Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, July 24, 2014 – 4:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairwoman Debra Davidson, Selectwoman Karen Day, Selectwoman Margaret Charig Bliss
Staff: Administrator Patt, Supervisory Murray
Public:
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 PM by Chairwoman Davidson.
Documents for Approval/Review/Signature
The Selectboard reviewed and/or signed the following items:
§ A/P Invoices
§ AP Checks
§ Vacation Request
Chair Davidson opened the meeting at 4:30pm. The Board signed AP invoices, AP checks, and a vacation request form.
4:30 PM: Scheduled Non-public Session
The Board opened the meeting and voted to hold a non-public session to discuss personnel related issues. Selectwoman Day moved to enter into a non-public meeting. Selectwoman Charig Bliss seconded the motion. The Selectboard voted as follows: Selectwoman Davidson, Aye; Selectwoman Day, Aye; Selectwoman Charig Bliss, Aye. At 4:35 the Selectboard entered non-public session on a roll call vote of 3-0. At 4:50 PM the Selectboard voted to exit non-public session on a vote of 3-0. The Board noted that the minutes had been sealed. The Board also noted that DPW Supervisor Murray had been instructed to meet with the Town Administrator each week in order to provide better detail to the Selectboard on work planned and completed by DPW.
The Selectboard and Supervisor Murray had a brief discussion of road conditions in town. Mr. Murray explained that he has focused the DPW crew on specific projects where winter weather and mud season create significant problems for residents. As a result maintenance has been pushed to later in the year for 2014. The Selectboard directed Mr. Murray to begin ditching and grading gravel roads and to also focus on providing details about funding needs for the department. The Selectboard indicated that they would prefer to know the “brutal truth” about the road conditions at so that they can help prioritize DPW’s efforts. Selectwoman Charig Bliss explained that the Board needs to know all of the options that are on the table before Supervisor Murray decides that cost is a prohibitive factor against the
purchase of new equipment or road treatments. If they don’t understand the thought process behind his decision making they may not know to fight for a new piece of equipment at Town Meeting. Mr. Murray indicated that some of the road treatments or pieces of equipment that would help the gravel roads are not affordable with the budget he has today, and after having the budget cut he was making do as best he can. Last year he noted his budget was cut $26,000 before it went to Town Meeting.
The Selectboard directed that the DPW department return to a five day a week schedule and to continue to work with the Selectboard as they conduct an internal road study. Murray indicated that it might work out best for everyone if he reports to the Board at the beginning of their meetings until they feel they understand what he is up against.
Adjournment
On a motion by the Chair, and a second by Selectwoman Charig Bliss, the Board voted to adjourn. The motion carried 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 5PM.
The minutes are final when approved and signed by the Selectboard. A signed copy is on file in the Selectboard’s office.
______________________ ______________________ _____________________
Chair, Debra Davidson Karen Day, Selectwoman Margaret Charig Bliss, Selectwoman
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