TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

AUGUST 06, 2009

 

Selectboard Present:     Whitney Aldrich, Jamie Teague, Sheldon Sawyer

 

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

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

TIM and ANNA BLANC –BTLA APPEAL- Map 011-043-000:  Anna Blanc discussed their Appeal to the Board of Tax and Land Appeals regarding their Valley Road property.  Their main concern was the assessment on the apartment over the garage where they are now living until renovations on the house are completed.  It is not their intent to rent this apartment but rather to convert it into the master bedroom.  Avitar feels the recent appraisal by Powers Associates is low.  After a review of the assessment figures and square footage it was determined that the square footage of the apartment was included in the house figures.  There was no separate calculation for the apartment.  Mr. and Mrs. Blanc will let the office know if they will sign the settlement agreement or if they wish to pursue the BTLA Appeal.    

 

ANDREW DEY – Tri Village Energy (Request of Whitney Aldrich):  Tara Sad noted that Andrew Dey was unable to attend this meeting.  When he returns he will contact Audrey to keep the Selectboard informed on his plans.  Mrs. Sad did not feel it would be necessary to cancel any more of the weddings booked in the Town Hall as they will try not to have any visual impact while the work is being done.  They are flexible on the start date.  Mrs. Sad talked with Ray Boas about the Walpole Players play.  The Tri Village Energy Committee’s next meeting is Friday, August 7th at 7:00 pm; it will be at the gazebo or in the Town Hall depending on the weather.    

 

JIM TERRELL – March Hill Road (Request of Whitney Aldrich):  Jim Terrell invited Erin Darrow from Darrow Civil Engineering, PLLC, to do an over-view of the process they have been going through to make repairs on the March Hill Road.  On August 3rd she wrote a letter to the Department of Environmental Services (DES) requesting an emergency authorization for the construction of improvements but that was denied.  Ms. Darrow then requested that they re-consider the emergency authorization.  She explained that there is minimal width on the road for one lane of traffic only; it is a safety issue.  There is not a lot of site distance.  School will be starting soon; this is a school bus route.  If the road is closed it will pose an emergency access concern to homes that exist to the east along March Hill Road, beyond this culvert crossing.  The heavy participation caused it to erode some more; Jim Terrell said the slope dipped more today.  He advised that they have a traffic count with an average of 300-to-500 vehicles a day on that road.  Tara Sad will call the DES Commissioner if the Town does not get an answer soon.

 

Jim Terrell reported that Granite State Electric will take the tree down to below their primary lines on the Old Drewsville Road.  The tree is within the right-of-way and it is a safety issue.      

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $528,633.14.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

The above amount includes a monthly payment in the amount of $472,979.46 to the Fall Mountain Region School District.

 

 

Selectboard Meeting –August 06, 2009- Page 2

 

PAYROLL:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending August 01, 2009, for gross wages in the amount of $22,156.54 or net wages in the amount of $13,418.00.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,597.87.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING –July 30, 2009:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of July 30, 2009, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the Minutes of the following meetings:  1) Cemetery Committee – July 17, 2009; and 2) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners – August 04, 2009.

 

REFUND:

CARL & BETH SHELTON – Map 010-008-000 (Property Tax) – Sandra Smith:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Notice of Property Tax Refund in the amount of $1,773.00 for Carl and Beth Shelton.  Both the owners and the mortgagee paid the taxes.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

BUILDING PERMIT:

STEVEN & STEPHANIE FULLER –Map 008-095-005:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2009-017 for Steven and Stephanie Fuller to construct a 10’ x 12’ deck on Thompson Road.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

AUDITOR LETTERS (2) TO BE SIGNED:  Mr. Sawyer moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the two routine annual letters to the auditors.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TOWN HALL REPAIRS –First Floor- (DRA Letter):  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to the Department of Revenue Administration regarding the Town Hall repairs.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

AUDITORS – Roberts, Greene & Drolet, PLLC:  Mr. Sawyer moved to accept the contract from Roberts, Greene & Drolet, PLLC for one year with a contingency for two years.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Sawyer moved to have Mrs. Moore write a letter to Vachon and Clukay and to sign it on behalf of the Selectboard.  The letter will express the Selectboard’s appreciation for their previous services but that the State of New Hampshire encourages towns to change auditing companies periodically.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TOWN HALL ROOF:  Mrs. Moore contacted five roofing companies but only one bid was received. 

