TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

OCTOBER 30, 2008

 

Selectboard Present:      Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Jamie Teague

 

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with five people present in the audience.

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

MATT SUCHODOLSKI –CDBG- Andrus, LLC:  Matt Suchodolski of the Southwest Region Planning Commission was present at the last meeting to distribute copies of several documents with reference to the Community Development Block Grant for Andrus, LLC.  He requested that the Selectboard approve and sign the documents.

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the following documents that are required for the Community Development Block Grant for Andrus, LLC:

  1. The Exemption Form (Mr. Sawyer’s signature);
  2. Code of Federal Regulations (no signature required);
  3. Code of Ethics (All Board members signed);
  4. Financial Plan (All Board members signed);
  5. Signature Card (All Board members and Elaine Moore signed);
  6. Subrecipient Agreement between MEDC and the Town (Mr. Sawyer signed);
  7. Beneficiary Employment Commitment Agreement between the Town and Andrus                   Associates, LLC.
  8. Professional Services Agreement Between the Town and SWRPC.

The Selectboard agreed that withdrawals will be authorized when any two of the four signers on the Signature Card have signed the document.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

HELEN GIDEOS:  Helen Gideos, Holly Gideos, Christa Elizabeth Gideos and Michael George Athanasspoulas were present.  Helen Gideos advised that they were present with regards to her granddaughter’s wedding and the bill she recently received for the misuse and damage to the bandstand.  Her family meant no disrespect to the bandstand or Mr. Bailey.  It was their understanding that the bandstand was included in the rental of the Town Hall when they signed their agreement on November 5, 2007.  She was willing to pay for the damage. The Selectboard reviewed the agreement.  Mrs. Gideos paid the $25.00 for the damages to the bandstand.

Mrs. Teague moved that the Selectboard waive the $200 fee for the rental of the bandstand.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $36,771.53.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously. 

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the check register for two voided checks Nos. 052887 and 052836.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending October 25, 2008, for gross wages in the amount of $16,943.94 or net wages in the amount of $8,615.48.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – October 30, 2008 – Page 2

 

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,120.70.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – October 22, 2008:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of October 22, 2008, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Mrs. Teague and Mr. Sawyer approved the motion.  Mr. Aldrich abstained as he was not present.  Motion passed by a majority vote.

 

SELECTBOARD SPECIAL MEETING – October 20, 2008:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Selectboard Special Meeting of October 20, 2008, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Mr. Aldrich and Mr. Sawyer approved the motion.  Mrs. Teague abstained as she was not present.  Motion passed by a majority vote. 

 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the minutes of the following meetings:  1) Planning Board Meeting – October 14, 2008; and 2) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meetings of October 21, 2008 and October 28, 2008.

 

ABATEMENTS:

ANTHONY and KAREN BOSCO –MAP 001-011-002- 2008 TAXES PER TAX APPEAL:   Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement for the 2008 Property Taxes in the amount of $876.00 for Anthony and Karen Bosco.  This is the result of their BLTA tax appeal settlement.   Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

With reference to the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 22, 2008, the Abatement approved for property taxes for Anthony and Karen Bosco was for the Year 2007.

 

PAUL GALLOWAY –MAP 006-012-000- YEAR 2008 – BLTA:   Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement for the 2008 Property Taxes in the amount of $484.00 for Paul Galloway.  This is the result of their BLTA tax appeal settlement.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

GILBERT GAY LIVING TRUST – SEWER:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement for Sewer Fees in the amount of $7.28 for the Gilbert Gay Living Trust.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

AUMAND & SONS, INC. – SEWER:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Sewer Fees in the amount of $201.52 for Aumand & Sons, Inc.  This is for the building that burned.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

KIMBERLY LEWIS and TONI McDOUGLE – WATER / SEWER – Map 017-018-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Sewer Fees in the amount of $94.18 and Water Fees in the amount of $127.42 for Kimberly Lewis and Toni McDougle.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – October 30, 2008 – Page 3

 

KOPAZ ESTATE – SEWER – Map 030-046-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Sewer Fees in the amount of $37.09 for the Kopaz Estate.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.   

