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

December 19, 2022 @ 5:00 p.m.

 

 

At 5:07 p.m. Selectman Headley, Chair, opened the meeting  with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Present at the meeting were: Dane Headley, Chair; Walter Baker, Jr., Selectman;  Michael McManus, Selectman; Robert DeFelice, Budget Chair;  Diego Solimine, Solid Waste Supervisor; Glenn Pogust, Planning Board Chair; Carla Salthe and David Anderson; and Elly Phillips Town Administrator.

 

At 5:16 p.m. The Board met with Diego Solimine to perform a performance evaluation and receive a departmental update.  Selectman Headley made a motion to enter into  Non-public session under RSA 91-A:3II(a) personnel to conduct a performance evaluation for the Solid Waste Supervisor.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The Board was polled with Selectmen Headley, Baker and McManus voting in the affirmative.  Public session resumed at 5:22 p.m.  The minutes were not sealed.  Mr. Solimine advised that the facility would be closing at 1:00 on Saturday December 24, 2022.  Mr. Solimine also stated that he was still exploring options for the replacement garage doors.  It is likely that the acquisition will not be done in 2022, but there is adequate funding in the 2023 proposed budget to cover the acquisition.

 

5:50 p.m. Dave Anderson and Karla Salathe met with the Board to discuss two tax deeded properties Map 04-194-375 and Map 04-207-389.  These properties abut their property and Mr. Anderson and Ms. Salathe were interested in purchasing these properties and merging them with their other lots.  Mr. Anderson provided the Board with a map showing the lots and wet area. Mr. Anderson previously met with the Conservation Commission regarding the lot.

 

Selectman McManus was familiar with the area and agreed the lots were wet.  A wetlands delineation was done on 04-194-375, and the other lot has also been reviewed for wetlands.  There will be follow up to determine the status of that lot.  Mr. Anderson indicated that the lots were unbuildable due to the wetlands.  Selectman McManus noted that the area was formerly farmland but became swampy due to beaver activity.  A preliminary purchase price was discussed based on a previous sale of tax deeded property on Meetinghouse Hill Road.  Phillips will contact the Town’s assessor to review the assessment.

 

Selectman McManus observed that there was a culvert draining backwards in proximity to the lots.  Selectman Headley indicated that the assessor’s opinion  was necessary to determine the sales price.  Selectman Headley emphasized that it was the Board’s responsibility to represent the taxpayers.  Selectman McManus felt it was best to get the properties back on to the tax rolls.  Mr. Anderson agreed to provide supporting information for the wetlands.

Selectman McManus moved to approve the minutes from December 12, 2022, as written.  The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

Vendor Manifest:  $39,062.45

Payroll Manifest:   $15,080.57

 

BUILDING PERMITS:

The Board approved a building permit for the Sutton Historical Society Meeting House, 04-251-403, for  repairs/renovations to include sill/foundation work, window restoration, roof, painting, electric and lighting.

 

INTENT TO CUT:

The Board approved an intent to cut for Greatwoods, LLC. Eaton Grange Rd. map/lot 01-338-510 & 03-606-095.

OLD BUSINESS:

Glenn Pogust, Planning Board Chair, reported on Peacock Hill Zoning Violations.  Mr. Pogust said that Town Counsel has issued a letter to Peacock Hill regarding the violations.  Mr. Pogust noted that the applicant responded that the subdivision has been approved and recorded.  However, the recordation is not relevant to the violations.  The Select Board submitted a complaint to the Department of Environmental Services (DES) regarding the need for an Alteration of Terrain permit.  The DES is following up on the complaint.  In addition, an abutter has filed a complaint to the EPA regarding failure to remove slash from wetland areas.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

The Board agreed to support a Warrant Article in the amount of $15,000 to conduct a wage classification study and update town policies.  Mr. DeFelice also supported this article especially in view of the increase in population to over 2000 citizens.

 

Selectman Baker is in the process of obtaining estimates to do a Warrant Article for the Old Store Museum.  The Board also discussed the appropriation for the Historical Society and will schedule a meeting with Robert Wright, Historical Society, to discuss their 2023 budget.  The Board expressed interest in a breakdown of how the funding form the Town is being used, noting that the Society has other revenue sources and direct support from the community.

 

The Board agreed to meeting on December 27, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. and on January 3, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.

 

The Board issued the following Abatements:

Town of Sutton $276.00 09-110-363 & $197.00 06-818-442 -tax deeded properties tax exempt.

The Board issued a Yield Tax for Woodlot & Grange, LLC. Map/lot 01-338-510+ in the amount of $6,681.43.

 

The Board received a packet submitted by the Sutton Free Library containing estimates and  findings for  building projects.  The Board agreed to review the packet for discussion at their next regularly scheduled meeting.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:31 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Elly Phillips

Town Administrator