TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

JULY 28, 2005

 

Selectmen Present:        Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller

 

Mr. Sawyer opened the meeting at 7:30 P.M. with fourteen people present in the audience.

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

ATLAS FIREWORKS – LAMONT BARNETT AND BRENT LISAI – ROCKINGHAM OLD HOME DAYS:  Wayne Desrosiers, General Sales Manager of Atlas Fireworks, advised that 30 years ago when the first fireworks display was conducted in Rockingham there weren’t any rules and regulations but now they must comply with the National NFPA 1123 Code For Fireworks Display.  The current location is no longer acceptable so a new location must be found.  They looked up and down the Connecticut River and discovered that a suitable site would be at the Pine Street Boat Landing in North Walpole.  The Town of Walpole has been involved with this week-end for a good many years.  They are asking for permission from the Board of Selectmen and Board of Commissioners to set the fireworks off there on Saturday, August 6th.  Atlas Fireworks takes care of all permits, accepts responsibility for liability and compliance with any other issues that arise.  The traffic flow will probably not change very much.  Barbara O’Brien, on behalf of the Board of Commissioners, said they do not have a problem with this proposal.  Mr. Desrosiers stated the area will be limited to people involved in the fireworks display and the area will be clean-up after the display.  Lamont Barnett had authority to advise that the Town of Rockingham will clean the bridge with the new sweeper on Sunday morning.  Barbara O’Brien asked about clean-up in the Five Star Beverage parking lot but Lamont Barnett could not make that commitment.  Barbara O’Brien questioned if a fire truck should be on the site; Mr. Desrosiers felt it would be a good idea and he will try to meet with the North Walpole Fire Chief tomorrow.  The North Walpole Rescue truck is usually parked in Aumand’s parking lot.  He contacted TransCanada and anticipates they will sign-off for their portion of the property.   The fireworks are electronically set-off.

Mr. Miller moved to support the fireworks proposal as presented and to grant permission for the Rockingham Old Home Days Committee to use the Pine Street Boat Landing in North Walpole.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

 

DAVE ADAMS:  Dave Adams asked for an explanation of the ownership of the parking lot in back of his property.  Mr. & Mrs. Adams wanted to talk about cleaning-up the border and to have a buffer area between his property and the parking lot.  Mr. Sawyer advised that the bank still owns the majority of the lot but the Town owns the former Lamothe property.  The Board of Selectmen will review the Site Plan that was filed with the Planning Board.

 

Mr. Adams is concerned about Central Plating as they still occasionally get odors from that building and are concerned about the health issues.  Mr. Sawyer advised that both the NH Department of Environmental Services and the EPA in Boston are now involved.

 

Mr. Adams is trying to work something out with Ron Makinen so the Boy Scouts will be able to use the Town Hall secured storage area used by the Lions because they still have some items in it. 

 

BREWERY ROAD:  James Mort wanted to bring the condition of the Brewery Road to the attention of the Board of Selectmen.  The road wasn’t built for the increased traffic and additional weight of the Whitcomb trucks now using it 24 hours a day.  It is a residential area yet the trucks

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are now being operated from 11:00 pm to 4:00 am.  The new shim on the road is gone.  Their jake brakes are a nuisance; can they be restricted?  Jeff Miller suggested that a line of communication begin.  Mr. Mort could have the residents on the road sign a document, forward it to the Board of Selectmen, and they in turn could forward it to Whitcomb. 

 

LOT OFF VALLEY ROAD:  Jerry Swain, an abutter of a Town parcel off the Valley Road, asked if the property would be for sale to be used as a building lot.  There was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen that if they were to sell it it would require retaining a right-of-way or easement for the snowmobile trail.  They will take the matter under advisement.

 

HOOPER PROPERTY:  Jeff Miller questioned what additional work will be done on the Hooper property.  Mr. Sawyer responded that the Board of Selectmen had a list of seven priorities that Brendon Honey was working on, some were completed.  Mr. Honey was to work with Jeff Miller on the handicapped ramp and was to come back with an estimate to do some painting on both the mansion and institute. 

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $480,512.59.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.  It was noted that the above figure includes a payment of $374,651.54 to the Fall Mountain Region School District.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $99,874.05 for the week ending July 22, 2005.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted. 

 

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending July 23, 2005, for gross wages in the amount of $24,402.71 or net wages in the amount of $16,471.23.  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 $5,997.39.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the supplemental electronic fund transfer for the Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $1,316.71 for the week ending July 16, 2005.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- JULY 21, 2005:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of July 21, 2005, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the minutes of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meeting of July 26 2005.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

SOUTHWEST REGION PLANNING COMMISSION:  Mr. Miller checked with SWRPC on the bill previously received and put on-hold for GIS maps.  The project is not completed but the maps are being worked on.  Mr. Miller would like to have over-lays for the maps to provide as much information as possible. 

 

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Mr. Aldrich moved to authorize payment of the balance of the agreement in the amount of $2,800 to SWRPC for mapping.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT:  Mr. Aldrich contacted Police Chief David Hewes regarding a letter received from the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners.  He also asked about the Bill Baldasaro property on Route 12 to see if there is a safety issue when the tractor-trailer units park between his fence and the roadway.  The Board of Selectmen will look at the area.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

INTENT TO CUT –LESLIE KREEK- MAP 011-043-005:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Notice of Intent to Cut for Leslie Kreek on the Valley Road.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

REQUEST USE OF TOWN COMMON FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 2006, FOR A WEDDING:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the request to use the Town Common on Saturday, June 3, 2006, for a wedding.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

APPLICATION FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY GRANT FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT:  Police Chief David Hewes would like to apply for a Highway Safety Grant for the Police Department to conduct sobriety check points - two one-man, six hour shifts from 9:00 pm to 3:00 am. 

Mr. Aldrich moved that the Chairman be authorized to sign the application for a Highway Safety Grant for the Police Department.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

SUNDAY BAND CONCERTS:  Mr. Sawyer received a phone call from a resident who comes to the Sunday band concerts and expressed concern about the children running through the Town Hall and using the elevator.  Mr. Sawyer will talk to the people in charge of the hot dog concession to see if they will take responsibility for locking the elevator.  The Board of Selectmen would like a schedule of the organizations in charge of the concessions.  Mr. Miller suggested that they be asked to put the cones out for traffic control.       

 

TOLE’S GARAGE:  Mr. Aldrich reported that Vicky Gohl came in prior to the meeting to ask about donations for the landscape improvements to the corner property that was discussed at a previous meeting.  Mr. Sawyer will discuss this with Teresa Fernette to see if the donations could be tax deductible.

 

NON-PUBLIC SESSION:

Mr. Miller moved to enter into a Non-Public session to discuss a personnel matter.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich and, on a roll call with all in favor, the motion carried.  The time was 9:08 P.M. 

 

The regular meeting resumed at 9:46 P.M.

Mr. Sawyer announced that the Board of Selectmen took no action in the Non-Public Session.

Mr. Aldrich moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Session will be sealed indefinitely as they contain personnel information.  Seconded by Mr. Miller and, on a roll call with all in favor, the motion carried. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mr. Miller moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 9:50 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 AUGUST 4, 2005, SELECTMEN’S MEETING.