July 17, 2023 | Town Admin TOWN OF SUTTON Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall 93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH Sutton Mills, NH 03221 Select Board July 17, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Dane Headley opened the meeting at 5:00 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. Present at the meeting were: Dane Headley, Chair; Michael McManus, Selectman; Nancy Glynn, Chair Library Trustees; and David Grinsell, Town Administrator. APPOINTMENTS: At 5:30 p.m. Selectman Headley made a motion to enter into nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3, II(a). Selectman McManus seconded the motion. The Board was polled with Selectmen Headley, Baker and McManus voting in the affirmative. Public Session resumed at 6:00 p.m. Selectman McManus made a motion to seal the minutes as divulgence of this information would likely render a proposed action ineffective. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by unanimous affirmative vote. At 6:13 p.m. Selectman Headley made a motion to enter into Non-Public under RSA 91-A:3,II(c) Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of this board, . . . This exemption shall extend to include any application for assistance or tax abatement or waiver of a fee, fine or other levy, if based on inability to pay or poverty of the applicant. The Board was polled with Selectmen Headley, Baker, and McManus voting in the affirmative. Public Session resumed at 6:45 p.m. Selectman Baker moved to seal the minutes as it was determined that divulgence of this information likely would affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of this board. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. CONSENT AGENDA: Selectman McManus made a motion to approve the minutes from July 10, 2023, as written. Selectman Baker seconded the motion. The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests. Payroll: $ 19,473.70 Vendor : $291,294.97 BUILDING PERMITS: The Board reviewed and approved the following building permits: Michael Littman & Terry Stoecker, 09-633-038, Shaker Road for an outdoor garden shed. Kari Gustad 07-675-545, Shaker Road, for a rooftop PV battery energy storage system. YIELD TAXES: The Board issued the following yield taxes: Doug and Sara Hamilton, Map 10-003-396, Meadowbrook Road, in the amount of $315.49 Jeff and Kathy Sercel, Map 03-934-262, Eaton Grange Road, in the amount of $234.73 NEW BUSINESS: The Board issued a Land Use Change Tax, for the Paruta Land Trust, Map 07-080-513, in the amount of $1,540. The Board executed PA-28 DRA Form, Inventory of Taxable Property. The Board executed DRA PA-16 Application for Reimbursement Federal & State Forest. The Board executed a Road Use/Bond Agreement, for Craig Courser, Pound Road South, Map 05-815-136, in the amount of $3,000. The Board received the June Expenditure Report for review at the next meeting. OLD BUSINESS: The Board executed a contract with Lance Carter for building repairs at the Old Store Museum. TA Grinsell reported on his meeting with Bar Harbor Bank regarding Capital Reserve Funding/Banking Electronic Transfers. Bar Harbor Bank suggested funding the Capital Reserves through wire transfer to expedite the process and maximize the interest earning potential for the funds. The wire transfer will cost $30.00. TA Grinsell advised that the funds invested in NH-PDIP are not insured. However, Bar Harbor Bank insures funds up to 4.3 million dollars. Bar Harbor bank offers interest rates that are competitive with NH-PDIP. TA Grinsell has reviewed this matter with Robert DeFelice, Trustee of the Trust Funds. Mr. DeFelice will research the matter and get back to the Board. Selectman McManus moving forward with transferring the funds into an insured financial institution. TA Grinsell advised that the Town has a substantial amount of cash to invest. Bar Harbor Bank recommended setting up a money market account. The Town can maintain a balance and move funds back and forth based on expenditures. The money market would yield 3%. Currently, the town is earning 1.5% on our operating account. TA Grinsell said that the money market account would give the town the flexibility to handle cash flow concerns. The Board supported that idea and instructed Grinsell to pursue this option. The Board met with Library Trustee Chair Glynn at 5:03 pm to discuss the status of the repairs to the library. TA Grinsell mentioned the issues with the outside spigot and building air conditioning system. The Board authorized TA Grinsell to contact BPL Plumbing and Air Conditioning to investigate and provide a proposal to repair both items. In the interim, Chair Glynn asked if the library could purchase an AC window unit, which the Board agreed to. TA Grinsell reminded the Board and Chair Glynn that Wet Basements LLC would be installing the dehumidifier system in the library basement on Friday, July 21. Chair Glynn expressed concern about the height of the grass and how it interferes with the library’s Saturday activities. Selectman McManus spoke with Tyler Lawn Care about mowing the town properties and provided TA Grinsell with the contact information for the contractor. The Board instructed TA Grinsell to follow up with Tyler Lawn Care to have them manage mowing the Town properties. The Board discussed the need for a full-time Building and Grounds Maintenance position and instructed TA Grinsell to prepare a job description for the position to present to the Board at the next meeting. Eversource has agreed to remove the dying maple in front of the Pillsbury Memorial Hall, as well as plant a replacement tree. Selectman Baker moved to have Eversource remove the tree and plant a replacement tree. Selectman McManus seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. The Board selected a Swiss Pine Galauca tree which is a slow growing tree with a beautiful shape. Chippers provided an estimate for trimming the tree in the Grist Mill parking area. The cost for trimming and reduction is $1,325. The Board also requested an assessment of the tree which will be an additional cost. Selectman McManus made a motion to accept the proposal from Chippers. Selectman Baker seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. The Board discussed the proposal from Wet Basement Solutions for work at the library. Wet Basement has requested a 50% deposit for the project. The Board authorized payment of the deposit. Building and Grounds/mowing – potential contractor and job descriptions The Board discussed closure of the Septage Lagoons. Anthony Drouin of the DES will provide recommendations. The Board agreed to defer action on the sale of tax deeded property to focus on pending projects. TA Grinsell will follow up with Jean St. Jean, Auctioneer. Selectman Headley moved to hire Kathy Frey for the position of Deputy Town Clerk at a pay rate of $19.00 per hour with a salary increase of $1.00 per hour upon obtaining motor vehicle agent certification. Selectman Baker seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE: The Board noted correspondence from Sean and Shannon Frost as follows: 06/30/23 – Select Board Members 07/14/23 – Town Admin 07/14/23 – Land Use Coordinator SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS: Selectman McManus spoke with Tim Hayes, Cemetery Sexton. Mr. Hayes plans to set some stones. Selectman McManus asked Mr. Hayes about progress on engineering for the Mastin Cemetery. Selectman McManus recommended obtaining a listing of approved Cemetery Engineers from the State Cemetery Commission. Selectman McManus asked Mr. Hayes to follow up on that matter within the next couple of weeks. Selectman McManus said that there was a great deal of groundwork that needs to be done on this project. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, David Grinsell Town Administrator