January 3, 2023 | Town Admin TOWN OF SUTTON Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall 93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH Sutton Mills, NH 03221 Select Board January 3, 2023 Walter Baker, Jr., Acting Chair, opened the meeting at 4:58 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Present at the meeting were: Walter Baker, Jr., Acting Chair; Michael McManus, Selectman; Judy Lowe, Sutton Historical Society President; and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator. APPOINTMENTS: At 5:30 p.m., Judy Lowe, President, Sutton Historical Society to discuss the 2023 proposed budget and to encourage a warrant article to cover necessary repairs to the Old Store Museum. Jack Noon, Town Historian, has contacted the Board a number of times regarding the needed repairs. Selectman Baker advised that he has been following up on this matter and is working with local contractors to obtain estimates. Selectman Baker summarized the needed deferred maintenance items as follows: remove, re-sheath, and replace the clapboards on the back of the building; remove deteriorated plaster in the interior and replace with sheetrock; the front porch will be removed; on right hand side the granite from the Grist Mill parking site will be used for access (steps). The platform will be removed and granite steps will be used for the entrance; priming and painting will also be necessary. Selectman Baker indicated that the interior repairs can be performed by volunteers. Selectman McManus said that he had also met with Jack Noon to discuss the repairs. The Board agreed to research the amount of funds available from the Old Store Museum Trust. Selectman Baker agreed to follow up with Jack Noon regarding the repairs. The Board and Ms. Lowe discussed some hazard trees on Keyser Street that should be removed. Selectman McManus also discussed hazard trees on Meetinghouse Hill Road that are on town property. Phillips will follow up with the road agent. The Board discussed the Historical Society’s annual appropriation. It was noted that some years ago, the Historical Society increased their request from the Town to $6,000, in order to pay for the authorship of books chronicling the Town’s history. The annual appropriation was never reduced to the original amount after the completion of the books. The Select Board requested a financial accounting from the Society itemizing how the Town’s appropriation is being used. Selectman McManus noted that it would be helpful to know more about the Society’s income from donations etc. Ms. Lowe indicated that she understood the rationale behind the request and that she would obtain the information from the Society’s Treasurer, Rob O’Brien. Ms. Lowe will also follow up on whether or not the Society would be amenable to reducing their request. Selectman McManus made a motion to accept the December 27, 2022, public and nonpublic minutes as written. REVIEW OF MANIFESTS: The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests: Vendor Manifest: $151,689.76 Payroll Manifest: $ 17,171.14 OLD BUSINESS: Selectman Baker agreed to be present to represent the Board at the Sutton Free Library for the scheduled air quality assessment. Recommendations will also be provided based on the results of the air quality test. The Board expressed interest in establishing a capital reserve for library maintenance items and to appoint the Select Board as agents to expend. The Board discussed the request to purchase a 10-wheeler or a 6-wheeler truck through a Warrant Article in 2023. The Board asked that Adam Hurst, Road Agent, be invited to attend the next Select Board meeting to discuss this matter. Phillips advised that Chief Korbet was able to acquire a replacement police cruiser from the 2022 budget at a cost of $42,656. As a result, the amount to be encumbered is $24,000 for equipping the cruiser with the insurance reimbursement of $14,000 the net amount to remain encumbered to offset the cost of equipping the vehicle is $10,000. In addition, the Welfare donation in the amount of $1,200 was expended in 2022. The Board will ratify these encumbrances at their next regularly scheduled meeting. Discussion regarding the 2023 Budget/Wage Appropriation requests was postponed until a full board could be present. NEW BUSINESS: Selectman McManus moved to accept the donation from Bonnie Hill in the amount of $800.00 to be added to the Conservation Commission’s land fund. Selectman Baker seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 2-0. Selectman McManus made a motion to end Covid sick-time carryover. Selectman Baker seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 2-0. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Elly Phillips Town Administrator