TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

JANUARY 29, 2009

 

Selectboard Present:     Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Jamie Teague

 

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

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

TARA SAD:  Tara Sad submitted a proposed Warrant Article to “raise and appropriate the sum of $2,550 to pay the town’s portion of The American Red Cross Rural Ride Program expansion to Walpole for 2009-2010.”  Most of this amount covers the dispatching services.  Mr. Sawyer recommended that a Petition with 25 signatures of registered voters be submitted by February 3rd, 2009, as this is a new program. 

 

CONSERVATION COMMISSION:  Mr. Aldrich moved to hire Janice Hall-Fuller as the Recording Secretary for the Conservation Commission to begin on Monday evening, February 2nd, in accordance with the new remuneration.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to re-appoint Marcia Galloway to serve as a member of the Conservation Commission for a three year term.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $61,349.90.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the supplemental Accounts Payable check register in the amount of $17,992.00 for Hubbard, LLC.  This is for the Property Tax settlement following their appeal to the Board of Tax and Land Appeals.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending January 24, 2009, for gross wages in the amount of $15,690.01 or net wages in the amount of $7,435.64.  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 $4,067.11.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – JANUARY 22, 2009:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of January 22, 2009.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

OLD KEENE ROAD BRIDGE – Requisition #4 Final Retainage:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve payment of Requisition #4 for the final retainage in the amount of $23,592.72 to Bazin Bros. for their work on the Old Keene Road Bridge Project.  This amount represents 5% retainage.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Selectboard Meeting – January 29, 2009 – Page 2

 

RECREATION PARK PLAYGROUND:  Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the document as requested by the Auditors for the Recreation Park Playground account.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

This completed the bank paperwork for the receipt of a $50,000 donation for the playground equipment project. 

 

TOWN WARRANT and BUDGET FINALIZATION:  The Selectboard worked on the re-wording of some Articles and their placement on the Warrant. 

 

PERSONNEL POLICY REGARDING APPLICATION and SELECTION PROCEDURES:  The Selectboard reviewed the revised Personnel Policy regarding their application and selection procedures.  The following addition was inserted: “Candidates for all positions shall be interviewed by the Department Head and at least one Select Person”. 

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the revised personnel policy change for: “201. Application and Selection Procedure”.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.           

 

NEW BUSINESS:

VETERAN’S EXEMPTION – WAYNE BROWN:  Mrs. Teague moved to extend the Veteran’s Exemption to Wayne and Beverly Snow Brown.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

EMPLOYEE PERSONNEL FORMS(2):  The Selectboard approved and signed the two personnel forms for William Damaziak and Daniel Northcott as “on-call” part-time Highway Department employees.

 

DAVIS & TOWLE – EMPLOYEE LIFE INSURANCE POLICY:   Mr. Aldrich moved to approve having Davis & Towle switch the employee life insurance policy to a different life insurance company as there will be a saving of $.05 per thousand dollars and to authorize the Chairman to sign the document.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

SAVINGS BANK OF WALPOLE –CONCERTS ON THE GREEN:  Mr. Aldrich moved to allow the Savings Bank of Walpole to sponsor their summer concerts on the Common from Sunday, July 5th to August 23rd, 2009.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

CEMETERY DEED –JOHN SWAIN- D423:  Mr. Aldrich moved to sign the Cemetery Deed for Lot D423 for John Swain.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TOWER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT – Land For Cell Towers:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a letter from Tower Resource Management to inquire if the Town might be interested in leasing a portion of it’s land for the construction of a telecommunications tower.  There is a lack of cellular coverage in many areas throughout the state.  The Selectboard noted that the Town does not have any available land but they will take it under consideration.

 

BUDGET HEARING – MODERATOR:  Bill Webb will act as the Moderator for the Budget and Warrant Hearing on February 9th due to the fact that Ernie Vose will be out-of-town. 

 

SWRPC – 2009 Federal Economic Stimulus Initiative:  A request was received from the Southwest Region Planning Commission that the Selectboard complete a project identification

 

Selectboard Meeting – January 29, 2009 – Page 3

 

form with reference to the 2009 Federal Economic Stimulus Initiative.  Following a discussion the Selectboard agreed to take this under advisement.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to recess the regular Selectboard meeting but to enter into a meeting as the Trustees of Hooper Trust.  Mrs. Teague seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion passed unanimously.  The time was 9:12 PM.

 

TRUSTEES OF HOOPER TRUST MEETING

 

Mr. Sawyer called the Trustees of Hooper Trust meeting to order at 9:13 PM.

 

APPROVAL OF VOUCHER REQUEST - New Refrigerator at Hooper Cottage:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve payment of the voucher request in the amount of $510.99 for a new refrigerator at the Hooper Cottage.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting of the Trustees of Hooper Trust and to resume the regular Selectboard meeting.  Mrs. Teague seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion passed unanimously.  The time was 9:16 PM.

 

SELECTBOARD MEETING (Continued)

Mr. Sawyer resumed the regular Selectboard meeting.

 

NON-PUBLIC SESSION:

Mr. Aldrich moved to enter into a Non-Public session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel.  Mrs. Teague seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved unanimously.  The time was 9:18 PM.

 

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 9:29 PM.

TOWN MEETING:  Elaine Moore reported that arrangements have been made to use the Walpole Elementary School for the Annual Town Meeting.

TOWN REPORTS:  Mr. Sawyer distributed draft copies of an annual report he wrote, on behalf of the Selectboard, for the other members to review and edit prior to it being included in the Town Report.

 

Mr. Sawyer declared this meeting adjourned at 9:34 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 February 5, 2009, Selectboard meeting.)