TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

OCTOBER 09, 2008

 

Selectboard Present:  Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Jamie Teague

 

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM with four people present in the audience.

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

ANDREW LEWIS – BLTA APPEAL:  Mr. Lewis is seeking a Property Tax Abatement on his Blackjack Crossing property.  Comparisons on several properties were presented.  The correspondence in the file was reviewed and the Selectboard looked for discrepancies in the assessment.  The Selectboard noted that because this dwelling has a unique design and construction they did not feel they had the right to make a decision to recommend a change in the assessment.  The Selectboard signed the “Report of Settlement Meeting and Order” and checked that they “did not settle” this Appeal.     

 

DONNA DROUIN – Taking of Pictures in the Town Hall:  Donna Drouin, Tara Sad and Jennifer Burr were present.  Mrs. Drouin advised that in 1963 the last printed copy of the Town of Walpole history was published by the Town and members of the Historic Society.  The Historic Society has been concerned about the lack of a printed copy.  This past summer they proposed a soft-cover book and are now under contract for a simpler version than the book previously printed.  Mrs. Sad noted that prior to 1750 there were very few pictures therefore they are asking for permission to take pictures of the prints in the Town Hall to be included in the book. 

Mr. Aldrich moved to give a blanket permission to the Historic Society to take the pictures of the prints in the Town Hall.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TARA SAD and JENNIFER BURR:   Mrs. Sad and Ms. Burr would like to see something done about mowing the town lawns.  They proposed planting ground cover in a few areas rather than grass.  This would eliminate mowing those areas and there would be a saving in labor, gas and time.  Possible locations would be the area at the bottom of Prospect Hill, at the top of North Street and the median by the Town Hall where the vehicles park.  Ms. Burr is familiar with ground covers and would be happy to assist in the project.

Mr. Aldrich moved to pass this recommendation for ground cover, where possible, through to Jim Terrell for his consideration.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.    

 

CHARLES ANDROS:  Mr. Sawyer noted that Charles Andros was formally informed to “cease and desist” visiting the Recycling Facility. 

 

TAGGART ROAD:  Lynn DeWald advised that they purchased their house on Taggart Road in 1995.  Prior to this in 1992 the Town entered into a Resolution with the previous owners on the drainage problems.  She explained the on-going drainage issues and displayed pictures of the area.  They are continually cleaning out the debris.  In 2006 they had a new culvert installed.  There was a Selectboard consensus to ask Jim Terrell to attend a meeting to talk about the drainage.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $31,874.02.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Selectboard Meeting – October 09, 2008 – Page 2

 

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending October 04, 2008, for gross wages in the amount of $13,722.15 or net wages in the amount of $5,582.30.  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 $3,241.15.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – October 02, 2008:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of October 02, 2008, as printed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Selectboard Non-Public Session of October 02, 2008, as printed.  The Minutes will remain sealed as they contain information on personnel.   Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed Minutes of the following meetings:  1) Cemetery Committee Meeting–September 26, 2008; and 2) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners –October 07, 2008.  The Selectboard mentioned that the Cemetery Trustees thanked the Highway Crew for cleaning-up the remains of the tree top which came down in the wind and rain in June.  The trunk was also removed.

 

BUILDING PERMITS:

TOM and MARY GRAVES – MAP 008-037-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-043 for Tom and Mary Graves to construct a 24’ x 12’ wood shed on the County Road.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

DENNIS and PATRICIA BEAUDOIN – MAP 009-054-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-044 for Dennis and Patricia Beaudoin to remodel and change the footprint of the existing house.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

PAUL GALLOWAY – BLTA TAX ISSUE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to reinforce the original offer of $16,500.00 as the value of the Paul Galloway property but they will not refund the filing expenses.  They will Abate the 2007 and 2008 property taxes and any and all interest.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

BOSCO – BLTA TAX ISSUE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Avitar’s latest assessment recommendation on the Bosco Abatement request.  The Selectboard will contact Mr. Bosco with the revised assessment figures.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

RECYCLE – PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION:  Mr. Aldrich moved that the Chairman of the Selectboard be authorized to sign the payment invoice in the amount of $3,102.50 for the storage shed that collapsed at the old landfill.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Aldrich reported that under the guidance of the new Manager of the Recycling Facility the Selectboard took a tour last Tuesday at 10:30 am.

