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

July 25,  2022 @ 5:00 p.m.

 

 

Dane Headley, Selectman, opened the meeting at 5:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Present at the meeting were:  Dane Headley, Chair; Michael McManus, Selectman; Wally Baker, Jr., Selectman; Diego Solimine, Solid Waste Supervisor; Glenn Pogust, Planning Board Chair; Roger Wells, Planning Board Vice-Chair;  Ben France, Benny’s Auto Hauling, Bruce Androphy, Wade Peters, Ben Dalbec and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

5:15 p.m. the Board met with Diego Solimine, Solid Waste Supervisor for a departmental update.  Mr. Solimine said that everything was going well at the facility and that staff was doing a good job keeping everything tidy.  Mr. Solimine would like to install a pad for the recycling dumpster at a more functional location.  Phillips advised that permitting with the DES may be required and that she will look into it.  Mr. Solimine discussed acquiring a new door with an entrance.  Mr. Solimine felt that the quotes that he received were quite high in comparison to the last door he had installed.  Mr. Solimine described access for personnel into the facility.  Mr. Solimine discussed the use of an over-riding chain which might be a solution.  Mr. Solimine will review the quotes and get back to the Board.  It was suggested that funding for the acquisition could come from capital reserves.  Mr. Solimine said that there was no urgency for the replacement.

 

Mr. Solimine discussed the septage lagoons.  He is still awaiting a response from the testing that was performed by the DES.  If the lagoons are closed, a septic system for the facility will be needed.  Mr. Solimine described the closure procedure.  Some of the material will need to be trucked off to an appropriate landfill.  The remaining material can be applied onsite.

 

Mr. Solimine advised that the facility may need to acquire a mower to care for the lawn area at the facility.  He noted that Construction Debris fees may need to be increased in order to compensate for increased disposal costs.  A public hearing will be held prior to increasing the price.

 

Mr. Solimine said that he would like to implement a numbered dump sticker as originally proposed.  The stickers will distributed to property owners for $1.00 each.  Glenn Pogust advised that the Clerk’s office could distribute the stickers and track them through the Avitar software program.  The clerk’s office has the ability to verify property ownership/residency.  With the current staffing, this should not be a burden on the Clerk’s office.  The Clerk’s office will be able to generate reports.  Mr. Solimine advised that the stickers he was proposing were removable and reusable.  Mr. Solimine said that the stickers were necessary due to the influx of new property owners.  Mr. Pogust and Mr. Solimine described the challenges encountered because of Air B&B and short-term rentals due to unfamiliarity with solid waste recycling and facility rules.  Distribution of the stickers and promotion of the new requirements were discussed.  Some flexibility will be required in implementing the program.

 

Mr. Solimine discussed an issue he was having with certain citizens disposing of large quantities of canine fecal matter.   Disposal of kitty litter was also discussed.  Mr. Solimine said that since the Town does not operate a landfill, recycling of kitty litter is not allowed.  Kitty litter is very heavy and increases municipal solid waste charges which are by the ton.  A lengthy discussion regarding fecal matter ensued.  Selectman Headley suggested posting signage prohibiting disposal of feces at the facility, per order of the Select Board.

 

5:40 p.m. Glenn Pogust, Planning Board Chair, and Roger Wells, Planning Board Vice Chair, met with the Board to discuss the establishment of an Economic Development Committee to promote the town as a location for development of such uses as affordable housing as well as to provide input on establishing a commercial zone.   Mr. Pogust said the committee could provide guidance on the needs and wants of the community and the area.  Mr. Pogust advised that there is a shortage of housing and workforce housing in the area.  The idea would be to recruit people who are interested and have experience in this area.  Mr. Pogust and Mr. Wells offered to work with the Select Board to establish this committee.  Selectman Headley recommended drafting a scope and purpose statement for the committee.  Mr. Wells said that the committee could also provide guidance for the development of a commercial ordinance.  Selectman McManus opined that the committee would provide a function similar to a chamber of commerce.  Mr. Wells said that we cannot sit and wait for people to come to us.

 

Selectman Baker discussed the composition of the committee and the need for the community to have a better understanding of the proposed commercial zones.  Selectman McManus emphasized that zoning was required to ensure that appropriate uses are allowed.   Mr. Pogust said that people need to see examples of low impact development.  Mr. Wells said the Planning Board was going to begin with improving the cluster zone regulations to better benefit both the community and provide incentives for the developers.

