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

May 30, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m.

 

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

APPOINTMENTS:            

Selectman Baker opened the meeting at 5:00 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Present at the meeting were:  Walter Baker, Jr., Acting Chair; Michael McManus, Selectman; Robert DeFelice, Budget Chair; Mark Peterson and David Grinsell, Town Administrator.

 

Mark Peterson met with the Board regarding patriotic services.  He advised that he is assisting Marne and Pete Thompson with this endeavor.  Mr. Peterson’s focus was on American flags for the cemeteries and town buildings.  Mr. Peterson advised that the American Legion Post 40 conducts the burning ceremony for proper disposal of the flags.  The Post is experiencing storage constraints.   Mr. Peterson requested that the Town provide a dry storage place to hold the flags.  Selectman Baker offered to store the flags at the Pillsbury Memorial Hall.  Mr. Peterson said that the legion would collect the flags prior to their burning ceremony.  Mr. Peterson discussed the timing of the burning ceremonies which varies.  Mr. Peterson also asked that the Board provide an appropriate holding place for townspeople to drop off flags for disposal.  Selectman Baker asked that the Board be notified prior to the burning ceremony so that a representative from the Board could be in attendance.  Selectman Baker and McManus complimented Mr. Peterson on the Memorial Day Service and added that they were very impressed by the band’s performance.  Mr. Peterson advised that he and Alison Jones, and Jack Noon are assisting Mr. and Mrs. Thompson with the placement of the flags. Mr. Peterson advised that every flag the Legion purchases is American made.

 

At 5:31 p.m. Selectman Baker made a motion to enter Nonpublic Session to discuss a legal matter under RSA 91.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The roll was called with Selectman Baker and Selectman McManus voting in the affirmative.  Public Session resumed at 5:42 p.m.  Selectman Baker made a motion to seal the minutes as they pertained to a legal matter.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a vote of 2-0.

At 5:42 p.m. Selectman Baker made a motion to enter Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A:3 for the purpose of setting the compensation of a public employee.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The roll was called with Selectman Baker and Selectman McManus voting in the affirmative.  Public Session resumed at 6:06 p.m.  Selectman Baker made a motion to seal the minutes no action taken pending a final decision with a full Board present.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a vote of 2-0.

Selectman McManus made a motion to accept the minutes of May 22, 2023, as corrected.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion which passed by a vote of 2-0.

 

CONSENT AGENDA:

REVIEW OF MANIFESTS:

The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

Vendor Manifest:  $269,472.04

Payroll Manifest:   $ 21,916.87

 

BUILDING PERMITS:

The Board reviewed and approved a building permit for Paul and Barbara Scarpino, 01-136-098, East Sutton Road for a garage workshop/storage addition.

 

YIELD TAXES:

The Board issued the following yield taxes:

Craig and Stacey Curser, Map 05-815-136 in the amount of $2,114.32

Richard and Jessica Kelley, Map 10-037-404 in the amount of $895.51

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Selectman McManus requested that Adam Hurst attend the next regularly scheduled meeting to provide a Highway Department update.

 

The Board issued an Abatement for the Town of Sutton, Map 08-110-363, in the amount of $261.00.  The cause of abatement is that the town’s 1/17 Interest in property is exempt from taxation.

 

The Board approved a request by the First Freewill Baptist Church giant yard sale to post a sign and accept items for the sale at Solid Waste Facility/Put and Take.  They will also be conducting a second sale in the Fall and would like to use the Put and Take as a drop-off site at that sale.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

TA Grinsell reported on the status of the library front door.  The door was assessed by local contractor, Kevin Tarleton, who reported that the door has been beveled to provide a tight fit to the frame.   The granite threshold was fabricated for that door for drainage purposes.  The whole front was designed as one unit.   A fireproof replacement door will be very expensive.  They do not fabricate beveled fireproof door.  In addition, the door would have to be re-framed.  The Board arrived at a rough estimate of $5,000 for a fireproof door replacement.  TA Grinsell advised that currently, the door is not fire-rated.  The entrance is comprised of the wooden door and foyer enclosed by French doors.  Mr. Tarleton observed that the door has been repaired several times and has reached a point where it needs to be replaced.

 

Selectman McManus asked about the timeframe for obtaining a replacement door.  Selectman McManus indicated that the problem should be rectified as soon as possible.  The panic bar also needs to be replaced.  Selectman Baker has also inspected the door and noted that it is a very old wooden door that has dried out and is cracked and separating.  The Select Board felt that an intermediate repair should be done as soon as possible.  Selectman Baker supported having Mr. Tarleton perform the recommended repairs.  Mr. Grinsell said that he would obtain an estimate prior to authorizing the repairs.    Selectman Baker and McManus authorized TA Grinsell to coordinate and arrange for the repair.

Selectman Baker discussed ADA/code requirements for older buildings.  TA Grinsell will research the requirements.  Mr. DeFelice indicated that Federal requirements do mandate saving for the repairs, adding that it does not have to be a substantial amount of money.   This is one of the reasons that the Town established a Capital Reserve for the ADA modifications.

 

TA Grinsell reported that Town Counsel has advised that there is no conflict of office in appointing a Budget Committee or Select Board Official as a Cemetery Trustee. Jack Noon has declined the office.  The Board noted that the cemeteries were well maintained for the Memorial Day holiday and asked TA Grinsell to touch base with Mr. Hayes regarding ongoing maintenance.

 

TA Grinsell reported on the staff meeting to kick off the MRI wage analysis and employee classification study.  Mr. Grinsell said that the concept was well received by staff.  There was a lot of positive feedback regarding the study, and staff are working on their questionnaires which are due on June 9, 2023.   TA Grinsell reviewed the towns selected for comparison which all met the 30-mile radius criteria as requested by the Select Board.

 

REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE:

The Board received the following items of correspondence:

FEMA – Preliminary FIRM Maps and FIS

Correspondence from Kearsarge Energy regarding Net Metering.

 

PUBLIC INPUT:

Mr. DeFelice discussed the status of the Capital Reserves.  Selectman McManus recollected that the Trustees have agreed to a follow up meeting with the Select Board.  Mr. DeFelice and TA Grinsell will coordinate scheduling.  The Board and Mr. DeFelice also discussed a follow-up meeting with the Library Trustees which has been scheduled for June 19.

 

SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS:

Selectman Baker reported on the status of the library repairs.  TA Grinsell reported that he had contacted Blue Box and cancelled delivery of the container.  Blue Box was very accommodating regarding the cancellation and has agreed to refund the deposit.  Selectman Baker agreed to follow up with the library regarding the cancellation.  Selectman Baker will also be meeting with the Trustees.

 

Selectman Baker said that since the moisture problem is emanating from the floor, the first step is to install the sump pump.  The pump installation is scheduled for June.  It was agreed that the dehumidifier needs to be running continuously.  Selectman Baker felt it was unnecessary to demo the walls if the problem can be resolved with the sump pump and a full-sized dehumidifier.

 

If there is an issue going forward, trenching on the front of the building (north side) will be performed and a perimeter drain will be installed.  In addition, a Bituthene barrier will be installed.  Selectman McManus agreed that sealing is more effective on the exterior and that the Highway Department could assist with the trenching.  Selectman Baker added that it would also be more cost effective.   Installation of the dehumidifier was discussed.  Selectman Baker agreed to follow up with the Highway Department regarding the trenching.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted, Elly Phillips, Recording Secretary