Town of Greenfield
Selectmen’s Meeting minutes
Wednesday, August 25, 2011 – 6:30 pm
Present: Chairman, Aaron Kullgren, Selectwoman, Karen Day, Selectman, Robert Wimpory.
Minutes: Interim Administrative Assistant, Christopher Rose taking minutes.
Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM by Chairman Kullgren.
Non-Public Session – Property Matter
Kullgren moved to adjourn the meeting to a non-public session under RSA 91-a:3II (d) to discuss a property matter.
Day seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
The meeting adjourned to a non-public session. A short non-public session was held.
The meeting reopened at 6:55 PM.
Police Budget
Mr. Brian Giammarino, the town Police Chief, noted his concern over the possible shortage in his budget for part-time officers by the end of the year. There was a general discussion on the pay rates for the part-time officers.
Kullgren suggested that the Board could approve moving some funds from the “Police Cruiser” line to the “Part-time officers” line to cover the amount needed. The Board agreed with this suggestion.
Mr. Giammarino thanked the board for their help on this issue.
Wimpory asked about the cost to the town and the employee to attend the police academy. Mr. Giammarino noted that the cost if free to the town but that the town has not paid the employees for their time to attend.
Wimpory said that he felt that the town should look into getting the funds to pay the employees for their time to attend the academy.
Code Red
Day noted that the town’s Fire Chief had asked about putting information into the “Greenfield Spirit” on the ‘Code Red’ alert system.
Mr. Loren White, the town’s Fire Chief, noted that the town needed to gain information from the residents on how to contact them and he felt that an article and a mail in form as a part of the “Spirit” would help.
There was a discussion on how to distribute the ‘Spirit’. Wimpory asked about having the Code Red form as a part of the town’s tax bill. Kullgren suggested that the fire department employees could distribute it door to door.
Mr. White said that he was concerned about making sure that it was delivered to each home.
Kullgren said that he would support a mass mailing to be sure that it got the information out. Day noted that the forms could be available at the town office and other locations as well.
The board agreed to support the mailing of “The Greenfield Spirit” when it included the information on the Code Red system.
Planning for Hurricane Irene
Mr. John Gryval, the town’s Emergency Management Director, noted the discussion he had help with the Police Chief, the Fire Chief and the Public Works Director to prepare for the coming hurricane. He noted that the town looks like it will have some serious wind and rain for several days.
Mr. Gryval said that the emergency management team will meet in the fire station on Saturday, August 27 to discuss the information available at that time. He noted that he had spoken with several area businesses in the community to help them prepare.
There was a discussion of the various aspects of the preparations.
Mr. White noted that there was a generator at the fire station if the area loses power.
Mr. Giammarino noted the concerns the police had with the parking along the road in that area.
Kullgren suggested that a memorandum of understanding be prepared on the town’s doing the plowing of the parking area.
Special Town Meeting Date
Rose noted the discussions that he had held with the State Department of Revenue Administration on the time table to hold a special Town Meeting. There was some discussion on when this should be set and it was agreed that it would be held on Thursday, September 29, prior to the Selectman’s meeting.
Town Administrator Search
Rose reviewed the many questions that the Selectmen should consider in starting their search for a new Town Administrator.
Rose reviewed proposals from Municipal Resources, Inc., The Local Government Center, and Primex to work with the Selectmen in doing the search. The Selectmen agreed to work with Primex on this since there was very little cost to the town.
Rose reviewed the proposed ad for the position and there was a discussion on what it should include. The board agreed on the wording of the ad and where it should be advertised. The board asked that it go forward with the ad soon.
2012 Town Budget
Rose reviewed the proposed timeline for the budget process for the 2012 budget. The Board agreed with the timeline as proposed.
Rose asked if there were some guidelines that the Board wanted to give the Department Heads prior to the start of the budget process. Kullgren noted that he felt the Department Heads needed to fight for their budget increases. He said that the Town needed to know what their needs were.
Wimpory said that the CIP plan is coming along and will be finalized by the Planning Board soon. Kullgren said that the town needed to discuss capital reserve funds as well. He also asked for a year to year comparison of the budgets.
Town Goals
Rose suggested that the board meet to decide on some goals for the upcoming year. Wimpory said that the Planning board was discussing this same issue and may be suggesting some.
Rose outlined how the board could do this and that the goals could be broad or narrow
There was a discussion of process to fill this position.
ASCAP License
Rose reviewed the request from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, (ASCAP) for the town to pay a fee to use their licensed material. There was discussion on this and the board suggested that this be tabled at this time.
Administrative Assistant Vacancy
Rose noted that he would be out of the office for most of the week of September 12 and September 19. He said that Municipal Resources could have someone come in to work with the town during that time or the Selectmen could have Catherine Shaw cover for the time as she use to do when the previous Administrative Assistant was on vacation. Rose said that he could come in some of the time but not for as much as he did now and would not be able to attend the meeting of September 15.
The board agreed to work with Catherine during that time.
The Selectmen reviewed and signed the following items:
A/P Invoices
A/P Check Manifest
Town Health Insurance
Rose told the board that Primex would be holding a workshop on September 15 to help towns prepare for changing health insurance companies since they would no longer be offering the health insurance group.
Minutes
Kullgren moved to accept the minutes of the meeting of August 10, 2011 as presented. Day supported. The motion carried unanimously.
Day moved to accept the minutes of the non-public session of the August 10, 2011 meeting as presented. Kullgren supported. The motion carried unanimously.
Non-Public Session – Personal Matter
Kullgren moved to adjourn the meeting to a non-public session under RSA 91-a:3II (c) to discuss a property matter.
Day seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
The meeting adjourned to a non-public session. A short non-public session was held.
The meeting reopened at 8:40PM.
Bobcat Skid-Steer Loader
Day said she was concerned about the problem with the loader that the town had just purchased for the recycling center, and that the Conservation Commission was willing to contribute $500 toward the purchase of a larger machine. She said to upgrade the one the town had would cost about $4,400. She noted that the town had approximately $2,000 of that total.
There was a discussion on where the additional funds would come from for this.
Wimpory questioned whether the town needed to move to the larger model since he felt that the one the town had could do all that it needed to do. Day disagreed, and said that she felt that it was a safety issue.
Kullgren suggested that the town check to see if a used machine was available that the town could purchase instead of a new one. Day noted that the concern was that a used loader would not have the warranty.
Selectman Issues
Several building maintenance issues were raised and it was noted that the Selectmen needed to have a 90-day review with Mr. Tim Murray the Public Works Director.
There was a discussion that there should be a memorandum of understanding with Ms. Doreen Adams on her duties to do the supervision of the Town Meeting House.
It was agreed to do annual reviews of departments in October.
The Selectmen discussed possible meeting dates in September and agreed that their next meetings would be on September 15 and 29.
Adjournment
Kullgren moved to adjourn the meeting. Day seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 9:48 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
Christopher Rose
Interim Administrative Assistant
| 
