TOWN OF SUTTON

Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall

93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH 03221

Select Board Minutes

September 18, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

Chair Headley opened the meeting at 5 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Present at the meeting were: Dane Headley, Chair; Walter Baker, Selectman; Michael McManus, Selectman; Thomas Shamberg, State Representative, John and Amy Bruss, Karen and Lee Booker, Kristi Kisler, Harland O’Brien, Glenn Pogust and David Grinsell, Town Administrator.

Appointments:

The Board met with Harland O’Brien to review and discuss a drainage issue at the end of Mr. O’Brien’s driveway. It was discussed whether or not a culvert might remedy the matter and Selectman Baker and Road Agent Adam Hurst will visit Mr. O’Brien’s property to fully assess the matter.

 

The Board met with Kristi Kisler and approved hiring her as the Deputy Town clerk.

 

Peter Stanley met with the Board to discuss correspondence received from Sean Frost and Mr. Frost’s pending appeal with the Zoning Board.

 

John and Amy Bruss met with the Board regarding their concern about a Rowell Hill resident building a stone wall and canals into the roadway diverting water and creating a driving hazard. The Board is addressing the matter presenting the resident with a notice to remove the hazards and cease the diversion of water from his property onto Rowell Hill Road.

 

Glenn Pogust provided the Board with an overview of correspondence received from Cronin, Bisson & Zalinsky, P.C., attorneys for Peacock Hill LLC, contesting the Board’s Notice of violation. The Board discussed having a meeting with town counsel and Peacock Hill’s attorney. The Board requested that Mr. Pogust contact town counsel on how best to respond to the notice.

 

CONSENT AGENDA:

MINUTES:

Selectman Baker made a motion to approve the September 11, 2023, Select Board minutes. Selectman McManus seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

 

MANIFESTS:

The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

Payroll: $15,455.04

Vendor: $53,449.53

 

BUILDING PERMITS:

· The Board reviewed and approved the following building permits:

· C Cochran 07-109-385 388 Kearsarge Valley Rd – 12 X 16 Sugar Shack $2,000.

· S Smith & G Peterson 05-655-474 115 Shadow Hill Rd – Upgrade to energy efficient windows $83,575.

· R Lovett Trust & K Lovell 01-890-282 538 Roby Rd – New single-family home $300,000.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Chair Headley noted that the Planning Board is presenting a Village District development plan for Sutton Mills to the Zoning Board on Wednesday, 9/20, and then having a public hearing on Tuesday, 9/26, to share the plan with the public.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

TA Grinsell provided an update to the Board and Karen and Lee Booker regarding the removal of a dying tree in the Sutton Mills Cemetery that has limbs overhanging Booker’s barn. Cody Tree Services is expected to provide an estimate to remove the tree by the end of next week. The Booker’s offered the name of an alternative contractor and Chair Headley noted that any contractor used by the town requires Select Board approval. TA Grinsell was instructed to keep the Booker’s informed.

 

The excavation of a test pit in the Grist Mill Parking to access drainage issues was re-schedule to Monday, 9/25 at 1:00pm.

 

TA Grinsell presented a preliminary wage analysis from Municipal Resources. The Board reviewed the report and discussed additional information that will be included in the final MRI report. Additionally, the Board discussed the various methods of establishing wages increases. The Board requested that TA Grinsell prepare supplemental wage information and report back at a future Board meeting.

 

The Board had a discussion and agreed upon moving the electric traffic sign currently situated on Route 114 just before North Road and the Police Station in North Sutton to just past North Road and the Police Station. It is felt this will make it more effective in slowing down traffic travelling north on the highway and into the very condensed Vernondale/Kezar Lake area of the village. It was noted that the sign tracks and records date, time, and speed of each vehicle. The Board instructed TA Grinsell to share their thoughts with Chief Korbet.

 

Glen Pogust discussed the approval of the loan for the Base Watershed Plan for Kezar Lake and the need for a Warrant Article. Mr. Pogust noted that the Lake Association will be paying all the loan interest up front into an escrow account. He recommended the need for a performance bond to cover the risk of the consultant not completing the project pursuant to State requirements.

 

REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE:

The Board reviewed a notice of subdivision for current use property located at Map/Lot 09-310-420, owned by Michael & Maria Gilbert.

 

PUBLIC INPUT:

 

SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS:

Selectman Baker noted that the Conservation Committee met with Chad Poland from Michie Concrete authorizing the plans for the Keyser Street Box culvert project. The plans must now be signed by the Town. TA Grinsell was instructed to coordinate getting the plans signed and delivered to DES with Mr. Poland’s assistance.

 

At 6:54pm, 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 McManus and Selectman Baker responding in the affirmative.

 

Chair Headley made a motion to leave the nonpublic session and return to public session at 7:57pm. The motion was seconded by Selectman Baker and unanimously passed.

 

At 7:58pm, the public session reconvened, and Chair Headley 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 McManus and passed unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

David Grinsell, Town Administrator