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

November 21, 2022 @ 4:30 p.m.

 

 

Selectman Headley, Chair, opened the meeting at 4:54 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Present at the meeting were: Dane Headley, Chair;  Michael McManus, Selectman; Walter Baker, Jr. Selectman; Adam Hurst, Road Agent, Robert DeFelice, Budget Chair; Gail Guertin, Budget Vice Chair, Cory Cochran, Fire Chief; Aaron Flewelling, Deputy Fire Chief; and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator.

 

APPOINTMENTS:            

At 4:55 p.m., Selectman McManus made a motion to enter into Nonpublic session under RSA 91-A: 3II(a) personnel to conduct a performance evaluation for the Road Agent.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion.  The Board was polled with Selectmen Headley, Baker and McManus voting in the affirmative.  Public session resumed at 5:40  p.m.

At 5:40 p.m., Adam Hurst, Road Agent met with the Board for a departmental update and to review the Highway Department’s 2023 proposed budget.

2022 Budget 2023

Proposed

1-03-4312-101 HD WAGES 329,307 331,347 5% COLA Recommended by the Select Board based on 2022 Budget.  Mr. Hurst did want to include merit raises for the crew beginning in September.  Mr. DeFelice recommended calculating merit raises, if approved, based on the calendar year.  The Board agreed to calculate COLAS at 5%
1-03-4312-102 HD PART TIME LABOR _________ _________
1-03-4312-104 HD OVERTIME WAGES 46,012 47,012
1-03-4312-105 HD CUSTODIAL WAGES 5,000 5,000
1-03-4312-341 HD TELEPHONE 2,200 2,530
1-03-4312-342 HD BUILDING 3,050 3,510
1-03-4312-380 HD UNIFORM EXPENSES 8,200 8,200
1-03-4312-390 HD OTHER PROFESSIONAL 8,000 8,000
1-03-4312-391 HD RADIO 400 400
1-03-4312-410 HD ELECTRICITY 5,040 5,040
1-03-4312-411 HD HEATING OIL 13,200 13,200
1-03-4312-414 HD LP GAS _________ _________
1-03-4312-430 HD BLDG REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE 4,000 6,000 Select Board recommended $4,000.  Unforeseen repairs to fall under building  Capital Reserves.  Phillips to adjust current expenditures accordingly.
1-03-4312-560 HD DUES CONF./PUBLICATIONS 150 150
1-03-4312-570 HD EQUIPMENT RENTAL 24,000 24,000
1-03-4312-631 HD MILEAGE 200 200
1-03-4312-636 HD VEHICLE FUEL 67,200 67,200
1-03-4312-651 HD SAFETY EQUIPMENT 2,000 2,000
1-03-4312-660 HD VEHICLE 31,000 31,000
1-03-4312-661 HD OIL & FILTERS 5,000 6,000 Increased due to price of oil and filters.
1-03-4312-662 HD TIRES 9,000 24,000 Grader tires need to be replaced.  Mr. Hurst has obtained quotations for 6 new tires.  Current tires have been recapped, but they cannot be recapped again.   Mr. Hurst was encouraged to buy tires as soon as possible, if approved, because of anticipated price increases.
1-03-4312-680 HD MATERIALS & SUPPLIES 4,000 5,000 Increased cost of materials and supplies.
1-03-4312-681 HD CUTTING EDGES 6,000 7,000 These are wear items.  Mr. Hurst uses carbide which prolongs part life, maintenance and installation.  Prices have increased for the carbide edges.
1-03-4312-682 HD EQUIP REPAIR MAINTENANCE 13,000 13,000
1-03-4312-683 HD CHAINS 5,000 5,000
1-03-4312-684 HD MISC. EQUIPMENT TOOLS 2,000 2,000
1-03-4312-730 HD CULVERTS 6,000 7,000 This item to be increased to $8,000 due to price increases.
1-03-4312-741 HD HAND TOOLS 500 500
1-03-4312-742 HD SHOP EQUIPMENT 1,000 1,000
1-03-4312-801 HD SAND & SALT 100,000 115,000 Price increases
1-03-4312-802 HD GRAVEL 23,000 23,000
1-03-4312-803 HD ASPHALT PRODUCTS 5,000 6,000 Price increases
1-03-4312-804 HD SIGNS 3,000 4,000 Signs need to be replaced town and department wide.  These include road signs, safety signs and delineator posts.  Mr. Hurst obtains signs from the State Prison who have proven to be the most reasonable vendor.  Mr. Hurst will obtain quotes.
1-03-4312-805 HD LIQUID CALCIUM 10,000 11,000 Price increases.  The Board proposed $12,000.  It was noted that the department was down to 1 tank.  A replacement tank will need to be duel-walled at a cost of $16,000.  Calcium application has been an effective road stabilization measure.
1-03-4313-610 BRIDGE EXPENSES 3,000 3,000
1-03-4316-610 SL STREET LIGHTING 3,840 4,200

