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

November 16, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

 

The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Robert Wright Jr., Chair. Selectman Wright read the following announcement into the record: “Due to the COVID 19/Coronavirus Pandemic and in accordance with Governor Sununu’s Emergency Order #12, pursuant to Executive Order 2020-04, this Board is authorized to meet electronically. The public has access to contemporaneously listen and participate in this meeting by telephone by calling 978-990-5000 and entering access code 112820.”

 

Present at the meeting were: Robert Wright, Jr., Chair; William I. Curless, Selectman; Dane Headley, Selectman; Nancy Heckel, Betsy Anderson, Yvonne Howard, Marcy Vierzen, Library Trustees; Elizabeth Geraghty, Library Director; and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator. Attending via teleconference were: Robert DeFelice, Budget Chair; Carol Merullo, Town Clerk/Tax Collector, and Richard Lovell.

 

The minutes from November 9, 2020 were approved as written. The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

PAYROLL MANIFEST:      $ 11,754.57

VENDOR MANIFEST:       $ 69,704.92

 

The Board reviewed and approved the following building permits:

Richard Lovell Trust, 01-890-282, Roby Road, for a Driveway Bridge, with special exception granted 10/21/2020.

Peterson 2020 Trust, 04-493-097, Fox Chase Road, for a battery backup to solar system.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

A 4:00 p.m. appointment with Adam Hurst, Road Agent, regarding a winter driveway agreement, 2004 truck sale and, Lovers Lane signage was postponed due to a scheduling conflict. The Board discussed sale of the 2004 truck and agreed that truck should be re-offered for sale on Munici-Bid. The Board discussed revising the minimum bid. Selectman Curless was designated to coordinate with the Road Agent on this matter.

The Board reviewed a listing of properties slated for tax deed on November 30, 2020. Concern was expressed regarding residential properties. Phillips will attempt to follow up and schedule non-public sessions if requested.

 

At 4:30 p.m. the Board met with Library Trustees, Nancy Heckel, Betsy Anderson, Yvonne Howard, Marcy Vierzen, and Elizabeth Geraghty, Library Director regarding the Library’s 2021 proposed Budget and to present a draft Memorandum of Understanding to formalize and agreement and promote understanding regarding the respective roles in maintain the Sutton Free Library. Betsy Anderson, Library Trustee and Elizabeth Geraghty, Library Director, presented the budget on behalf of the Trustees.

 

The Board was in receipt of a memorandum of understanding from the library which will be reviewed by the Select Board and Town Counsel.

 

Ms. Anderson advised that the Library was endeavoring to hold the line in 2021 and was proposing an almost flat increase of 1.5%. Ms. Anderson reviewed areas where changes were proposed (see chart below).   Ms. Geraghty advised that the library is not recommending training this year in an effort to hold the line. The library proposed an alternative budget would cover the costs of the library assuming accounts payable functions with the exception of payroll.

2021 Sutton Free Library Budget Request
Line Items 2020
Budgeted
2020 End
Balance
Estimate
NOTES 2021
Requested
2021
Requested w/ Finance Extras
Director 29,848.00 0.00 29,848.00 31,980.00
Assistant 9,878.00 0.00 9,878.00 9,878.00
Substitutes 1,471.00 600.00 Excess due to: non-normal open hours (COVID) 1,471.00 1,471.00
Custodial 2,400.00 600.00 Excess due to: non-normal open hours (COVID) 2,400.00 2,400.00
Building & Grounds 5,000.00 2,650.00 Excess due to: super-light snow year 5,000.00 5,000.00
Alarms/Safety 300.00 300.00 Bob D. to explain 300.00 from 2020 budget 600.00 600.00
Telephone 1,240.00 -200.00 Overage due to: fiberoptics install 1,500.00 1,500.00
Electricity 1,600.00 225.00 1,600.00 1,600.00
Heating Fuel 1,900.00 25.00 2,200.00 2,200.00
Repairs & Maintenance 1,200.00 625.00 Excess due to: nothing extra broke this year! 1,200.00 1,200.00
Advertising 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Dues/Conf/Publications 950.00 50.00 2,300.00 2,375.00
Training 1,200.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Supplies 1,500.00 -275.00 Overage due to: extra automation supplies 1,500.00 1,750.00
Books & Media 8,000.00 -50.00 Overage due to: nature of book purchasing 8,000.00 8,000.00
Programs 1,000.00 0.00 1,000.00 1,000.00
Total 67,487.00 4,550.00 68,497.00 70,954.00
~ 6.7% ~ 1.5% ~ 5.1%
++ ADA Ramp Bond (put forth by Select Board), Interior Modifications CR ( + 5,000.00), Security Camera WA (+4,500.00) ++

 

There was a lengthy discussion regarding benefits for the library. It was noted that library employees eligible for health/insurance benefits did not wish to avail themselves of that option. They did want the Director and Assistant to receive COLAS if any. The Trustees elected to provide additional hours for the Director rather than hiring a bookkeeper as the most cost effective option. The Board asked that the issues of benefits, wages, COLAS etc. be forwarded to Town Counsel for recommendations.

 

The Trustees are recommending a warrant article for $4,500.00 for the acquisition of a camera system.   The library has retained two quotations for the camera system. The alarm system was discussed in further detail.    Ms. Heckel emphasized that the Memorandum of Understanding was intended to provide clarification and continuity for both Boards am

 

OLD BUSINESS:

The Board reviewed and noted the October 2020 Expenditure Report.

 

The Board discussed a request from Gunnerson/Lewis to purchase tax deed property located at 04-212-391. The Board noted that the Conservation Commission has asked the Town to retain this property as it abuts town-owned conserved land and that the lot in question was very wet and not suitable for building. The sense of the Board was to retain the property as requested by the Conservation Commission.

 

Phillips reported that a structural engineer has performed an initial site visit to provide observations regarding the conditions at Grist Mill bridge/Corporation Hill. The utility pole definitely needs to be relocated. Peter Blakeman is scheduled to meet with the Board at their meeting scheduled for November 23, 2020, to provide a report regarding remediation work for the near term and recommendations for corrective actions in 2021. Mr. Blakeman has recommended that the Town retain Clayton Platt to perform an as-built survey.   The Board approved the as-built survey.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

The Board executed a Dispatch Agreement with the Town of Sutton for 2020.

 

The Board noted correspondence to the Trustees of The Trust Fund requesting reimbursement from Capital Reserves for 2020 expenditures.

 

REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE:

 

SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS:

Selectman Headley reported that the Planning Board would like to know how the Select Board felt about the Planning Board approaching citizens in specified areas to ask for their opinions on potential zoning changes in those areas.   The Select Board supported obtaining this type of input from property owners as part of the Master Plan process.

 

NON PUBLIC SESSIONS:

At 5:08 p.m. Selectman Headley made a motion to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3,II(a) regarding personnel. Selectman Curless seconded the motion. The Board was polled with Selectman Wright, Selectman Curless and Selectman Headley voting in the affirmative. Public Session reconvened at 5:34 p.m. Selectman Curless made a motion to seal the minutes under personnel matters. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

 

At 5:35 p.m. Selectman Curless made a motion to enter non-public 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. This exemption would 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 applicant. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The Board was polled with Selectman Wright, Selectman Curless and Selectman Headley voting in the affirmative. Public session reconvened at 5:53.

Selectman Curless moved to seal the minutes because it is determined that divulgence of this information likely would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of this board. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The Board was polled with Selectman Wright, Selectman Curless and Selectman Headley voting in the affirmative.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:53 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Elly Phillips

Town Administrator