February 11, 2019 | Town Admin TOWN OF SUTTON Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall 93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH Sutton Mills, NH 03221 Board of Selectman February 11, 2019 @ 4:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by William I. Curless, Chair. Present at the meeting were: William I. Curless, Chair; Dane Headley, Selectman; Robert Wright, Jr., Selectman; Robert DeFelice, Budget Committee Chair; Tom Schamberg, State Representative; Lisa Lopez, Victor Del Vecchio, President of the Kezar Lake Protective Association, Jennifer Bonnet, YMCA and Elly Phillips, Recording Secretary. APPOINTMENTS: Lisa Lopez, Swim Program met with the Board to discuss the Kezar Lake Protective Association’s (KLPA) proposal to restart a swim program at Kezar Lake. Ms. Lopez advised that the program would not require an appropriation from the Town. The program will be funded through tuition payments from participants. The YMCA will manage the program and is responsible for staff. There would be both a dedicated instructor and lifeguard. The YMCA’s liability insurance would cover the participants. The KLPA sought marketing and communication support from the town. The Town could provide details about the program on its website. Ms. Lopez advised that the YMCA has a required enrollment threshold in order to facilitate the program. The YMCA requires that sign up is done in person in Concord. Ms. Lopez sought assistance with a central site in Sutton for enrollment and payment of fees. If the Town served in this capacity, it would save participants a trip to Concord to sign up. Selectman Curless advised that Town Counsel indicated that collecting funds for a non-municipal activity posed a potential liability for the Town. Robert DeFelice, proprietor of the Vernondale Store, volunteered to serve as a collection point. Ms. Lopez said that the cost for the program will be $70.00 a week. The KLPA will offer a financially-based scholarship program and was looking for impartial third-party assistance screening applicants. The Board made suggestions to Ms. Lopez for support with this function. Ms. Bonnet described the YMCA’s role in the program. The Board expressed their strong support for the swim program. The minutes from February 4, 2019 were approved as amended. The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests: PAYROLL MANIFEST: $12,586.44 VENDOR MANIFEST: $24,373.92 VENDOR MANIFEST: $ 784.13 NEW BUSINESS: The Board reviewed the 2019 Annual Meeting Warrant and made recommendations as follows: Article 4: To see if the town will vote to change the purpose of the Fire Department Addition Capital Reserve Fund established in 2007 for the purpose of erecting an addition to the existing fire station to the Fire Station/Safety Facility Addition, Renovation or Construction Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of either constructing an addition to the existing fire station or constructing a new or renovated facility for housing the fire department and other safety services, including but not limited to land purchase, building construction, site work, engineering, architectural fees, permitting, inspection, furniture, commissioning and other expenses to occupy the facility. Selectman Wright made a motion to recommend Article 4. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 5: To see if the Town will vote to change the purpose of the Pillsbury Memorial Hall Non-Capital Reserve Fund established in 2011 from the purpose of replacement of the heating system to the Municipal Government Building and related Infrastructure Expendable Non-Capital Reserve Fund and further to name the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend these funds. Selectman Wright made a motion to recommend Article 5. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 6: To see if the Town will vote to change the purpose of the Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund established in 1986 to the Revaluation, Tax Mapping and Overlay Mapping Non-Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of performing property revaluations and updating tax maps and overlay mapping and further to appoint the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend from this fund. Selectman Wright made a motion to recommend Article 6. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 7: To see if the Town will vote to change the purpose of the Septage Lagoon Decommission Capital Reserve Fund to the Septage Lagoon Maintenance, Repair and Modification Fund for the purpose of maintaining, repairing and modifying/expanding the septage lagoons and further to appoint the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend these funds. Selectman Wright made a motion to recommend Article 7. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 8: To see if the Town will vote to discontinue the Highway Pickup Truck Capital Reserve Fund established in 1998, said funds with accumulated interest to the date of withdrawal are to be transferred to the general fund (approximately $38,070.70). The replacement for the pickup will be an F550 truck, or equivalent, and will be funded through the Highway Equipment (Plow/Dump) Truck Fund. Selectman Wright made a motion to recommend Article 8. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. Selectman Curless suggested that the article be amended to add: ‘or equivalent’ after truck. The motion, as amended, passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 9: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $725,750 to be added to various capital reserve funds as follows: Blacktop Roads $120,000 Gravel Roads 30,000 Computers Admin 9,000 Welfare Direct Assistance 5,000 Septage Lagoons 5,000 Library Modifications 10,000 Highway Heavy Equipment 27,000 Police Cruisers 21,000 Police Department Computer Equipment 3,500 Cemetery Fence and Tombstone 5,000 Conservation Land 1,000 Highway Equipment “Plow/Dump Trucks” 120,000 Highway Bridges 50,000 Solid Waste Facility 5,000 Forest Fire Equipment 250 Fire Equipment Replacement 75,000 Property Revaluation 25,000 Cemetery Land 5,000 Pillsbury Memorial Hall Facility 1,000 Fire Department Addition 180,000 Highway Grader 26,000 Records Preservation 2,000 Selectman Wright made a motion to recommend Article 9. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 10: To see if the Town will vote to discontinue the following capital reserve funds with said funds with accumulated interest to date of withdrawal, to be transferred to the municipality’s general fund: Highway Garage established in 1998 (approximately $762.30) Highway Loader established in 2001 ($0.00) Highway Backhoe established in 2011 (approximately $1,213.65) Corporation Hill established in 2015 (approximately $100.86) Old Fire House established in 2015 (approximately $5,154.00) Selectman Wright made a motion to recommend Article 10. