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

September 9, 2019 @ 4:00 p.m.

 

The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m.  Present at the meeting were:  Dane Headley, Chair; Robert Wright, Jr., Selectman; William I. Curless, Selectman; Robert DeFelice, Budget Chair; Jennifer Call, Treasurer; David Burnham, Health Officer and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator.

 

The minutes from August 26, 2019, were approved as written.  The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests.

REVIEW OF MANIFESTS:

PAYROLL MANIFEST:      $10,173.11

VENDOR MANIFEST:       $  8,196.01

VENDOR MANIFEST:       $51,601.00 for Ford Rescue Truck Chassis.

BUILDING PERMITS:

Celina Braun/Lorraine Ancoin – 06-449-072, Route 114,  demo and decks.

Vincent Grieco, Shaker Street, 07-678-297, for a carport.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

Jennifer Call, Treasurer, presented to execute a Tax Anticipation Note (Line of Credit) in the amount of $950,000 with interest at 3.5%.  Funding the Capital Reserves was also discussed.  Mr. DeFelice recommended deferring funding until December for funds that weren’t requiring disbursement in order to forestall borrowing if possible.  Mr. DeFelice advised that interest earned by the general fund and the reserves were comparable.

At 4:41 p.m. Selectman Wright made a motion to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3,II(c) matters which, if discussed in public would adversely affect the reputation of any person, other than a member of this Board.  Selectman Curless seconded the motion.  The Board was polled with Selectmen Headley, Wright and Curless voting in the affirmative.  Public session resumed at 4:58 p.m.   Selectman Wright made a motion to seal the minutes because it was determined that divulgence of this information would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of this board.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

The Board issued correspondence to Larry Harper regarding his concerns about the use of drones.  Counsel advised that because drones are regulated comprehensively by the federal government, towns are pre-empted from adopting any laws regulating them.  They will also inform Mr. Harper that drone disabler devices are readily available from vendors such as Amazon.  The Board will also forward the complaint to Representative Schamberg.

NEW BUSINESS:

The Board considered a request from Marjorie Davison to provide signage for Sutton Mills.  Ms. Davison informed the Board that there used to be directional signage on 114.  There is confusion amongst travelers and package delivery service employee because of the Bradford zip code used in the Mills which affects GPS navigation.    Phillips will follow up with Adam Hurst, Road Agent regarding the installation of a Sutton Mills sign near the highway facility.

The Board executed a Cemetery Deed,  for Eric and Louis Schultz.

The Board received Y-T-D Budget Reports through 8/31/2019 for review at their next weekend.

The Board received correspondence from DTC regarding cost sharing for the development of a Comprehensive Public Rights-of-Way Ordinance.  The correspondence is to be forwarded to Derek Lick, ZBA Chair.  The Board expressed interest in the ordinance but requested more information about the proposed ordinance as well as other participating town.

The Board received notification of the DOT Ten Year Plan Hearings.  Selectman Wright will attend on September 16 on behalf of the Board.  The Board will also provide a copy of the hearing schedules to the Planning Board and  Mr. Cancio-Bello, CNHRPC Sutton Representative.   Mr. DeFelice emphasized that representation at the meeting is important to keep Route 114 in the Transportation Plan.

The Board discussed kickoff of the Sutton Emergency Operations Plan 2020.  The Board would like to clarify whether the Town’s contribution is an in-kind match or whether funds from the operating budget are required.  The matter will be revisited at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

The Board discussed the 2019 Budget Submission Schedule.  The Select Board would like to meet with department heads one week prior to their scheduled Budget Committee meeting.  The Board agreed to begin Department Head performance evaluations at their next regular meeting.    Selectman Wright emphasized for the record that the evaluations were not tied to salary increases.  It was noted that the Budget Committee is conducting a salary study to determine parity with other towns.    Selectman Wright asked whether benefits were being factored into the study and was advised that benefits were being considered generically and extrapolated in conjunction with job functions.  Mr. DeFelice noted that since Town’s have different reporting protocols not all of the data can be interpreted.

REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE:  None

 

SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS:

Selectman Wright reviewed the legislative bulletin for the Board’s edification.

 

PUBLIC INPUT:

Mr. DeFelice reported on the recent Concord hearing relating to school funding.  Mr. DeFelice noted that Berlin had a concerning tax rate but not all of that is related to the schools.  Mr. DeFelice discussed the initial MBC meeting.  Currently the committee is looking at a 3.45% increase.  There is a KRSD meeting scheduled for 9/12 regarding facilities.  Selectman Wright expressed concern regarding KRSD capital funding noting that $500,000 of unexpended funds was used instead of available capital funding.  Selectman Wright observed that this might be within the process but worried about transparency.  Selectman Wright suggested that the Sutton Select Board issue a letter voicing their concern.  Mr. DeFelice outlined the intricacies of budget prioritization.  The Board discussed a joint meeting with the other towns.  However due to scheduling complexities, the Board decided to draft a letter to the District seeking improved transparency  to be endorsed by the other District towns should they so choose.  Mr. DeFelice also discussed space constraints at Sutton Central adding that once again the discussion of closing Sutton Central has come up again.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Elly Phillips

Town Administrator