TOWN OF SUTTON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
July 7, 2008 @ 4:30 p.m.
Pillsbury Memorial Hall, 93 Main Street, Sutton Mills
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Philip Buteau, Chair. Present at the meeting was Philip Buteau, Chair; Robert Wright, Jr., Selectman; Walter Baker, Jr., Selectman; John Sims, Jr., Police Chief; Betsy Forsham, Conservation Commission Chair; and Elly Phillips, Recording Secretary.
The minutes from June 30, 2008 were approved as written. The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:
PAYROLL MANIFEST: $ 14,829.67
VENDOR MANIFEST: $177,732.47
APPOINTMENTS:
John Sims, Police Chief, met with the Board to provide a monthly update. Chief Sims reported that the Department recently completed an investigation regarding stolen antique cars. All of the vehicles have been recovered and an arrest has been made for eight Class A felony offenses. The Selectmen agreed to draft a letter of thanks to all of the supporting agencies who assisted with the investigation.
Chief Sims updated the Board on a complaint made by Road Agent Paul Parker regarding a resident who was removing gravel from the center of Rowell Hill Road and placing it on the shoulder as well as placing rocks in the right-of-way. Road Agent Parker provided the Board with a memorandum dated July 7, 2008 regarding this matter. Chief Sims issued a cease and desist order to the resident.
Chief Sims advised the Board that Officer Valerie Peters successfully completed New Hampshire Police Standards Training. The Board will issue a letter of congratulations to Officer Peters. The Board also received positive feedback on Officer Peters’ response during a recent wellness check.
Chief Sims notified the Board that Sergeant Korbet and Officer Peters have been put on a 4-day, 10-hour weekly schedule. Sims also noted that the Department had adopted a no-idle policy due to the rising cost of fuel.
Chief Sims informed the Board that he had recently met with the new KRSD Superintendent Jerry Prew regarding establishing a Resource Officer for the District under the auspices of the Sutton Police Department. The Superintendent expressed a willingness to review the matter further. The Department is currently compiling a personnel cost estimate for the resource officer. Various funding methodologies were briefly discussed. Selectman Wright noted that he and Selectman Baker had discussed the resource officer position with Superintendent Prew at a recent open house.
Chief Sims stated that school zone signs to facilitate enforcement efforts were on order for the middle school and high school. The cost of the signage is to be assumed by the District. Chief Sims notified the board that the Department will be doing seat belt checks when school starts in the fall.
In response to an inquiry from Selectman Buteau, Sims advised that the new police cruiser would likely be in-service this week. Selectman Baker asked whether the Department had considered implementing no passing zones enroute to the high school on Gile Pond and North Roads. Sims responded that the matter had been reviewed, but the Road Agent was opposed to striping for various reasons including cost. Selectman Buteau added that the Road Agent also worried about trucks edging too close to the shoulder and undermining the pavement. Sims observed that it was a matter of public safety. Mr. Baker also expressed concerns regarding signage along Horse Beach. Sims responded that it was a state road and that he would confer with state sign personnel.
Betsy Forsham met with the Board to execute a conservation easement with Ausbon Sargent Land Trust for the Commission-owned Russell Pond Property. Ms. Forsham also requested permission for the Commission to erect no parking signs near the granite bench on the Lefferts property citing a safety issue. Ms. Forsham received permission from the Board to erect the signage.
BUILDING PERMITS:
A building permit was issued to Stephen King, 02-555-558, Route 114, to remove and replace the utility room, update electrical and replace the furnace.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board issued correspondence to Merrill Zinder denying a request for abatement of penalties and fees for 08-217-478.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. The Board issued an additional corrective abatement in the amount of $1,557 to John MacPhearson for Map 07-634-316, Shaker Street. The reason for the abatement was to correct an administrative error.
2. The AA reported that she had spoken with Mark Loehr of the Highway Facility Committee and that a written report regarding the Committee’s findings and recommendations was imminent.
REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE:
The Board reviewed a copy of correspondence from John Biewener to NH DRA regarding discontinued Trust Funds.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elly Phillips
Recording Secretary
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