Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
Thursday, December 27, 2012 – 4:30 pm
Board of Selectmen: Chairman Rob Wimpory, Selectwoman Karen Day, and Selectwoman Debra Davidson
Staff: Town Administrator Patt,
Public: Ken Paulsen
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 Manifest
§ A/P Checks
§ A/P Invoices
§ Assessing correspondence
§ Meeting House rental agreement / Family Gathering
4:30 PM: Meeting Open
At 4:32 PM Chairman Wimpory opened the meeting. During the review of documents the Board questioned an invoice for JKM Construction and asked the Administrator to speak to DPW and clarify the invoice. Chairman Wimpory noted that the oil consumption at the Meeting House was a concern when renting out the space. The Board asked the Administrator to contact the party renting the Meeting House and explain the need for an additional fee for their rental to cover the cost of heating the building for the planned event. The Board discussed the need to update the cost of the Meeting House rental. Also discussed was the need for a release of liability from the Greenfield Covenant Church, which has some items, stored in the Meeting House.
4:45 PM: Library Window Contract – encumbrance of funds
The Board reviewed a request from the Library to encumber funds from the 2012 budget in order to install two new vinyl thermo-pane windows that are being built by CMR Construction Services. The Library has voted to encumber funds from the 2012 budget at a recent meeting. The available funds in the library budget are $4,679 and the amount for the windows is $3000 ($1500 ea.). The Board of Selectmen, on a motion made by Chairman Wimpory and a second by Selectwoman Davidson, voted 3-0 to encumber funds for the Library windows from the 2012 budget.
6:00 PM: Greenfield Recycling Committee
The Board welcomed Neal Brown, Diane Boilard, and Myron Steere from the Greenfield Recycling Committee. Neal Brown, Chair of the committee outlined the reason for visiting with the Board, which was to go over the committee’s interest in sending out a survey to residents to gather information from people who use the recycling center and people who do not use the center. The goal was to gather information so that the Board of Selectmen could evaluate several key questions: which days would residents prefer the center be open, how do residents prefer to pay for the service; through taxes alone or in conjunction with a Pay as you Throw system? Why do people use, or not use, the center? GRECOM Chair Neal Brown explained the reasoning behind the questions and the Board discussed several questions relative to the cost of
mailing versus handing the surveys out at different spots in town.
Chairman Wimpory stated that it’s difficult to get good part-time help for the Transfer Station that can pass a background check, and are willing to work part-time. Neal Brown said that committee members have been providing a lot of volunteer help recently, since it was learned that the most recent applicant did not pass the background check. The Board of Selectmen indicated that they would like to speak to Supervisor Burgess about the survey and include her in the conversation. The Board asked to schedule Supervisor Burgess at the next meeting.
7:00 PM: Work Session
The Board began a work session at 7:00 PM. Myron Steere, Greenfield School Board Rep. asked to speak to the Board on the subject of the ConVal school budget. Rep. Steere indicated that the increases in the 2013 budget were likely to run 20% over the 2012 budget and asked for the Board’s support in communicating with the School Board regarding the cost and impact of the School budget. Rep. Steere indicated that the School Board does not appreciate the impact that the Schools are having on local municipalities. As a result there are multiple areas where the budget is padded unnecessarily, a practice that has allowed the school to make purchases with “left over” monies it shouldn’t have budgeted. The Board discussed meeting with other selectmen in surrounding towns in order to advance a discussion
about the school budget’s impact. It was agreed that the Administrator should reach out and see if Hancock would also be interested in such a meeting. It was also agreed that communicating with the School district would be more productive if the communication came from a group of the municipalities. As part of their discussion the Board asked the Administrator to draft a letter that could be signed by all of the town selectmen and to have that available at a future meeting.
Next the Board determined that a warrant article to advance the ability to put the tax estimate in a warrant article would be a good idea and asked the Administrator to draft an appropriate warrant article.
Next the Board voted to allow additional end-of-year spending by DPW of $300 on hydraulic pins. The motion was made by the Chair and seconded by Selectwoman Davidson. The vote passed 3-0.
8:00 PM: Town Administrator
The Chair motioned to enter into nonpublic session under 91-A II c Reputation in order to address personnel related issues with the Town Administrator. On a roll call vote of 3-0 the Board entered into non-public session. At 8:52 PM the Board exited non-public session on a vote of 3-0. It was noted that no decisions were made and that the minutes were sealed.
9:00 PM: Adjournment
There being no further business, Selectman Wimpory moved to adjourn the meeting. Selectwoman Day seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 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.
_____________________ _____________________ _______________________
Rob Wimpory, Chairman Karen Day, Selectwoman Debra Davidson, Selectwoman
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