TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

NOVEMBER 06, 2008

 

Selectboard Present:      Sheldon Sawyer, Jamie Teague, (Whitney Aldrich came in late)

 

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

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

CRUISER BIDS:  Four bids that were received for the 1998 Ford Expedition police cruiser were opened at this meeting by Mr. Sawyer.  Following are the bids:

1.       Mr. and Mrs. James Kingston - $50.00

2.       Homestead Wheels, LLC - $800.00

3.       Gail Guyette - $250.00

4.       S.G. Reid Truck Sales and Service - $885.00

There was a consensus of the two Selectboard members present to not make a decision until Mr. Aldrich arrived. 

 

LYNN DEWALD:  Lynn Dewald had previously attended a meeting to discuss the drainage problems on their property located on Taggert Road.  Copies of the Settlement Agreement between the previous property owners and the Town of Walpole were reviewed.  Reference was made to page 3, No. 4, “That the Town of Walpole shall, after the reconstruction of the drainage ditches, keep said drainage ditches reasonably clean from excess sand, gravel and other materials.  The plaintiffs, Thomas Yandoh and Marilyn Yandoh, shall maintain and keep free from excess sand, gravel and other debris the swale and level spreader to be constructed on their premises”.  Mrs. Dewald displayed pictures of the area.  Mr. Sawyer noted that the Town paved the road after this agreement was made.  Mr. and Mrs. Dewald have cleaned near the Town culvert as well as their culvert that was installed to flow into the field.  Following a lengthy discussion, Mrs. Teague advised that she would like to ask Jim Terrell some questions on the history of the drainage.  Mr. Sawyer felt they might do a site visit before making a decision on how to resolve this on-going matter. 

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $303,364.24.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed by two members present. 

The above amount includes a payment of $277,886.46 to the Fall Mountain Region School District. 

 

PAYROLL:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending November 01, 2008, for gross wages in the amount of $16,471.24 or net wages in the amount of $8,069.70.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed by two members present. 

 

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $3,718.76.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed by two members present.

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – OCTOBER 30, 2008:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of October 30, 2008, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed by two members present.

 

Selectboard Meeting – November 06, 2008 – Page 2

 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the minutes of the following meetings: 1) Planning Board Work Session –October 28, 2008; and 2) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners –November 04, 2008.  In addition, the Planning Board Agenda for their next meeting on November 11, 2008 was received.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

GOOD CIRCLE – LETTER FROM DR. MOROSINI:  This agenda item was tabled until the next meeting.

 

SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT UNIFORMS:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the vouchers for uniforms for the three full-time employees.

 

FUEL TANK PROBLEMS:  Mr. Sawyer advised that they are waiting for the letter from the Fire Chief stating that the vent pipe is in compliance.

 

TOWN HALL WINDOWS – REPAIRS MONDAY (Weather Permitting):  Repairs on the Town Hall windows are expected to begin on Monday if the weather permits. 

 

TOWN HALL ROOF – LEAKING:  Elaine Moore contacted Long’s Roofing regarding the Town Hall roof needing repairs as it is leaking.  She is waiting for them to return the call.

 

TURKEYS:  Elaine Moore is checking with local stores to obtain the best price for turkeys for the employees. 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

COLD RIVER BRIDGE INSPECTION:  The final on-site inspection will be held at the Cold River Bridge on Friday, November 7th at 10:00 am.

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER ANNUAL CONFERENCE – JIM TERRELL:  The Selectboard approved having Jim Terrell attend the LGC Annual Conference on November 12th and 13th, 2008.  On Thursday he is slated to co-present the Mutual Aid Program with Kurt Bloomquist who is from the Public Works Department in Keene.  .

 

SWRPC FALL MEETING:  Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich plan to attend the Southwest Region Planning Commission Fall Meeting on Tuesday, November 18th.  Mrs. Teague will be attending the Hooper Institute meeting on this same evening.

