TOWN OF SUTTON

Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall

93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH 03221

Select Board Minutes

October 9, 2023, 5:00pm

 

Chair Headley opened the meeting at 5:00pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. Present at the meeting were: Walter Baker Jr., Selectman, Michael McManus, Selectman, Betsy Forsham, Holly Walker, Eric Miller, Glenn Pogust, Chair of the Planning Board, Marc & Cheryl Hebert, Elly Phillips and David Grinsell, Town Administrator.

APPOINTMENTS:

At 5:00pm the Board met with Betsy Forsham who informed the Board of a hazardous tree that hangs over Wadleigh Hill Road. Chair Headley made a motion to declare the tree as hazardous and remove the tree. The motion was seconded by Selectman Baker and unanimously approved. Ms. Forsham requests the Board to provide an update on the status of repairing the Lane River embankment and replacing the bridge. The Board acknowledged that the project is in process, but it is unlikely the bridge will be replaced in 2024.

CONSENT AGENDA:

MINUTES:

Selectman Baker made a motion to approve the October 2, 2023, minutes and Selectman McManus seconded the motion that passed unanimously.

MANIFESTS:

The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

Payroll: $20,257

Vendor: $11,891

BUILDING PERMITS:

The Board reviewed and approved the following building permits:

• G McKinnon 06-388-270, 24 Corporation – Canopy for Rear Door – $3,000
• M Eckman 10-445-37499 Summit Road – Finish 2nd floor Garage Add Screen porch – $199,000
• S Schmidt 07-030-513 466 Kearsarge Valley Road – Install Pad and Wood Frame Shed – $11,000
• J Parkhurst 06-029-458 16 Music Hill Road – 12 X 16 Shed – $6,000

The Board discussed their concern about the accuracy of the information on building permits. The Board determined that building permits need to be signed by the building inspector before being submitted and then another review when the project is completed. Chair Headley suggested using a Bank Construction Progress Form that provides a list of steps necessary and the percentage of completion of a building project.

YIELD TAXES:

The Board did not approve the following Yield Tax due to back taxes owed to the Town:

Map/Lot 07-080-513, 50 Cords

NEW BUSINESS:

A Projected Cash Flow report was provided to the Board for review and a letter to the Trustee of the Trust Funds requesting the release of funds from expendable capital reserves to reimburse the Town General Fund.

The Board briefly discussed the purchase of the Keyser Street Box Culvert, pay terms and fabrication time.

The Board reviewed and approved the 2024 Budget Preparation/Review Meeting Schedule.

OLD BUSINESS:

The Board approved a quote for $2,900 to remove the dead ash tree in the Sutton Mills Cemetery. It was noted that the property owner who abuts the cemetery wants to keep the firewood that would reduce the quote saving the Town $400. The Board recommend the tree be removed and then placed on the taxpayer’s property before cutting up the tree. Selectman Baker made a motion to accept the quote that was seconded by Selectman McManus and the motion passed unanimously.

 

A response was received by a Rowell Hill Road taxpayer contesting the Town’s plan to slope and ditch the road by the taxpayer’s property. The Board instructed TA Grinsell to forward the response to Town Counsel.

 

The Board signed a letter of explanation to the taxpayer on Cotton Road explaining that the drainage issue is created by the taxpayer’s property and not the road, and a culvert will not be provided by the Town to address the matter.

 

A Use of Town Facilities Request Form was provided to the Board. The Board approved the form and instructed TA Grinsell to forwarded it to Town Counsel for review.

 

A discussion on the Swedish Stone Pine tree planted by Eversource in the front of Town Hall was tabled for a later date.

 

REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE:

The Board was reminded that Chris Turgeon from NHDOT will be having a public meeting to discuss the Reduced Salt Zone by Blaisdell Lake on Monday, 10/16/23 at 5:30pm.

Glenn Pogust, Planning Board Chair, discussed correspondence received questioning the Planning Boards notification process regarding a meeting introducing plans to develop the Village area. Chair Pogust volunteered to provide a better notice and hold a second meeting to accommodate the Village residents. Chair Pogust will discuss the process with the Planning Board for their approval before proceeding.

The Board was notified of a prompt response to remediate an enforcement issue Map/Lot 04-265-364.

At 5:58 pm Selectman McManus made a motion to leave public session and enter into a nonpublic session. The motion was seconded by Chair Headley and passed unanimously.

At 6:56 Selectman Baker made a motion to leave the nonpublic session and enter back into a public session. The motion was seconded by Chair Headley and the motion passed unanimously.

Once back in public session a motion was made by Chair Headley to seal the nonpublic minutes. The motion was seconded by Selectman McManus and the motion passed unanimously.

PUBLIC INPUT:

 

SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS:

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

There being no additional business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 6:58pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

David Grinsell, Town Administrator