarding this.
· Attorney Teague would like to set up a meeting to discuss a few legal matters with the Selectmen & the Planning Board. Deb will coordinate a date and get back to everyone who will be invited to the meeting.
Other items:
1. Minutes - Selectmen accepted the minutes of 1/29/04 Selectmen’s Meeting as written
2. Selectmen approval –
· A/P Checks
· Letters requesting bond to property owners with taxes which are not current for the following Intent-to-cuts
Cotter - $894.00
Talbot - $1,178.00
3. Town Report – Coming together – the cover was discussed, as well as a dedication
4. Cavender Road – Chief G. said he will order speed limit signs and have them posted
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Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
February 5, 2004
5. Maintenance – ADA access will be addressed; signs are on order, different handles are needed. Selectmen authorized Mr. Pelkey to purchase one ADA compliant handle for the handicap door, one push bar for the ADA door as well. Selectmen further instructed Mr. Pelkey to take down lights on lamp poles and to store them until next year at holiday time for use again.
With no further business, the Selectmen adjourned the meeting at 6:30 PM. The next scheduled Selectmen’s Meeting is Thursday – February 12, 2004 at 5:45 PM
The Budget Hearing convened at 6:30 PM.
Department Heads were present, as was the Town Management Committee and a few residents of Town.
Selectman Dumas started the meeting discussing what is expected for the evening, and further explained the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposed 2004 Town Warrant and Budget.
Conrad stated he would be working from the Warrant – explained he will move on when he feels that the article has been addressed in a complete manner.
Gene Mitchell asked if the Budget Hearing could be called a “pre town meeting” he thinks we will get a better turn out of residents.
The Town of Greenfield is not an SB2 Town, however it can be considered to call this hearing in the future a “pre town meeting”. The purpose of the “pre town meeting” is for towns that are SB2, allowing residents an opportunity to answer questions they may have when voting on the ballot.
Dumas began by summarizing Article 2 – $44,000 for a Side Bay for the existing Recycling Center – This article includes the purchase of a Forklift, and Waste Oil Burner. Brief explanation followed. Mr. Pelkey explained Sheldon Pennoyer provided architectural drawings. The additional bay will provide an additional 2000 sq. ft of working area for the Recycling Center.
Gene Mitchell asked what we would save by building the bay?
Pelkey – $3-4 thousand dollars a year, due to the fact that the Town will have a product that will be saleable rather than paying someone to come pick it up. NRRA will do “milk runs” with other nearby communities creating an entire load and making the trip worthwhile.
Tom Mullins asked what is the life of the truck be that we are using now?
Pelkey – If this passes, the truck will not be used. We will not purchase another truck. This will eliminate the need for a truck. Bales of cardboard will be approximately 1,000 lbs., which the forklift will take care of.
Bob Geisel – With regards to Crotched Mtn. are we duplicating efforts? Can we cooperatively recycle with them?
Pelkey – Several conversations with Suzie Mansfield have indicated that they are very willing to work with us if/when we get set up.
Karen Day - If they get involved with us, will we have enough room?
Pelkey – Yes, we will have plenty of room, a load or a milk run; can be a mixed loads, eliminating the need to store bales unnecessarily.
Gene Mitchell – What is a truckload?
Pelkey – 22 bales.
Article 3: Library completion - $48,000 – Peter Wensberg discussed this article. Peter explained the improvements of the Library and how the basement is unfinished. The town has a $500,000 library addition that was a $180,000 expense to the Town of Greenfield. Asking for additional funding to assure the completion for the chance of a lifetime; a beautiful room, could hold over 100 people, accessible outside, will add a handicapped access, handicapped bathroom, finished interior walls, ceiling, flooring, lighting etc. We were provided with many generous donations and ask for this additional funding. Still raising funds to complete last few tasks such as paving parking lot, landscaping, shelves, bookcases, two small rooms finished. Fully operational When completed 100% the library will be a $700,000 library at a
cost of $180,000 + 48,000 to the town residents.
Mullins – any revenue generated?
Wensberg – perhaps a small service charge, doesn’t see it as a money producing opportunity. Could take some pressure of the Meeting House and other town buildings.
Gwynn Mitchell questioned that the Meeting House is being used too often?
Selectman Rainier responded it is a wear and tear issue on the building itself
Norman Nickerson – Parking appears to be a problem at the library? If used as a meeting area, parking will need to be addressed
Wensberg agreed – there are more spaces now, but he does agree with Nickerson that parking would probably be at the Meeting House if a large group were to use the library
Article 4: International Dump Truck – Road Agent Fox explained this warrant article for $100,000 – to be a lease purchase – replaces a 13 year old truck we currently have; it’s the deal with the Planning Board, it’s the next one in line and next year there is another one. Trying to get it so everything is as close to the same age as possible.
