Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, October 22, 2014 – 4:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairwoman Debra Davidson, Selectwoman Karen Day, Selectwoman Margaret Charig Bliss
Staff: Administrator Patt, DPW Supervisor Tim Murray, Welfare Director Leah Conway
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
§ A/P Checks
§ Payroll
§ Meeting House Rental – Turkey Raffle
§ Preliminary Assessment Ratio for 2014 – Avitar
§ 2014 4th Quarter Sewer Tax Warrant
§ Land Use Change Tax Abatement Request – R7-19-04
§ 2014 2nd Half Tax Warrant
§ Minutes of 10/01, 10/08, 10/15
§ 2014 Sales to Assessment Ratio
§ Dilapidated Building RSAs
Chairwoman Davidson opened the meeting at 4:30pm.
4:30 PM: Tim Murray, DPW Supervisor
At 4:30 pm the Selectboard welcomed DPW Supervisor Tim Murray to the meeting. The Selectboard held a brief discussion regarding drainage on roads that are currently impacted by the amount of rain that has fallen. There has been some damage from the rain. Mr. Murray said that the issue that DPW is also currently struggling with is the amount fallen leaves. The dirt roads are difficult to grade as a result of the leaves. DPW recently completed ditching a number of roads, and the ditches are already filling up. The leaves hold the water and force dirt and debris back out in the roads. As an example, Mountain Road was just ditched and the leaves have caused dirt and debris to wash across the road.
Mr. Murray said that the solution that other towns have in place is a towable blower that will blow the leaves out into the woods. A discussion followed about the benefits of clearing the leaves from the gravel roads. Mr. Murray said that he found a leaf blower at a cost of $1,675 and would like to purchase it. After some deliberation and further discussion the Selectboard agreed. The Selectboard and Mr. Murray went over the amount of the budget remaining for the year. Mr. Murray outlined the funds available, as well as the amounts that are in lines that will be used to support purchasing through the end of the year (Gas and Diesel, Salt, Electric, etc). Mr. Murray said that if there is money at the end of the year, he would like to purchase new tires for the One-Ton truck. They aren’t critical just yet and cost
$2,100. If it’s possible to purchase the tires in 2014 it would help the 2015 budget.
The Selectboard and Mr. Murray reviewed several open invoices and then discussed a policy for the Town’s reimbursement on boots and protective clothing. After some discussion the Chair motioned that the Town would provide up to $150.00 toward the purchase of work boots for the DPW crew. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Day and passed 3-0. The Chair felt that it was important to put this limit in place so that people weren’t spending $300 on boots because the Town was paying for them.
The Selectboard and Mr. Murray discussed the lights on the lawn of the Meeting House, which illuminate the building. The Selectboard asked Mr. Murray to look into reducing the wattage of the bulbs to soften the illumination, which affects vehicles coming down Francestown Road. The Selectboard also asked for an update on the gate at the Waste Water property. Mr. Murray said that signs have been ordered for Depot Road and for the right of way. The Board asked Mr. Murray to block the road and Mr. Murray said that he would have the road blocked with sawhorses in the morning.
Next the Selectboard and Mr. Murray discussed the Meeting House kitchens and water heating. Mr. Murray has quotes from 4-5 electricians to redo the electric panels and bring them up to code as outlined in a previous meeting by Michael Borden, Code Enforcement Officer. The Board expressed a high level of interest in having the electrical work done as soon as possible. It was noted that the heating line item in the Meeting House budget had been exceeded for the year. The budget for General Government Buildings would have to be watched through the end of the year to see if the electrical work were possible in the 2014 budget. A discussion on the rental agreements for the Meeting House revealed that DPW finds the heat turned up frequently, which is causing the furnaces to burn through oil. The Board discussed having a
programmable thermostat and putting a clause in the rental agreement that failure to turn the heat down would result in a loss of security deposit.
A discussion about the stoves and the refrigerators was held. Selectwoman Day felt that the gas stoves should be replaced with electric after the panels are upgraded. The Chair said that the refrigerators are old and should be updated. Energy efficient designs could save electricity. The seal on the upstairs refrigerator is old and leaky. It was questioned whether a full size unit was needed upstairs. In the meantime, the Board directed Mr. Murray to unplug the refrigerators at the Meeting House.
5:35 PM: Document for Approval/Review/Signature
The Selectboard signed Payroll, A/P Checks and A/P invoices. The Board approved a Meeting House rental application for the Crotched Mountain Ridge Runners to hold a turkey raffle. The Board reviewed the preliminary assessment ratio for 2014, as outlined in a letter from the Assessor. The Board signed the 4th quarter sewer tax warrant. The Board reviewed Town Counsel’s email regarding the 2015 ambulance contract. The Selectboard reviewed the minutes of 10/1, 10/8, and 10/15. Corrections were suggested for 10/8 and 10/15. The revisions will be available at the next Selectboard meeting. A Land Use Change Tax Abatement request for R7-19-04 was reviewed along with an accompanying letter from the Assessor. The Board voted to deny the abatement request.
The Board reviewed documents from the Code Enforcement Officer, Michael Borden outlining the governing body’s ability to require owners of dilapidated buildings to repair or raze buildings within a 60 day period. If the municipality were to incur the cost of taking down the building, the cost can be incorporated into a tax lien against the property owner. There was some discussion on the cost of razing a building. There were several properties in town that were cited. The Code Enforcement Officer provided a letter outlining a recent visit to the property at 12 Slip Road. People were in the building removing windows and boarding up the openings. On his visit Mr. Borden determined that the building was not safe and he asked the people to vacate. The group was from a religious organization that said they received
permission from the owner of the building to remove anything of value because the property was going to go to the Town. Mr. Borden secured the scene with caution tape. In his letter to the Board, Mr. Borden outlined the need to have the building demolished.
Leah Conway, Welfare Director visited with the Board and brought two vouchers for signature. Ms. Conway requested a meeting on the 29th to update the Selectboard on budget issues and a family in town with issues.
Adjournment
On a motion by the Chair, and a second by Selectwoman Day, the Board voted to adjourn. The motion carried 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM.
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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