February 22, 2021 | Town Admin TOWN OF SUTTON Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall 93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH Sutton Mills, NH 03221 Select Board February 22, 2021 @ 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. Please mute your phone to listen in. You may unmute your phone for the public comments section. Present at the meeting were Robert Wright, Jr., Chair; William I. Curless, Selectman; Dane Headley, Selectman, Diego Solimine, Solid Waste Supervisor; Walter Baker, Jr., Conservation Commission Co-Chair and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator. Attending via teleconference were Carol Merullo, Town Clerk Tax Collector, Robert DeFelice, Budget Committee Chair, and Derek Lick, Moderator. APPOINTMENTS: The Board met with Diego Solimine, Solid Waste Supervisor, regarding a complaint that was received regarding facility operation hours. Mr. Solimine advised that they often let people in early, but they ask that people come in 15 minutes before closing time and that is on the signage. Selectman Curless felt that staff should be there until 5:00 p.m. and noted that was part of the complaint received. Mr. Solimine discussed cost saving measures that he has implemented by accomplishing tasks during operation hours. Selectman Headley noted that the posted hours on the website and in the annual report state the operation hours as Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Mr. Solimine explained that some people tend to come at the last minute and linger, causing staff to stay late, adding that the sign clearly states to be their fifteen minutes before closing time. Selectman Curless said that the gate should be closed at 4:45. The gate should be manned from 4:45 to 5:00 p.m. to let people out. Staff should stay until 5:00 to complete closing tasks and prepare for the next open day. Mr. Solimine expressed concerns for staff staying after dark. The Board deferred action on the matter until a future date. At 4:30 p.m. the Board met with Wally Baker, Conservation Commission Co-Chair, regarding a summer-maintained portion of Kings Hill Road. The Conservation Commission was exploring maintenance options to better access their Maple Leaf parking area in the winter. Counsel recommended against using an outside contractor or volunteer to do maintenance. Town Counsel suggested that the Board might consider declaring the relevant portion as an emergency lane for fire and rescue purposes. This action is usually reserved for Class VI roads and private roads but may be applicable in this instance. The Board will seek input from the Road Agent. Selectman Wright made a motion to table. Selectman Curless seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. Mr. Baker will review the matter at their next regularly scheduled meeting. The minutes from February 16, 2021, were approved as written. The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests: Vendor Manifest: $358,314.89 Payroll Manifest: $ 11,313.26 The Board approved a Veteran’s Exemption for Nancy Whatley, Map 08-660-019, in the amount of $500.00. NEW BUSINESS: The Board reviewed the 2021 Warrant Review in preparation for Town Meeting. Article 3: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $130,000 (gross budget) for the purpose of constructing an ADA Compliant Ramp for the Sutton Free Library, and to authorize the issuance of not more than $130,000 of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33) and to authorize the municipal officials to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon. Recommended by the Budget Committee. Recommended by the Select Board. Selectman Wright will move the Article and require 3/5 ballot vote and the polls will be open for an hour. Article 4: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the Budget Committee recommended sum of $2,511,827 for general municipal operations. This article does not include appropriations contained in special or individual articles addressed separately. Recommended by the Select Board. Budget Recommended by: Committee Executive Office 169,390 Election and Voter Registration 2,466 Financial Administration 71,176 Financial/Executive 24,839 RP Appraisal Services 11,000 Judicial & Legal Expenses 14,000 Personnel Administration 485,147 Planning & Zoning 34,959 General Government Building 34,165 Cemeteries 14,000 Insurance 61,400 Ads & Regional Associations 2,257 Police Department 364,662 Ambulance 80,614 Fire Department 56,325 Building Inspection 9,700 Emergency Management 3,000 Dispatching Services 22,397 Highway Department 687,360 Bridge Expenses 3,000 Street Lighting 5,750 Solid Waste Disposal 179,814 Health Administration 2,250 Health Agencies and Hospitals 5,353 Welfare 26,592 Culture & Recreation 13,963 Library 72,339 Patriotic Purposes 1,000 Conservation Administration 7,537 Debt Service 45,372 Budget Committee: Mr. DeFelice or Ms. Guertin will move the article. Article 5: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $794,750 to be added to various Capital Reserve Funds previously established, as follows: Blacktop Roads $250,000 Gravel Roads 10,000 Computers Admin 9,000 Welfare Direct Assistance 5,000 Town Hall Facility 1,000 Septage Lagoon Maintain/Modify 5,000 Library ADA Modifications 5,000 Highway Heavy Equipment 27,000 Police Cruisers 21,000 Police Department Computer Equipment 3,500 Cemetery Fence and Tombstone 5,000 Conservation Land 7,000 Highway Equipment “Plow/Dump Trucks” 120,000 Highway Bridges 50,000 Forest Fire Equipment 250 Fire Equipment Replacement 50,000 Rescue Vehicle 10,000 Property Revaluation/Mapping 