Town of Greenfield
Selectmen’s Meeting minutes
Thursday, October 13, 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
Kullgren moved to adjourn the meeting to a non-public session under RSA 91-A:3II(a) to discuss a personnel matter. Day Seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
The regular meeting was adjourned to a non-public session at 6:30 PM. A short non-public session was held. The meeting reopened at 7:12 PM. Kullgren noted that no actions were taken at the non-public meeting.
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 regular meeting was adjourned to a non-public session at 7:12 PM. A short non-public session was held. The meeting reopened at 7:31 PM. Kullgren noted that no actions were taken at the non-public meeting.
Brush Cutting
Ms. Janet Renaud voiced her complaints about the brush cutting along the road near her home. Mr. Conrad Dumas agreed and said that the town needed to understand that he owned the land along the road.
Ms. Renaud said that the homeowners where the town will be cutting should be notified. Kullgren said that the town would do a better job in the future, but that people need to understand that there is a safety issue with some of the brush and limbs that need to be cut.
There was a discussion on the need to do the cutting along the roads.
Mr. Tim Murray, the town’s Public Works Director, reviewed the work done and that they now had signs up indicating where their next cutting would be done.
Wimpory suggested that if the homeowner could trim the trees and brush trimmed along the road on their property then the town would have no reason to do it.
Supervisors of the Checklist
Rose noted that he had finally spoken with a representative from the Secretary of State’s office who had said that the town should be fine with the way the Special Town Meeting was held, so it would not have to be done again. He said that he had been notified that the Supervisors of the Checklist had wanted to speak with the Selectmen about this.
Ms. Linda Dodge, the Chair of the Supervisors of the Checklist, said that she felt that there should be better communication if the Selectmen schedule a Special Town Meeting. Rose apologized for not notifying them of the final date of the meeting.
Ms. Dee Sleeper, the Town Clerk, asked for copies of the information on the Special Town Meeting for her files. Rose said he would provide that.
There was a discussion on the need for notices to all the parties for a Special Town Meeting. Kullgren thanked the members of the Supervisors of the Checklist and the Town Clerk for attending.
LGC – Health Insurance and 125 Plan
Mr. Mike Kelliher and Ms. Lea McLaughlin, representing the New Hampshire Local Government Center Health Trust, reviewed their IRS Section 125 plan and discussed how it would work for the town’s employees.
Ms. Catherine Shaw asked if the town could set up a 125 plan without working through the Local Government Center. Mr. Kelliher said that they could but that there are many IRS regulations to be aware of and a good deal of paperwork that needs to be done.
There was a general discussion on how the 125 plan would work and who would qualify to participate in it.
Ms. McLaughlin also reviewed the LGC health insurance options. She noted that the town could join in either January or in July when the town’s current health insurance program ends.
Day asked if several options could be offered to the employees. Ms. McLaughlin said that the town could make several plans available to the employees.
Kullgren asked that they provide the town with the costs for the various options and that the Selectmen would evaluate them.
Police Complaint
Ms. Patty Donovan asked what the Board had done with the complaint she brought to them at the last meeting. Kullgren said that the board had to be very careful about what it talks about when there are criminal matters pending.
Ms. Donavan said that she was not aware of any matters still pending. She presented several points to the Selectmen and said that they show that there is a problem.
Ms. Lee Leblanc said that she was not aware of all of the issues and did not understand that the problem was between the two sides.
Ms. Donovan said that if the town does not move on this she will seek legal action against the town.
Kullgren said that since she is threatening legal action all future communications should be in writing.
Town Administrator Selection Process
Rose reviewed the proposed plan to conduct telephone interviews with the finalists. The Board discussed this process and decided to have a regular interview with each finalist rather than a telephone one.
It was agreed that these would be set for Monday, October 17 and Thursday, October 20.
There was some discussion on the process followed thus far.
Minutes
The board agreed with the correction in the September 15, 2011 minutes.
Kullgren noted that there were a few errors in the proposed minutes of September 29 and Rose said those could be corrected.
The board asked for followup on a few items from the September 29 meeting.
Kullgren said that he had spoken to a representative of Bobcat on the Skid-steer equipment and that they felt it was safe for the size of the bales that the town uses. Day agreed but questioned whether it could handle the maneuvers that the town needed. She said she was still looking for more information on this.
The board approved of the minutes of the October 3, 2011 meeting.
Capital Reserve Fund Withdrawal – Fire Truck
Rose noted that the town had received a bill from Peterborough for the fire truck that the town had approved.
The Selectmen approved the withdrawal of $8,000.00 from the “Fire Rescue Apparatus Capital Reserve Fund.”
Budget Timetable
The board discussed the timetable presented and said that it was acceptable. Wimpory noted that there may be a bond issue presented based on some discussions at the Planning Board meetings.
Kullgren asked for copies of the presented budgets as so as possible.
Documents for Approval
The Selectmen reviewed and signed the following items:
A/P Invoices
Payroll Check Manifest
Adjournment
Kullgren moved to adjourn the meeting. Day seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 10:40 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
Christopher Rose
Interim Administrative Assistant
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