Selectboard Meeting – October 09, 2008 – Page 3

 

HIGHWAY – PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION:  Mr. Aldrich moved to authorize payment of the invoice in the amount of $15,812.50 from SEA Consultants for their work on the Old Keene Road Bridge.  This amount will be taken from Article #13 in 2008.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

CONSERVATION COMMISSION – PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION:  The Selectboard agreed to put the two invoices from the Conservation Commission for trail work on-hold as they will be sent back to the Conservation Commission for the approval of their members by so noting the vote in the Minutes of their next meeting.

 

PLEASANT STREET RESIDENTS – PETITION REGARDING NO PARKING SIGNS:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a Petition from residents on Pleasant Street as follows:  “We the undersigned residents, living on Pleasant Street in Walpole, do not feel that there is any need or expense for placing “No Parking” signs on our street.” 

Mrs. Teague moved to send a letter to Mr. Neary explaining that they will not take any action, at this time, on his request to put up No Parking signs on Pleasant Street due to the Petition they received.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

COLD RIVER COMMITTEE – SIGN REQUEST:  Mr. Aldrich moved that the Chairman of the Selectboard be authorized to sign the authorization for the Cold River Advisory Committee to put up the Cold River signs to identify it as the Cold River.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

FRANK W. WHITCOMB, INC. –INTENT TO CUT TIMBER– MAP 015-035-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to sign the Notice of Intent to Cut Timber for Frank W. Whitcomb, Inc. as requested.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TRI VILLAGE ENERGY – REQUEST FOR FORMAL LEGAL OPINION REGARDING STATUS AS AN “ADVISORY COMMITTEE”:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a letter from Jill Robinson, TriVillage Energy, requesting a formal legal opinion regarding their status as an “advisory committee”.   Mrs. Teague is working on the issue.

 

TOWN OWNED PROPERTY AT 95 CHURCH STREET:  The Selectboard had agreed to hire Cindy Westover of Galloway Realty to do a lease agreement with the renters at 95 Church Street.

 

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT:  Charles Miller had been the Town’s representative to the Southwest Region Planning Commission Transportation Advisory Committee.  His three-year term has expired.

Mr. Aldrich moved to appoint Sheldon Sawyer as the Town’s representative to the SWRPC Transportation Advisory Committee.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Mr. Aldrich and Mrs. Teague voted in favor of the motion.  Mr. Sheldon abstained from the vote.  Motion passed by a majority vote.         

 

WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT:  The Selectboard received the Waste Management contract for the Recreation Department.  There was a consensus to put this on-hold to allow time to discuss it with Joe Goodhue

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – October 09, 2008 – Page 4

 

WATER / SEWER WARRANTS:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve signing the Warrants for the North Walpole Sewer and the Walpole Water and Sewer usage as soon as they are ready.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

NON-PUBLIC SESSION:

Mr. Aldrich moved to enter into a Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a) Personnel.  Mrs. Teague seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion passed unanimously.  The time was 9:29 PM.

 

The regular meeting resumed at 9:39 PM.

 

NEXT SELECTBOARD MEETINGS:

OCTOBER 16, 2008:  Because of other commitments the Selectboard would be unable to have a quorum for their regular meeting on Thursday, October 16th, therefore, this meeting was re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 15th at 5:00 PM.  

 

OCTOBER 23, 2008:  Because of other commitments the Selectboard would be unable to have a quorum for their regular meeting on Thursday, October 23rd, therefore, this meeting was re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 22nd, at 7:30 PM.

 

WATER and SEWER DEPARTMENTS:  The Selectboard discussed scheduling a separate meeting with Mark Houghton, at his convenience, to talk about several issues including the surplus, pump houses, etc.                

 

EQUIPMENT:  The Selectboard agreed to look at the list of town-owned equipment.  They will consider an “equipment freeze policy” for a period of time.

 

Mr. Sawyer declared the meeting adjourned at 9:59 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 October 15, 2008, Selectboard meeting.)