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

July 11,  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; Jeff and Kathy Sercel, Joe and Claudette Bourgeois, William Puskas, and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

At 5:30 p.m. Selectman Headley opened a Public hearing pursuant to RSA 674:41-I(c)  to consider whether to grant a building permit for Jeffrey and Kathy Sercel, Trustees of the Sercel Revocable Trust, Map 03-934-262, with access to the lot via a Class VI portion of Eaton Grange Road West in Sutton, New Hampshire.

Mr. Sercel provided a synopsis of his plan.   The Sercels have installed a drive and plan to erect a barn with a living space and intend to build a single-story dwelling at a future date.  The Sercels will access 400-500 feet beyond the Webb Crowell property.

Mr. Puskas asked for clarification of the status of Eaton Grange West.  He was advised that the discontinued road he was concerned about was a portion of Birch Hill Road.    There are portions of Class VI roadway on the East and West ends of Eaton Grange Road.

Joseph Bourgeois, Eaton Grange Road West property owner, spoke in support of the proposed building permit on behalf of his wife, Claudette, and children.

Selectman Headley advised that the Planning Board needs to conduct a review and comment on the request and would be doing so on July 12, 2022.  The Planning Board will then provide the Select Board with their recommendations, if any, regarding the permit.  Selectman Headley continued the public hearing to 5:30 p.m. on July 18, 2022.  If approved,  the Sercels will need to execute an agreement and notice of limitations on the Town of Sutton’s Responsibility and Liability Pursuant to RSA 674:41,I(c)(2) and (3) Selectman  McManus explained the conditions in conjunction with the agreement.

Speaking as a citizen and resident of Eaton Grange Road West, Mr. McManus spoke in support of granting the building permit.   He said that the agreement describes the width of the road to be maintained.  He said that the road requires some gravel every few years.  He indicated that if logging operations take place, a bond should be required by the Town to address potential damage from logging.  The residents agreed to work together on maintenance activities.

Mr. Puskas discussed the condition of the road when he bought his property in 1977.  He said the whole road was easily traveled at that time.  Mr. McManus said that there was a great deal of damage done to the road in the Mother’s Day flood.

Selectman McManus made a motion to approve the July 5, 2022, minutes as written.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

Vendor Manifest:             $60,048.12

Payroll Manifest:              $14,510.81

 

BUILDING PERMIT:

The Board approved a building permit for Mark Lennon, 02-661-514, Route 114, for a roof mounted solar array.

 

YIELD TAXES:

The Board approved the following yield taxes:

Sara Harkins, Map 04-244-418, $400.73

NH Public Golf Courses, 07-455-213+, $13,414.55

 

OLD BUSINESS:

The Board discussed the drainage problem on Davis Court.  Selectman McManus agreed to follow up with Adam Hurst, Road Agent.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

The Board issued a Change in Use Tax for Map 10-598-414 in the amount of $2,500.

 

PUBLIC INPUT:

Mr. Puskas discussed a boundary issue that he has been trying to resolve for a number of years.  Mr. Puskas provided documentation in support of his acreage and a chronology identifying the events that transpired.   The thirty-four acres in question, Map 03-776-234, were deeded to the town in 2020.  Mr. Puskas said that the thirty-four acres did not exist in 1951 through 1984.  Mr. Puskas has corrected a flaw in his original deed.  The Board agreed to work with Mr. Puskas and Town Counsel to sort the matter out.

 

SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS:

Selectman McManus suggested arranging a meeting with the Fire Chief to discuss recruitment of volunteers.  He noted that there were many new residents who may have an interest in serving as a volunteer firefighter.  Selectman McManus suggested that firefighters could meet voters on election day and encourage those with interest to volunteer.  Selectman Headley added that recruitment for cadets could also be done at the High School.

 

Selectman Baker discussed the potential sale of some of the Granite from the Grist Mill Parking area.  Selectman Baker would like to inventory the granite and separate some of the pieces for sale.  Selectman Baker proposed that the Highway Department assist with the inventory.   Selectman Baker was charged with following up with the Mr. Hurst, Road Agent, on behalf of the Board.

 

The Board discussed the bidders conference for the Grist Mill parking area.  There appears to be contractor interest in the project.  There may be some delay in installing the lighting.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:32 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Elly Phillips

Town Administrator