Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 17, 2013 – 4:30 pm
Board of Selectmen: Chairman Rob Wimpory and Selectwoman Debra Davidson; Selectwoman Karen Day absent
Staff: Town Administrator Patt, DPW Supervisor Tim Murray, Planning Board Chairman Bob Marshall
Public: Myron Steere, Janet Renaud, Mr. & Mrs. Bob Brown, John Gryval, Louise Gryval, Kent Vincent & Dave Anderson - Ledger Transcript
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 PM by Chairman Wimpory.
Documents for Approval/Review/Signature
The Selectmen reviewed and/or signed the following items:
§ A/P Invoices
§ A/P Checks
§ Roberts & Greene, PLLC – general auditor’s agreement
§ Building Permit Fee Schedule – updated
§ Meeting House rental cancellation
Chairman Wimpory opened the meeting at 4:33 PM. The Board reviewed A/P invoices and A/P checks for signatures. The Board accepted a request for a refund for an event at the Meeting House that was cancelled. The Board reviewed the Minutes of 10/10/2013. On a vote of 2-0 the Board voted to accept the minutes. DPW Supervisor stopped by the meeting for a brief conversation.
The Board of Selectmen and the DPW Supervisor discussed briefly the cost estimates for the Forest Road project. The Administrator provided a draft list of the costs currently being compared. Supervisor Murray indicated that the original estimates were formed based on an anticipated use of 4000 yards of sand and gravel during the course of the year. On a question from the Chair, Supervisor Murray clarified that DPW anticipates the need for 2000 yards of sand each winter. Gravel is used in road projects and each project has different needs. If there is more bank run gravel available then DPW can do more projects. The Board discussed whether it was pertinent to include costs of the employee time and estimates for the cost of the vehicles. It was decided that embedded costs for the employees and vehicles are the same no
matter what project is being done. The Board instructed the Administrator to leave out embedded costs. The costs for the initial driveway cut and set-up (2 days) at the site is to be amortized over the life span of the project. The cost of the surveying and engineering is to be amortized over the life of the project. The cost to have 4000 yards of sand and gravel delivered to town is $38,000, which is actually less expensive than if the DPW were to pick up the gravel and truck it back to town, said Supervisor Murray. Cost savings would be calculated from that baseline number. In 2012 the Town purchased $72,000 of sand and gravel, with the bulk of the purchases coming in mud season and later in the year for road maintenance and reconstruction. Chairman Wimpory commented that apart from the savings in the immediate term, the future price of sand is an unknown but will likely continue to go up.
5:35 PM: Bob Marshall, Planning Board Chairman
The Board of Selectmen welcomed Bob Marshall to their meeting. Mr. Marshall outlined a recent application for supplemental grant monies and indicated that there was a significant amount of money available as part of the NH Planning grant program. No cash match was necessary from the Town. Mr. Marshall completed the application materials and turned the grant in on Tuesday, earlier in the week. Some of the details were discussed at length.
The Selectmen and Mr. Marshall discussed the needs of the Town regarding planning staff. Mr. Marshall indicated that there is so much activity with the Planning Board in terms of grants, and future planning that it would a good idea to start planning for some professional help. He discussed several types of professional help, from consultants to part-time professionals. In his estimation, in the not-too-distant future, Greenfield will require the services of a professional planner in order to ensure that the zoning and planning boards receive the support they need.
5:30 PM: Work Session
The meeting with Planning Board Chairman Marshall did not take the full hour. The Board elected to use the remaining time as a work session. The session was spent reviewing the remainder of the weekly documents. The review of the Auditor’s agreement was not completed and the Board indicated that this should be scheduled for another meeting.
6:00 PM: Janet Renaud, Resident
At 6:00 PM the Board welcomed Myron Steere, Janet Renaud, Mr. & Mrs. Bob Brown, John Gryval, Louise Gryval and Kent Vincent. Janet Renaud outlined that several of the residents that had attended the informational meeting about the Forest Road project had collected signatures to hold a Special Town Meeting in order to stop the project. She said that this was because a lot of people that voted at Town Meeting felt that the project was for a feasibility study and not to actually move forward with the project. Selectwoman Davidson read the minutes of the March Town Meeting and the original warrant article. Selectwoman Davidson said that the meeting minutes couldn’t be clearer that the project was not a feasibility study, but was meant to take gravel out of the property in order to lower the cost of purchasing
gravel. A petition was given to the Selectmen. Mr. Brown said that the abutters should have been notified, even if the Board was not legally required to do so. The Chair responded that he agreed and that was the one thing that he would have done differently. Selectwoman Davidson said that the Board would review the petition and provide it to counsel in order to determine next steps. Myron Steere asked a question about the cost of the project. Chairman Wimpory outlined that the cost of having DPW work on projects is embedded in the budget. Similarly the cost of the truck payment doesn’t change if the truck sits in the garage or if it’s out hauling sand in town. He further stated that the cost of the project is measured in the actual savings that can be generated by not having to purchase sand and gravel that are then trucked into town; not in trying to compare the embedded cost of the DPW to the cost of what some outside party charges. Janet Renaud disagreed and
said that whatever the cost it’s not worth it to have this much angst generated in a residential district. Kent Vincent said that it was clear that the Selectmen, once the vote was confirmed at Town Meeting, had no choice but to move the project forward, but the residents have a right to petition for the Special Town Meeting; and it’s not an acrimonious position that they were taking. The Chair explained that as far as he was personally concerned, if the town doesn’t want to have this project continue, and that the town votes to stop the project despite the cost savings then he was fine with that, either way. The meeting ended at 6:30 PM.
6:35 PM: Neil Brown & David Bridgewater, GIVers
At 6:35 Neal Brown and David Bridgewater came before the Board of Selectmen to outline the GIVers’ interest in creating signs for Oak Park. Currently there is no signage to show the entrance and exits at Oak Park. Mr. Brown and Mr. Bridgewater provided a presentation to the Board outlining the current layout of the buildings, parking lot, and three areas of egress. As part of the presentation, a copy of suggested Oak Park signs similar to the signs at the Recycling Center, and the Greenfield Community Gardens were provided. The Board received the idea with enthusiasm. The Board requests a preliminary cost so that the presentation could be brought before the town at Town Meeting.
As a follow on to the discussion, the Board safety concerns regarding the traffic flow along the side road connecting to Rt. 136 and the parking along the side of the football field. Mr. Bridgewater shared that at a recent game an ambulance had some difficulty negotiating the parking areas. He suggested that if there was some way to create a security opening that would remain open in case of emergency that would help emergency vehicles navigate the lots.
Adjournment
On a motion by Chairman Wimpory and a second by Selectwoman Davidson the Board voted to adjourn. The motion carried 3-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:35 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 Debra Davidson, Selectwoman
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