Town of Greenfield
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
Tuesday – April 8, 2008 – 6:00 pm
Present: Chairman, Aaron Kullgren; Selectwoman, Karen Day; Selectman, Jarvis Adams, IV
Chairman Kullgren called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm
Administrative Assistant, Deb Davidson taking minutes
Appointments:
6:15 – Kathy Valliere – To discuss the properties with unique situations with back taxes.
· Buxton – Valliere explained how she sees the most appropriate manner in which to deal with this property. This property is located on Forest Road, identified as Map R4 Lot 55, there are approximately 10 acres located either in and/or near the swamp. There are children who are partial owners of this property; if a lien is placed on the property it could potentially damage their credit. Valliere doesn’t believe this is a fair option for this particular property, she has spoken with attorneys, representing the Tax Collector Association who recommended do a Quitclaim deed to the town, get all parties to sign the deed. This will alleviate the taxes and
take the burden off these children, who have expressed no interest in the property.
· Deeding – Valliere discussed upon deeding property if the Town holds the property for 3 years before selling, then the town gets all the proceeds. She went on to explain this procedure. Valliere continued to explain if you don’t wait three years then you must give a right to refusal to the previous owner, if they don’t pay up taxes within a certain timeframe, then the Town can sell the property and any proceeds must be returned to the previous owner.
· Carbee – Valliere discussed this property, identified as Map V3, Lot 6 has a substantial amount of back taxes. Discussion followed how to proceed; more research will be completed before any action is actually taken. Valliere will meet back with the Board in approximately one month to discuss the situation further.
· Liens – Valliere indicated after some research, it is her opinion, the town doesn’t appear to be in too bad a shape with tax liens, and with the exception of the older liens she is prepared to move forward. She will be doing the 2007 liens shortly, which should create some tax revenue.
Motion by Chairman Kullgren to proceed with a quitclaim deed for Frances Buxton et al, property identified as Map R4-Lot 55, located on Forest Road, effective as soon as possible.
The motion was seconded by Day & Adams.
Voted: 3-0 Affirmatively
A brief discussion followed, town counsel will need to be involved to assure this is done properly.
Voted in the affirmative.
With nothing else, the Board thanked Kathy for coming to the meeting.
6:30 – Fire Chief, James Plourde –
· Grant update – Chief Plourde reported the grant application for the Fire Truck has been filed, and was on time. He further discussed he had reviewed the 2004 grant application, which the town received. Upon doing so, he discovered that grant was broken down quite explisitly. This prompted Plourde to contact the FEMA Rep. from Massachusetts who said the grant should be broken down and that every bit of apparatus needs to be accounted for separately. The fire department is trying to get a thermal imaging camera, a multi gas meter & a new set of extrication equipment as well. Plourde noted that just to have the jaws on the truck there are five
different criteria that must be met, the town has met 4 of them. The grant applications are being processed the last week of April through May; awards will be announced in three stages, the first stage is June – August; the second stage will be Sept. – Oct.; and the third stage will be Nov. –Dec.
With the financial standing of the town, Plourde feels that should help to possibly be a community that wins the award.
· Personnel: Chief Plourde asked if the board would entertain the idea of an independent mediator or arbitrator for the personnel issue that is pending.
Adams asked if there was anyone Plourde has in mind.
Plourde stated that he did not have anyone in mind.
Administrative Assistant stated she has spoken to Mark Broth from Devine, Millimet about this matter in the past. Attorney Broth specializes in employment issues and stated if the matter could not be resolved with the manner in which has already been taken, he certainly could mediate the situation. Attorney Broth is a representative of the NH Local Government Center as well.
Selectmen were all in agreement they would be willing to do this for Chief Plourde. They will let Chief Plourde decide how he wants to proceed with either the Town setting up a mediator or he doing it himself. Chief Plourde should get back to the Board as soon as possible.
· Supplies – Plourde reported that Station House Supply, where the fire department purchases a lot of their supplies, is going out of business. These are items that ordinarily would be picked up and not order through the mail. The company will eventually do a mail order system. There is a new company that will be opening locally and the department is looking forward to working with the company. Plourde gave a brief explanation of how Station House Supply began, and commented that the new company will be run by one of the original owners.
Kullgren stated he had two questions for Chief Plourde.
