Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 27, 2013 – 4:30 pm
Board of Selectmen: Chairman Rob Wimpory, Selectwoman Karen Day, and Selectwoman Debra Davidson arrived at 4:37PM.
Staff: Town Administrator Patt, Cemetery Trustee Charig-Bliss, Cemetery Trustee Bliss,
Public: A friend of the Bliss family was also present.
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
§ WasteWater Checks
§ Donated Photos of Town Common – aerial views
§ Timber cut landing photos
§ MS-5
4:30 PM: Cemetery Trustees
At 4:30 PM Chairman Wimpory opened the meeting. The Board welcomed the Greenfield Cemetery Trustees to the meeting. The Cemetery Trustees indicated that they had brought several items for discussion. The first was a question as to whether the Moderator could donate his salary to the cemetery fund in a pre-tax state. The second item was an interest of the Trustees in using a fund that has languished, and which was specifically left for the advancement of outdoor recreation by a sportsman’s will. The Trustees discussed the idea of setting a piece of land for camping excursions by the local boy-scouts. Lastly the Board of Selectmen and the Cemetery Trustees discussed the buffer zone that will be established along the edge of the Greenvale Cemetery. This zone will exist to protect the visual characteristic of the
cemetery from the gravel-processing site that is currently planned for the acreage adjacent to the cemetery. The Cemetery Trustees outlined their preference is a 100’ buffer along the edge of the cemetery. The Board of Selectmen outlined their interest in a 75’ foot buffer. Further discussion outlined the quality of the hemlocks, the ability to plant white pines within the buffer zone, and placing a berm along the edge of the buffer. The Board of Selectmen indicated that they were looking to compromise on the buffer zone, as the original drawings had indicated 25-50’, which is why they went with 75’. The Cemetery Trustees explained that they would prefer 150’ feet and by going with 100’ they are compromising already. Trustee Charig-Bliss said that if the hemlocks were removed it would look barren, and the whole picture changes. If in fact the hemlocks need to come down then the new planting should start now. Selectwoman Day indicated that she
would like to have the Town Forester, Karla Allen look at the hemlocks in the buffer zone to see if they can be saved. Forester Allen has looked at several sites that the Town owns, already, and is finding hemlocks that are diseased.
Chairman Wimpory indicated that the time had run long and the Board of Selectmen would take the preferences of the Cemetery Trustees under advisement. The Cemetery Trustees thanked the Board of Selectmen for their time and, in closing, outlined that there is a new policy posted on the website that outlines the guidelines for cemetery plantings, flowers, and placement of items. Also the water project had been completed.
The Board noted that the Review and Approval of Documents session on the agenda would be moved to the end of the meeting.
5:25 PM: Resident Comments
The Board then recognized Gene Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell indicated that a couple of the Memorial Day flags are hanging from one corner only and should be attended to. The Board thanked him for coming forward with his concern.
5:30 PM: Todd Land Use Surveying
The Board welcomed Bob Todd of Todd Land Use, a consulting company that is currently surveying a portion of R7-28 adjacent to the Greenvale Cemetery. Mr. Todd introduced Earl Sanford of Sanford Engineering. Mr. Sanford is responsible for the engineering portion of the applications to the Department of Environmental Services. Mr. Sanford had not met with the Board of Selectmen about the project before this evening. The Administrator provided the drawing of the property, which envisioned a future location for the DPW garage drawn up previously by another engineering firm. The Administrator explained that moving the DPW to this location was dependent on a vote at Town Meeting in the future, which may never occur. Mr. Sanford asked for a copy of the drawing for reference. Mr. Todd provided a Driveway Permit Application
and asked that the Town send it in to the Department of Transportation (DOT). The Board of Selectmen discussed the buffer area around the cemetery, determined the floor depth of excavation and discussed several additional issues including the location of a vernal pool. At the conclusion of the meeting there were five follow-on items for completion prior to the next meeting.
6:18 PM: Tax Collector, Non-Public Session
At 6:18 PM Chairman Wimpory made a motion to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II a, to discuss a personnel matter with Tax Collector Valliere. Selectwoman Davidson seconded the motion. On a roll call vote of 3-0 the Board entered into non-public session. The Administrator left the room. At 6:38 PM the Board voted 3-0 on a motion by Chairman Wimpory and a second by Selectwoman Day to exit non-public session. The Board noted that there were no decisions made and no votes taken during the non-public session.
The Board voted to seal the minutes and the motion passed 2-0.
Selectwoman Davidson indicated to the Board that she had to leave in order to attend the Selectmen’s Advisory Committee Meeting to the SAU.
6:45 PM: Donald Haney – Resident Abatement Application follow-up
Mr. Donald Haney introduced himself to the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Haney had filed an abatement application, which had been denied by the Board on the recommendation by the Town’s assessing vendor, Avitar Associates. Mr. Haney outlined that he had recently received an appraisal from People’s Bank indicating that the loan ceiling on his home was $300,000 dollars. Mr. Haney indicated that his assessed valuation on the Town of Greenfield Tax Card is approximately $340,000. The Chair calculated the equalized valuation from the assessment based on the Town’s equalization ratio of 113.4% and said that values were very close. Mr. Haney contended that there are properties in Town that have sold for more than their assessed valuation recently and indicated a property formerly owned by Peter Hopkins as an example
of a home that has a relatively low assessment valuation and sold for more than its assessment. Selectwoman Day said that they put a lot of work into their home prior to the sale. Chairman Wimpory indicated that it’s not uncommon for people to do so right before a sale. The Chair indicated that the Town would check with Avitar to see what steps were available for Mr. Haney after the denial and the Administrator would send a letter to Mr. Haney outlining the available steps.
7:05 PM: Discussion on Logging
Selectwoman Day introduced a draft copy of the Town Forester’s job description for the Board’s consideration. She felt that it is important that we have one on file. The Board also discussed the question of whether to have an ordinance or a policy to address certain logging deficiencies that have been discussed in a previous session with Ray Cilley The Board determined that a Town policy or ordinance would not provide the kind of transparency that they felt was needed for timber cuts as the type of oversight necessary was best administered by the State of New Hampshire through our forester.
7:35 PM: Financial Report – MS-5
At 7:35 PM the Board of Selectmen signed the Auditor’s prepared MS-5 financial report.
7:45 PM: Discussion on Appointment vs. Swearing In.
At 7:45 PM the Administrator provided a copy of the Conservation’s Committees’ appointment paperwork for a new member. Using the paperwork as an example the Administrator indicated that this paperwork has been used for appointments of both volunteers and elected officials since he arrived. In fact the paperwork consists of two sections. The top section carries the information regarding the appointment and the bottom portion is the record of the swearing in of the person by the Town Clerk. The top portion, which outlines the position and is signed by the Selectmen is not necessary for elected officials who only need to be sworn-in. The Administrator suggested that the Board vote on creating two documents, one for elected officials, which only require swearing in, and one for appointed officials, which
requires both the Selectmen’s signatures and the section for being sworn. The Board agreed and voted 2-0 to have the paperwork changed. This change will alleviate any confusion, which could arise from the paperwork because elected officials have been elected by the residents and then appointed by the Selectmen.
Adjournment
On a motion by Chairman Wimpory and a second by Selectwoman Day the Board voted to adjourn. The motion carried 2-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 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 office.
_____________________ _____________________ _____________________
Rob Wimpory, Chairman Karen Day, Selectwoman Debra Davidson, Selectwoman
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