TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MARCH 9, 2006

 

Selectmen Present:        Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller

 

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with one person present in the audience.

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

ERROR IN TOWN REPORT – PAGE 11:  Elaine Moore reported that there is an error in the Town Warrant on page 11 as follows.    “Article 1 – 3” should be changed to “Article 1 – 7” which are the Articles to be voted on at the polls.  This will be so noted, posted and announced by the Moderator on March 14 prior to the start of the voting.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $35,249.04.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the voided check register for two checks, Nos. 048103 and 048145.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted. 

 

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending March 4, 2006, for gross wages in the amount of $16,203.00 or net wages in the amount of $9,184.28.  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 $3,920.04.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the Agenda for the next Planning Board Meeting on March 14, 2006. 

 

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- MARCH 2, 2006:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of March 2, 2006, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

TRANSFER OF FUNDS:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Transfer of Funds in the amount of $500,000 from the MBIA to the Savings Bank of Walpole and that the Chairman be authorized to sign the Withdrawal document.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

ABATEMENTS:

HUBBARD LLC –MAP 010-006-000- PROPERTY TAX YEAR 2005:  Elaine Moore explained that this involves a 7.4 acre parcel of property.  It was discovered that Mr. Hubbard owned it and paid taxes on it but then sold it.

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement for Property Tax for the Year 2005 in the amount of $663.00 for Hubbard LLC.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

REFUNDS:

CLARENCE AND RITVA HOUGHTON –MAP 021-050-000- PROPERTY TAX YEAR 2003:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the Refund for Property Taxes for the year 2003 in the amount of $652.41 to Clarence and Ritva Houghton   Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

Board of Selectmen Meeting – March 9, 2006 – Page 2

 

 

CLARENCE AND RITVA HOUGHTON –MAP 021-050-000- PROPERTY TAX YEAR 2004:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Refund for Property Taxes for the year 2004 in the amount of $230.71 for Clarence and Ritva Houghton.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

CLARENCE AND RITVA HOUGHTON –MAP 021-050-000- PROPERTY TAX YEAR 2005:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Refund for Property Taxes for the year 2005 in the amount of $213.80 for Clarence and Ritva Houghton.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

ABIGAIL SIDDALL REVOCABLE TRUST –MAP 005-034-000- PROPERTY TAX YEAR 2005:  The Deed indicates that Ms. Siddall owns less land than the Town was taxing her for.

Mr. Miller moved to approve the Refund for Property Taxes for the year 2005 in the amount of $10.18 for the Abigail Siddall Revocable Trust.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

 

WARRANTS:

JAMES STACK TRUST –MAP 010-006-001- SECOND HALF 2005 PROPERTY TAX:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Warrant in the amount of $531.00 for the James Stack Trust for the second half 2005 Property Tax.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

BUILDING PERMITS:

BURDICK’S CHOCOLATE RENOVATIONS –MAP 024-038-000:  Mr. Miller moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-03 for Burdick’s Chocolate renovations to the building that was just purchased with the restrictions that it not be handed over to Burdick’s Chocolate until approval is received from the Planning Board.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

 

ASHER CONSTRUCTION LLC – MAP 015-017-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-02 for Asher Construction LLC to construct a house on the Alstead Center Road.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

OLD BUSINESS: 

TOWN MEETING STUDY COMMITTEE:  At last years Town Meeting, Mr. Hansel made a motion to form a Town Meeting Study Committee to study making attendance greater at the Annual Town Meetings.  There was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to nominate John Hansel as the Chairman, Cindy Westover, Tara Sad, John Hubbard and Chuck Bingaman.  Mr. Sawyer will contact the above named to see if they are willing to participate in the Town Meeting Study Committee.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

JOINT LOSS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE:  Elaine Moore submitted a written report on the deficiency findings of the Joint Loss Management Committee when conducting an inspection of the Town Hall.  The Committee members attending this meeting were:  Elaine Moore, Hurb Hurlburt, Buck Taylor, Jim Terrell, and Troy Wilmott.  The list was reviewed by the Board of Selectmen and the report will be taken under advisement.  The next meeting of the committee will be held in June when they will tour the Town Garage.

 

METER READER FOR WALPOLE:  Ted Brooks will continue to read the meters in North Walpole but will stop doing Walpole.  Therefore, a new meter reader will need to be hired for Walpole.  If interested in applying for this position, contact the Board of Selectmen’s office for additional information.  The next meter reading will be done soon.

Board of Selectmen Meeting – March 9, 2006 – Page 3

 

 

CURRENT USE APPLICATION –KIDDER FARM, LLC- MAP 011-006-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Current Use application for 13.2 acres for the Kidder Farm, LLC   Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

CURRENT USE APPLICATION –KIDDER FARM, LLC- MAP 011-007-002:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Current Use application for 10.1 acres for the Kidder Farm, LLC.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

TERESA KISSELL –REQUEST VACATION DAY- MARCH 17, 2006:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the request of Teresa Kissell to take a vacation day on March 17, 2006.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

ELAINE MOORE –PERSONAL TIME- TUESDAY, MARCH 14 VOTING DAY AND WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15 FOR RETIREMENT MEETING:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the request of Elaine Moore to take two days of personal time off on March 14th and March 15th, 2006.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

VACATION/SICK/PERSONAL TIME:  The Board of Selectmen discussed having the Office Manager, Elaine Moore, organize the time off for the two office employees. 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve having the Office Manager organize the time off for the office employees.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

SOUTHWEST REGION PLANNING COMMISSION DINNER:  Mr. Miller and Mr. Aldrich attended the recent meeting of the Southwest Region Planning Commission.

 

DISCUSSION OF TOM HANNA’S LETTERS DATED MARCH 3, 2006:   The Board of Selectmen acknowledged receipt of a Protest Petition for Articles 6 and 7 of the Warrant from Attorney Tom Hanna, therefore, they will take a 2/3rd majority vote to pass.  This is for the ballot voting on Tuesday, March 14th.   Elaine Moore advised that the original request from Attorney Tom Hanna had indicated Articles 4 and 6 instead of Articles 6 and 7 because he used the Warrant that was distributed at the Annual Warrant and Budget Hearing but subsequently the numbers of the Warrant Articles were changed. 

 

LETTERS:

JILL BOWEN:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the letter to Jill Bowen on the removal of the chain on East Street in North Walpole.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Board of Selectmen Meeting – March 9, 2006 – Page 4

 

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 9:05 P.M.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

                                                                                    ____________________

                                                                                    Sheldon S. Sawyer

 

                                                                                    ____________________

                                                                                    Whitney R. Aldrich

 

                                                                                    ____________________

                                                                                    Charles D. Miller

 

THESE ARE UNAPPROVED MINUTES.  CORRECTIONS, IF NECESSARY, MAY BE FOUND IN THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 16, 2006, SELECTMEN’S MEETING.