 

Mr. Hurst reviewed capital reserve recommendations.  Mr. DeFelice explained that Departments are being asked to reduce their Capital Planning by 50% as a proactive measure due to economic uncertainty.  Mr. DeFelice recommended that the Blacktop Road Upgrade line item be reduced to $250,000.  Mr. DeFelice stated that at the end of the budget drafting cycle, if the budget committee felt it was feasible based on the entire budget, they would revise their recommendation to $300,000.  Selectman Headley felt this was not the area to cut.  Mr. Hurst felt that he could finish the Shaker Street project if the appropriation were left at $300,000.  Mr. Hurst will review his estimates based on current prices but noted that prices were fluctuating and estimates are generally good for only 30 days.

 

Mr. Hurst agreed to drop his gravel upgrade request from $10,000 to $5,000.  Selectman McManus recommended $10,000 for the Tree Maintenance line item.   Selectman Baker advised that there were some dead trees around Kezar Lake that should be removed.  The Town will contact Eversource as some of the trees are in proximity of power lines.

 

Mr. Hurst agreed to reduce the capital reserve appropriation for Heavy Equipment to $15,000.  For Highway Plow/Dump trucks, Mr. Hurst advised that he was proposing purchasing a 10-wheeler (truck).  The town will not receive the truck until 2024, because of a 2-year delivery time lag.  Mr. DeFelice recommended that the line item be reduced to $60,000 and felt that would be adequate to replace the 2013 Truck.   The Select Board proposed $90,000 for that line item.

 

Mr. Hurst agreed to reduce the Highway Grader Capital Reserve to $13,000, as the fund was nearing its “soft cap.”  Mr. DeFelice explained the rationale for the aggressive capital planning program the Town implemented a few years ago to achieve a reasonable reserve level.  Mr. DeFelice observed that reductions of appropriations for capital planning were anticipated in the coming years and the Town could catch up when the economy stabilizes.

 

At 6:34 p.m., the Board met with Cory Cochran, Fire Chief, and Aaron Flewelling, Deputy Fire Chief, to receive a departmental update, and to discuss membership and capital planning.

 

The Board and Mr. DeFelice asked the Fire Chief his opinion regarding repurposing the retiring fire pumper and pump for Highway Department use.  The Fire Chief had no objection to the proposition.  An estimated resale value for the tanker was in the neighborhood of $10,000.

 

There was a lengthy discussion regarding Scott Air Pack replacement.  Deputy Flewelling indicated that the recertified units would be serviceable for a couple more years.  Mr. DeFelice asked for updated replacement values for the air packs so that the reserve can be funded accordingly.   It was verified that the appropriation for the Fire Safety building was revised to $50,000.  Selectman McManus explained that the fund was adequate for planning and engineering.  When it is time to build, it is likely to be bonded.  Chief Cochran opined that the present location was ideal if a building that meets the department’s needs  can be erected on that site.

 

Selectman McManus discussed firefighter membership and wanted to discuss recruitment efforts.  Chief Cochran advised that the cadet program was discontinued one year ago as the cadets have aged out.  The insurance under Boy Scouts of America requires seven cadets on the roster in order to provide coverage.  Phillips will follow up to see whether or not PRIMEX offers liability coverage for a cadet program for cadets 14-18 years old.  The cadets would not go on interstate calls, go on a ladder over 35 feet, or go in an engulfed building.  The graduating cadets have worked out really well for the Department.  Selectman McManus received reassurance that the Fire Department is actively recruiting.  Chief Cochran advised that there are 30 members on the Board and approximately fifteen are active.  There are ten long-time members.

 

Chief Cochran reported that there has been progress on the Fire Pumper which is being fabricated by Dingee.

 

Selectman McManus moved to approve the November 14, 2022 minutes as written.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

REVIEW OF MANIFESTS:

The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

Vendor Manifest:  $122,418.57

Payroll Manifest:   $15,875.59

 

BUILDING PERMITS:

The Board reviewed and approved the following building permits:

Anthony Seminara, 10-192-393, Hominy Pot Road for a dwelling.

Michael Sigourny, 02-727-241, Old Blaisdell Road for a garage.

Walter Partridge, 05-497-323, North Road, for a shed.

Ken and Susan Elkind, 09-662-249, Shaker Road for an addition.

NEW BUSINESS:

The Board deferred action on a Proposal from Knollwood Environmental for Groundwater Sampling pending recommendations from Mr. Solimine.

The Board executed a contract with Jane Sanders for tax lien research.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:22 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Elly Phillips

Town Administrator