TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

JUNE 15, 2006

 

Selectmen Present:        Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer

 

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

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

 

ALPACA DANCE/TRETLER:  Attorney Thomas Hanna was present to attempt to clarify the Dance’s interpretation of the circumstances on their property at 277 Wentworth Road in Walpole.  The Dance’s have an Alpaca farm with currently 24 Alpacas.  Hanna addressed the fact that there have been concerns from an abutter about the intensity of the operations.  Mr. Hanna also stated that he believes the activities on the Dance’s farm are legal according to the Walpole zoning regulations because the Alpaca farm is “incidental” to the use of the property.  Mr. Hanna presented the Selectmen with a list of several reasons why the farm was incidental to the property, and listed reasons why the Dance’s were led to believe their operation would fall within the legal guidelines of the Residential Zone in Walpole.

 

Donald and Elsie Tretler were present to comment on the noise of the farm, and made reference to the zoning ordinance in regards to the operation being “injurious, obnoxious and offensive”.  Mr. Tretler played an audio tape recording of the Alpacas which was recorded from the porch of his house.  He recommended to the Selectmen that they move any further discussion about the Dance’s farm to the Zoning Board.

 

Joe & Peggy Dion were present with comments and questions regarding whether farming is allowed in a Residential Zone in Walpole.  The Mr. Sawyer answered that incidental farming is allowed.

 

Other neighbors who were present with comments regarding the farm were, Sue Bingaman, Robert Boylan, and Doug Faxon.

 

Mr. Dance explained that he has tried to separate and identify the problem animals and has taken aggressive actions, including the sale of certain animals, to reduce the noise.

 

Mr. Hanna then stated that the Dance’s are willing to reduce their herd to 15 Alpacas by 6/1/07.

 

Sue Bingaman stated her concerns that a resident may not be abiding by the Zoning Regulations of the Town of Walpole, and that the Town should have been more aware of these problems instead of having to involve the neighbors.

 

Further discussion was had between the Selectmen, Mr. Hanna, and the Tretlers.

 

Mr. Sawyer motioned to postpone the discussion until further research is done, and agreed to make a call to the Local Government Center to begin the investigation.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

 

 

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Mr. Tretler commented that this has been a long process already and would like to see it resolved and a decision made as soon as possible.

 

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE / PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $59,138.13.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending June 10, 2006, for gross wages in the amount of $10,633.84.  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 $4,312.75.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

 

Mr. Sawyer  moved to sign the purchase order for a new 2006 blue Dodge Charger Police Cruiser from Roberts Chrysler in Hillsboro.  Check for cruiser will be cut on Monday June 19th.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $57,472.00, to S.G. Reed, Inc. for a 2006 International Dump Truck for the Highway Dept.  Mr. Miller seconded the motion.  All in favor so, voted.

 

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the salaries for the summer recreation department staff.  Mr. Miller abstained from the vote.  The motion carried by a 2-to-1 vote.

 

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- JUNE 8, 2006:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of June 8, 2006, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Mr. Miller abstained from the vote.  The motion carried by a 2-to-1 vote.

 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the minutes of the following meetings:  1) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners – June 13, 2006; and 2) Walpole Planning Board –June 13, 2006.

 

NORTH WALPOLE TRAFFIC PLAN:

A discussion was had regarding the Road Agents submission of a traffic plan for the Village of North Walpole.  The Selectmen suggested that North Walpole Commissioners host a meeting in regards to this plan.

 

BUILDING PERMITS:

 

FRANK BROWN PROPERTY / VERIZON PERMIT:  The Selectmen had a discussion regarding the problem with the assessment of the tower on Fall Mt.  It was noted that this will need to be straightened out before any further permits will be issued.  The Selectmen will ask Jim Rice of Granite State Assessing to work with Frank Brown to resolve the problem.

 

 

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STEPHEN J. WHITON – 012-079-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Building Permit #2006-26 for Stephen Whiton to construct a 24’ x 28’ detached garage at 128 Valley Road.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

JAMES STACK – 010-006-001:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Building Permit #2006-27 for James Stack to construct a 4 bedroom house at 61 North Road.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

ROGER & LINDA GOUSLIN – 015-029-002:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the Building Permit #2006-28 for Roger & Linda Gouslin to construct a residential house at 78 Alstead Center Road.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

 

GEORGE & FREDA GRAVES – 001-016-000:  The Graves filed an application for a building permit to build a closed in cement slab on their property at 834 Wentworth Road.  Further information is necessary, and will be requested from the Graves regarding the nature of the structure before a permit can be issued.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

BUILDING PERMIT INVOICE -  ROBERT JASSE :  Mr. Miller moved to have the secretary write a letter to Robert Jasse to request his presence at their next scheduled meeting on Thursday, June 22, 2006 to discuss the invoice that was previously mailed to him.

 

E.E. HOUGHTON INVOICE -  Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the 2 invoices payable to the Houghton Co. in the amounts of $175.00 and $361.29 for work done at the Hooper Golf Course and Cottage, if first it was determined that the work done was on the Mansion and not the Pro Shop.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

EMPLOYEE HEALTH INS. – The Board of Selectmen would like it noted that they do not intend to offer an “opt-out” provision for the Employee Health Insurance Policy.

 

ADAMS NOMINATION TO THE COLD RIVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE – Mr. Sawyer moved to nominate Laura Malinoski-Adams to the Cold River Advisory Board, to replace Pamela O’Hara.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.  The Selectmen will request that their Secretary send a letter to Ms. Malinoski-Adams advising her of their decision.   The Selectmen would like it noted that they appreciate the suggestions for openings, but in the future, would like time to publish the available opening, and will give preference to abutters of the Cold River whenever possible.

 

HIGHWAY DEPT. FOREMAN – Mr. Sawyer moved to accept the job description for Lead Forman for the Highway Department as submitted by Road Agent, Jim Terrell.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

454 COUNTY ROAD – Richard Lafayette:  The Selectmen will be going out to look at the property at 454 County Road where a single wide mobile home will be replaced by a double wide, in a “non-conforming lot”.

 

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NEW BUSINESS:

 

BRUCE RUSSELL – ROADS SCHOLAR I:  The Selectmen would like to commend Bruce Russell of the Walpole Highway Dept. for completion of the Roads Scholar I program.

 

MERRIAM FARMS:  The Selectmen would like it to be noted that the Department of Environmental Services has proposed fines totaling $17,000 to be imposed against Merriam Farm, Inc. for numerous violations.

 

PERSONAL DAY - RICK COOPER – Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the request of Rick Cooper for a personal day on June 27, 2006.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

LETTER FROM ALLEN BROS.  RE: OIL BID – A letter was received from Allen Bros. Oil requesting that they be included in our bid process.  The Selectmen will continue to look into options for oil for the upcoming heating season.

 

NEW PART-TIME HIRE FOR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT – Mr. Sawyer move to hire Michael Nash as a part-time employee of the Solid Waste Department for $10.00 per hour.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 11:00 P.M.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Teresa Kissell                                                               ____________________

                                                                                    Whitney R. Aldrich

 

                                                                                    ____________________

                                                                                    Charles D. Miller

 

                                                                                    ____________________

                                                                                    Sheldon S. Sawyer

 

THESE ARE UNAPPROVED MINUTES.  CORRECTIONS, IF NECESSARY, MAY BE FOUND IN THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 22, 2006, SELECTMEN’S MEETING.