 

Mr. Pogust discussed the potential for State funding for such tasks as drafting ordinances and implementing low cost housing.  Mr. Pogust noted that this is a long-term process, but the discussion needs to begin.  Mr. Wells said that they would be happy to draft the scope and mission statement for the committee, but the Town needs to reach out to the community and the larger community to recruit individuals that have expertise in this area.  Selectman Headley felt that the committee should be community based and that outside expertise could provide guidance.  Selectman Headley and Selectman Baker felt that once the goals and objectives of the committee are identified than the Board could promote/recruit membership.   Mr. Wells opined that the Planning Board could provide guidance from the committee, but that the membership should be comprised of citizens outside of the Planning Board.  The Select Board expressed support to move forward.

 

At 5:54 p.m. Selectman Headley made a motion to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3II(a) compensation of any public employee.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The Board was polled with Selectmen Headley, Baker and McManus voting in the affirmative. Public session reconvened at 6:02 p.m.  The minutes pertaining to compensation were not sealed.

 

 

Ben France met with the Board to review the Contract for Removal Services.  Documentation of the project through photos and receipts will be kept.  Reasonable extensions were discussed which will be by mutual agreement.  Disposal of abandoned automobiles and notification process was discussed.  Phillips will follow up.  Selectman Headley made a motion to designate Selectman McManus to coordinate special duty on behalf of the Board.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.  The goal is to have a start date on or about August 1st.

Selectman McManus moved to approve the July 18, 2022, minutes as written.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.  Selectman Baker made a motion to accept the sealed non-public minutes pertaining to personnel as written.  Selectman Headley seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

 

The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

Vendor Manifest:             $536,806.91

Payroll Manifest:              $  15,214.59

 

The Board approved a building permit for Henry and Elizabeth Howell, 02-481-214, Blaisdell Hill Road, for a lakeside platform.  The variance request for the construction received ZBA Approval on July 20, 2022.

 

The Board reviewed and approved the following intent to cuts:

Richard and Jessica Kelly, 10-037-404, Ridge Road for 1.5 acres out of 3.63

Doug and Sara Hamilton, 10-003-396, Meadowbrook Road for 1/3 out of 3.2

 

OLD BUSINESS:

The Board discussed the Conservation Commission’s request to accept donations.  The auditor and town attorney did not support a blanket acceptance.  There is an opportunity to do the acceptances on a monthly basis or establish a revolving fund at Town Meeting.

 

The Board agreed to schedule public hearings on August 15, 2022, Gile Pond, the second tranche of ARPA Grant acceptance as well as Locality Equipment Matching Program.  The Board will also conduct a public information session regarding the request for low salt application on Route 114 in the vicinity of Blaisdell Lake.

 

The Board discussed funding for the Grist Mill parking lot and slate roof repairs for the Pillsbury Memorial Hall and Library.

 

Selectman Headley moved to award the bid for the Grist Mill Parking Lot to KA Stevens and Son, Inc. at a total bid of $87,527.00 and to use fundings from ARPA to augment the $50,000 raised from unassigned fund balance.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

 

Selectman Headley moved to accept an Agreement with KV Partners for Construction Engineering Services in the amount of $2,350.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

The Board agreed to meet with John Greene of GDC Slate Roof to discuss his proposals for slate repairs and ongoing maintenance recommendations.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

The Board appointed Melissa Ballanger an  Alternate Zoning Board of Adjustment for a one-year term.

 

The Board reviewed the recommendations of our Assessor on the 2021 Abatement Request from Stephan & Karen Timbrell, for Map/Lot:  10-480-287.  Selectman Headley made a motion to deny the abatement request based on the recommendations of the assessor and neighborhood comparables provided.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion.  The motion passed by an unanimous affirmative vote.

 

Phillips reported on a citizen concern expressed by John Sjogren regarding the Town’s bid process.  Mr. Sjogren also had questions regarding expenditure detail and was provided with vendor manifests to review.

 

SELECTMAN’S COMMENTS:

Selectman McManus asked about funding for special detail and security for the Stotler property.  Phillips advised that the funds will need to be offset from some other area of the operating budget.  Legal fees for the Stotler property are billed and accounted for separatelyThe Board would like to set up a line item in the amount of $10,000 for unanticipated expenses in the 2023 budget.  It was noted that the expenses will be reimbursed upon the sale of the property.

 

The Board discussed the KLPA’s annual meeting.  Selectman McManus reviewed road maintenance requirements.  Selectman Baker said that residents expressed a desire to be notified prior to maintenance activities.  Selectman Baker will discuss notification with Adam Hurst, Road Agent.

 

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:46 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Elly Phillips

Town Administrator