Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairwoman Margaret A. Charig Bliss, Selectman Stephen Atherton Jr., Selectman Robert Marshall
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator; Brian Giammarino, Police Chief; David Hall, Fire Chief
Public: Ashley Sarri, Monadnock Ledger Transcript reporter
5:30 p.m. The meeting was opened by Chairwoman Charig Bliss.
Documents for Review/Approval
- Payroll Register 9/23/2016
- Selectboard Minutes 9/06 & 9/15
- Meeting House Rental
5:30 PM: Public Forum
There were no members of the public present for the public forum.
5:45 PM: Neal Beauregard, DPW Roads Manager
At 5:45 pm the Selectboard Chair welcomed Neal Beauregard, DPW Roads Manager to the meeting. Mr. Beauregard provided a quick update on the Russell Station Road paving project. The installation of the railway crossing has been completed and Brox paving completed the final phase of paving on both sides of the tracks. Swamp Road is in the process of having gravel spread and graded as part of DPW’s road plan for gravel roads. Mr. Beauregard was not at the last week’s meeting to discuss the library parking lot. The Selectboard outlined several questions with regard to the meeting, including the layout of the parking lot, the ADA parking requirements, and lining the parking lot after paving. Mr. Beauregard shared three quotes covering paving options at the library. After discussion, it was determined that DPW should pave
the remaining gravel area and address the ADA van parking at the base of the lot by the Wensberg room entrance. On a motion by the Chair, and a second by Selectman Marshall the Board voted 3-0 to pave the library parking lot and address ADA concerns at the Wensberg entrance.
6:05 PM: Brian Giammarino, Police Chief
At 6:05 pm the Chair welcomed Chief Giammarino to the meeting. Chief Giammarino outlined his need to discuss personnel related issues with the Board. He requested that the Board enter into non-public session. Prior to the non-public session there was a short discussion about Slip Road and the speed limit. It was the feeling of the Chief that if the Board supported lowering the speed limit to 25 miles per hour, that the police department would enforce that speed limit.
The Chair made a motion to enter into non-public session for the purpose outlined in RSA 91:3 II a, c,& i. Selectman Marshall seconded the motion. On a roll call vote the Board voted 3-0 to enter into non-public session. At 6:53 the Board voted to exit non-public session. It was noted that no votes were taken and no decision made during the meeting. It was further noted that the Board voted to seal the minutes.
7:05 PM: David Hall, Fire Chief
At 7:05 pm the Board welcomed David Hall, Fire Chief to the meeting. Mr. Hall outlined a recent issue with a Fire Department vendor and the increasing difficulty in finding vendors due to the perception of municipalities wanting projects “done yesterday for no money”. Mr. Hall outlined a recent conversation, in which a long-time vendor had walked away from providing services to the fire department due to the difficulty in meeting the requirements of the town’s purchasing policy. The Board and the Fire Chief discussed the purchasing policy at length. It was noted that the Board had recently expanded the authority of Department Heads to purchase goods and services by raising the limit from $500 to $1500 with the Town Administrator able to approve up to $3,000 without having to involve the Selectboard. Chief Hall
acknowledged that this was a step in the right direction for certain departments, but for the fire department the limits were still too tight. There was a discussion on the focus on saving the town, and taxpayers, money by working closely with vendors and using refurbished equipment. The emphasis from the Fire Chief is that there is not enough flexibility in the policy to work constructively on behalf of the fire department, which has a unique vendor support system. The Board and the Fire Chief agreed that purchasing ‘Used’ gear, and equipment was a pathway to saving money. Chief Hall pointed out that purchasing ‘Used’ does not work well with the bid process, which is part of the policy.
Chief Hall closed with positive news that while the department did not receive the new tanker grant this year, the department has been encouraged to apply for next year’s grant cycle. He said that the department still needs to move forward with the purchase of a brush truck this year.
8:45 PM: Selectboard Work Session
The Board reviewed the Consent Agenda and on a motion by the Chair and a second by Selectman Atherton, voted 3-0 to approve of the Consent Agenda items. This included Payroll and a Meeting House rental agreement.
Adjournment
The time being 9:15 pm the Chair moved to adjourn. Selectman Marshall seconded. All were in favor, and the motion carried 2-0.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.
The minutes are final when approved and signed by the Selectboard. A signed copy is on file in the Selectboard’s office.
_________________ _______________________ _______________________
Chair, Margaret Charig Bliss, Selectman, Stephen Atherton Jr. Selectman, Robert Marshall
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