1. The Board would like to begin holding rotating meetings. Explaining how that will work is they would like to have a meeting at the Firehouse, Library, Dept. of public works, Recycle Center etc., and invite residents to join in the meetings and see exactly where the Town Employees spend the bulk of their time. They asked Jim for a date that would work for the Fire Dept., and Jim especially. Jim indicated that the month of August would be best, as there is a lot going on through July.
Jim mentioned the Fire Dept. would like to sponsor the next Spirit. It is noted, and the space will be reserved.
2. The second question involves a meeting between Crotched Mtn., the BOS, Fire/Rescue, DPW, and the Police. The Board would like to arrange a time that would work for the Fire/Rescue. The Board would like the meeting to be a discussion of changes and how are we going to be able to put together a real understanding of what it means to provide services. Jim will get back to the board with a date shortly.
Day mentioned that in order to get it into the July Spirit she needs a date by June 1st.
7:00 – Library Trustee, Maryanne Grant –
· Revenues - Maryanne provided the BOS with an e-mail from Terry Knowles from the Attorney General Office. The e-mail is regarding the user fees for the Library room that is occasionally being rented. Based on the e-mail the Trustees have determined that any rental fees will go to the Town and put into the general fund; funds from any fundraisers from “friends of the library” will go towards books, furnishings etc.
· Trustees - Kullgren asked if Mike Kavenagh is going to be able to come back as a Trustee. Maryanne stated no, but an alternate possibly. She further commented that Eric Leonardi is working out very well.
Discussion followed regarding the “traveling BOS meetings” and they would like to have a Selectman’s meeting in the new room at the library in the near future. Again, Kullgren mentioned that the Board would like to invite the public to come to the meeting and to have an opportunity to visit the Library. The Board asked to have a date to allow us to put it in the spirit. Maryanne will get back to us shortly.
7:15 – In accordance with RSA 91A:3 II (c) – Selectman Kullgren motioned to enter into a non-public session to discuss a matter, which if discussed publicly, may adversely affect ones reputation. Seconded by Day & Adams. Voted: 3-0. No discussion
9:00 Motion by Kullgren to enter out of the non-public session and to further seal the minutes.
Seconded by Day & Adams. Voted: 3-0. No discussion
Decision: Town Treasurer, Katherine Heck will contact Budget Advisory Committee Chair, Bruce Dodge to discuss some serious financial analysis of certain town departments.
9:30 – In accordance with RSA 91A:3 II (b) – Selectman Kullgren motioned to enter into a non-public session for the purpose of hiring personnel. Seconded by Day & Adams. Voted: 3-0. No discussion.
9:40 Motion by Kullgren to enter out of the non-public session and to further seal the minutes.
Seconded by Day & Adams. Voted: 3-0. No discussion
Decision: Selectmen will make no decision about the hiring of personnel until Tuesday, April 15, 2008.
9:30 – In accordance with RSA 91A:3 II (a) – Selectman Kullgren motioned to enter into a non-public session for the purpose of discussing employee compensation. Seconded by Day & Adams. Voted: 3-0. No discussion.
9:40 Motion by Kullgren to enter out of the non-public session and to further seal the minutes.
Motion by Chairman Kullgren, effective immediately to make a rate adjustment to the accounting directors wage by $1.00. Seconded by Day & Adams: Voted 3-0. No further discussion.
Voted 3-0 unanimously
Other Business:
· Mail - Selectmen reviewed the miscellaneous incoming mail.
· Minutes - Selectmen signed and approved the minutes of 4/1/08
· Accounts Payable - Selectmen signed and approved A/P
· Epping Trip – Selectmen discussed a date for the trip to Epping. It was decided Saturday, April 26th as early in the day as possible. Deb will contact Clay Mitchell for confirmation.
· P/T Wages – Selectmen discussed part-time wages – It was brought to Selectman Adams attention that there was a misunderstanding and a part-time employee had thought there would be a $1.00 increase in pay after 90 days. None of the three Selectmen remembers such a discussion; the Board will leave this decision up to the Supervisor.
· Policies – Selectmen tabled the review of various policies until a later date.
· Temp. Readings – TEC Representative, Aaron Harris wants to do temperature readings of the town office building. Selectmen approved this request.
· Ethics – Deb discussed a class she attended on Friday in Concord on Ethics. The Town does have a current ethics policy, however it will be reviewed this summer to see if it is in need of any updates.
With no further business the meeting adjourned at 10:30 pm. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 6:00 pm.
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