TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

NOVEMBER 20, 2008

 

Selectboard Present:      Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Jamie Teague

 

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM with five people present in the audience.

 

GERALD McAULIFFE REGARDING PROPERTY TAX APPEAL:  Gerald McAuliffe and James McAuliffe were present to discuss their Property Tax Appeal for 1021 Main Street in North Walpole that had been submitted to the Board of Tax and Land Appeals.  They distributed copies of comparable assessments in that area that were reviewed by the Selectboard.  After looking at all the data there was a consensus of the Selectboard to request that Avitar schedule an appointment to re-inspect this property.   

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

DAVID HEWES:   Police Chief David Hewes discussed advertising the vacancy for a dispatcher.    The new employee would begin work in January 2009.  Tomorrow the vacancy will be posted in-house for seven days and then it will be published in the newspapers for three days, posted in the Town Hall, put on the Town’s web page, forwarded to the Walpolean and the employment offices in Springfield, Claremont and Keene.  Chief Hewes will develop the job description.  A committee will be formed to do the interviews.

 

Chief Hewes was told that the City of Salem is going to introduce legislation to eliminate the Physical Training test for police departments.  The Selectboard felt it should be called to the attention of the Town’s three legislators.  Chief Hewes will pursue this matter as it is an important issue.

 

Chief Hewes discussed the purchasing policy that was recently approved by the Selectboard.  Mr. Sawyer felt the issue should be visited again as he felt the Department Heads could pick-up a credit card, return it the same day and, at the same time, fill out the paperwork.  This would eliminate any delays in getting the purchase information into the office.

Mr. Aldrich moved that when someone uses the credit card they bring it back the same day and fill out a purchase order.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously. 

 

WALPOLE GRANGE:  Kirk Congdon from the Walpole Grange explained that when they met in the Town Hall last Tuesday night the room was freezing at 50 degrees and they could not turn the heat up because of the locked box.  They meet on the third Tuesday of each month and he asked if there was a way to have heat the next time they meet.  Elaine Moore will see that the heat is turned on for their next meeting.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $21,825.78.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the supplemental payroll voucher for gross wages in the amount of $113.92 or net wages in the amount of $99.51.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – November 20, 2008 – Page 2

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the supplemental  electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $17.42.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending November 15, 2008, for gross wages in the amount of $13,934.19 or net wages in the amount of $5,868.37.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $3,273.15.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously. 

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – November 13, 2008:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of November 13, 2008, as printed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the minutes of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meeting of November 18, 2008.

 

ABATEMENTS:

AUMAND REALTY –MAP 028-144-000- PROPERTY:   It was discovered that the Aumand Realty garage was on the wrong map.

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement in the amount of $201.00 for the 2008 Property Taxes for Aumand Realty.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously. 

 

VINCENT and CAROL MALNATI – WATER:  The meter was reading in gallons instead of cubic feet.

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement for Water in the amount of $46.50 for Vincent and Carol Malnati.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

OLD KEENE ROAD BRIDGE INSPECTION:  Mr. Sawyer announced that Jeff Marsden and Mike Croteau will be doing an inspection of the Old Keene Road Bridge on Friday, November 21st at 11:00 PM.

 

TOWN HALL and LIBRARY – FUEL PROBLEM:  Following a discussion, Mr. Sawyer advised that the vent pipe in the Town Hall and Library will be repaired.

 

LYNN DeWALD – Result of Visit of November 19:  Mrs. Teague and Jim Terrell did the site visit to the DeWald property last Tuesday.  Mr. Terrell confirmed that this clean-up will be on his maintenance schedule for every spring and fall.  The Selectboard agreed that a letter be sent to Mr. and Mrs. DeWald advising that Mr. Terrell will do this clean-up every spring and fall and he will discuss it with the Town employees.                     

 

CONSERVATION FUND SPECIAL ACCOUNT:  Mrs. Mansouri has been complying with Article 23 as voted upon during the Town Meeting on March 14, 1989 and provided an up-to-date figure on this separate Conservation Fund Special Account. 

