Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall 

93 Main Street 

TOWN OF SUTTON 

Sutton Mills, NH 03221 

Select Board  

August 22 & 24 (as continued), 2023 Minutes 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: 

Select Board Chair Headley opened the meeting at 5:00pm on August 22, 2023 with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Present at the meeting were: Dane Headley, Chair; Walter Baker, Selectman; Michael McManus, Selectman; Sutton Fire Chief, Cory Cochran; Adam Hurst, Road Agent, Paul and Linda Parker, and Edward and Annie Bruss. 

 

APPOINTMENTS 

The Board met with Fire Chief Cochran for a departmental update. Selectman McManus inquired about the need to purchase new fire-packs and the status of the new fire engine. The Chief said he doesn’t see a need for any new packs for the next three years and he also presented the Board with the Certificate of Title for the town’s new fire engine for the town to process. The chief also noted that the new rescue “Forestry Buggy” has already been successfully used for an off-roadway incident and that several potential and younger Pledges have shown interest in signing up to take the Fire I Class necessary to becoming a volunteer fireman. The Board thanked the Chief for all the continued hard work by both him and his Department.  

 

NON-PUBLIC SESSION RSA 91-A:3 II (c). Session # 1 

At 7:12 pm, a motion was made by Chair Headley to enter into a nonpublic session per 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. The motion was seconded by Selectman Baker and unanimously approved.  Roll call was taken with Chair Headley, and Selectmen Baker and McManus responding in the affirmative.  

At 6:43p.m. a motion was made by Chair Headley to enter into a nonpublic session per 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. The motion was seconded by Selectman McManus and unanimously approved.  Roll call was taken with Chair Headley, and Selectmen Baker and McManus responding in the affirmative.  

 

Selectman McManus made a motion to leave the nonpublic session and return to public session at 7:39pm. The motion was seconded by Chair Headley and unanimously passed.  

 

Once public session reconvened, Selectman McManus made a motion to seal the nonpublic minutes because it is determined that divulgence of this information likely would affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of this board. The motion was seconded by Selectman Baker and passed unanimously.   

  

APPOINTMENTS (Cont’d) 

The Board met with Adam Hurst, Road Agent, for a departmental update. Prior to the update, Sutton residents Paul and Linda Parker, and Edward and Annie Bruss, were invited to the table to discuss their concerns of water ponding and drainage issues on the homesite of Marc Hebert on Rowell Hill Road. The Board noted that this has been a long-time issue between Mr. Hebert and neighboring property owners over the years with no reasonable resolution ever presenting itself. Ultimately, the Board determined that any further action would require advice from Town Counsel, which the Board committed to do. 

In the departmental update, Mr. Hurst presented a breakdown of estimated costs to proceed with the “Hominy Pot Arch-Con Bridge” project on Keyser Street. The total cost was roughly estimated at $84,000 with the concrete box culvert at $38,000. A motion was made by Selectman McManus to purchase the box culvert now to avoid price increases down the road. Selectman Baker seconded the motion and the motion passed on unanimous approval.  Mr. Hurst also noted that his department should be getting delivery of its new dump truck in March of next year. Disposal of the old truck will be based on the best offer obtainable via either a trade-in or advertising it on Muni-Bid. Mr. Hurst also asked about the status of the Municipal Resources Wage and Benefits Analysis and Chair Headley commented that the Board will be reviewing the report with department heads in the very near future. Mr. Hurst asked the Board to consider if he and his crew could work four-day, ten-hour work weeks during the summer and starting next year, and further inquired about the status of the Municipal Resource’s “Wage and Benefits Analysis.” Chair Headley commented that the Board will be reviewing the report with department heads soon and that the Board would consider the four-day work week request.  The Board thanked Mr. Hurst and his crew for their hard work.  

MINUTES:  

Minutes from the August 14, 2023, Select Board Meeting were reviewed and amended.  A motion was made by Selectman McManus to approve the minutes as amended.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Baker and unanimously approved.  

 

CONSENT AGENDA: 

 

MANIFESTS: 

The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests: 

Payroll: $15,012.35  

Vendor: $22,253.05 

  

BUILDING PERMITS: 

The following building permits were reviewed and approved by the Board: 

James Westgate 01-844-388, 469 Roby Rd, New Garage $70,000-$80,000 

 

The following 8/14 “Subject To” approvals were confirmed by the Board based on info provided by G Pogust:  

Teresa Hosmer 09-750-178, 1176 Rte 114, New house attached to barn $275,000. 

B Friedlander & J Winn 07-906-370, 3 Davis Court, finish 2nd floor of garage & add dormer $50,000. 

 

INTENT TO CUT: 

The following intent to cut was reviewed and approved by the Board: 

Prentice Troup & Jordan Ray 09-077-141, French Rd, 45 out of 49 Acres 

 

CORRESPONDENDENCE: 

The Board noted the latest correspondence from Sean and Shannon Frost which was forwarded to Town Counsel. 

 

At 6:55 pm, Chair Headley made a motion to continue the current 8/22/23 meeting to 8/24/23 at 6:00 pm. The Board approved the motion unanimously. 

 

8/24/23 SELECT BOARD MINUTES: 

 

At 6:00 pm, the Board continued the meeting from 8/22/23 

NON-PUBLIC SESSION RSA 91-A:3 II (c). Session # 2 

At 6:02 pm, a motion was made by Chair Headley to enter into a nonpublic session per 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. The motion was seconded by Selectman Baker and unanimously approved.  Roll call was taken with Chair Headley, and Selectmen Baker and McManus responding in the affirmative.  

 

Selectman McManus made a motion to leave the non-public session and return to public session at 6:43 pm. The motion was seconded by Chair Headley and unanimously passed.  

 

Once public session reconvened, Selectman McManus made a motion to seal the non-public minutes because it was determined that divulgence of this information likely would affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of this board. The motion was seconded by Selectman Baker and passed unanimously.   

The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 pm. 

 

 

Respectfully submitted, 

Dane Headley, Select Board Chair