Town of Greenfield
Budget Hearing
Thursday– February 8, 2007 – 6:30 pm
Present: Selectmen - Chairman, Conrad Dumas; Selectman, Aaron Kullgren; Selectman, George Rainier
Administrative Assistant, Debra Davidson taking minutes
Selectman Dumas opened the Budget Hearing at 6:30 pm. He began by reading the various warrants.
Warrant Article #2 – to change the amount of the Land Use Change Tax from a cap of $5,000.00 to Selectmen supporting 50% of whatever Tax is raised, over and above the $5,000.00. He explained the current amount of LUCT, and further discussed the history of the Tax. The last two years there was close to $100,000.00 of LUCT, estimating $60,000 for ’07.
Chairman of the Open Space Committee, Janet Romanelli discussed her concerns about development in Greenfield. This committee would like to be able to help with conservation easements. The amounts of tax cap’s in different towns vary. She further stated that 50% of the $60,000 estimated tax for 2007 is only $.19/1000 on the tax rate.
Kent Vincent asked what has been done with the $25,000 of funds they have received over the past 5 years.
Conservation Chair, Karen Day stated they have helped people put land in conservation easement.
Kent further asked for a breakdown.
Karen indicated that the costs for easements vary, they help pay for surveys and recording fees.
Janet stated they have plans to buy easements and property, she further stated it is less expensive to have open space then to have houses.
Gene Mitchell commented that he sees a problem if the town buys land, we now become realtors. He would rather see an industrial park; it would generate taxes with no additional educational costs.
Peter Hopkins asked what the percentage of Greenfield land is in conservation easements and/or wetland. No answers to this question at this time.
Janet Romanelli stated that by utilizing the LUCT there are matching grants available for purchases, easements etc.
Gwynn Mitchell stated she would like to see what land is in current use, she further stated she would like to see it in the warrant article the OSC will actually only buy land that is already in current use.
Selectman Dumas moved on and read Article #3
Article #3 - Catherine Shaw explained what Article 3 was actually authorizing, she further stated that the Selectmen already have authorization to purchase and sell land.
Janet Romanelli withdrew Article #3
Article #4 – Extension of Muzzey Hill Road –
Road Agent, Duffy Fox explained the purpose of this article was for the extension of Muzzey Hill Road to go a bit further than what it currently does.
Rhonda Cilley stated that she understood if they bonded the road would be all set as of April 1, 2007, not 2008.
Lengthy discussion followed on this matter.
Previous minutes will be reviewed to determine what the Selectmen & Cilley’s agreed to.
Articles # 5, 6 & 7 – Changing Class VI sections of Dunklee Hill Road, Blanchard Hill Road & Fletcher Farm Road to become Class A Trails.
Selectman Dumas read these articles and briefly discussed them. No discussion
Article # 8 – Skid Steer –
The article should be clarified to read a 2006 (Bob Cat type) Skid Steer Loader for $25,000
Catherine Shaw asked that the article contain wording that states, “The expenditure will be contingent upon securing the grant funds”
Discussion followed.
Maryann Grant asked what will this piece of equipment does for the town and how will it improve the recycle center.
Neal Brown responded it would cut down on personnel by saving man-hours and decreasing the number of people who would be necessary to process the trash.
Jim Plourde asked if we currently need two men to load the bales, how will this help. No response.
Bruce Dodge said that has seen the future plans for the recycle center, the skid steer being a key part of this plan, if it is not approved at Town Meeting will they continue to proceed.
Frank stated they would keep going forward with plans to improve the center.
Kent Vincent stated they have to continue to move forward, however the availability for grants is limited. They will keep trying for more grants.
Bruce Dodge asked if the rearrangement of the recycle center would continue even without the skid steer.
Selectman Dumas stated YES.
Article #9 – Recycle Budget
Selectman Dumas discussed the $11,000 unanticipated funds for the recycle center. Committee member, Neal Brown stated the committee is very involved with the center.
Selectman Dumas explained the Selectmen supported increasing the hours of the recycle supervisor to 35 hours, not the 40 hours the committee recommended. Discussion of the possible $11,000 grant funds followed. It was decided to move $3,000 of Article 9 and include it in Article #8. The $3,000.00 is for the storage trailers, as with the skid steer if the grant is not approved, the items will not be purchased. The Board received a letter from NH the Beautiful indicating they granted Greenfield $4,000.00 for a loading dock, no funds available at this time for the Skid Steer and the storage trailers.
Kent Vincent spoke to how the time can be better utilized at the Recycle Center.
Article #10 – Operating Budget
Selectman Dumas asked if there were any questions.
Myron Steer asked how the proposed budget compares to the 2006 budget.
Selectman Kullgren stated the 2006 town meeting approved $629,431
Mary Ann Grant asked who determines when the Peterborough Ambulance is dispatched
Molly Anfuso stated it is dispatch; Greenfield is not an ambulance service. She continued to discuss how for many years the Town of Peterborough did not charge Greenfield.
Karen Day asked about the number of calls made to Crotched Mtn. and do they make contributions.
Selectman Rainier stated that Crotched Mountain does contribute.
Gwynn Mitchell asked about the legal budget, and what do we get from the Barbara C. Harris Center.
