December 10, 2018 | Town Admin TOWN OF SUTTON Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall 93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH Sutton Mills, NH 03221 Board of Selectman December 10, 2018 @ 4:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. Present at the meeting was William I. Curless, Chair; Dane Headley, Selectman; Robert Wright, Jr., Selectman, Robert DeFelice, Budget Chair, Tim Blagden, Friends of the Concord Rail Trail and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator. APPOINTMENTS: At 5:00 p.m. the Board met with Tim Blagden, Friends of the Concord Rail Trail, to discuss the rail trail using the end of Morse Lane, a section of Class VI Road, and the East Roby District Road for an on road section of the Concord-Lake Sunapee Rail Trail use. Derek Lick wrote in support of the trail, entered into the record, at the request of Selectman Wright, as follows: “I am writing to share with you and the selectmen my strong support for Tim’s request that the Town permit the rail trail the right to travel on Morse Lane and the old bridge at the end of it for purposes of a biking, walking and the like. I serve on the Board of Directors for the FCLSRT (and have been involved in everything from preparing easements to clearing trails etc.)” Mr. Blagden did a PowerPoint presentation which showed the proposed trail system in Sutton of approximately 1,725’. The Sutton connection would make possible 2.9 miles of trail that would avoid Route 103. Mr. Blagden advised that the roads in Sutton are relatively flat and that they have low speed limits and have low rates of daily traffic use. This route makes for a very good practical alternative where gaining access to the railroad grade would be both problematic and very expensive. The Town of Sutton is going to confirm Morse Lane is a public right-of-way to the point where it joins with the class VI Rd leading to East Roby District Rd. We suspect Morse Lane is class five, but as long as it’s open to the public as a right-of-way that is sufficient. The Friends of the Concord-Lake Sunapee Rail Trail are being asked To hold the town harmless. To acknowledge that we are not being given exclusive rights to any portion of the public right-of-way. Not to block access to the public right of way. It was recommended we install railings over the bridge, at our expense. The Friends of the Concord-Lake Sunapee Rail Trail will ask the Sutton Select Board to consider whether the Board would approve (at their expense) leveling the surface of the class VI road with stone dust to make it more suitable for walking and biking. Mr. Blagden will revisit the matter with the Selectmen after he has an opportunity to discuss Sutton’s requests with the rail trail board. The minutes from December 3, 2018 were approved as written. The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests: REVIEW OF MANIFESTS: PAYROLL MANIFEST: $ 16,320.26 VENDOR MANIFEST: $868,954.70 (includes County Tax) BUILDING PERMITS: The Board approved a building permit for John and Allyson Allen, Map 01-228-503, Eaton Grange Road, for a home INTENT TO CUT: The Board approved an intent to cut for Angela Carpenter-Deel, 09-678-026, 8 acres out of 19.8 NEW BUSINESS: The Board endorsed the following Cemetery Deeds: George and Mary-Ann Edwards, J-5 Millwoods Cemetery Gina Carr, 200797, Block A-2, North Sutton Cemetery The Board approved a Staples PO for the Selectmen’s Office. The board received the November 2018 budget report for review. The Board discussed 2019 merit wage recommendations. Selectman Curless emphasized the value of the town’s employees, adding that they were the face of the community. Selectman Headley made a motion to approve a pay increase for the town administrator and the bookkeeper/assistant in the amount of 5%. Selectmen Curless seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. The revised line items follow: 1-01-4130-102 Town Administrator $58,000 1-01-4130-103 Bookkeeper/Assistant $36,750 Selectman Headley made a motion to set the wages for the Town Clerk Salary at $35,000. Selectman Curless seconded the motion which passed by a vote of 2-1, with Selectman Wright voting in opposition. Selectman Wright made a motion to approve the police department’s proposed wages for officers as requested by Chief Korbet. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. Robert DeFelice, Budget Chair, advised that the requested wages were in line with a state-wide survey of law enforcement compensation. Selectman Wright made a motion to approve a 5% merit raise for the Police Department administrative assistant. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. The revised line item follows: 1-02-4210-109 Administrative Assistant $28,815 Selectman Wright made a motion to approve a 5% salary increase for highway department staff. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. 1-03-4312-101 Highway Department Wages $267,750 Selectman Headley made a motion to approve a 5% salary increase for solid waste staff. Selectman Curless seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 2-1 with Selectman Wright voting in opposition. The line item was revised as follows: 1-04-4324-101 Solid Waste Wages $73,500 The Board supported the budget committee’s recommendation for welfare compensation. The line item was revised as follows: 1-07-4443-100 Welfare Services $5,000 Selectman Wright made a motion to designate Selectman Headley to represent the Select Board on the budget committee in his absence. Selectman Curless seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote. OLD BUSINESS: At 4:24 p.m., Selectman Wright made a motion to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3,II(a) The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the investigation of any charges against him or her. Selectman Headley seconded the motion. The Board was polled with Selectman Curless, Selectman Headley and Selectman Wright voting in the affirmative. Public session reconvened at 4:40 p.m. Selectman Wright made a motion to seal the minutes because it was determined that divulgence of this information would affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of this board. The motion passed with Selectmen Curless, Headley and Wright voting in the affirmative. The Board reviewed the town’s response to the Discovery Questionnaire for FEMA Contoocook and Pemigewasset Watersheds which was prepared by Dan Sundquist. REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE: The Board Noted the following items of correspondence: Planning Board Agenda County Proposed Budget for Calendar Year 2019 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Elly Phillips Town Administrator