Town of Sutton Selectmen Meeting Minutes

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

Board of Selectman
Meeting Minutes of September 11, 2017

 

The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Robert Wright, Jr., Chair. Present at the meeting was Robert Wright, Jr., Chair; William I. Curless, Selectman; Jon Korbet, Police Chief; Larisa Djuvelek-Ruggiero, M.Sc.E.M., Regional Mobility Manager,Mid-State Regional Coordinating Council For Community Transportation; Jean Nolte and Jon Quinley, Joe Eisenberg and Melissa Laverick; Lonnie Guin, Victoria O’Connor, other interested members of the public and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator.

 

At 4:30 p.m. Selectman Curless made a motion to enter into NON PUBLIC SESSION under RSA 91-A:3, II(c) Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person, other than a member of this board to include any application for assistance or tax abatement or waiver of a fee, fine or other levy, if based on inability to pay or poverty of the applicant. Selectman Baker seconded the motion.  The Board was polled with Selectman Wright, Selectman Curless and Selectman Baker voting to enter into non public session.  Public session reconvened at 4:44 p.m.

Selectman Curless made a motion to seal the minutes because it was determined that divulgence of this information likely would affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of this board. Selectman Baker seconded the motion which passed by a vote of 3-0

At 5:00 p.m. Jon Korbet, Police Chief, met with the Board to review various matters. Chief Korbet met with the Stephen Bagley, Road Agent, and provided recommendations regarding traffic control as a follow up the public meeting.

 

Chief Korbet and Road Agent Bagley recommended a stop on Newbury Road and a stop on Chalk Pond Road. Phillips conveyed the preference from citizens for a three-way stop which was expressed through non-binding petition and at the 8/28 public meeting.  Chief Korbet and Road Agent Bagley felt that a two-way stop would be sufficient and the major issue was traffic coming off of Chalk Pond Road.  A stop ahead sign was recommended for the Chalk Pond Road intersection. Striping for the stop and striping for the crosswalks was also recommended. The intersection will be monitored to see whether additional signage would be helpful.

 

Chief Korbet and Road Agent Bagley recommended keeping the signage as is at the intersection of Kearsarge Valley Road and North Road and at the intersection of Village Road and Main Street.

 

A stop sign at the intersection of Baker Hill and Chalk Pond Road on Baker Hill Road was recommended. Chief Korbet felt that a stop sign and Chalk Pond was not recommended.    The Board agreed to the recommendations of the Police Chief and Road Agent.  O

 

On Gile Pond Road both Chief Korbet and Road Agent Bagley recommended that the school redo the striping on Gile Pond Road.

 

Selectman Baker indicated that there were several areas in town where brush that is obstructing signage will need to be cleared.

 

At 5:16 p.m. Selectman Curless made a motion to enter into non-public under RSA 91-A:3, II (a)  to discuss personnel matters.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion.  The Board was polled with Selectman Wright, Curless and Baker voting to enter into non public session.  Public session reconvened at 5:35 p.m.  The minutes were not sealed.

Chief Korbet requested approval to use the capital reserve fund for police department computer equipment in the amount of $1,455.00 in order to purchase a for a firewall, modem and switch equipment. The firewall is recommended for security purposes and the other requested equipment is to increase internet speed.

Selectman Curless moved that capital reserve funds in the amount of $1,455.00 be approved for the purchase of a fire wall and modem, and switch equipment. Selectman Baker seconded the motion which passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

As a final matter, Chief Korbet submitted a preliminary 2018 budget.

At 5:50 p.m. Larisa Djuvelek-Ruggiero, M.Sc.E.M., Regional Mobility Manager,Mid-State Regional Coordinating Council For Community Transportation (RCC) made an outreach presentation regarding the Mid-State RCC and available transportation options for Sutton residents. Ms. Djuvelek-Ruggiero provided a very informative powerpoint presentation regarding transportation and mobility access at the local community level.  Ms. Djuvelek-Ruggiero stated that the Mission of the Mid-State Regional Coordinating Council for community Transportation is to improve mobility and provide access for all by coordinating regional and local community transportation services and information in the Mid-State RCC Region.  Ms. Djuvelek-Ruggiero provided the Selectmen with the RCC’s by laws and and a Memorandum of Understanding  should the Board decide that the Town of Sutton would like to become a member of the RCC for Community Transportation.  The Board agreed to take the matter under advisement at their next regularly scheduled meeting.  Ms. Djuvelek-Ruggiero also requested that the Town provide a link to RCC’s website on the Town’s website.