25,000 Cemetery Land 5,000 Municipal Building Fund 3,000 Fire Safety Equipment 37,000 Fire/Safety Building 100,000 Legal Fees 3,000 Highway Grader 26,000 Ballot Counting Machine 1,000 Historical Records Preservation 2,000 CR Rescue Equipment 14,000 Recommended by the Budget Committee. Recommended by the Select Board. The Budget Committee – Mr. DeFelice or Ms. Guertin will move and speak to the article. Article 6: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $258,514 for the purpose of purchasing a Fire Tanker Truck and further to authorize the withdrawal of $258,514 from the Fire Equipment Capital Reserve established in 2005 for that purpose. No amount to be raised from general taxation. Recommended by the Budget Committee. Recommended by the Select Board. Selectman Curless will move the article. Fire Chief Cochran will speak to the article. Article 7: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $150,000 for the purpose of purchasing a 6-wheel dump/plow truck and further to authorize the withdrawal of $98,885 from the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve established in 1993 for that purpose, with the withdrawal of $39,140 from the unexpended fund balance, and the remaining $11,975 to be raised by general taxation. Recommended by the Budget Committee. Recommended by the Select Board. Mr. DeFelice will make a motion and explain the funding sources. Article 8: To see if the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $48,000 for the purpose of purchasing a police cruiser, fully equipped and further to authorize the withdrawal of $48,000 from the Police Cruiser Capital Reserve established in 2016 for that purpose. No amount to be raised from general taxation. Recommended by the Budget Committee. Recommended by the Select Board. Selectman Curless will make a motion. Chief Korbet will speak to the article. Article 9: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 for the purpose of engineering design and site assessment for repairs to the Grist Mill/Lane River embankment and replacement of the bridge. Recommended by the Budget Committee. Recommended by the Select Board. Selectman Curless will make a motion and speak to the article. Article 10: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $10,000 for the purpose engineering design and preliminary site work for the Grist Mill Street Parking Area. Recommended by the Budget Committee. Recommended by the Select Board. Selectman Headley will make a motion and support the article. Article 11: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to negotiate the purchase of land located on the west side of Kearsarge Valley Road at the intersection of Baker Road, Sutton Tax Map/Lot 07-210-378 for the purpose of establishing a cemetery, and to raise and appropriate $50,000 for this purpose, and further to authorize the withdrawal of $47,000 from the Cemetery Land Capital Reserve established in 2012 for that purpose. The remaining $3,000 to be raised from general taxation. Recommended by the Budget Committee. Recommended by the Select Board. Selectman Headley will make a motion and Mr. DeFelice will support the article. Article 12: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $8,500 for the purpose of purchasing a trailer-mounted Debris Blower. Not Recommended by the Budget Committee. Recommended by the Select Board. Selectman Curless will move the article. Selectman Curless and Road Agent Hurst will support the article. The Budget Committee, Mr. DeFelice or Ms. Guertin will explain the opposing view. Article 13: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $4,500 for the purpose of purchasing a camera security system for the Sutton Free Library. Recommended by the Budget Committee. Recommended by the Select Board. Library Trustee will support the article. Article 14: To see if the Town will vote to approve the sale of Tax Deeded Land on Meetinghouse Hill Road, located at Tax Map/Lot 04-212-391, to Susan Lewis and Steve Gunnerson, abutters of the property, for the sum of $5,372, plus recording fees. Recommended by the Budget Committee. Recommended by the Select Board. Selectman Wright will move and support Article. Article 15: Shall the Town vote, pursuant to RSA 32:5, V-a and RSA 40:13, V-a, to require that all votes on recommendations on budget items and warrant articles by the governing body and Budget Committee shall be recorded votes and that the numerical tally of such votes shall be printed in the warrant next to the affected warrant article? Recommended by the Budget Committee. Not Recommended by the Select Board. The Budget Committee will move the Article. Selectman Wright will move to amend the Article. Article 16: To see if the Town will vote to increase the salary of $38,000 proposed by the Budget Committee for the Town Clerk/Tax Collector by $2,000. By Petition. Article 16 is advisory. Bob DeFelice will move the Article and will speak to the motion. The moderator discussed the logistics for the meeting. The election portion on March 9 will follow the model from the September and November elections. Town Meeting will be held in the auditorium with social distancing measures in place. The cafeteria has been designated as an overflow area. The check in will be in the cafeteria. The band room has been reserved for an unmasked area. The meeting will be livestreamed for observation purposes only. Volunteers will be assigned to monitor the voting in the ancillary rooms. The fact that the Town Reports are not being mailed is being publicized. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Elly Phillips Town Administrator