Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, August 9, 2012 – 4:30 pm
Board of Selectmen: Chairman Robert Wimpory; Selectwoman, Karen Day
Staff: Town Administrator Patt, Planning Board Chairman Bob Marshall
Public: Ken Paulson, Ashley Saari – Monadnock Ledger
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 PM by Chairman Wimpory.
Documents for Approval/Review/Signature
The Selectmen reviewed and signed the following items:
§ A/P Check Manifest
§ A/P Checks
§ A/P Invoices
§ Bid for Town Office Walkway Paving
§ Draft Liability Release Form- Recreation Dept.
§ NH Community Planning Grant Program – Contract
§ US. Dept. of Housing (HUD) – Cooperative Agreement
§ Town of Greenfield Police Details Policy
§ Oak Park Rental – Lovin Life Memorial
§ Sewer Tax Warrant – 3rd Quarter
§ Plowshare Intent to Cut
§ 2013 State of NH Education Tax Warrant
§ Timber Tax Warrant
4:30 PM: Review of Documents and Correspondence
At 4:30 the Board began reviewing documents. The Timber Tax Warrant and the Sewer Tax Warrant were signed and delivered to the Tax Collector. The Board reviewed the 2013 State of NH Education Tax Warrant. The Board reviewed the Greenfield Police Details Policy and the board members requested individual copies for review. The Oak Park rental agreement from Lovin Life Memorial was reviewed. Lovin Life Memorial is a memorial for a young man who died three years ago. Proceeds go towards a local charity and a trust fund for the man’s daughter. The rental agreement was accompanied by a request for the Town to waive the rental fee as a donation toward the memorial. After discussion a motion was made by the Chairman to waive the fee for the rental but not the security deposit and to ensure that the facility was properly
inspected before the security deposit was returned. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Davidson and passed on a vote of 3-0. On further discussion the Board requested that Lovin Life Memorial provide documentation of its non-profit status if it has filed for 501c3 status.
4:45 PM: Paving Update – DPW Supervisor Tim Murray
DPW Supervisor Murray came before the Board to report on the first day’s paving by Brox Industries. Brox has laid down approximately 750 tons of shim at the close of the day. It was anticipated that the total amount of asphalt would be approximately 1750 tons. On further discussion Supervisor Murray indicated that through conversations with Brox and further review of the roads, DPW had revised its plan for topping a portion of Slip Road and would be doing a bit more shimming than anticipated. Supervisor Murray addressed a concern about the weather and indicated that they had worked through the entire day with no problems and anticipated coming back Friday to have Brox finish. If it rains they would be forced to stop working.
Next, Supervisor Murray informed the Board that there is a maple tree in front of the Meeting House that is dead. He had received a quote from Northeast Tree to drop the tree in sections and grind the stump for a total of $450.00. Supervisor Murray indicated that he had budget in the tree trimming line item that would cover this cost. The Board discussed providing the wood for use of Welfare. On a motion made by the Chair and Seconded by Selectwoman Day the Board voted to approve the expenditure of $450.00 for the removal of the tree and stump and further, to give the wood to the Greenfield Givers who could then coordinate with the Greenfield Welfare Department. The vote was unanimous.
Supervisor Murray indicated that the Town has received a quote for paving the walkway in front of the Town Office building. This has been under discussion since the walkway was installed. Although the Capital Improvement Plan report indicated that the cost of this was thought to be $23,500, DPW could rent a jackhammer for $550, tear out the concrete pads, put down some gravel, and then pave the walk for $450; for a cost of approximately $1000. A discussion of the work needed to tear out the concrete steps by DPW was held. Supervisor Murray assured the Board that DPW could take out the steps in a day. The Board took a brief recess to go outside and examine the walkway. Supervisor Murray explained that in winter each of the steps freezes at the front edge of each concrete pad due to the cold air
striking the front of the steps. This results in unsafe conditions and having to treat the walk by hand. He then explained that coming from the light at the flagpole, electrical conduit can be run, for a separate cost, which would allow the Town to install lights for the walkway and, further down, in front of the parking lot. On return to the meeting room, the Board discussed the options and each of the Board members was in favor of moving forward; this would include receiving the electrical quotes, pricing out potential lamppost solutions and determining how much of the electrical work would be done in 2012. Supervisor Murray indicated that if the ramp were undertaken that they could at least tie off the electrical in underground conduit and leave it for the next budget season. The Board approved next steps to the process
Next, Supervisor Murray discussed the Meeting House skunk smell that has been occurring this summer. A specialist in mold remediation was consulted and it was shown that there were significant amounts of mold in the ductwork, which may be the cause of the smell. Further discussion about the technique for cleaning the ductwork led to discussion on cleaning the closets and the boiler room. The Selectmen requested that the concern that the cause of the smell might be a skunk should be referred to animal control. Selectmen asked that Supervisor Murray request a quote on cleaning the ductwork as well as details about how the ducts are cleaned, as the concern is that the ductwork is very old and could fall apart depending on how vigorous the cleaning process is.
