Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Greenland selectmen approve memorial tree, accept two grants and clear deed-waiver requests; audit and energy updates presented
Summary
At their June 30 meeting, the Greenland Board of Selectmen accepted a donated memorial tree and plaque, voted to accept two foundation grants totaling about $109,600 for police and fire, approved deed-waiver handling for delinquent properties and forwarded unpaid dog-license cases to the police. Members also received an audit status update and discussed community power and solar-site feasibility.
The Greenland Board of Selectmen on June 30 voted to accept a donated Franklinia tree and small plaque to be planted near the bandstand in honor of Phil Miles, approved two grant awards to public safety departments, and moved several routine enforcement and property actions forward while receiving updates on the town audit and energy committee work.
The meeting opened with a presentation about the memorial tree donation; staff said Piscataqua and Barrassa Construction donated the tree and labor to add an irrigation line to the bandstand area and requested formal acceptance. "They were just looking for acceptance to plant the tree," the staff member said. After members asked about bench removal and plaque size, a member moved to approve planting and to finalize plaque wording; the motion carried by voice vote.
On financial and audit matters, staff told the board auditors have started 2024 fieldwork and reported a head start on the '24 audit, with a few carryover items from the '23 audit and building-department revenue issues to review. Staff estimated audit completion could land in the fall (October–November) depending on follow-up work and noted QuickBooks conversion timing affects the schedule.
The board approved deed-waiver handling for four contiguous Forestwood Avenue properties with unpaid 2022 taxes, after the tax collector outlined that owners are pursuing a sale that would likely cover the outstanding amounts. The board moved and approved the deed-waiver recommendation to delay deeding for now while staff monitors progress.
Members also voted to forward remaining unpaid dog-license cases to the police department for enforcement after staff reported the list dropped from 39 to 15 people who had not registered their animals following notices. The board approved that referral by voice vote.
In grant business, the board accepted awards from the PAPI Foundation for police and fire department needs: $41,600 to the police department for building renovation, security and equipment including support for the comfort dog Willow, and $68,009.74 to the fire department for a utility pickup and training props. "We are grateful to the foundation for this support," staff said; the board accepted and expended the grants by voice vote.
Members discussed energy and infrastructure topics: the energy committee (via its chair Alice Passer) is awaiting the next Eversource rate announcement and is working with Colonial Power Group on a possible community power launch; staff reported a town parcel abutting Bethany Church is likely unsuitable for a solar field due to ledge, and the Copley Landfill was identified as a potential alternative site that would require coordination with neighboring towns and the substation owner.
Other items included a brief update on an out-of-service police cruiser while the town awaits a duplicate original title (staff said the cruiser will be used temporarily for National Night Out demonstrations), a review of roadside mowing by a contractor (Sewell Enterprises), a request for better real-time budget visibility and a temporary hiring freeze discussion pending clearer numbers from the MRI accounting rollout, and an IT recommendation to implement an annual device password-change policy with multi-factor authentication as a likely next step.
Votes at a glance: - Memorial tree and plaque: approved (voice vote; staff to finalize plaque wording). - Deed-waiver handling for four Forestwood Ave. parcels (2022 taxes): approved (voice vote). - Unpaid dog-license civil forfeiture referral to police: approved (voice vote). - PAPI Foundation grants ($41,600 police; $68,009.74 fire): accepted and expended (voice vote). - Consent agenda and minutes: approved (voice vote). - Motion to enter non-public session: approved (roll call/voice vote).
The board did not record formal roll-call tallies for these voice votes in the public transcript; minutes will show final votes and any additional conditions. The selectmen scheduled further follow-ups for audit questions, a site walk for the transfer-station–adjacent parcel, and to monitor deed-waiver sale progress. The next regular meeting was noted for August (participants cited August 19).