 

IMPORTANT DATES SCHEDULE:  A tentative schedule of dates leading to the Annual Meeting was distributed to the Selectboard who will officially set the dates at a future meeting.

 

WALMART ACCOUNT APPLICATION:  Following a request from a Department Head to have an account at WalMart the Selectboard discussed completing an application.  In the past it has been difficult to track items charged at stores as the slips are not always submitted to the office in a timely manner.  Mrs. Teague recommending buying in bulk, store the items in the Town Hall and have the departments come in to pick them up. 

 

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – November 06, 2008 – Page 3

 

Mrs. Teague moved to not allow any more credit card use because regulations are not being properly  followed.  They will look into bulk purchasing to cut back on costs.  If another locked area is needed for storage it will be constructed.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed by two members present.

 

GERALD and HANIA McAULIFFE –MAP 028-091-000- BLTA- MEET WITH SELECTBOARD ON NOVEMBER 20, 2008 AT 7:00 PM:  The Selectboard will meet with Gerald and Hania McAuliffe on November 20, 2008, at 7:00 PM to discuss their Property Assessment Appeal to the Board of Land and Tax Appeals.

 

ADRIAN BASORA and PAULINE BARNES –MAP 022-009-000- BTLA- MEET WITH SELECTBOARD ON DECEMBER 18, 2008, AT 7:00 PM:  The Selectboard will meet with Adrian Basora and Pauline Barnes on December 18, 2008, at 7:00 PM to discuss their Property Assessment Appeal to the Board of Land and Tax Appeals.

 

Mr. Aldrich came into the meeting.

 

SELECTBOARD MEETING ON THANKSGIVING DAY:  Mr. Aldrich moved to change the Thanksgiving Day meeting to Wednesday, November 26th, 2008, at 4:00 PM.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD KEENE ROAD BRIDGE:  Mr. Sawyer advised that the Old Keene Road Bridge is now open to the public.

 

SET DATE TO WORK ON BUDGET:  The Selectboard agreed to set their first meeting date to work on the Capital Expenses in the proposed budget for Wednesday, November 12th at 6:30 PM.  The Highway Department will be discussed at 6:30 pm and the Recycling Facility at 7:30 pm.

 

CRUISER BIDS:  Mr. Aldrich moved to sell the police cruiser to the highest bidder, S.G. Reid Truck Sales and Service for $885.00.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

FANNY MASON FOREST:  Mr. Aldrich attended the Conservation Commission meeting last Monday night.  Mr. Fletcher gave him some information on a small land-locked property that abuts the Fanny Mason Forest.  Currently there is no access to the forest and the Conservation Commission would like to do a cutting.  Mrs. Galloway asked the Selectboard to write a letter to the Department of Transportation to ask for access off Route 12 to allow them to do a harvest.  If the answer is “no” they will ask abutting private property owners if they would consider granting permission to go across their properties to accomplish this harvest. 

 

CONSERVATION COMMISSION:  Mr. Aldrich advised that the Conservation Commission made reference to Article #23 that was voted upon during the March 14, 1989 Town Meeting: “To see if the Town will vote to adopt the provisions of RSA 36-A:5 which will authorize the Conservation Commission to retain the unexpended balance of its annual appropriation and any gifts of money received pursuant to RSA 36-A-4, said funds to be placed in a separate conservation fund and allowed to accumulate monies in the Conservation Fund, and expenditures may be authorized only by majority vote of the Conservation Commission.  If money from the fund is to be used to purchase interest in land, the Commission must first hold a public hearing

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – November 06, 2008 – Page 4

 

 

and the acquisition must be approved by the Selectmen.  After discussion Article #23 passed with a Voice Vote – No opposition.”  Mr. Aldrich recommended that the Selectboard ask Myra Mansouri about this account and to inquire as to how much money is in that separate conservation fund.

 

Mrs. Teague moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich and, with all in favor, the motion was approved unanimously.  The time was 9:28 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 13, 2008, Selectboard meeting.)