August 31, 2020 | Town Admin TOWN OF SUTTON Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall 93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH Sutton Mills, NH 03221 Select Board August 31, 2020 The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Robert Wright, Jr., Chair. Selectman Wright read the following announcement into the record: “Due to the COVID 19/Coronavirus Pandemic and in accordance with Governor Sununu’s Emergency Order #12, pursuant to Executive Order 2020-04, this Board is authorized to meet electronically. The public has access to contemporaneously listen and participate in this meeting by telephone by calling 978-990-5000 and entering access code 112820. “ Present at the meeting were: Robert Wright, Jr., Chair; William I. Curless, Selectman; Dane Headley, Selectman; Nancy Heckel, Library Trustee, and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator. Attending by teleconference were: Robert DeFelice, Budget Chair; and Nicholas Perez. CONSENT AGENDA: The minutes from August 24, 2020 were approved as written. The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests: REVIEW OF MANIFESTS: PAYROLL MANIFEST: $ 12,105.95 VENDOR MANIFEST: $22,771.23 The Board reviewed and approved the following building permits: BUILDING PERMITS: Victoria Herr, 01-053-100, Eaton Grange Road, for an addition. Levy and Amy Smith, 01-526-332, Harwood Road, for a deck Mark and Amy Fazio, 06-445-229, Newbury Road, for a solar array The Board issued a yield tax assessment for James and Judy Magee, 01-885-559, in the amount of $1,006.06. OLD BUSINESS: Selectman Curless presented a report on the 26 Grist Mill Street public safety trainings and demolition project as follows: On August 18th at about 6:30 p.m. the Sutton and Wilmot Fire Departments conducted a mutual aid drill at 26 Grist Mill Street. The drill was well attended by fire department members from both towns. The structure was injected with smoke on the second floor to simulate a fire and performed simulated rescues with Scott Air packs. The Departments also practice cutting vent holes in the roof with a newly acquired specialized chain saw which is used for this purpose. This was a two hour training session. On August 20th at 9:00 a.m., the Merrimack SWAT team arrived with a bear cat, ambulance and mobile command center. Approximately twenty members of the SWAT team participated in the training. The team drilled for hostage situations. A teddy bear was used for hostage training. The drill involved breaking windows and doors, the use of drones indoors etc. The training exercise was completed at 3:00 p.m. Selectman Curless expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to observe the training exercise and expressed his thanks to all the public safety personnel who participated. Selectman Curless reported that on August 24 at 7:00 a.m. Rowe Brothers Excavations began the project to demolish the structures. The demolition was completed by 3:00 p.m. The final cleanup was accomplished on August 26. Selectman Curless complimented Rowe Brothers on the outstanding job and expressed his thanks for the wonderful job. Selectman Curless concluded that the 26 Grist Mill Street was not a waste of a building. It was used as a wonderful training site which possibly will save lives in the future. The opportunity for residential training is priceless to our public safety personnel. Selectman Curless reported on preparation for the Election Set Up. A fireproof barrier/tarp will be installed to separate ingress and egress on election day. Selectman Headley reported that the Sound System will be installed after the election and town hall sanitizing (middle of September). NEW BUSINESS: The Board reviewed a request by the Ridgerunners Snowmobile Club to use a public facility (the fire station) for a meeting. Selectman Wright asked for input from Robert DeFelice. Mr. DeFelice observed that in general town facilities are not being used for public purposes as a pandemic preventative measure. Mr. DeFelice noted that many organizations are using ZOOM, teleconferencing, or other virtual meeting options. Concerns were expressed regarding sanitizing the facility after the meeting and possible firefighter exposure to the COVID virus. It was noted that both the Fire Station and the Highway Facility had been ruled out as election venues due to concerns regarding virus spread to personnel. Selectman Headley asked whether the Ridgerunners could conduct a remote meeting. Selectman Wright asked whether there was another venue that might be more appropriate. The library was offered as a possible site. However, sanitation remains an issue. It was estimated that 20-25 people would be in attendance for the meeting. Selectman Headley asked whether the meeting could be conducted outside? Sanitation of chairs and tables remained a concern. Selectman Curless observed that a precedent had been set regarding the use of public buildings. Selectman Wright summarized the sense of the Board which was a reluctance to use town facilities for non-municipal purposes. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. Selectman Curless made a motion not allow the use of the Fire Department for a Ridgerunner Meeting or other non-municipal purposes. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. A discussion ensued. Selectman Wright called the question. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. Phillips will notify the Ridgerunners and also suggest a remote meeting. Selectman Curless made a motion to assign Authority for Election Grant Reimbursement to Carol Merullo, Town Clerk/Tax Collector. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. The Board reviewed an application for License to sell pistols and revolvers by Jeffrey Cleveland, Gile Pond Road. The Police Department did not have an objection to the request. Selectman Headley had questions regarding the scope of the request. Concern was expressed regarding the location being in proximity to the schools. The sense of the Board was additional information was needed such as a copy of the federal paperwork, and licensing and to get a better sense of the scope of the operation in the event that Planning and Zoning Board review was required. How weapons would be secured and whether there would be a shooting range on site. Action on the item was deferred pending further information. REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE: The Board noted that the HealthTrust has provided a notification of estimated return of surplus. The Board discussed whether or not to return the employee contribution as pro-rated or paid by retirees. It was noted that historically this has been returned to the employees and that this was fair and equitable. Selectman Headley made a motion to return the employee contribution as a taxable reimbursement to the employee. Selectman Curless seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. The Board received notification of the KRSD Agenda for 09/03/2020. Mr. DeFelice advised that this was the first of three minutes of the Kearsarge Regional School Board and Kearsarge Municipal Budget Committee for the 2021-22 budgets. Mr. DeFelice will be in attendance for the entire meeting. Selectman Wright reviewed the agenda. The time for the discussion regarding budget was not formally set. The Board received an update from the DES regarding drought conditions. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:42 p.m. Immediately following the meeting, the Board of Selectman, Moderator, Supervisors of the Checklist and Town Clerk to conduct a work session to set up for the primary election. No regular business will be discussed during the work session! Respectfully submitted, Elly Phillips Town Administrator