 

WILLIAM GALLAGHER – SEWER – Map 028-009-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Sewer Fees in the amount of $1.29 for William Gallagher.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

WILLIAM BALDASARO – SEWER – Map 030-059-003:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Sewer Fees in the amount of $1,060.09 for William Baldasaro.  The meter was read incorrectly.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

CLIFTON COOKE – SEWER –Map 019-040-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement for Sewer Fees in the amount of $512.65 for Clifton Cooke.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

REFUNDS:

PAUL GALLOWAY –MAP 006-012-000- YEAR 2007 BLTA:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Refund for Property Taxes in the amount of $522.00 Principal and $29.26 Interest for the Year 2007 for Paul Galloway.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously. 

 

PAUL GALLOWAY –MAP 006-012-000- YEAR 2008 BLTA:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Refund for Property Taxes in the amount of $89.00 for the Year 2008 for Paul Galloway.  This is the result of an over-payment.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

BUILDING PERMIT:

MARK HOUGHTON – MAP 001-005-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-045 for Mark Houghton to construct a one story 10’ x 16’ sugar house and to extend a roof over an existing garage 16’ x 30’ to store equipment.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

JACK NEARY LETTER:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a letter from Jack Neary.

Mr. Sawyer moved to take the letter from Jack Neary under advisement and to recommend to the Police Department that they follow their routine procedures.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Mrs. Teague abstained.  Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich were in favor.  The motion passed unanimously. 

 

FANNY MASON FOREST:  Mr. Aldrich talked to Marcia Galloway about access off Route 12 to the Fanny Mason Forest.  She can find no documents between the State and the Town on the rest area.  There was a consensus of the Selectboard to invite Harold Putnam to a meeting to discuss this.  Mr. Aldrich will attend the Conservation Commission meeting on Monday night as Mrs. Galloway wants to talk about a small piece of land that abuts the Fanny Mason Forest.

 

NORTH WALPOLE:  Mrs. Teague discussed the phone call she received from Mrs. Hill and it was referred to the proper authority.

 

 

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – October 30, 2008 – Page 4

 

NEW BUSINESS:

SET TAX RATE – 2008 AND SIGN WARRANTS:  Mr. Aldrich moved to set the Town Tax Rate at $19.09.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to sign and approve the Town of Walpole Warrant for the Collection of Second Issue Taxes as follows: 

            North Walpole - $816,005.00              Walpole - $3,853,417.00

Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

The Department of Revenue Administration 2008 Tax Rate Calculations are as follows:

            Town Rate -                 $ 3.66

            Local School Rate -        10.04

            State School Rate -           2.19

            County Rate -                  2.56

                                                _____

            Walpole                        $18.45                         

Walpole Fire District -        .64              

                                                ______                       

                                                $19.09             

 

GOOD CIRCLE – LETTER FROM DR. MOROSINI:  The Selectboard received a letter from Dr. Morosini regarding a property on Good Circle and they will be doing a follow up on an action.

 

FUEL TANK PROBLEMS:  Mr. Aldrich moved to lock the thermostat at 65 degrees in the Town Hall except for events.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

INTENT TO CUT TIMBER –PAUL LOONEY- MAP 004-020-001:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the Intent to Cut Timber for Paul Looney on a property off the Old Keene Road.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.  

 

TOWN HALL ROOF – LEAKING:  The Selectboard agreed to hire Long’s Roofing to repair the Town Hall roof that is leaking. 

 

TURKEYS:  There was a consensus of the Selectboard to have all employees receive a turkey before Thanksgiving. 

 

VACATION DAYS –CHIEF HEWES- NOVEMBER 10th To 14TH, 2008:  Mr. Aldrich moved to honor the request of David Hewes to take vacation time from November 10th to 14th, 2008.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

LETTERS:

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP LETTER – APPOINTING SHELDON SAWYER:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the membership letter to the Southwest Region Planning Commission appointing Sheldon Sawyer to the Transportation Advisory Committee for a three year term.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – October 30, 2008 – Page 5

 

 

WALPOLE PLAYERS:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the letter to the Walpole Players thanking them for their contribution to keep the Town Hall in pristine condition.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Sawyer declared this meeting adjourned at 9:58 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 06, 2008, Selectboard meeting.)