November 5, 2024 | Town Admin Town of Sutton Pillsbury Memorial Hall 93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH 03221 Select Board Minutes October 28th, 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; Michael McManus, Select Board Member; Nancy Glynn, Select Board Member; and Julia Jones, Town Administrator. Also present at the meeting were: Town Clerk/Tax Collector Beth-Holly LaDuke, Moderator Derek Lick, Camp Wabasso Project Facilitator Greg Gill, Deputy Treasurer and Supervisor of the Checklist Judy Parkinson, Ad Hoc Website Committee Member Crispin Fletcher, Lee Booker, and Mark Rosenthall. Appointments: At 6:00pm the Board met with Greg Gill regarding the Camp Wabasso project. Pogust delivered the following updates: In an e-mail dated Monday, October 28th, Jacqueline Hudkins, Principal Attorney of Hudkins Law & Title, shared that a Letter of Intent and Vision Sheet were delivered to the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEMA) on Friday, October 25th. Barbara Fortier, Chief Executive Officer of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEMA) invited the Select Board to a closed meeting in mid-November with Andy Jeffery, representatives from GSEMA, and representatives from Relax & Company, LLC. Pogust shared Counsel’s advice that one Select Board member attend the meeting. After a brief discussion, the Board reached a consensus that Glynn, Gill, and the Town Administrator would attend the meeting. Gill and the Board discussed the formation of a committee composed of representatives from the Town and interested 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Gill highlighted the curiosity, interest, and excitement about the Camp Wabasso project. Gill presented a list of proposed representatives to the Board, accompanied by a flowchart titled “Meeting Donors Wishes for Camp Wabasso.” The flowchart illustrated a public process for building a coalition of interested parties and reviewing donor wishes followed by a two-path approach that would depend on the final recipient of the properties. Gill requested the Board’s feedback on the list of proposed representatives and the public process illustrated by the flow chart. The Town Administrator shared that committees advising the Select Board may be subject to NH RSA 91-A, the “Right to Know Law.” Gill expressed his commitment to transparency and compliance with 91-A. Gill proposed that meetings of any future Camp Wabasso Project Committee be recorded (audio and visual) and made available to the public on the Town’s website. Crispin Fletcher echoed Gill’s commitment to transparency and volunteered to develop a communication plan to keep the public informed about the project’s progress. The Board and the Town Administrator discussed different methods for the Town to accept the Camp Wabasso properties: The Select Board places an article on the March 2025 Town Meeting warrant to see if the Town will vote to accept parcel(s) of real property, as a gift from the donor to be used for an intended purpose, and to authorize the Select Board to execute any necessary documents to finalize the transfer of ownership. The Select Board places an article on the March 2025 Town Meeting warrant to see if the Town will vote to adopt RSA 41:14-a, to allow the Select Board to acquire or sell land, buildings or both; provided, however, they shall first submit any such proposed acquisition or sale to the planning board and to the conservation commission for review and recommendation by those bodies and hold a public hearing prior to any decision. This article will remain in effect until rescinded by majority vote. (Majority vote required) The Select Board call a special meeting to vote on a warrant article to see if the Town will vote to accept parcel(s) of real property, as a gift from the donor to be used for an intended purpose, and to authorize the Select Board to execute any necessary documents to finalize the transfer of ownership. Articles that include the appropriation of funds may not be voted on at special meetings unless at least half the town’s voters show up, orunless the selectmen have petitioned the Superior Court (RSA 31:5). The Board discussed the financial viability of potential land uses, including an overnight camp, the importance of an endowment, as well as potential costs to the town. McManus emphasized the importance of sustainability with respect to potential nonprofit partners. The Board discussed how the Town might address land-use proposals from multiple interested nonprofits. Gill asked for the Board’s permission to connect with the New Hampshire Municipal Association (NHMA) for guidance on this matter and for examples of public-private partnerships between municipalities and 501(c)(3)’s. The Select Board granted permission for Gill to contact NHMA and directed the Town Administrator to notify NHMA. At 6:35pm, the Board met with Moderator Derek Lick & Town Clerk/Tax Collector Beth-Holly LaDuke regarding the November 5th election. The Moderator discussed volunteer coordination, same-day registration, poll watchers, election observers, and managing the flow of voters during the election. The Moderator shared concerns about space and raised the possibility of moving the Town’s polling place to a school facility in a future election. The Moderator and the Board discussed issues related to electioneering, photography, videography, and the presence of guns at polling