TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

OCTOBER 18, 2007

Selectmen Present: Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich

Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7:32 PM with two people present in the audience.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

BILL BORCHERS – OLD JAIL SITE PROPERTY: Mr. Borchers has maintained this small piece of land that was the old Town jail site for many years as it abuts his property. The Deed was reviewed as well as the history of how the Town came to own it. No taxes were paid on it for about 45 years. The recent assessed value of the .04 acre of land is $1,800.00.

Mr. Sawyer moved to offer the piece of land to Mr. Borchers for $1,800.00. Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion. Mr. Borchers counter-offered $1,000.00. There was discussion relative to splitting the difference. Mr. Borchers accepted the price of $1,400.00. Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich withdrew their motion.

Mr. Sawyer moved that the Town sell the old Town jail site property off Main Street, Map #020, Lot # 035-000, to Mr. William Borchers for $1,400.00. Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and, with all in favor, the motion was approved.

JOSH KELLY – BALLAM FARM: Josh Kelly brought the Board of Selectmen up-to-date on the possible acquisition of the Ballam Farm as he continued to work on it following the Town vote. He looked into private funding and started the process of assessing the ability to obtain the difference in funding and was happy to report that they are on their way to making this a reality through donations from individuals and foundations. The Conservation Commission could use the Land Use Change Tax money that they agreed to contribute in the original proposal. This would involve no new taxpayer money. Negotiations are on-going with a new farmer. The easements will be monitored once a year by either the Conservation Commission or the Monadnock Conservancy. Mr. Kelly hopes to finalize negotiations with the owners of the Ballam Farm in mid-December. He distributed a copy of the Trust for Public Land informational document on the Ballam Farm. The Trust for Public Land would like to conserve this property and are working hard to do this.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $111,489.84. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.

PAYROLL: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending October 13, 2007, for gross wages in the amount of $18,955.97 or net wages in the amount of $9,398.43. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. 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 $4,528.65. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- OCTOBER 11, 2007: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of October 11, 2007, as printed. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.

Board of Selectmen Meeting – October 18, 2007 – Page 2

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the Minutes of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meeting of October 16, 2007.

OLD BUSINESS:

POLICE REFERENCE FIREARMS – REPORT FROM CHARLES MILLER: Mr. Miller reported that the issue of the Police firearms was taken care of.

BOSTON POST CANE – REPORT FROM CHARLES MILLER: Mr. Miller discussed the process used to identify the oldest resident in the Town and how the presentation of the Boston Post Cane was made to the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners.

SCADA AND ALARMS – MARK HOUGHTON: Mark Houghton made a presentation on the SCADA Upgrades and Alarm System during the last meeting.

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the purchase order for E.O.S. Research in the amount of $11,965.00 for the SCADA Upgrades and Alarm System with the funding taken from the Sewer Fund. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.

ENGINEERING EVALUATION AND REPORT OF THREE WASTEWATER PUMPING SYSTEMS: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the Engineering Evaluation with Hoyle, Tanner and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $10,600.00 for the three wastewater pumping systems (Mill Pond, Baileys and North Walpole wastewater pumping systems) with funding taken from the Sewer Fund. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.

PLAYGROUND UPDATE: The Board of Selectmen received an up-date on the proposed playground for Whitcomb Park.

NEW BUSINESS:

BANDSTAND: Elaine Moore reported that there is a broken rail on the bandstand. Mr. Miller suggested that the Trustees of Trust Funds be asked about taking the cost for repairs out of the Stuart Bailey Fund that was set up for the bandstand.

TROLLEYS: Mr. Sawyer asked Elaine Moore to research the price for enough trolleys to stack the chairs that are stored downstairs. It will be easier to move them between the floors.

LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:

DALE FOSTER: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the letter to Dale Foster. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.

FRANK COYLE: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Frank Coyle regarding his property assessment. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.

Board of Selectmen Meeting – October 18, 2007 – Page 3

Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich and, with all in favor, the motion was approved. The time was 8:58 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

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Charles D. Miller

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Sheldon S. Sawyer

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Whitney R. Aldrich

(Note: These are unapproved minutes. Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the minutes of the October 25, 2007, Selectboard meeting.)