Lastly, the Board reviewed a liability waiver form and requested that Greenfield’s volunteer liability waiver form be located and presented at the next meeting.
5:30 PM: Planning Board Chairman Marshall – Community Planning Grant
At 5:30 PM Planning Board Chair Bob Marshall came before the Board with a copy of the Community Planning Grant (CPG) contract and the US Department of Housing Cooperative Agreement, both of which are part of the recent grant award that was provided so that SWRP could undertake to perform a regulatory review. The scope of the work is outlined here:
“Grantee municipalities may use CPG grants solely for the purpose of hiring qualified consultants to conduct proposed project work….
Regulatory Review. Exclusively in Round 1 municipalities may apply for a grant to conduct a ‘regulatory review,’ the purpose of which is to identify aspects of the municipality’s land use regulations that need to be amended to increase consistency with the municipal master plan.”
The Board had previously voted to have the Planning Board Chairman apply for the grant. The grant was awarded to the town of Greenfield in the amount of $7,125 with a match of $2,350 of Planning Board member in-kind work (at a rate of $21.79 per hour) and cash $594 from the Planning Board budget. On receipt of the CPG contract from Chairman Marshall the Board signed the agreement.
Further discussion of the Planning Board’s goals for the Master Plan as it relates to the Town was held. Planning Board Chairman Marshall indicated that there have been interesting conversations generated from the roundtable events held previously in the year. He outlined the background of industry in the Town of Greenfield and then went on to discuss several properties around the center of Town that have significance to the Town, which are currently for sale. Chairman Marshall outlined some of the ideas provided by residents and business leaders with respect to incorporating economic development initiatives in the center of town. One idea was to look at Crotched Mountain with an eye to providing services in town that would complement the needs of people visiting the Crotched Mountain facility. In this way dollars
that are currently flowing out to outlying areas would stay in town. He suggested that a facility similar to the Greenfield Inn that caters to Crotched Mountain visiting families is one idea that made a lot of sense. Selectwoman Davidson said that this reminded her of the Ronald McDonald House, which was said to be very helpful to families visiting ill children.
There was some discussion of Crotched Mountain’s recent initiative to put a significant number of acres into conservation. It was suggested that the number was approximately 2000 acres. Ashley Saari of the Monadnock Ledger indicated that there has been some hold up at the State level that was the result of the federal government pushing the control of the conservation applications to the State level.
Further discussion of the potential for economic development was held and it was concluded that there might be an opportunity for the Selectmen to appoint an Economic Development Committee. The Board took this opportunity under advisement. A short discussion was held to determine the role of the Board of Selectmen in advancing the economic development discussion currently underway with the Planning Board.
6:30 PM: Town Administrator
Town Administrator Patt advised the Board of a need to discuss personnel issues. The Board determined that the discussion should be held in non-public and asked the people present if there were any items prior to their entering non-public discussion. Ken Paulson indicated that he had a concern about the flags that are flying around town. As a veteran he is concerned when he notices that the flags have started to lose their coloring. Although they appear in good repair and are not tattered, the loss of color is an indication that the flags have reached their end of life and should be retired. He also questioned if the flags should be flown continuously or should be taken down and flown during specific times, thus extending their life span. He also indicated that he understood that there is a cost that would have to be
weighed. The Board had a short discussion with Mr. Paulson and thanked him for bringing his concern forward.
At 6:50 PM the Chairman of the Selectmen, Robert Wimpory made a motion to go into a non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II a, for personnel. On a roll call vote Selectwoman Day voted yes, Selectwoman Davidson voted yes, and the Chair voted yes. The vote being unanimous the Board entered into non-public session. At 7:50 the Board voted to go out of non-public session on a vote of 3-0. It was noted that the Board had asked the Administrator to call LGC and/or Primex to determine if either of these organizations could provide a free class to the employees to address municipal customer service skills.
7:53 PM: Adjournment
There being no further business, Selectman Wimpory moved to adjourn the meeting. Selectwoman Day seconded. The motion carried 3-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:54 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
Aaron Patt
Town Administrator
The minutes are final when approved and signed by the Board of Selectmen. A signed copy is on file in the Selectmen’s minutes.
_______________________ _______________________ ______________________
Robert Wimpory, Chairman Karen Day, Selectwoman Debra Davidson, Selectwoman
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