places. The Moderator confirmed that a police presence is expected until counting is complete on election day. The need for clear guidelines and enforcement was discussed. The Moderator and the Board discussed the procedure for processing ballots. The Moderator raised the possibility of using ballot counting machines for future elections. The Moderator highlighted the accuracy and efficiency of ballot counting machines. The potential benefits and challenges of implementing new technology were discussed. Pogust shared that the Planning Board would like to distribute information on an upcoming survey during the November 5th election. The Town Clerk/Tax Collector raised concerns that this may cause congestion. The Moderator agreed to allow the Planning Board to distribute information without disrupting the voting process and it was suggested that the postcards would be handed to voters as they leave the polling place. Minutes: At 7:03pm McManus made a motion to accept the public and non-public minutes from 10/21 and 8/24. Glynn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. At 7:03pm Glynn made a motion to accept the non-public minutes from 8/26. McManus seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 7:04pm McManus motion to unseal the non-public minutes from 8/24 and 8/26. Glynn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. At 7:05pm Glynn made a motion to unseal nonpublic minutes form 8/12, 8/19, and 8/21 to the extent they relate to the Wabasso project. McManus seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Manifests: The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests: Payroll: $ 17,631.96 Vendor: $ 464,651.01 Intents: Building Permits: The Board reviewed and approved the following building permits: $58,000 building permit for kitchen remodel submitted by Bob Friedlander and Jackie Winn for parcel 07-906-370 located at 3 Davis Ct. $34,000 building permit for an electrical upgrade submitted by Kyle Hubbard for parcel 07-953-373 located at 9 Keyser St. $9,137 building permit for a shed submitted by Jake Stiles for parcel 10-418-312 located at 129 Summit Rd. The Board agreed to postpone review of a $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. New Business: The Board reviewed and approved an application for a License to Sell Pistols and Revolvers submitted by Jeffrey Cleveland for parcel 05-834-514 located at 96 Gile Pond Rd. At 7:19pm Glynn made a motion to approve a $2,078 estimate for Owl Labs Meeting Pro Video Conference Camera, Microphone and Speaker and Laptop. Pogust seconded the motion. The motion passed 2-1. Glynn and Pogust voted in favor of the motion. McManus opposed the motion. Old Business: At 7:19pm McManus made a motion to approve an $8,381 estimate for a server refresh prepared by CCI Managed Services. Glynn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Review of correspondence: The Board reviewed an e-mail from Licensed Land Surveyor Doug Sweet regarding the ownership of a driveway on south side of the North Sutton Cemetery. Sweet confirmed that the Town owns the “20′ strip” running along a portion of the southerly side of the North Sutton cemetery. The Town received this property from Anthony & Adeline Sikel, recorded in Vol 916/Pg 168, recorded 4/2/1963. A second deed, also from Anthony and Adeline Sikel to the Town (recorded in Vol 837/Pg 184, recorded 1/12/1959) included a right of way for access running from the “highway” (Route 114) along the southerly side of the cemetery, and along the “southerly line of the above described tract”. Part of that right of way access is within the “20′ strip”. The Board directed the Town Administrator to share this correspondence with the Cemetery Trustees, prepare a letter to all abutters regarding Sweet’s findings, and work with the Road Agent on signage for the driveway. The Board reviewed an e-mail from Gerid Paquette in response to a Notice of Zoning Violation for parcel 06-675-585 located at15 Poor Farm Rd. The Board reviewed a proposal from Naughton & Son Recycling, LLC to haul the Town of Sutton’s municipal solid waste to Naughton Recycling Center. The Board acknowledged that the Town contracted the City of Lebanon to accept the Town’s solid waste. The Board directed the Town Administrator to research the terms of this contract. The Board reviewed invitations from Lebanon City Manager Shaun Mulholland and Vital Communities to attend an upcoming meeting on the Lebanon Landfill Recycling Study and Project. Pogust volunteered to attend the meeting. The Board reviewed correspondence from Town Counsel regarding Town of Sutton v Sean Frost notifying the Board of an Amended Motion to Compel. The Board reviewed correspondence from Primex confirming that Primex will provide a defense for the Counter-Claim for the claims of Sean and Shannon Frost filed against The Town of Sutton case number 217-2023-CV-00658. Public Input: Lee Booker asked when the best time to vote is with the least foot traffic. Select Board Comments: Glynn shared that the Sutton Free Library Trustees met with Engineer Brandon Reed to explore options for a wheelchair lift that would provide access to the main floor of the library as well as the basement. The Board discussed questions from Glynn regarding the Sutton Free Library budget related to benefits. Adjournment: There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:40pm. Respectfully submitted, Julia Jones Town Administrator