Town of Greenfield
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
Tuesday – July 3, 2007 – 6:00 pm
Chairman: Aaron Kullgren
Selectmen: Karen Day
Jarvis Adams, IV
Administrative Assistant, Deb Davidson taking minutes
Call to Order: Kullgren called meeting to order at 6:00
Selectmen unanimously approved the Meeting Minutes for the June 11, 2007 non-public session, June 19, 2007 & June 26, 2007 meetings.
Appointments:
6:00 – Town Recycle Committee – Present: Candi Fowler, Roger Lessard, Neal Brown –
Committee Representative, Candi Fowler started by saying she has three items to discuss with the Selectmen.
New Recycle Brochure - Representative Fowler provided copies of new brochure to the Board of Selectmen. They would like to have the new disposal prices that are reflective on the new brochure take effect August 1, 2007. This is a decision that Recycle Supervisor, Frank Pelkey thought would be appreciated by the public, they need time to become familiar with the new disposal prices.
Selectman Kullgren commented that he would like the back of the brochure to read “you must receive a receipt”; he would also like another change on the back of the brochure, to only use the wording “please” once.
Selectwoman Day would like the brochure to be reinforced that it be noted that residents cannot leave non-functional items at the shed to be recycled. Non-functional items should be disposed of properly; if a fee is required it should be paid to the attendant.
Recycle Tickets – Ms. Fowler discussed that the prices for disposal of items will be increasing. She also stated that they would like to have the tickets sold at the Recycle Center, rather than at the town office. It is the feeling of many residents that it is inconvenient to purchase them from the office.
Kullgren discussed that there needs to be an internal control, and further asked what they proposed.
TRC Member, Neal Brown stated that the logistics aren’t completely figured at this time. They will provide receipts, and cash was discussed.
Administrative Assistant, Davidson suggested that the tickets be numbered and accounted for by receipt. Discussion followed, a policy to audit the receipts & tickets must be set in place. Someone has to be accountable for the funds at the end of the day as well.
Selectmen are supportive of this change. Administrative Assistant Davidson will talk with the police about Frank turning in a bankers bag to the PD at the end of the workday. The funds would be counted and locked at the end of the day.
Fowler also stated she would like to see recycled paper used for the brochure.
Selectman Kullgren stated he would like to see something on the brochure about turning off you car engine while at the facility. It should be a mandatory requirement for safety reasons. Kullgren also commented that he would like to see more signage be placed at the GRC. TRC member Lessard stated that each year the NRRA allows $80.00/signs, and that is what Frank uses for signage. Discussion on creative ways of making signage out of recycled material could be considered.
Mandatory Recycling – Fowler stated that recycling is not mandatory in Greenfield, she asked if the Selectmen would consider making Greenfield a mandatory recycling town. Adams stated he believes people do recycle because if they take the time go to the recycle center, they most likely are recycling. If it isn’t made an issue, it won’t become one. Fowler reiterated that if you go to the recycle center and you must recycle, it saves the town money. It costs the town money if it is not recycled. Costs for transportation will be going up and we should be more vigilant about recycling. Discussion of using clear bags followed. Selectman Adams wanted to know how many people do not recycle. A means of showing residents how much they are recycling and saving money would be beneficial,
something like a thermometer painted with cost savings on the side of it. People like visuals.
Selectman Kullgren asked about the loading dock and if they were looking for bids. There is at lease one person who has bid on the job, and another has indicated a bid would be forthcoming. Administrative Assistant Davidson mentioned it must be advertised in the paper, she would like to see a copy of the bid spec to have in the office and available for the public. TRC Member Brown stated he would get her a copy, and they would work on getting the bid advertised locally.
Selectmen thanked the TRC for coming to the meeting and discussing the various topics.
7:00 – Lee LeBlanc (not on the agenda) said that after the Memorial Day parade and she went to the Revolutionary Cemetery on East Road and that it is a beautiful site. Mrs. LeBlanc said that there are two stones that need repair and the cemetery does need to be cleaned up. She asked the Selectmen who is responsible for this, Selectman Kullgren stated that the Cemetery Trustees are Gil Bliss, Bob Plourde & Duffy Fox. Leblanc stated that there is some beautiful ground cover at the cemetery and she would like to see it cleaned up.
Administrative Assistant will contact Gil Bliss and see what is needed to get the cemetery fixed up.
On another note, Mrs. LeBlanc inquired about the Gen. Gov’t Bldgs Maintenance person, the lake needed to be taken care of and she started to do the clean up. Molly saw her and told her that she did not have to do it that there is someone who will do that. Mrs. LeBlanc stated she continued to rake, but that there are some piles of leaves that need to be removed. Administrative Assistant will contact Dan Sousa and see that he remove the piles of leaves Lee raked up.
