Minutes
Town of Greenfield
Greenfield Town Offices, 7 Sawmill Road Greenfield, NH
Selectboard’s Minutes
Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016 – 5:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairwoman Margaret A. Charig Bliss, Selectman Stephen Atherton Jr., Selectman Robert Marshall
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator;
Public:
5:30 p.m. The meeting was opened by Chairwoman Charig Bliss.
Documents for Review/Approval
- A/P Register 9/27/2016
- Selectboard Minutes
- Timber Tax Levy
- Fairpoint Abatement Suit Update
- Tax Deed – Repurchase Deed R3-5-6
5:30 PM: Public Forum
There were no members of the public present for the public forum. The Selectboard reviewed the Consent Agenda during the 15 minute session.
6:00 PM: Neal Beauregard, DPW Roads Manager
At 5:55 pm the Selectboard Chair welcomed Neal Beauregard, DPW Roads Manager to the meeting. Mr. Beauregard’s annual review was completed and a brief discussion was held regarding the 2017 goals that were outlined by both the Board and Mr. Beauregard during the review process. At the conclusion of the discussion Mr. Beauregard’s goals were agreed upon between both parties. The majority of the goals were based on Mr. Beauregard tracking his management experience. The discussion outlined the Board’s intention for the annual review to create a positive growth environment for town employees and to maximize employee’s contributions by increasing their knowledge, training, and experience level in all aspects of their employment with the town.
6:45 PM: Selectboard Work Session
At 6:45 pm the Board entered into a work session discussion on several items. During the session the board requested that the Town Administrator follow-up on several items including; sending a copy of the evaluation format for editing to the Board members; hold a discussion with DPW Building & Grounds regarding the use of Oak Park by outside third party organizations; and update the Greenfield Spirit with the NHDES requested water ban information.
The Selectboard took up a discussion on the petition by residents on Slip Road to lower the speed limit. The Board reviewed their due diligence to date. The average daily traffic numbers recorded in 2015 were discussed and compared to other roads that were part of the traffic study. The traffic to and from the Post Office was discussed as part of the traffic study numbers. The number of people that are walking to and from the Post Office was discussed. The number of homes, apartment buildings, and other types of buildings in that area of the business district was analyzed. This includes the restaurant, library, church facilities, and the store front of the Greenfield Meeting Place. The discussion also examined the posted signage for Zephyr Lake Road. At the conclusion of the discussion the Chair made a motion to lower the
speed limit from Route 31 to Gibbons Lane to 25 MPH and to also examine the signage required for this stretch as part of the lowering of the speed limit. A second was made by Selectman Marshall. The vote was 3-0 in favor of lowering the speed limit and improving signage on the road for the portion of Slip Road as described.
Next the Board took up a discussion on Ice House Lane. The Board reviewed a file of deeds associated with the properties that abut the lane. It was noted that each of the properties discusses an easement to and from the beach area and allowing property owners to pass and re-pass over the traveled way for purposes of accessing their property. None of the deeds referenced frontage on a town road. No mention was found of the lane’s location, on the deeds, nor the width of the lane, nor its beginning or ending point(s). Following this review a discussion was held regarding the types of roads that exist as part of zoning today. The Town Administrator provided background from a conversation with Town Counsel. No law governing this type of arrangement had come to light that would indicate that the town had accepted a road,
whether through the possibility that there may have been some maintenance performed on the road in past years, or through some other reason. Town Counsel had summed up the issues as one where the town could find neither fact nor law that would support the conclusion that the town had a responsibility or an ownership interest such that it should maintain the lane. He suggested that the Board send a letter to the petitioners outlining this issue. The Board asked that the Town Administrator write a draft of the letter for review at their next meeting.
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 the A/P Check Register, a Timber Tax Levy, and a Tax Deed for a resident that re-purchased their home after tax deeding. The tax deed was signed and witnessed by the Town Administrator.
A discussion followed on a Fairpoint Abatement update. The discussion concluded without any changes by the Board on their stance to leave the suit in the hands of Atty. Serge.
Adjournment
The time being 9:45 pm the Chair moved to adjourn. Selectman Marshall seconded. All were in favor, and the motion carried 2-0.
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 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
| 
