Town of Sutton

Pillsbury Memorial Hall

93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH 03221

Select Board Minutes

August 5th, 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; Nancy Glynn, Select Board Member; and Julia Jones, Town Administrator.

Also present at the meeting were: Judy Parkinson and William Boyce.

Appointments:

Minutes:

At 6:32 pm Glynn made a motion to accept the public minutes from July 29th. Pogust seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Manifests:

The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

Payroll: $ 15,619.62  
Vendor: $ 283,576.54  

Intents:

Building Permits:

The Board reviewed and approved the following building permits:

  • $7,395 building permit for a heat pump with two indoor wall units submitted by Nancy Whatley for parcel 08-660-019 located at 28 Poor Farm Rd.
  • $56,389 building permit for ground mounted solar submitted by Maria Stiefel for parcel 10-505-340 located at 92 Summit Rd.
  • $40,000 building permit for an antenna change submitted by Crown Castle for parcel 08-369-498-A located at 155 Summit Rd.
  • $135,210 building permit to install a 500-gallon propane tank, and to replace equipment on tower submitted by Blue Sky Towers for parcel 02-865-521-A located on Wrights Hill Rd.

New Business:

The Board discussed a land dispute related to parcel 03-665-077 located on Eaton Grange Rd. owned by William Puskas. The Board discussed the history of the dispute, and possible solutions. The Board considered removing parcel 03-6023-265 from the Town tax maps with updated title work verifying that a subdivision has never been approved or recorded for parcel 03-665-077. The Board agreed that such title work should be completed at the discretion and expense of the landowner. The Board directed the Town Administrator to communicate these requirements with Puskas.

The Board reviewed and approved a $1,039.66 Original Warrant Yield Tax for timber cut from parcel 07-175-479 located at 62 Baker Rd. owned by Erin and John Maynard.

The Board reviewed and approved a $110.47 Original Warrant Yield Tax for timber cut from parcel 02-04-044 owned by Robert AK Jeffrey.

The Board reviewed and approved a $14 Original Warrant Gravel Tax for gravel extracted from parcel 09-437-245 owned by Mark West.

The Board discussed NH Paid Family Medical Leave and directed the Town Administrator to provide the following estimates:

  • Estimate to provide NH Paid Family Medical Leave to all Town employees

–      Estimate to provide NH Paid Family Medical Leave to all Town employees and all Sutton Free Library employees.

The Board discussed and authorized a $640 budget to purchase an area rug for the Town Administrator’s second floor office.

The Board discussed the upcoming budget season and directed the Town Administrator to coordinate with the Budget Committee to schedule joint budget meetings with department heads, boards, and committees. The Board discussed the length, timing, and frequency of joint budget meetings. At Glynn’s recommendation, the Board agreed to establish a standard agenda, goals, and shared ground rules with the Budget Committee. The Board also agreed to keep budget meetings to one and a half hours.

The Board discussed mechanical issues with the 10-wheeler truck recently purchased by the Town. The Town Administrator shared that the truck is going in for evaluation next week.

The Board discussed proposed revisions to the Personnel Policies Manual and plans to gather feedback from department heads prior to approval.

The Board and the Town Administrator discussed three outstanding policies on merit raises, cost-of-living adjustments, and bidding. The Board discussed the need to formalize these policies in writing and directed the Town Administrator to share draft policies with the Board for review at upcoming meetings.

The Board revisited the need for a meeting with the Trustees of the Sutton Free Library to discuss benefits.

The Town Administrator notified the Board of the following events hosted by the NH Municipal Association:

  • 2024 Academy for Good Governance
  • 2024 Budget & Finance Workshop

Glynn directed the Town Administrator to register her for the 2024 Budget & Finance Workshop, which the Town Administrator will attend as well. Members of the Budget Committee have been invited to register.

The Board briefly discussed a draft of the 2025 warrant prepared by the Town Administrator and agreed to review it.

 

Old Business:

Review of correspondence:

The Board reviewed correspondence from Heidi Thoma regarding the 17th Annual Strut in Sutton 5k to support Sutton Central School. The Board directed the Town Administrator to thank Thoma for her communication.

The Board reviewed correspondence from Town of Hillsborough Planning Board notifying the Board of an August 7th   Public Hearing on an application for a Site Plan Review to construct a telecommunications facility.

The Board agreed to postpone discussion of the following correspondence:

  • NH Municipal Association Legal Services Counsel – procedure for assigning 25mph speed limit to unposted roads.
  • NH Municipal Association Legal Services Counsel – ground marking requirements for accessible parking spots.
  • Town Counsel – Adoption of RSA 32

Public Input:

William Boyce raised concerns about the police department regarding parking procedures, patrolling of Horse Beach and Kezar Lake, and flag etiquette. Boyce expressed frustration with a request for information submitted to the Town Administrator. The Town Administrator apologized for the delay in responding to Boyce’s request and informed him and the Board that the request is being reviewed by Town Counsel. The Board agreed to address Boyce’s concerns and possible solutions with the Chief of Police, including the installation of a light to illuminate the Police Department’s flag. Boyce expressed opposition to the installation of a light in lieu of formally lowering the flag each evening and raising it each morning.

Select Board Comments:

Pogust shared his intent to present a complaint to the Department of Environmental Services for wetlands violations involving parcel 02-020-566 located on Roby Rd. owned by Christopher Fox.

The Board discussed handling of public input, specifically from upset individuals.

Adjournment:

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:11pm.

Pogust reopened the meeting at 7:14pm to discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Supervisors of the Checklist with Judy Parkinson, who expressed interest in learning more about the position. If Parkinson is interested in the position, Pogust recommended she meet with Derek Lick, Town Moderator, Pogust agreed to inquire if there are training opportunities available to someone who had agreed to be appointed as a Supervisor before they are appointed to replace a Supervisor who is stepping down.

Respectfully submitted,

Julia Jones

Town Administrator