TOWN OF SUTTON
Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall
93 Main Street
Sutton Mills, NH  03221

Board of Selectman
Meeting Minutes of  January 23, 2017

The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Walter Baker, Jr., Chair.  Present at the meeting was Walter Baker, Jr., Chair; Robert Wright, Jr., Selectman; William I. Curless, Selectman; Cory Cochran, Fire Chief;  Ed Canane, Betsy Forsham, Craig Howe, and Elly Phillips, Recording Secretary.

APPOINTMENTS:

5:00 Public Hearing – Craig Howe, Talbot Builders, met with the Board to represent Eric Chinberg’s request for a building permit for a cottage/dwelling with access off of a Class VI portion of Kings Hill Road.  The access to the property is 226’ over a Class VI portion of Kings Hill Road beginning at the intersection of Haynes Road in Newbury.  Chief Cochran expressed a preference for  a 14’ wide driveway to accomodate fire trucks width, 10’ with mirrors.  He did not see a problem with the access over Kings Hill Road.  Chief Cochran also reported that he had reviewed the site with the Newbury fire chief and that Newbury will be called automatically in the event of an emergency as they have the quickest access.  The property is 5.2 miles from Newbury and 8 miles from the Sutton Fire Department.  A map of the site was reviewed.  The Class VI road policy was reviewed.

It was noted that the access met the Town’s policy to consider building permits with access on a Class VI road of 600’ or less.  The condition of the road was reviewed by the road agent and board of selectmen at a site visit conducted on January 13, 2017.  It was determined that the grade parameters had been met for both the access and the driveway.    Selectman Curless recommended cottage lane standard (number of housing units 1-5) noting that it was 1 house.  The travel width of the road to be 14’ wide with 2’ shoulders on either side.  The 226’ length of road access to have a base of 4” of sand, 4” of gravel and 4” of crushed stone.  Road work to be inspected and approved by the road agent.  An existing 15” culvert to be replaced with an 18” culvert and angled as discussed with the Road Agent.   Recommended laybys for the driveway every 800’ were also discussed.

Abutter Pete Messer conveyed to the Town that he had no objection to the proposed access.  Betsy Forsham, Conservation Commission Chair, represented the Conservation Commission, also an abutter, and voiced no objections.  The Town will prepare the agreement and notice of limitations for recordation with a goal for execution at their next regularly scheduled meeting.  Town Counsel and the Road Agent to review and make recommendations on the agreement prior to forwarding for execution.

At 5:33 p.m. Selectman Wright made a motion to enter into nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3,II© matters which if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person, other than a member of this board, unless such person requests an open meeting.  Selectman Curless seconded the motion.  The Board was polled with Selectman Baker, Curless and Wright voting in the affirmative.  Public session resumed at 5:41 p.m.  Selectman Wright made a motion to seal the minutes because it was determined that divulgence of this information likely would adversely affect the reputation of any person other than a member of this board.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Curless.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

The minutes from January 16, 2017, public and non-public (unsealed) were approved as written.  The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

                        PAYROLL MANIFEST:       $12,167.15

                        VENDOR MANIFEST:        $50,684.18

                        VENDOR MANIFEST:        $       75.00

A building permit was approved for Marcy Hammerschlag, 06-450-220, Newbury Road, to convert an existing garage to artist’s tudio

Selectman Baker inquired regarding a report of a structure on the Pinnacle.  Selectman Wright moved to instruct Matt Grimes, Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer,  to investigate a report of a structure on New London Bridge Christian Minstry,  Map 06-750-420, (know as the Pinnacle) and follow up on a request for an up-dated current use map.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion which passed by a vote of 3-0.

An intent to cut was approved for Donald Keller, Map 04-200-157, Route 114 20 acres out of 22.4

NEW BUSINESS:

The Board issued a Supplemental 2^nd Issue Property Tax in the amount of $608.00 due to a conversion error.

The Board reviewed a request for a Warrant Article Submission from Linda Ford, Certified Town Clerk/ Tax Collector.  The Board noted that it pertained to the salary line item and that a merit increase had previously been approved for tht position upon further discussion the Board felt that the article should be petitioned.  Selectman Curless made a motion to have the Town Clerk/Tax Collector to petition the article.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion which passed by a vote of 3-0.  Phillips reported that the Town Clerk/Tax Collector has received a petition for the solar exemption.

The Board reviewed a draft of a volunteer brochure for review provided by Linda Ford, Town Clerk/Tax Collector.   Ms. Ford also inquired whether or not the Selectmen would like the brochure available for election day or Town Meeting.   The Board supported the concept of the brochure and advised that the Moderator should be consulted regarding distribution during Town Meeting times.

An invitation for a fun night for a Monarchs event was forwarded to the Fire Chief.

OLD BUSINESS:

The Board reviewed RSA’s pertaining to the budget process and  had a lengthy discussion regarding the current and previous practices.  The Board agreed to conduct a final budget review on January 30, 2017,  with highway, police, library, town clerk tax collectors and land use department prior to submitting their final recommendations to the budget committee.

The Board discussed a request for a change in staffing hours at the Solid Waste facility.  Ed Herrmann, Solid Waste Supervisor has requested to be placed on staff as “third man” and have Diego Solimine be appointed as Acting Solid Waste Supervisor.  It was also noted that “third man” generally fills in for absences and works seasonally.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Elly Phillips, Recording Secretary