Selectboard Meeting – November 20, 2008 – Page 3

 

 

FANNY MASON FOREST ACCESS:  Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich visited with Doug Graham and Renee Fishe at the Department of Transportation office in Swanzey to discuss access to the Fanny Mason Forest off Route 12.  They were provided copies of a map with the following note: 

“Construct a drive within safe passing sections to a rest area to be constructed by the Town of Walpole on town property.  Location to be determined during clearing phase of construction, in conjunction with the Selectmen”.  The DOT authorized access to the forest for one year.  This information was provided to Marcia Galloway, Chair of the Conservation Commission.

 

FANNY MASON FOREST – Payments to Lew Shelley and Marcia Galloway: 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve payment to Lew Shelley in the amount of $200 and Marcia Galloway in the amount of $100 for trail work they had performed.  This money is to be taken out of the Fanny Mason Trust Fund.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TOWN HALL ROOF LEAK:  Elaine Moore talked to Mrs. Smith, Long’s Roofing, about the roof repairs but she felt it might be a year before they could do it.  Mr. Sawyer asked Elaine Moore to call them to ask if they could schedule it in as the first job in the spring.  

 

NEW BUSINESS:

EVELYN TEWKSBURY LETTER – REF: LEAVES ON LAWN:  The Selectboard discussed the letter that Ms. Tewksbury had published in the newspapers with reference to leaves not being removed on the Common.  Mr. Terrell wrote a letter of response that was read at this meeting.   

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve sending Jim Terrell’s letter to the Keene-Sentinel, Eagle Times and Brattleboro Reformer.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

SAXTONS RIVER ART GUILD – TOWN HALL RENTAL:  A letter was received from the Saxtons River Art Guild requesting rental of the Town Hall on October 10, or October 3, 2009, for their Fall Arts Festival annual event.  The Selectboard had previously voted to not commit to renting the Town Hall for four months prior to an event except for weddings.  The Selectboard felt it would be appropriate to write to the Saxtons River Art Guild to advise that the date will be penciled in but it will not be official until four months ahead of time because Town functions take precedent.

 

TRI VILLAGE ENERGY – FARMERS MARKET IN TOWN HALL:  There was a consensus of the Selectboard to put this request on-hold.

 

HOME DEPOT PURCHASE:  The Selectboard agreed to put this Home Depot purchase on-hold until next week to allow time to get more information from Jim Terrell.

 

SET DATES TO WORK ON BUDGETS:  The Selectboard set the following dates to work on the proposed Town budget:

            Tuesday, November 25th at 6:00 pm;

            Tuesday, December 2nd at 6:00 pm;

            Thursday, December 4th at 5:30 pm;

            Wednesday, December 10th at 6:00 pm; and

            Thursday, December 11th at 6:00 pm.

 

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – November 20, 2008 – Page 4

 

 

FOREST FIRE REPORT / BILL – FIRE PERMITS 2007-2008:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payment of $500 to the Fire Warden, William Houghton, for the issuance of Fire Permits for the Town of Walpole in 2007 and 2008.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.   

 

AVITAR PHONE CALLS:  Elaine Moore reported that there is a list of property owners whose houses Avitar could not get into so they are trying to make appointments.  Avitar will begin making phone calls on December 1st and 2nd.

 

LETTER:

GOOD CIRCLE – LETTER TO JOAN SMITH:  Following a discussion, the Selectboard agreed to send a copy of Dr. Morosini’s letter to Joan Smith and to write a separate letter to invite her to come in to meet with the Selectboard on December 4th to discuss this matter. 

 

Mr. Sawyer declared this meeting adjourned at 10:04 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

                                                                                    ______________________

                                                                                    Sheldon S. Sawyer

 

                                                                                    ______________________

                                                                                    Whitney R. Aldrich

 

                                                                                    ______________________

                                                                                    Jamie J. Teague

 

 

(Note:  These are unapproved minutes.  Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the minutes of the November 26, 2008, Selectboard meeting.)