Town of Sutton

Pillsbury Memorial Hall

93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH 03221

Select Board Minutes

November 4th, 2024, 6:00pm

Pledge of Allegiance:

Select Board Chair Glenn Pogust opened the meeting at 6:00pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. Present at the meeting were: Glenn Pogust, Select Board Chair; Nancy Glynn, Select Board Member; and Julia Jones, Town Administrator.

Also present at the meeting were: Greg Gill, Ad Hoc Website Committee Member Crispin Fletcher, NH State Representative Tom Schamberg, Mike Heffernan, Deputy Treasurer & Supervisor of the Checklist Judy Parkinson, Lee Booker, Eric Werme, Betsy Forsham, Welfare Administrator & Supervisor of the Checklist Alison Jones, John W. Jones, and Emergency Management Director Richard Lovell.

Appointments:

At 6:00pm the Board met with the Select Board met with Greg Gill regarding the Camp Wabasso project.

Gill presented a framework for decision-making involving various organizations and interested parties, including the donor and the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEMA). The goal of this framework is to align community needs with available resources and organizational structures.

Gill shared that he gathered community feedback at the Community Coffee Hour and the Sutton Transfer Station on Saturday, November 2nd. Glynn recommended that Gill connect with Christine Prime, President of the Sutton Central PTA to gather input from parents. Glynn also recommended that Gill conduct outreach at the Sutton Free Library. Glynn thanked Gill for his work.

Gill discussed using Facebook and other communication channels to gather public input and share information. Pogust recommended using the Sutton Community Facebook page for this purpose, avoiding an official town-sponsored social media page.

Pogust, Fletcher, and Gill acknowledged that committees advising the Select Board may be subject to NH RSA 91-A, the “Right to Know Law.” Gill and Fletcher expressed commitment to compliance with 91-A. Gill agreed that meetings of any future Camp Wabasso Project Committee would need to be noticed and documented with public minutes. The Town Administrator shared that 91-A prohibits e-mail correspondence between committee members. Fletcher volunteered to update the Town’s website to keep the public informed about the project’s progress.

Gill requested an appointment with the Select Board on Thursday, November 7th at 4:00pm to facilitate an exercise to capture the Board’s wishes for the Camp Wabasso properties. The Board agreed to convene a public meeting for this purpose.

The Board reviewed a letter formalizing Gill’s role as Facilitator and agreed to issue the letter at the next meeting of the Board to include Michael McManus.

At 6:19pm the Board met with Betsy Forsham regarding the Lane River Embankment and Footbridge project. Forsham reviewed more than a decade of issues with the embankment and footbridge. Forsham met with engineer Bruce Knox, Principal Engineer of Knox Engineering, and requested a proposal to prepare engineering drawings and specifications for the repair of the embankment and installation of a new footbridge. Knox is familiar with the site and represented the Town in a lawsuit involving the site. Knox will submit a proposal to prepare engineering drawingsand specifications. Forsham also contacted Nobis Group regarding the project, but did not request a proposal. Forsham and the Board discussed whether to seek additional proposals or proceed with Knox’s forthcoming proposal. Forsham recommended the Board proceed with Knox’s proposal based on his familiarity with the site, his willingness to work without a retainer, and his offer to provide a payment plan.

Pogust advocated for the Board to request an estimate from Nobis Group. The Board discussed the cost of the project and potential funding sources, including encumbered funds and capital reserves. After further discussion, the Board directed the Town Administrator to request a proposal from Nobis Group.

Minutes:

At 6:25 pm Glynn made a motion to accept the public and non-public minutes from October 28th. Pogust seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Manifests:

The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

Payroll: $ 17,244.28
Vendor: $ 63,833.40

Intents:

Building Permits:

The Board reviewed and approved the following building permits:

  • $58,267 building permit for a ground mounted solar array submitted by Mark and Margaret Eckman for parcel 10-455-374 located at 99 Summit Rd.
  • $5,000 building permit for an addition submitted by Kevin & Maryann Simoni for parcel 04-102-251 located at 640 Rte. 114.

New Business:

The Board reviewed and approved a $6,000 land use change tax warrant for parcel 09-240-335 located at the intersection of Baker Rd. and French Rd. owned by Christopher and Sharon Froio.

The Town Administrator provided an update on the second-issue tax warrant and thanked the Select Board for participating in the New Hampshire Municipal Association’s Annual Meeting & Conference.

 

At 6:45pm Glynn made a motion to enter into a nonpublic session pursuant to NH RSA 91-A:3 II. (b) the hiring of any person as a public employee. Pogust seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

At 7:30pm Glynn made a motion to leave the nonpublic session. Pogust seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Once back in public session, Glynn made a motion to seal the minutes pursuant to NH RSA 91-A:3 II. (b) the hiring of any person as a public employee. Pogust seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Old Business:

Review of correspondence:

The Board  reviewed the following correspondence:

  • Aaron Wechsler – Restoration Plan for Parcel 02-020-566 owned by Christopher Fox located on Roby Rd.
  • Gerid Paquette – Update on Notice of Zoning Violation, Town of Sutton, NH, Map 6, Lot 675-585, 15 Poor Farm Road, Sutton NH.

Public Input:

NH State Representative Tom Schamberg asked if the Town of Sutton has appointed a representative to the Kearsarge Regional School District Municipal Budget Committee (MBC). Pogust shared that Michael McManus was going to serve on the MBC, but could not attend due to a scheduling conflict with a recurring Sutton Budget Committee meeting on Thursdays. Representative Schamburg shared that the next meeting of the MBC is Tuesday, November 19th at 6:30pm. Representative Schamberg encouraged McManus to attend. The Board agreed to address this matter at an upcoming meeting.

Select Board Comments:

Pogust presented a letter of agreement to engage the Central New Hampshire Planning Commission to assist the Town in updating its Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Board, Emergency Management Director Richard Lovell, and the Town Administrator signed the letter of agreement.

Adjournment:

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:30pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Julia Jones

Town Administrator