Town of Greenfield
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
Thursday – February 10, 2005 – 5:45 pm
Present: Selectmen - Chairman, William Brooks; Selectman; George Rainier; Selectman; Conrad B. Dumas
The meeting was called to order at 5:45 pm
Administrative Assistant, Deb Davidson taking minutes
Department Heads:
Appointments:
On – going matters:
Recycling Bay – Recycling Bay update
Other Business:
Minutes - Selectmen accepted the minutes of February 3, 2005 Selectmen’s Meeting as written
Selectmen Approval –
· P/R Checks & Invoices
· Letter to Attorney Teague
· Intent to cut – Scribner
· Abatements – R4-
Mail – Review misc. incoming mail
Budget:
Signboard – Selectmen would like to have the signboard better monitored. They are not supportive of the signboard having the same message on it for an extended length of time. The selectmen would like to discuss this during a department meeting.
With no further business, Selectman Brooks adjourned the meeting at 6:30 pm.
Town of Greenfield
Budget Hearing
Thursday – February 10, 2005 – 6:30 pm
Selectman Dumas opened the Budget Hearing with brief explanation of how the meeting would be run. It was explained reading of the warrant with then a review of the proposed budget. He further explained the Budget Committee encouraged cutting the budget to reduce taxes. If the operating budget is passed as is the tax rate will decrease 7cents, however if all warrant articles pass the tax rate will increase approximately $1.19. Therefore, if the warrant articles are passed and voters want to keep a flat rate, the voters then need to cut an equal amount of the operating budget.
Warrant Article 2 – Explanation of the warrant article requesting $11,200.00 of taxation to be raised. However, the Fire Department has applied for a grant in the amount of $112,000.00. This article will make it so a future CIP purchase will not be necessary. This article will allow the Fire Dept. to purchase protective equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus and a SCBA air compressor. No further discussion or questions.
Warrant Article 3 – The Fire Department is requesting $45,000 for a Capital Reserve Fund the purpose of this fund would be for the purchase of a Fire Rescue Vehicle. No further discussion or questions.
Warrant Article 4 – Explanation of the need for the request for authorization to spend surplus funds for this appropriation. Previously authorized borrowing authority, totaling the remaining amount needed as been granted. This article is a housekeeping article. Discussion followed, many questions were asked and answered. It was explained legal representation & the engineer would both be at Town Meeting for any unanticipated questions that may need addressing.
Warrant Article 5 – The Road Agent, Wyatt Fox spoke regarding the piece of equipment that his department is requesting. He stated this is the last, of the few pieces of equipment the highway department needs. He further stated this will provide the department a break for a few years and then the cycle will start over again. This equipment will be replacing the 1- ton truck. Life expectancy of a truck such as this is 10 years.
Warrant Article 6 – Road Agent Fox explained this article is to complete the reconstruction of New Boston Road. This is the 2nd full year of the completion of this road. Without this reconstruction New Boston Road will then become a three-year project. The costs will increase; the highway department has already spent $8,000 for engineered drawings for the two difficult areas on the road. Mr. Fox feels he can do the entire road for the $120,000 the engineers believe will be necessary to rebuild the two most difficult areas. This will be a one-time infusion in the budget. Major development coming up is in this area, this way the developers would need to bring their roads up to our grade, rather than us accommodating them.
Warrant Article 7 – Police Chief, Brian Giammarino explained why the town is in need of a new police cruiser. There is currently 133,000 miles on the old cruiser. He further stated the town really needs two emergency vehicles. The town purchased a new cruiser 2 years ago, it has 30k miles, and the car he is asking to replace is 7 years old and has reached a point that it is not dependable. With proper maintenance Giammarino stated he believes the cruisers could be good vehicles for 5 years. Maryanne Grant asked about second hand cruisers that are replaced by other communities, and would that be a reasonable option? Giammarino would not like to go down that route; he stated he does not feel that is an adequate way of replacing a vehicle in need of replacement. All the equipment in
the “car #2” would be swapped over to the new cruiser if this article were passed at town meeting.
Warrant Article 8 – Paving a specified area at the recycle center is necessary. Selectman Rainier asked Recycle attendant Frank Pelkey to get the quote on this article in writing before town meeting. No further questions on this article.
Review of the proposed budget followed. Duffy Fox spoke as a Trustee of Trust Fund, he brought to the attention of everyone in this meeting, and the Trustees may request a stipend to be paid to Mr. Woodbury. Mr. Woodbury recently resigned, he has kept the cemetery records up to date for many years, it is hopeful that if we offered a stipend he would teach someone else what he knows. However, at this time no change will be made to the budget, if a change is to be made it will be made at town meeting.
There was a question regarding the future of the old town office building? Selectman Brooks explained the difficulties with this property, and further explained we could not obtain a clear title. A brief discussion followed, there were no further questions.
With no further questions or comments regarding the proposed 2005 budget, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm
The next Selectmen’s Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 17, 2005 at 5:45 pm.
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