April 15, 2020 | Town Admin TOWN OF SUTTON Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall 93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH Sutton Mills, NH 03221 Select Board April 6, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Robert Wright, Jr., Chair. Present at the meeting were: Robert Wright, Jr., Chair; William I. Curless, Selectman; Dane Headley, Selectman; Robert DeFelice, Budget Chair; David Burnham, Health Officer and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator The minutes from March 30, 2020 and April 1, 2020 were approved as written. The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests: PAYROLL MANIFEST: $10,214.79 VENDOR MANIFEST: $20,428.40 BUILDING PERMIT: A building permit for Stephen and Carolyn St. Pierre, 07-847-318, Whiskey Pine Road, for a shed was approved subject to wetlands verification. EXEMPTIONS/CREDITS: The Board approved the following exemptions and credits: Gurna and Donna Wilson, Map 09-879-208, Elderly Exemption Alison Jones, 06-392-247, All Veterans, $500.00 Norman Badgley, All Veterans Recertification Compliance APPOINTMENTS: The board approved the following appointments: Joe Eisenberg, Alternate Zoning Board of Adjustment, term March 2023 Zachary Brock, Alternate Zoning Board of Adjustment, term March 2022 Marc Beauchemin, Zoning Board of Adjustment, term March 2023 David Angeli, Planning Board, term March 2023 OLD BUSINESS: The Board reviewed an Emergency Addendum to the Personnel Manual Draft Policy to address Employee Conduct and COVID- Related Paid Sick Leave/FMLA Expansion. Selectman Curless made a motion to adopt the Emergency Addendum to the Personnel Manual to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. Phillips provided an update on Rowell Hill Road grading. Ms. Phillips reported that Mr. Hurst did not have an opportunity to grade the road in 2019 due to weather conditions and project scheduling conflicts. The Board discussed a complaint to the Highway Department regarding littering along the road. The Board reiterated that picking up roadside trash does not fall within the duties of the Highway Department. It is up to the property owners and good Samaritans to keep the roadsides clean. The Board discussed conducting electronic meetings in view of Emergency Order #23 – Temporary Modification of Municipal and local government statutory requirements. Both the Planning Board and Conservation Commission have expressed a desire to continue meeting using applications such as Zoom and Go To Meeting and were looking for guidance from the Board of Selectmen. The sense of the Board was that if Town Boards and Commissions wanted to meet this way and if it was within their budget, they could pursue an appropriate platform. However, they should ensure that the platform is safe and allows for public access. Some problems with hacking on these platforms were discussed. Selectman Curless expressed reservations about people using their own equipment and the possibility of getting hacked and felt only essential meetings should be conducted in this manner. Mr. DeFelice felt that if the meetings are non-essential and if a department went over budget on this line item, he would have serious reservations about that. Mr. DeFelice will follow up on whether the library’s meetings allow for call in. The Board discussed the Governor’s Emergency Orders #23 and #25. The Board also received guidance from Carol Merullo, Town Clerk/Tax Collector, provided the Tax Collector Association’s attorney, Bernard Campbell regarding tax liening and deeding. As the situation is rapidly evolving, the Board will defer any decisions regarding Emergency Order #25. At this juncture, however, the sense of Board was to continue to deal with abatements on a case-by-case basis. Selectman Wright expressed fears about how the pandemic was going to affect the economy and emphasized that employees should not expect salary increases in 2021 and should budget accordingly. Mr. DeFelice agreed that it was important to layout the groundwork and start the conversation now as the 2021 budget process will commence in June. The Board discussed the fact that there may be delays in Tax Collection. Mr. DeFelice observed that this was an example of a situation where it is beneficial to have a healthy fund balance for cash flow purposes. NEW BUSINESS: David Burnham, Health Officer, asked about the Town’s policy for out-of-state RV’s on Sutton properties. It was noted that out-of-staters are supposed to quarantine for 14 days. Mr. Burnham was advised that those inquiring were referred to the town’s policy which allows for the following: Occupied: Any property owner or lessee may reside in or occupy one travel trailer of his/her own or one of a non-paying guest for a single period of not more than 90 days in any one period of 12 consecutive months. Said 90 days shall begin upon the installation of the construction trailer or travel trailer as the case may be. Mr. Burnham will follow up with Town Counsel for further guidance. Mr. Burnham expressed deep concern regarding out-of-state transmission affecting the local population and over burdening the local health system. REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE: The Board noted the DOT Inspection of Red List Bridges: Report 2019 noting that there currently are none from Sutton. PUBLIC INPUT: The Board received written comments from Emilio Cancio-Bello in stating his role as a school board representative as follows: “Provide the students of this District with the best possible education at the least possible price…” adding that “I also believe that I can serve the district better if I can have open communications with everyone involved in the process including our Towns’ Leaderships and Members of the MBC. To that effect I have always been available to answer questions and research those that I might not be able to answer immediately, so I was a little taken aback by the letter presented to the SB last Thursday . . . Though these meetings cannot be made totally open to the public as requested because of obvious security problems that have already plagued Zoom-like meetings, it would have been an non-issue to send Bob or any other MBC Member, as well as any Select-board member, a link to attend the meeting. All of you have always been welcomed to our meetings. These are difficult times and the more open communications we have the better for all. I will pass on my admiration for the job that the District Administration has done during this terrible crisis. In early discussions with them, they showed incredible commitment and dedication to address these issues well before mandates came down from our State Govt.” Mr. DeFelice asked that Board check into any potential liabilities for the Town with the Easter egg hunt that is being promoted by the library. Selectman Curless said that as he interpreted it the hunt was for parents to drive kids around to try and spot the eggs. Mr. DeFelice was concerned about walkers. Phillips was instructed to follow up. Selectman Wright discussed the New Hampshire volunteer law. Mr. DeFelice pointed out that there appears to be a problem with the Board designations on the website. Phillips advised that there was a glitch with a recent update whereby committee members were “co-mingled” corrective action has been taken. SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS: Selectman Wright reported on his attendance at a recent School Board Meeting noting some of the positive outcomes which were: All members of the municipal budget committee can access online. Members of the public may access, but not participate, because of possible hacking. The town uses the term “capital reserves” and the school board uses the term “trust funds.” The School Board is receptive to listening to any specific methods that the Select Board has to save money. In response to Mr. Cancio-Bello’s email, Selectman Wright opined that he would add that the school board representative should also represent the taxpayers of the Town of Sutton. The Board would welcome Mr. Cancio-Bello’s attendance at a future meeting. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:12 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Elly Phillips Town Administrator