Selectman Rainier stated that BCH makes a payment in lieu of taxes of approximately $25,000.00/year. He further stated there are some pending legal matters.
Bob Jennings asked what is the $33,600.00 for Other General Government for.
Deb responded that account is for printing, heating for town office, general supplies, tax maps, computer support & maintenance etc.
Article #11 – New Fire Truck
Chief Plourde indicated that the town would only raise $14,750.00 for this item through taxation; the remaining $280,250.00 will be paid for through a federal grant. He further stated that if the town did not receive the award for the grant they would not purchase the Fire Truck.
Kent Vincent stated he was concerned the article isn’t written correctly.
Mr. Vincent was told it is written correctly.
Ken Paulson asked what truck are we replacing.
Jim Plourde stated it is a 1978, it has an open cab, which is no longer legal basked on NFPA Standards. This truck was donated by the Fire Auxiliary and was restored by the Department.
Jim further stated the town currently has a 5% chance of receiving the grant, if we don’t hear by the first week in March, he intends to resubmit a new grant.
Catherine asked if the old truck has any value to sell.
Jim stated he doesn’t think so.
Catherine asked if they would take it to Concord to try and sell.
Jim said they probably would.
Article #12 – 30 new pagers, batteries & holders for the Fire Dept. ($14,375.00)
Article #13 – Replacement Hose – ($5,000.00)
Selectman Dumas stated the Board debated putting these articles into the operating budget, however Chief Plourde wanted the voters to have the option of voting on them. There are no grants; these items would be purchased strictly by taxation. The pagers are approximately $500.00/pager.
Catherine asked what the difference is between these pagers and the pagers that the highway uses.
Jim stated that highway pagers are numeric; the fire department pagers actually talk to you.
Article #14 – Fire Department operating budget
Gwynn Mitchell asked why in 2006 we budgeted $2500.00 for vehicle maintenance, spent $5,255.00 and only is asking for $2,500.00 in 2007.
Jim explained the additional maintenance was due to the bio-diesel and it clogged up the fuel filter that then needed to be replaced.
Article #15 – Front-end loader
Selectman Dumas explained this is the last year for payment on two highway pieces of equipment, he also stated the board has considered paying for this with a four-year lease.
Myron Steere commented that every year the highway gets new equipment; he asked if we could have a break. Why can’t we finance it for more than for years, say 10 years?
Dan Wolaver discussed it doesn’t matter how long it is financed because if it is financed for a longer time we pay more interest. Either way we have to pay for it.
Selectman Rainier stated they have considered financing for longer periods.
Myron Steere stated again, people need a break.
Rhonda Cilley discussed financing things over a longer period.
Peter Hopkins discussed the options of Capital Reserve Funds, and then there isn’t quite the same burden
Kim Kaminecki asked if there were other brands that could be considered
Selectman Rainier stated that yes there were.
Article #16 – Highway Budget
The blasting line item was questioned.
Duffy asked that it be changed from blasting to hydraulic jackhammer.
Article #17 – Library Budget
There were no comments about this budget
MaryAnn Grant discussed the Budget Advisory Committee asking departments to cut budgets by 10%. Maryanne stated that it was clear every department has tried to cut their budgets. She wanted it noted that by purchasing used items the library alone saved over $13,000.00 for outfitting the library.
Article #18 – Parks & Recreation Budget
Neil Brown asked what computer software was $30.00, what contract services was for and what dues were $70.00.
Molly explained the $30.00 computer software was for a shared anti-virus software that is a 10 user program, the contract services is for the portable johns that are at the lakes & Oak Park, the dues are for the NH Parks & Recreation Association.
Article #19 – Police Budget
Brian spoke to his budget; there were no questions about his budget.
Article #20 – Global Warming Article – submitted by petition – no one was available to speak to this matter.
Article #21 – Petition Article to reduce the overall town operating budget by 5% less than last years budget. (Submitted by the Budget Advisory Committee)
Myron Steere spoke to this article indicating the committee feels spending is outrageous.
Peter Hopkins questioned the legality of this warrant article. He further stated that if the committee feels that the town is spending too much money what do they want the board to cut.
Kent Vincent also asked about the legality
Selectman Kullgren read an e-mail provided by the Administrative Assistant regarding RSA 32, which vests the governing body (Selectmen) exclusive authority to formulate and propose the operating budget.
Norman Nickerson stated that the article was to let the Selectmen have a feel for how residents feel about the budget.
Deb stated that the petitioned article, as presented really upset the employees. She stated that everyone works hard for the town and doesn’t spend any money that isn’t authorized by the voters.
Brian stated that what they are asking would equate to the police department not working at all for five weeks out of the year.
Duffy asked where they would like him to cut money; everyday he gets notices of cost increases in salt, asphalt and other commodities that are out of his control.
Town Clerk, Dee Sleeper asked Catherine if she knew what the actual increase in the budget from 2006 was.
Catherine stated that the overall proposed 2007 budget, without warrant articles is only $15,000.00 more than the 2006 budget or less than 1%.
Gene Mitchell asked why can’t we have a “mini-town meeting” again.
Selectmen thanked everyone for attending this budget hearing. With no further discussion the meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.
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