The minutes from August 21, 2017 were approved as written. The Board reviewed sealed minutes from 8/7/2017, 8/14/2017 and 8/21/2017.  Select Baker moved to maintain the seal on the non public minutes from August 14, 2017.  Selectman Curless seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a vote of 3-0.

 

Selectman Baker made a motion to unseal the nonpublic minutes from August 21, 2017. Selectman Curless seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a vote of 3-0.   Personnel actions taken on that date approved the hiring of Michael Bascom to fill the Highway Department vacancy effective September 11, 2017.  Employee evaluations were reviewed and merit increases for the highway department were approved.

 

Selectman Curless made a motion that the minutes from August 7, 2017 remain sealed regarding personnel hiring. The motion was seconded by Selectman Wright.  The motion passed by a vote of 2-0.

 

REVIEW OF MANIFESTS:

The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

PAYROLL MANIFEST: $  10,183.76             9/1/2017

VENDOR MANIFEST: $    7,387.20              9/1/2017

PAYROLL MANIFEST: $  10,140.78             9/8/2017

VENDOR MANIFEST:   $154,848.70            9/8/2017

 

BUILDING PERMITS:

The Board reviewed and approved the following building permits:

Kyle Orde, 08-764-364, Baker Hill Road, Gas Furnace/Heat Pump

Jason Abair, 01-578-452, Birch Hill Road, complete construction of an addition on existing foundation

 

NEW BUSINESS:

The Board verified payment for the Fire Warden Telephone Bill – and executed the State request for cost share form.

The Board received and noted Notification of a Federal Firearms Application for Eric Miller.

The Board issued a Yield Tax for Benjamin and Kirstin Prime, for Map 07-797-303, in the amount of $177.58.

 

The Board issued an Abatement for Margaret Leighton, Map 06-818-442, in the amount of $70.14 upon recommendation of the tax collector.

Action was noted and deferred on filing of the 2017 MS-1 Summary of Inventory Valuation pending further information from the assessors.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

The next recipient of the Boston Post Cane has chosen not to accept the honor. Selectman Curless made a motion to offer the cane to the next oldest resident in line.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion.  The motion was passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.  The recipient who declined will be added to the list of eligible recipients.

 

The Board reviewed a response from Chris Turgeon, Assistant District Engineer for NHDOT District 2 which addressed questions regarding the right-of-way over Map/Lot 07-975-354 commonly referred to as Horse Beach. Dan Sundquist, Conservation Commission Chair will be reviewing the DOT response with the Commission at their next regularly scheduled meeting.  The next step will likely involve funding to review the chain of title for the property and possibly be surveyed.  Funding options will be explored.  In addition further exploration will be done with the DOT and DES in order to explore options and develop a plan for the properties.  Selectman Baker will report Conservation Commission findings back to the Board.

 

The Board received notification that Michael McManus will not be following up with his proposal for maintenance on a Class VI portion of Eaton Grange West. Mr. McManus will likely file an intent to cut for his property in the future.

 

The Board discussed the tax deeding process. Selectman Curless expressed his concern that a partial payment was accepted from a delinquent taxpayer on the 8/28/2017 deeding date with the remainder of the delinquency was paid on 9/5/2017, thus delaying deeding.  The primary reason for the delay was due to the Labor Day Holiday and staff vacation schedule and the Tax Collector’s scheduling of the deeding due to a scheduled conference. Selectman Curless’ primary concern was that a precedent not be set as previously such a decision would have been made by a full Board and that this should not occur again.     Mr. Curless felt that the taxpayer had three years to pay the arrearage and the property should have been deeded.  The original owner then would then have an opportunity to repurchase the property subsequent to deeding.   The Board decided that they would like to have an opinion from the Town Attorney to clarify and formalize the deeding process.  The Board also discussed scheduling a meeting immediately prior to the deeding time.

 

REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE:

The following items of correspondence were reviewed:

Mountain View Senior Center Open House 9/21/2017

NH TIP Planning Meetings

 

SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS:

Selectman Curless inquired about getting the minutes into the Intertown. The minutes are on file at the Town Hall and on the Town’s website and are also forwarded to the Intertown Record for publication.

 

Selectman Baker reported that the Corporation Hill Bridge has been installed and work is ongoing on the library ramp.

 

It was also noted that the highway department has been upgraded. The old store museum will require some attention.  The Board will make a list of any projects that are ongoing for 2017.   The Town is meeting with the Towns of Bradford and Warner to review areas where services can be consolidated.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:19 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Elly Phillips