Selectboard Meeting –August 06, 2009- Page 3

 

Mrs. Teague moved to hire Guyer and Son Roofing from Keene, NH to repair the roof for the amount of $2,350.00.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

VILAS BRIDGE – (Sheldon Sawyer):  Mr. Sawyer announced that the Walpole Selectboard will meet with the Rockingham Selectboard on the Bellows Falls side of the Vilas Bridge on Thursday, August 13, 2009, at 4:30 PM to do a site visit.  The North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners, Representatives Tara Sad and Lucy Weber, and a representative from the Southwest Region Planning Commission have been invited to attend.  Mr. Sawyer will invite the Planning Board during their next meeting.  Following the site visit there will be a meeting at the Walpole Town Hall to outline a plan to attempt to get the bridge re-opened as soon as possible.

 

BOSTON POST CANE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to present the Boston Cane to Marion Fennessey.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

RECYCLE –WRAP COMMITTEE- Part Time Person:  Two applications were received for the part time position at the Solid Waste Facility.  Mr. Aldrich advised that the WRAP Committee will be meeting next Thursday afternoon therefore he suggested that they make a recommendation.  Since Mrs. Teague will be unable to attend this meeting, Mr. Aldrich will represent the Selectboard.

 

BARNETT HILL ROAD – Viewing:  Following receipt of the Petition from Gail Beaudoin during last weeks meeting, Mrs. Teague and Mr. Aldrich agreed to meet at the Town Hall on Saturday at 8:00 am and then will proceed to Barnett Hill Road to meet with Ms. Beaudoin, to observe the traffic and to walk a portion of the road.

 

BERNARD KARNACEWICZ – North Walpole:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of another letter from Bernard Karnacewicz relative to his fence.  Following a discussion the Selectboard agreed that a follow-up letter be sent to Mr. Karnacewicz outlining the same terms as previously stated in the first letter.

 

IRVING OIL BILL:  Mrs. Moore advised that another bill was received from Irving Oil but now they have added interest.  It was not for an authorized delivery but the oil was ultimately used.

Mrs. Teague moved to send Irving Oil a letter of explanation about this not being an authorized delivery by Jim Terrell but that the oil was used therefore the Town is enclosing a check for payment without the late fees.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

DONN LOUNSBURY – Odd Jobs at Town Hall:  Mr. Sawyer was contacted by Mr. Lounsbury who inquired about doing some odd jobs that need to be done in the Town Hall.  It was agreed that there are some odd jobs including safety issue items that need to be taken care of.  Mrs. Moore will make a list and discuss them with Mr. Lounsbury.

 

VACATION DAYS – Elaine Moore:  Mrs. Teague moved to allow Elaine Moore to take three vacation days at her discretion.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

PERSONAL DAYS – Paul Colburn:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve three personal days for Paul Colburn on August 14, August 21 and August 28, 2009.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Selectboard Meeting –August 06, 2009- Page 4

 

CONSERVATION COMMISSION:  Mr. Aldrich attended the last Conservation Commission (CC) meeting and they moved to appoint Mel Schupack as their representative to the Southwest Region Planning Commission with the stipulation that this is approved by the Selectboard. 

Mr. Sawyer moved to pass over this appointment until the next meeting.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Adjournment:

Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 9:27 PM.

 

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING

 

Mr. Aldrich called the meeting of the Hooper Trustees to order at 9:28 PM.

 

HOOPER GOLF CLUB LEASE:  The Selectboard suggested the names of four residents they felt might be interested in serving on the Hooper Golf Club lease.  Mrs. Moore will contact them to see if they are willing to serve and, if so, to see what meeting dates and times would be convenient for them.

 

Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 9:34 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

                                                                        _____________________

                                                                        Whitney R. Aldrich, Chair

 

                                                                        _____________________

                                                                        Jamie J. Teague

 

                                                                        _____________________

                                                                        Sheldon S. Sawyer

 

 

(Note:  These are unapproved minutes.  Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the minutes of the August 13, 2009, Selectboard meeting.)