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

December 28, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

 

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.

 

The meeting was called to order by Robert Wright Jr., Chair. Present at the meeting was Robert Wright, Jr., Chair; William I. Curless, Selectman; Dane Headley, Selectman; and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator. 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.

 

The minutes from December 21, 2020, were approved as written. The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

REVIEW OF MANIFESTS:

PAYROLL MANIFEST:   $ 12,821.16

VENDOR MANIFEST:   $392,014.02

VENDOR MANIFEST:   $   3,534.93

 

OLD BUSINESS:

The Board reviewed a draft of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Town of Sutton and the Sutton Free Library Trustees with suggestions from Town Counsel. Selectman Wright recommended that a statement be added to item 3.a. regarding reporting expenditures and revenues from private sources. The Board agreed with that revision, subject to approval by Counsel. Item 4. a. will be revised for clarity, and item 6. will be deleted.   After revision, the draft will be provided to Town Counsel for final review prior to submitting to the library trustees.

 

The Board reviewed the Tax Collector’s Comparative Report December 2014 through December 2020. The report showed the annual tax amount and the percent that was unpaid as of December 31. The Board noted that the percent unpaid remained stable through that time period with the exception of an upward bump of 9.4% in uncollected taxes in 2016. The seven year average uncollected balance was 5.8%. As of December 31, 2020, the uncollected balance was 4.9%.

 

The Board discussed the engineering report submitted by Bruce Knox, PE regarding the Lane River Retaining Wall. Selectman Curless reviewed the three different design options that were presented. Selectman Curless indicated that replacing the existing timber bridge and underlying new stone walls with a Precast Concrete Rigid Frame Arch Bridge appeared to be the best option.  Selectman Curless discussed the summary of the study with an emphasis on item 6 which identified a more feasible area for the bridge foundation. Selectman Curless discussed the two areas where there were wall zone failures and the engineering design. Phillips was instructed to follow up and will present questions to Mr. Blakeman to review with Mr. Knox including the following: timing of removal of the timber bridge and the option of constructing a one-way bridge with a pedestrian walkway. Mr. Blakeman is following up with Eversource regarding the relocation of the telephone pole.

 

Selectman Wright shared his observations from the report. Selectman Curless explained the Ridged Frame Arch construction in detail. The Summary of the Study was discussed at length. Funding sources and the timetable for reconstruction was also discussed.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

The Board reviewed the Premium Conversion Plan Section 125 adopted June 29, 2001 and ratified the plan effective December 28, 2020.

 

The Board received a copy of the 2020 Expenditure Report for review at next meeting.

 

Selectman Curless made a motion to encumbering the following line items:

1-20-2020-109                        Stotler Property Cleanup        $30,000

1-20-2020-101                        Truck F550 Equipped              $     565

1-49-4000-104                        Enc Library Ramp                    $   7,694

1-49-4000-108                        Enc Master Plan Contract       $   7,200

1-49-4000-110                        Enc Fire Depart. Furnace        $10,741

Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

 

REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE:

The Board reviewed correspondence from the moderator regarding the conduct of the 2021 Annual Meeting. All parties agreed that the process for a virtual meeting was extremely complicated and felt that the KRSD High School Auditorium provided ample room for social distancing. Phillips will follow up with the moderator on remote options for attendance by Select Board members and whether to make available a Zoom option for audience members (to monitor the meeting not to vote). The Board also discussed social distancing on the stage.   Selectman Curless suggested that first row could be designated for Town Officials and staff members to be available to respond to questions from the citizens.

 

SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS:

Selectman Wright shared concerns expressed by Jean LaChance regarding plowing operations on Penacook Road and impact on the lake. The Board will share these concerns with Adam Hurst, Road Agent.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

 

Selectman Wright made an announcement that the Board was about to commence a non-public session regard acquisition, sale, or lease of real or personal property. The Board will be sealing the minutes from the non-public session and will adjourn immediately thereafter.

 

At 5:00 p.m. Selectman Curless made a motion to enter into non-public session RSA 91-A:3, II (d) Consideration of the acquisition, sale, or lease of real or personal property. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The Board was polled with Selectman Wright, Selectman Curless and Selectman Headley voting in the affirmative. Public Session resumed at 5:16 p.m. Selectman Curless made a motion to seal the minutes because it was determined that divulgence of this information might render a proposed action ineffective. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:16 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Elly Phillips

Town Administrator