December 26, 2023 | Hilary Grimes TOWN OF SUTTON Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall 93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH Sutton Mills, NH 03221 Select Board Minutes December 26, 2023, 4:00pm PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Selectman, Michael McManus opened the meeting at 4:07pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. Present at the meeting were: Walter Baker, Select Board Chair, Michael McManus, Selectman, Dane Headley, Selectman, Hilary Grimes, Sutton Rescue Chair, David Grinsell, and Julia Jones, Town Administrator. APPOINTMENTS: At 4:07pm Hilary Grimes presented the Board with Sutton Rescue’s 2024 Budget for their review. At 4:25pm Selectman McManus made a motion to approve Sutton Rescue’s 2024 Budget as presented. Selectman Headley seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. At 4:25pm David Grinsell presented the Board with the Sutton Fire Department’s 2024 Budget for their review. At 4:30pm Selectman Headley made a motion to approve the Sutton Fire Department’s 2024 Budget as approved. Chair Baker seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. At 4:30pm David Grinsell presented the Board with the Cemetery Department’s 2024 Budget for their review. At 4:35pm Selectman McManus made a motion to approve the Cemetery Department’s 2024 Budget as presented. Chair Baker seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Chair Baker asked the Town Administrator to contact Mike Vinyard on the design of the Town’s new cemetery. At 5:25pm Ryan Sheets addressed the Board to express his intention to purchase certain property deeded to the Town of Sutton located on Shadow Hill Rd. lot 05-710-520. Ryan Sheets and Jillian Hannah own properties located at 48 and 52 Shadow Hill Road. Sheets and Hannah are preparing to build a house at 52 Shadow Hill Road, which abuts lot 05-710-520 on two sides. Lot 05-710-520 lies between the site of their future home and the road. Sheets expressed his objection to the possibility of future building activity on 05-710-520 due to its proximity to his tree farm and future home. Selectman Headley acknowledged that he owns property that abuts lot 05-710-520. For this reason, Selectman Headley bowed out of the discussion of lot 05-710-520. Ryan Sheets expressed his objection to a public auction out of concern that potential bidders may intend to build on lot 05-710-520. Chair Baker acknowledged that the Board usually reaches out to abutters to gauge their interest in property deeded to the Town. He remarked that the town must establish a fair and equitable value for the property in question. Chair Baker asked the Town Administrator to consult with Town Council and Town Assessors to establish a fair and equitable public process for the sale of property deeded to the Town of Sutton located on Shadow Hill Rd. lot 05-710-520. The Town Administrator emphasized the importance of integrity and transparency for equitable sales of Town deeded property. The Town Administrator and David Grinsell shared that the Board had considered selling property currently deeded to the town through a public auction with sealed bids. The Board discussed their decision to table discussion of the public auction. David Grinsell acknowledged that Selectman Headley expressed interest in purchasing Shadow Hill Rd. lot 05-710-520. Ryan Sheets expressed concern for a perceived conflict of interest related to the sale of lot 05-710-520. He warned the Board that he plans to engage a lawyer to contest the sale of lot 05-710-520. Chair Baker restated the Board’s directive that the Town Administrator consult with Town Counsel and Town Assessors to establish a fair and equitable public process for the sale of property deeded to the Town of Sutton located on Shadow Hill Rd. lot 05-710-520. CONSENT AGENDA: MINUTES: December 18, 2023 At 6:17pm Chair Baker made a motion to accept the public minutes from December 18, 2023, subject to certain adjustments to old business, paragraph four. Selectman Headley seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. MANIFESTS: The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests: Payroll: $ 19,077.42 Vendor: $ 390,060.78 BUILDING PERMITS: The Board reviewed and approved a building permit submitted by J Wentworth for $12,603 to replace a gas furnace at 1 Roby Road lot 04-267-288. INTENTS TO CUT: The Board reviewed and approved an Intent to Cut submitted by the R Bristol Trust for 10 acres out of 50 on Harvey Road lot 10-124-023. NEW BUSINESS: The Board decided to hold their next Select Board Meeting on Tuesday, January 8th at 4pm. The Board reviewed and approved three Permanent Applications for Property Tax Credits/Exemptions. The Board reviewed one of the Town’s journal subscriptions and directed the Town Administrator to cancel the subscription. The Board reviewed and approved the acceptance of a $15,000 donation to the Conservation Committee. The Board reviewed an employment application for a Solid Waste Attendant at the Transfer Station. The Board directed the Town Administrator to invite the candidate to the January 8th Board Meeting for a brief interview. OLD BUSINESS: The Board reviewed Town Counsel’s response to certain personnel policy matters. Based on Town Counsel’s recommendations, Chair Baker made a motion at 5:55pm to approve amendments to the Town’s Annual Leave policy. Selectman McManus seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The Town Administrator provided an update on a land dispute related to property located on Eaton Grange Road 03-776-234. The Town Administrator confirmed that Section 6 of the Town’s Road Use Agreement prohibits skidding on town roads, including Class VI roads. REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE: PUBLIC INPUT: SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS: At 4:58pm Chair Baker made a motion to enter into a nonpublic session pursuant to 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 the Board. The motion was seconded by Selectman McManus and passed unanimously. At 5:25pm a motion was made by Chair Baker to leave the nonpublic session. The motion was seconded by Selectman McManus and passed unanimously. Once back in public session a motion was made by Chair Baker to seal the nonpublic minutes. The motion was seconded by Selectman Headley. The motion passed unanimously. Selectman McManus thanked Selectman Headley for his knowledge and contributions to the Select Board during his tenure. Selectman Headley recommended the Board consider an update to the Select Board Procedural Manual. He also recommended the Board and the Town Administrator attend an elected officials workshop provided by the New Hampshire Municipal Association. The Board and the Town Administrator agreed this was an important workshop to attend. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 6:17pm. Respectfully submitted, Julia Jones Town Administrator