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 11: To see if the Town will vote to discontinue the following non-capital reserve and/or expendable trust funds with accumulated interest to date of withdrawal, to be transferred to the municipality’s general fund: Highway Emergency Expendable Non-Capital Reserve Fund established in 2002 (approximately $20,357.81) Fire Department Building Expendable Maintenance Non-Capital Reserve Fund established in 2005 (approximately $2,387.75) Cemetery Expendable Maintenance Non-Capital Reserve Fund established in 2005 (approximately $1,193.08.) Library Building Expendable Maintenance Non-Capital Reserve Fund established in 2005 (approximately $17,610.83) Selectman Wright made a motion to recommend Article 11. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 12: To see if the town will vote to create a Rescue Squad Equipment Capital Reserve for the purpose of replacement of the Rescue Squad EKG and other necessary rescue squad equipment and to raise and appropriate $14,000 to be placed in that fund and further to appoint the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend said fund. Selectman Wright made a motion to recommend Article 4. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 13: To see if the town will vote to create a Conservation Commission Special Projects Non-Capital reserve fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1-c for the purpose of special conservation projects such as signage, kiosks, trail bridges, and maps, and to raise and appropriate $6,000 to be placed in that fund and further to name the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend from this fund. Selectman Wright made a motion to recommend Article 13. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. Selectman Wright made a motion to amend article 13 to add “ the word ‘and’ after bridges” The motion passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 14: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $45,000 for the purpose of purchasing a fully-equipped Police Cruiser Dodge Charger and to authorize the withdrawal of $45,000 from the Police Cruiser Capital Reserve Fund established in 2015 for that purpose. No amount to be raised from general taxation. Selectman Wright made a motion to recommend Article 14. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 15: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $188,000 for the purpose of purchasing a Plow/Dump truck and further to authorize the withdrawal of $188,000 from the Heavy Equipment (Trucks) Capital Reserve Fund established in 1993 for that purpose. No amount to be raised from general taxation. Selectman Headley made a motion to recommend Article 15. Selectman Wright seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 16: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $70,000 for the purpose of purchasing a rescue vehicle cab and chassis and further to authorize the withdrawal of $70,000 from the Rescue Vehicle Capital Reserve established in 2011 for that purpose. No amount to be raised from general taxation. Selectman Headley made a motion to recommend Article 15. Selectman Wright seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 17: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $160,000 to purchase land and buildings at 26 Grist Mill Street, Map 05-936-155, for the purpose of municipal use and further to use $160,000 from fund balance for this purchase. No amount to be raised from General Taxation. Selectman Headley made a motion to recommend Article 15. Selectman Wright seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 3-0. Article 19: We the undersigned, property owners and/or registered voters of the Town of Sutton, New Hampshire, do hereby petition the Town for Winter Maintenance of an additional 1,110.59 feet east on Kings Hill Road for the public good, enjoyment of designated conservation land and most importantly, public safety to keep the road passable for winter travel of the Class V portion of Kings Hill Road. Mr. DeFelice advised that the Budget Committee did not recommend this article because there was not enough information on cost and timeframe. Selectman Wright made a motion to accept as written the petitioned Article 19. Selectman Curless expressed concern that the road was adequate for summer maintenance but was worried about the potential cost for winter maintained. Selectman Wright was against the petitioned article on its face noting that the winter maintenance of this portion of road was clearly identified in the deed and in the Planning Board decision. Selectman Curless felt if the article failed, the Board could review recommended road upgrades and associated costs in order to weigh the public good. Selectman Curless made a motion not to recommend Article 19. Selectman Wright seconded the motion. The motion passed not to recommend by a vote of 2-0 with Selectman Headley abstaining. Mr. DeFelice informed the Select Board that he would like to schedule two public informational meetings to review the capital reserve program – one on a Saturday and one on a weekday. Mr. DeFelice reviewed town trends in tax rates. Mr. DeFelice provided a table of town tax rates covering a 20-year period. The table showed, the Town Appropriation, Town Revenue, Town Valuation, War Service Credits, Overlay, Unreserved Fund Balance, Fund Balance Retained, Town Tax Effort, Town Tax Rate, as well as variance from previous year. Mr. DeFelice also provided a breakdown of Town Appropriation, Operating Budget, Capital Reserves and Warrant Articles. Based on the 2019 Warrant and estimated revenues, Mr. DeFelice is projecting a tax rate of $7.75 or an increase of .27/000 over the 2018 rate. The Board thanked Mr. DeFelice for his efforts in the Budget process. Selectman Wright stressed the importance of developing a historic perspective. The Board will issue a letter of appreciation. The Board issued a Yield Tax for Robert Cloutier, 05-698-411, for operation 18-439-13 in the amount of $67.50. Selectman Wright made a motion to approve the Round Room Report as written. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. The Board noted that the 2018 Equalization Ratio has been set at 86.8% The Board discussed the Employee Disciplinary Procedure as it pertained to public and non-public sessions. There will be no Selectmen’s Meeting held on President’s Day, February 18, 2019. The Board was informed that Fred Burbee, Highway Maintainer, has resigned and that the vacancy is being advertised. SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS: Selectman Wright reviewed the legislative bulletin. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Elly Phillips Town Administrator
