TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

DECEMBER 29, 2005

 

Selectmen Present:        Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller

 

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with no one present in the audience.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $1,027,440.82.  This includes repayment of a Tax Anticipation Note.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the check voucher to Teresa Kissell in the amount of $127.85 for paint for the Hooper cottage.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

VOIDED CHECKS:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the voided check voucher for check numbers 047309 & 047819 that were printed in error.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending December 24, 2005, for gross wages in the amount of $15,829.88 or net wages in the amount of $9,188.12.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $3,886.38.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

TRANSFER:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the transfer of $700,000 from the MBIA to the Savings Bank of Walpole general fund and to authorize the Chairman to sign the withdrawal document.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

MASON FOREST FUND:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the check voucher in the amount of $125.00 to Robie Speed for the Route 12 clean-up of the rest areas to be taken out of the Mason Forest Fund.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- DECEMBER 22, 2005:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of December 22, 2005, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed Minutes of the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting of December 21, 2005. 

 

ABATEMENTS:

SANDRA SMITH –FOR HODGKINS- MAP 012-073-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement for gravel tax in the amount of $329.20 to Sandra Smith for Hodgkins & Sons to clear the books due to a billing error.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

REFUNDS:

JAMES W. PETERSON – OVER PAYMENT 2005 PROPERTY TAXES –MAP 015-024-001:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Notice of Property Tax Refund in the amount of $29,33 for James W. Peterson.  This is due to over-payment of both the spring and fall taxes.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

Board of Selectmen’s Meeting – December 29, 2005 – Page 2

 

HOME EQUITY – for INGE EMMY CUMMINGS – OVER PAYMENT 2005 PROPERTY TAXES –MAP 018-018-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Notice of Property Tax Refund in the amount of $7.72 to Home Equity – for Inge Emmy Cummings.  This for due to an overpayment of taxes.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted. 

 

THOM AND KATHLEEN PERLMUTTER – OVER PAYMENT 2005 PROPERTY TAXES – MAP 003-012-009:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Notice of Property Tax Refund in the amount of $17.27 for Thom and Kathleen Perlmutter.  This is due to a change in tax billing for Current Use.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

VETERAN’S EXEMPTION –ERNEST BEERS- MAP 015-023-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Veteran’s Exemption for Ernest Beers.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

WALPOLE CONVERSATION COMMISSION – TASK FORCE REQUEST:  Mr. Aldrich moved to put the request from the Walpole Conservation Commission – Task Force on-hold and to invite the Chairman, Gary Speed, to attend a Board of Selectman meeting to explain the survey.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

COLD RIVER ROAD – CHANGE OF SPEED LIMIT:  Mr. Sawyer reported that a few residents on the Cold River Road are concerned with the extra traffic and the speed on the Cold River Road.  One resident suggested that the speed limit be reduced and posted at 25 MPH because of the safety factor. 

Mr. Aldrich moved that the Board of Selectmen authorize a change in the speed limit to 25 MPH on the Cold River Road after consultation with Police Chief David Hewes and if the Police Department will agree to enforcement.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

 

Mr. Miller would like to see the Police reports on the traffic stops made by the Police Department.

 

PURCHASING DIRECTIVE:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the Purchasing Directive drawn up by the Office Manager but to amend the “Travel Mileage” as follows:  “All mileage slips must be submitted within 15 days after the end of each month”.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

The Board of Selectmen will sign the document after it has been corrected to reflect the above change.

 

BUDGET DIRECTIVE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Budget Directive as presented.  If the Department Heads are going to over-spend their bottom lines they need approval from the Board of Selectmen.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

VACATION TIME –ELAINE MOORE- WEEK OF JANUARY 9-13, 2006:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the request from Elaine Moore to take vacation time the week of January 9-13, 2006.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

GOOD CIRCLE:  Mr. Sawyer had a complaint from a resident of Good Circle regarding a different method of plowing by the Highway Department.  Mr. Sawyer will talk to Jim Terrell and then call the resident back to discuss it further.

Board of Selectmen’s Meeting – December 29, 2005 – Page 3

 

 

LETTERS:

JIM TERRELL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the letter to Jim Terrell congratulating him for achieving the status of Master Road Scholar from the University of New Hampshire Technology Transfer Center.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

BURDICKS:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the letter to Larry Burdick and the Zoning Board of Adjustment on the proposed move of Burdick’s Chocolates to the R.J. Johnson small machine building.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.     

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 8:55 P.M.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden                                                              ______________________

                                                                                    Sheldon S. Sawyer

 

                                                                                    ______________________

                                                                                    Whitney R. Aldrich

 

                                                                                    ______________________

                                                                                    Charles D. Miller

 

THESE ARE UNAPPROVED MINUTES.  CORRECTIONS, IF NECESSARY, MAY BE FOUND IN THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 5th, 2006, SELECTMEN’S MEETING.

 

.