On-Going matters:
Old Lyndeborough Mtn. Road – Selectwoman Day reported that she spoke with Mr. Nadeau, he understood the Town is waiting to hear from FEMA before they move forward with any repairs, Mr. Nadeau indicated he would sit- tight until FEMA contacts the town. Day stated that the FEMA representative has again put the Town off, indicating this is the third time.
Policies – Policies were briefly discussed. Chairman Kullgren would like Administrative Assistant to let the Selectmen have an idea of what policies she thinks are in most need of modification; Day stated she would like the various hours of operation to be included in the discussion.
Other Business:
Mail - Misc. Incoming Mail was reviewed
Accounts Payable - Selectmen signed the A/P checks
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program – Administrative Assistant, Deb Davidson informed the Selectmen that she & Road Agent, Duffy Fox have submitted a letter of intent to apply for this grant. This is a 75/25 match, it is not the same as the funds that will be applied for from FEMA. This will help with the replacement of undersized culverts, raising roads that are a hazard due to poor drainage, etc.
Roadway inventory – Selectmen briefly reviewed the documents provided by the Southwest Regional Planning Commission, the maps need to be verified for accuracy. This can directly affect highway block grant funds. If done by Tuesday, it can be picked up by Sarah Patriquin, at the next Mitigation meeting. Selectmen would like to see the previous report that was completed. Administrative Assistant will get the previous report for review and was further instructed to review the map provided by SWRPC
Mapping Services - Discussion on mapping services followed. Administrative Assistant will put together a request for proposal and mail it to a few of the companies recommended by the DRA. This information will be used for the 2008 budget. The Town of Greenfield can remain a member of SWRPC, but we do not have to use their mapping services. They have not been very accurate over the past several years, with a high turnover rate of employment.
CRMRC – Administrative Assistant has spoken with Mr. Shumway’s Assistant; they are working together to schedule a Selectmen’s Meeting at CRMC. Working towards having the meeting in August or Sept., it can go into the Spirit in hopes of getting residents to be able to tour the woodchip plant at the mountain.
Community Roundtable - Roundtable Discussion topic was the next matter before the Board. They would like to get it advertised sooner so more residents can attend. Consideration of topics varied from Open Space, budgets, CIP and more, no decisions were made at this time though.
Budget Advisory Committee - Discussion between members of a strategic approach when meeting with the BAC next week. Selectman Day asked about the fire truck grant and questioned if we were getting those funds or not. Administrative Assistant reminded the board that we were denied the first round, and Fire Chief, Plourde is applying for a new grant. Selectmen discussed the various options for the purchase of a new fire truck vs. a used fire truck.
Various ways of handling the budget were discussed at length. It was agreed by all, this would be a good discussion for next week with the BAC.
Assistant Davidson asked Selectmen to consider what Capital Projects they would like considered for the general government buildings. Davidson is to meet with Planning Board member Morris soon and would like to have all the facts in order for the meeting. She will review the CIP book, however with a new Selectboard she wanted to be sure the priorities remained the same.
Bonding for the upgrade of the roads was discussed. Selectwoman Day would like to see the town sponsor a Charrette and have the residents input. The board discussed this and agreed that for a long-term goal this would be a good avenue for the town. A Charrette will help to mold the town into a pedestrian friendly town.
Furnace is definitely a need for the town, Selectmen instructed Assistant Davidson to contact Bob Jennings for advice and to further ask him to come speak to the board. Others she should contact would be Tim Allen and Dale Sanford.
Resident Concern – Selectwoman Day discussed she received an e-mail from resident, Andrea Gilbert which spoke of the high speed on Old Bennington Road. Gilbert is concerned about what can be done about it. She has offered to help contribute to buy a portable speed bump, if necessary. There are more homes on the road than in the past with more people and consequently people are driving faster. Also mentioned was that because the road has been widened due to grading, the historic stonewalls are disappearing. Selectwoman Day asked what could be done about this. Kullgren stated that it would appear that Selectmen should discuss this issue with the police because it is a safety issue. The Board may have a discussion with the highway department on road design and safety as well.
Discussion continued about safety & customer service, a complaint has been issued and should be responded to.
Decision: Ask Chief Giammarino to come to the meeting next week at 6:30 and discuss this from a philosophical standpoint. The Board will look into these concerns and get back to Andrea Gilbert in writing.
The meeting adjourned at 8:22 pm. The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 6:00 pm
| 
