January 10, 2022 | Town Admin TOWN OF SUTTON Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall 93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH Sutton Mills, NH 03221 Select Board January 10, 2022 @ 4:30 p.m. William I. Curless, Chair opened the meeting at 4:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Present at the meeting were: William I. Curless, Chair; Dane Headley, Selectman; Tom Schamberg, State Representative, Mike McManus, and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator. The minutes from January 3, 2022, were approved as written. The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests: Vendor Manifest: $1,450.00 (12/31/2021) Vendor Manifest: $ 69,100.18 (1/7/2022) Payroll Manifest: $ 11,263.82 BUILDING PERMITS: The Board approved a building permit for Stacy Shealy, 07-031-568, Kearsarge Valley Road, for a generator. OLD BUSINESS: The Board discussed town representation at the Stotler Hearing. Phillips agreed to represent the town if necessary. NEW BUSINESS: Selectman Headley discussed adopting of a Code of Conduct for all Town Board members. A process for adoption was discussed. Selectman Headley will follow up with Town Counsel on the process. Selectman Headley identified some core components of the code of conduct for elected and appointed officials as follows: Respectful interaction with council members, staff, the public and others; Members shall act in manner that demonstrates fairness, respect for individual differences in opinion and intention to work together for the common good and furtherance of the public interest; Members shall treat one another, employees of the municipality and members of the public with courtesy, dignity, and respect and without abuse, bullying or intimidation. No member shall use indecent, abusive or insulting words or expressions toward another member, any employee of the municipality, or any member of the public. No member shall speak in a manner that is discriminatory toward any individual based on the person’s race, religious beliefs, color, gender, physical disability, mental disability, age ancestry, place of origin, marital status or income, family status or sexual orientation. Member shall respect the fact that employees of the administration work for the municipality as employees of the totality of the corporate body and are charged with making recommendations that reflect their professional expertise and a corporate perspective and that employees are required to do so without undue influence from any member, or group of members. Members must not involve themselves in matters of the administration which fall within town administrative use, or attempt to use, their authority or influence for the purpose of intimidating, threatening, coercing, commanding or influencing any employee of the municipality with the intent of interfering with the employees duties or maliciously or falsely injure the professional, ethical reputation or the prospect or practice of employees of the municipality. Selectman Headley said there were other items that should probably be covered. Selectman Curless said that the Board might want to work together to fine tune the code, but that the code should be adopted in a manner that applies to all Boards. Selectman Headley will follow up to see if the Select Board can make a blanket policy or adopt the code at a public hearing or at Town Meeting. Selectman Curless felt that it was import to the town as a whole. Enforcement of the code will also be reviewed at Town Counsel. The Board will work to ensure that the code is in compliance with all RSA and regulations. The Board also discussed a code of conduct for Town employees and a future goal will be to review and update the Town’s personnel policy. The Board also will revisit the purchasing policy. Selectman Curless recommended that all policies be reviewed on an annual basis. The Board discussed revised deadlines and requirements of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). The Board is exploring whether the Corporation Hill Embankment project is eligible for funding under the infrastructure/stormwater category. Another potential eligible area would be to test/treat private wells under the Clean Water/Drinking water category. The Board will conduct a public hearing to accept the second tranche of funding. The Select Board received a report of the Department Head 2022 Budget Recommendations. The Board will review the reports, but deferred action pending a full Board. The Board will finalized their recommendations prior to the Budget Committee Public Hearing which will be conducted on February 10, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at the Pillsbury Memorial Hall. Selectman Headley advised that the Budget Committee will be presenting the operating budget this year rather than the Department Heads. There was concern regarding social distancing and Mr. DeFelice recommended that only one representative from each department/committee attend. The Select Board will pass along that suggestion. Phillips reviewed 2022 projected revenues which she will present to the Budget Committee at 6:15 p.m. Phillips noted that all Departments had done an effective job with the 2021 budget and that expenditures were and that revenues came in over budget. Therefore, it was recommended that funds from fund balance be used to offset the 2022 proposed warrant articles. There was a general discussion regarding fund balance and capital planning goals. REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE: The Board noted an email from NH Dot advising that the rest area at Exit 10 on I-89 will be closed from January 24, 2022 through May 23, 2022 due to workforce shortages. SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS: Selectman Curless addressed Mr. McManus and asked about the purpose of his attendance this evening. Mr. McManus advised of his intention to run for the Select Board and expressed his interest in learning about matters currently before the Board. There was a general discussion regarding the duties of the members of the Select Board. PUBLIC INPUT: Mr. McManus inquired about the process for removing hazardous trees on a scenic road and was advised that the Planning Board conducts a public hearing regarding removal of trees within the right-of-way on scenic roads. However, if a tree is designated as a hazard to the traveling public, the Select Board has the authority to authorize the removal of the tree at a regularly scheduled Select Board meeting. In addition, property owners on scenic roads are allowed to remove trees along the scenic roads. Selectman Headley advised that if you call the utility company and notify them of a tree overhanging the powerlines that they will inspect the tree and remove it at no cost to the property owner if the tree is determined to pose a threat to the powerlines. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Elly Phillips Town Administrator