No questions
Article 5: Rescue Truck – Chief White explained, the CIP on fire department – the current rescue truck is inadequate for storage for equipment and medical supplies. Given the amount of first aid equipment the truck was not designed to permit cohabitation of med first aid supplies and/or extrication equipment. Will provide a controlled environment allowing care for patients (victims) until ambulance can reach the scene. Keeping them more comfortable and safe.
Gwynn Mitchell – will we own it after 4 years?
Deb Davidson– yes we will
Loren White – For clarification, it is actually a used ambulance – it will be a very safe efficient suitable piece of equipment.
Dumas explained further that this will not allow us to transport patients, but will only be used for comforting patients.
Article 6: Rescue Boat – Chief White discussed the need for a Rescue Boat – had one several years, never used it except in the last year ½ - what we had was a row boat. Looked into a motor for this rowboat, it was strongly recommended we not use the boat with or without a motor. Loren stated that though it has only been used twice in ten years, he still feels the need for this is important for safety reasons. Will also be leased over a 4-year period. This boat is designed for removing people from the water, will have a deck for treatment, a motor that is dependable etc. comes with a trailer. Handouts were provided to audience.
Article 7: Recreational Revolving account – Recreation Director, Molly Anfuso explained why the need for this revision and how the account will work. Dumas explained what the concept of this account is for –
Gwynn Mitchell asked how much money are we talking about
Anfuso – she said that activities bring in approximately 1,000/month –
Geisel – What are the anticipated funds?
Fluffed over
Article 8, 9 & 10: Selectman Dumas turned the next three articles over to the Town Management Committee as the Selectmen had not seen these warrant articles, they were not submitted until late Tuesday, not allowing Selectmen adequate time to review them.
Chairman of the Committee, Bruce Dodge stated the article was not written as they presented it. The intention of the article(s) is to be one article together. Davidson stated John Teague said it should be broken out as two articles. Discussion followed it was asked if it could be looked into changing the language and combining the positions. It will be looked into.
Gil Bliss read Article 8: and further explained what/how the articles came to be and why the town needs these new positions.
Gwynn Mitchell – how many hours a week is the p/t person?
Bliss – 20 hours per week – With help to the full time employees. Explained it that it would be a full-time employee and a part-time employee as well.
Gene Mitchell – $45,000 exclusive of benefits?
Bliss – There might be some difference, but probably carry over what the town administrator currently has.
Rainier – Has any one asked the Town Clerk if she has any interest in the part time person?
Geisel – No – he further commented a totally disinterested person who was in the office, noted that there is no one here during the day to help do registrations etc.
Rainier – Will there be any job descriptions provided?
Bliss – Mayhew will help the town write a job description – hoping to have the present employees apply for these positions and enhance the towns efficiency.
Aaron Kullgren – Wondering where the price of $45,000 came from?
Committee Members commented it is competitive based on local advertisements…
Rainier stated again, he would like to see the job description
Al Burt stated the final job description would be up to the Selectmen –
Bruce Dodge – interesting regarding this position – a Town Administrator is very flexible based on current RSA’s, unlike a Town Manager position which is very clearly spelled out. Town Administrator is a wide-open, flexible position.
Gwynn Mitchell – what is the different between an Administrative Assistant and Town Administrator?
Bliss – the assistant is basically doing the administrator job without any authority. Inability to enforce any positions, no chain of command, if established the position will be a more efficient, timely way to get questions answered.
Duffy what is the deal? Just budgetary authority or get into the work?
Bliss – This position wont be a micro manager.
Catherine Shaw asked if this position would be able to hire/fire people?
Bliss – No
Catherine Shaw – will Debbie be unemployed if this position is voted in?
Gwynn Mitchell – This is emotional, she would like to know how to do a secret vote at Town Meeting.
Lengthy discussion continued
Geisel stepped out of the room; back into the room with a job description he read parts of, however nothing is in writing for the proposed position. The Committee will leave this up to the current Board of Selectmen.
Article 11:
Budget discussion followed on individual budgets, no major questions or concerns
Geisel stated the Budget Committee would like to propose Town employees contribute an additional 5% increase in their co-payments for health insurance costs. This is a recommendation, however has not been discussed with the Selectmen, so no decision has been made at this time.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30
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