At 7:25pm McManus made a motion to enter into a nonpublic session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, II (d) the acquisition, sale, or lease of real or personal property which, if discussed in public, would likely benefit a party or parties whose interests are adverse to those of the general community. Glynn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

The Board discussed a potential donation of real estate for conservation purposes.

The Board debated whether the town should own and manage the real estate. The Board discussed concerns about the town’s capacity to manage the property and the potential involvement of nonprofit organizations, including the reliability and land management experience of those organizations.

The Board discussed:

• the need for transparency and public involvement in the decision-making process around land use.
• potential benefits of the property to the community, especially for children.
• financial and legal aspects of the Town owning and managing the property, including the need for professional management of any endowment gifted by the Board.
• plans for further discussions with stakeholders, and to develop a proposal for the town’s involvement in the property.
• and the importance of having a clear governance structure for the initiative.
• whether to form a committee with nonprofit organizations.
• the town’s role as a steward of conserved property and its experience in this area.
• zoning restrictions and the suitability of the property for proposed uses.
• the importance of a robust endowment.
• property maintenance, equipment, and resource allocation.
• securing funding from various foundations.

The Board directed the Town Administrator to work with Glynn to develop a proposal and a letter of support for the potential donation of real estate to the Town of Sutton for conservation purposes.

At 8:15pm McManus made a motion to leave the nonpublic session. Glynn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

At 8:16pm Glynn made a motion to seal the minutes of the three non-public sessions. McManus seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

THESE MINUTES WERE UNSEALED BY ORDER OF THE SELECT BOARD ON OCTOBER 28th, 2024.