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

January 16, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m.

 

 

Dane Headley opened the meeting at 5:00  p.m.  with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Present at the meeting were:  Dane Headley, Chair Walter Baker, Jr., Selectman; Michael McManus, Selectman;  Adam Hurst, Road Agent; and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator.

 

Selectman Headley made a motion to approve the minutes from January 9, 2023, as corrected.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a vote of 3-0.

CONSENT AGENDA:

The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

Vendor Manifest:  $28,307.80

Payroll Manifest:   $16,369.21

 

BUILDING PERMITS:

The Board reviewed and approved the following building permits:

Richard and Susan Webb, 09-840-109, Route 114, for a storage shed.

Lonnie and Ruth Guin, 04-778-571, Newbury Road, for a generator.

Julie Griffiths, 02-055-155, Cottage Lane, for a solar array.

OLD BUSINESS:

The Board discussed remediation at the Sutton Free Library Building and Grounds.  The library was provided with the air quality testing results.  The library will remain closed until remediation is completed on January 20, 2023.  The library will resume their normal operating hours on January 21, 2023.

 

The Board discussed their recommendation for the historical society operating budget which will be $600.00.  The Budget Committee agrees with this recommendation.  If the Historical Society would like additional funding, the Board will recommend that they submit a petitioned Warrant Article.

 

The Board considered a request from staff to reconsider paid federal holidays.  Selectman Headley expressed his support for granting a paid holiday for Martin Luther King Day beginning in 2024.   Selectman Headley moved to grant a paid holiday on Martin Luther King Day in 2024.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a vote of 2-0.

 

The Board discussed 2023 request from Department Heads for salary increases.  The general consensus of the Board was to approve COLA increases at 5% for 2023.

 

The Board discussed the interview process for the Town Administrator position.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

The Board issued a Land Use Change Tax for  Raymond Hebert, Map 01-590-128, in the amount of $70.00.

 

The Board discussed citizen complaints regarding road maintenance on dirt roads during ice event that occurred on January 13, 2022.  Road Agent, Adam Hurst, reported that he checked road conditions at 2:30 a.m. and due to the rain intensity sand was washing off the road.  As soon as the rain began dissipating allowing for effective sanding,  crews were dispatched.  All dirt roads had to be back sanded.  Neighboring communities encountered similar conditions.  Mr. Hurst advised that a normal route takes 3.5 hours.  The crew was down one man on January 13, 2022.

 

Mr. Hurst met with the Board to discuss a proposed warrant article for a 10-wheel truck.  Funding sources were reviewed including the  use of special Highway Block Grant funds that could be used for this purpose.  Mr. Hurst said that the cost for the fully equipped 10-wheeleris estimated at  $260,000 based on information provided by Freightliner.  Currently there is $242,826 in the truck capital reserve.  It was noted that the 2023 appropriation for the capital reserve has been reduced by 50% from $120,000 to $60,000.  Selectman Baker will discuss the matter with the Budget Committee.  It was noted that the trade-in value was approximately $30,000.  Mr. Hurst will either trade in the vehicle or convey it for sale on Municibid.  The minimum bid for Muncibid would  be set at the trade in value.

 

Mr. Hurst gave the Select Board a Powerpoint presentation on the proposed 10-wheel truck that he had developed at the request of the Budget committee.  Mr. Hurst advised that the 10-wheel truck could get their route completed faster and support the other routes.  No additional staffing would be needed.  The truck would be able to service a larger route during an ice event.  Mr. Hurst observed that in recent winters ice events have become more frequent.  Mr. Hurst said that routine maintenance is the same for all of the trucks and reviewed tire replacement and break can replacement.  Mr. Hurst reviewed cost savings for hauling winter sand versus having it delivered.  Mr. Hurst said on average a 10-wheeler can haul 22 tons of sand.  Currently, winter sand is going for $4.99 per ton whether it is hauled by the vendor or by the town.  The cost for hauling sand is $7.80 per ton or $171.60 per load.  For the Town to haul, it would cost about $3.42 per ton or $75.26 per load.  (This figure includes staff wages based on an hour per trip for labor costs).  Fuel usage would be approximately $31.96 based on current costs.  Tire wear is about .04 per mile.  The 10-wheeler saves on trips and the weight is more evenly distributed on the roads.  The 10-wheeler is about four feet wider.  The 10-wheeler can turn around anywhere that  a 6-wheeler can.  Mr. Hurst explained the many benefits of having a 10-wheel truck.   Selectman Baker expounded on the benefits of a 10-wheeler.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:04 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Elly Phillips

Town Administrator