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

September 26, 2022 @ 5:00 p.m.

 

 

Dane Headley, Selectman, opened the meeting at 5:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Present at the meeting were:  Dane Headley, Chair; Walter Baker, Jr., Selectman; Michael McManus, Selectman; Alison Jones, Welfare Overseer; Robert DeFelice, Budget Chair; Anita Blakeman, Timber Monitor; Tom Schamberg, State Representative; Bruce Kozikowski, and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator.

 

APPOINTMENTS:            

 

At 5:20 p.m. Alison Jones, Welfare Overseer, met with the Board to review the Welfare Department’s 2023 proposed operating budget.  Ms. Jones stated that there were no changes to her budget.  Capital Planning was also reviewed and Ms. Jones is requesting to level fund the capital reserve for Welfare.  Mr. DeFelice said that there was a soft cap on the reserve which has been modified from $20,000-$30,000.  Selectman McManus asked if she saw anything coming up that would affect future expenses.  Ms. Jones replied that the emergency housing assistance that was being provided from COVID grants would be expiring which could strain the welfare budget.  Fuel assistance was discussed.  Ms. Jones said that the state fuel assistance was going out as a one-time benefit to qualified households.  Ms. Jones explained that most fuel assistance goes through CAP.  Ms. Jones explained that public assistance was mandatory, but the Welfare Department explores and uses every avenue available to connect to services such as the Kearsarge Region Ecumenical Ministry, Loaves and Fishes, and Kearsarge Neighborhood Partners.   Ms. Jones spoke of the challenges of the current rental markets.  Selectman Headley noted that the budget was staying the same and asked whether there were any trends from year to year?  Ms. Jones said that you just don’t know what is going to happen, one case could end up requiring the entire budget.  Ms. Jones discussed potential costs such as funeral expenses, medications etc.  Ms. Jones considers town welfare as a last resort.  Ms. Jones endeavors to connect with every available resource before using town funds.  Ms. Jones spoke of the generosity of local citizens which allow the town to provide emergency gas and food assistance.  The Board thanked Ms. Jones for her diligence and expertise in doing this important job.  Ms. Jones acknowledged the efforts of the office staff in supporting her work.

 

At 5:40 p.m. Selectman Headley moved to enter into non-public session 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, unless such person requests an open meeting. 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.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The Board was polled with Selectman Headley, Baker and McManus voting in the affirmative. Non-public session resumed at 6:19 p.m.  Selectman Baker made a motion to seal the 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.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

 

 

 

 

Selectman McManus moved to approve the minutes from September 19, 2022, as written; Selectman Baker seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

 

The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

Vendor Manifest:  $  17,315.62

Payroll Manifest:   $482,088.09

The Board reviewed and approved the following building permits:

Javier Eliessetch, 10-073-220, Winslow Road, Roof mounted solar system panels.

Elizabeth and Philip Biron (Toppin), Map 04-210-185, Roby Road, mudroom, and interior renovations

Neil Shifrin, 10-598-414, Stonehouse Road, installing furnace, and relocating generator

Melissa Kin, 02-841-206, Rt 114, roof mounted solar system panels.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Selectman Headley reviewed choices for replacement chairs.  The Board expressed a preference for stackable chairs with arms, if possible.  The Board was interested in obtaining one dozen brown chairs, four with arms.

 

Mr. Kozikowski appeared before the Board to reiterate his interest in obtaining job descriptions for the police department.  Mr. Kozikowski was previously advised that the descriptions were being updated by an outside consultant who was also reviewing department policies and procedures.  Mr. Kozikowski was provided with job descriptions for the Police Chief and Police Sergeant which were last updated in 2007 and was advised that the Police Corporal description was being developed.  Mr. Kozikowski asked when the updated and new job description would be available.  Selectman McManus responded that he had spoken with the Police Chief who is following up with the consultant.  Selectman McManus said that he expected the descriptions to be available soon and assured Mr. Kozikowski that he would receive copies as soon as they became available.

 

Mr. Kozikowski said that he was also interested in pay scales.  Mr. Kozikowski asked about pay scales and whether the newly hired police officer had a job description.  Mr. Kozikowski emphasized the need for a pay scale, particularly in view of the fact that the town has two police officers that are nearing eligibility to receiving retirement benefits from NHRS.

 

Mr. Kozikowski explained that he was sharing the concerns of a coalition of people who felt that officers taking the police cars home were wearing the cruisers down.   Mr. Kozikowski felt it would be beneficial to the taxpayer if the police officers used their personal vehicles and charged the town mileage for going to and from work.  Mr. Kozikowski proposed that the when the next police chief is hired that they use their personal vehicles.   Bob DeFelice, Budget Chair, shared that the Budget Committee had done a parity review of salaries and that Police Chief Korbet had proposed a pay scale.   Mr. DeFelice expressed a willingness to charge the Budget Committee, working in conjunction with the Select Board, to expand on and go forward with pay scale recommendations.  Selectman Headley discussed constraints with recruiting police officers.  There was further discussion regarding taking cruisers home which is common police practice for response purposes.  Mr. Kozikowski felt that police officers should be required to live in, or relocate to, Sutton.   Mr. DeFelice advised that the cruiser replacement cycle has not changed since we last had a police chief that lived in Town.  Although the additional mileage may cause wear on the vehicle, commuting has not affected the trade-in cycle.

 

Mr. Kozikowski discussed the acquisition of police department weapons.  Selectman McManus explained that each officer is equipment with a service gun and a concealed weapon.  Mr. Kozikowski questioned the need for two firearms and felt that the Department could get by with a smaller gun.  Mr. Kozikowski asked the Board to convince him that the concealed weapon was a necessary expenditure.

 

The Board agreed to meet for a non-public work session on October 4, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. to compile performance evaluations for Department Heads.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Anita Blakeman met with the Board to express concerns regarding a timber operation the Town was doing on the ash landfill property located at Map 04-312-539 and 04-313-462.  Ms. Blakeman indicated that a bid process was required in order for her to assess the bond on the property.  Ms. Blakeman noted that the original intent was filled out incorrectly.  Ms. Blakeman said that the paperwork provided to her was not a contract.  Ms. Blakeman explained the requirements for a timber contract in that they must be signed by both parties, specify remuneration for the forest products to be cut and specify the time frame for remuneration.  Ms. Blakeman admonished the Board for not looking at the highest and best price for the timber.  Ms. Blakeman also did not understand why the timber monitor was not consulted regarding this project although the 5/31/2022 minutes indicated that she would be consulted.  Ms. Blakeman felt that loggers in town should have been given the opportunity to bid on the project.  Ms. Blakeman said that the estimate did not show a value for the timber on it.  Ms. Blakeman emphasized that a written contract was required for a timber operation.

 

Ms. Blakeman was advised that the operation has been stopped and the corrected intent to cut is on hold until the Board can look at the issues she raised.  Ms. Blakeman pointed that the estimate is not specific as to renumeration and total stumpage removal costs.  Selectman Headley said that the matter should be referred to Town Counsel.  Selectman Headley thanked Ms. Blakeman for bringing the matter to the Board’s attention.  Selectman McManus and Ms. Blakeman agreed to meet to walk the property to review the value of the timber which Ms. Blakeman is currently estimating at $17,000 based on highest market value and estimate on the notice of intent to cut.

 

REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE:

The Board noted the following items of correspondence:

• Eversource regarding upcoming deconstruction project along route 103 in Bradford, Sutton, and Warner. Work is expected to start in the winter of 2023.
• Warner Notice of Development of Regional Impact.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:49 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Elly Phillips

Town Administrator