TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

JANUARY 8, 2009

 

Selectboard Present:      Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich

(Absent: Jamie Teague)

 

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:32 PM with four people present in the audience.

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

JIM TERRELL – Old Drewsville Bridge:  The Selectboard is concerned with the overage on the Old Drewsville Bridge project.  Mr. Terrell obtained a quote for $31,000 but it was up-graded to approximately $41,000; once he was committed to the project it moved forward.  The NH Department of Environmental Services would not allow them to use a concrete box culvert therefore they had to work around that to avoid going into the water.  This change was approved by Warren Stevens.  When the project was started there were sufficient funds in the highway department budget but then there were unforeseeable storm expenditures.  The balance is $16,854.  Mr. Sawyer felt there would have to be another Warrant Article on next years Warrant to handle the additional monies.

 

JIM TERRELL - Clarification of Overtime:  The Selectboard feel there is a need to clarify overtime and what the 40-hours is comprised of but they were hoping to discuss this with a full board present.  The question on overtime involves weeks when there is vacation, sick and/or holiday time.  An opinion will be obtained from the Local Government Center and the firm that worked on the Personnel Policy.  A decision was made to pay the employees for the over-time, as submitted, this week; checks will be processed tomorrow.

 

JIM TERRELL – End of Probation Pay Increase:  The Selectboard discussed paying the $1.00/hour increase at the end of the probation periods for the employees now affected.

Mr. Aldrich moved that the Selectboard agree to pay the $1.00 increase for the highway employees that are now on probation but they will review the policy for new people hired.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.              

 

JIM TERRELL – North Walpole Village:  Mr. Terrell referenced recent meeting minutes received from the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners.  He had talked to one resident on Church Street to resolve an issue of snow being left in a driveway after the sidewalk was plowed.  This was an unusual occurrence and had been taken care of.  A decision was made to send a letter to the Commissioners to inquire as to what streets they refer to, the number of miles, and other pertinent information with regards to the front end loader.  

 

CATHY BERGMANN and EVERETT HAMMOND – Vilas Bridge:  Cathy Bergmann, President of the Bellows Falls Village Corporation, and Everett Hammond, Town of Rockingham Public Works Director, are putting together a stimulus package to submit to the State of Vermont.  They know that the Vilas Bridge belongs to the State of New Hampshire yet Walpole and Rockingham share in its historical and architectural significance.  Ms. Bergmann and Mr. Hammond asked for permission from the Selectboard to include the Vilas Bridge in their stimulus package.  Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich felt this would be a good idea and recommended giving them a letter to confirm their support of the inclusion of the bridge into their stimulus package.  Mr. Sawyer noted that the Vilas Bridge is on the State of NH Ten Year Plan.    

 

Selectboard Meeting – January 8, 2009 – Page 2

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $544,136.01.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

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

 

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending January 3, 2008, for gross wages in the amount of $15,305.86 or net wages in the amount of $7,310.14.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  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 $3,660.67.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – December 31, 2008:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of December 31, 2008, with the following correction:  Page 2 –Conservation Voucher- add “that this payment will be taken out of the Fanny Mason Forest Fund”.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the minutes of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meeting of December 30, 2008. 

 

WARRANTS:

PAUL LOONEY –MAP 004-020-001- Report of Timber Cut – Operation 08-461-12:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Timber Tax in the amount of $332.41 for Paul Looney on the Old Keene Road.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

BUDGET 2008 BOTTOM LINE NUMBERS:  The Selectboard put this agenda item “on-hold” until they meet on Friday, January 9th, 2009, at 10:00 am.

 

FINALIZE BUDGET:  The Selectboard put this agenda item “on-hold” until they meet on Friday, January 9th, 2009, at 10:00 am.

 

SET HEARING DATE:  The Selectboard set the date for the proposed 2009 Warrant and Budget Hearing for Monday, February 9th, 2009, at 7:30 pm in the Town Hall.

 

NORTH WALPOLE METER READING TRAINING CLASS – Mark Houghton and Teresa Kissell:  Mr. Sawyer advised and Mr. Aldrich agreed that if any time is spent doing training or reading water meters in North Walpole the Village Precinct will be charged by the Town at the appropriate rate of pay.

   

SWRPC –MEDC/ANDRUS ASSOCIATES – CDBG #8-050-CDED:  Mr. Aldrich moved that the Selectboard complete the signing for Requisition No. 2 in the amount of $9,500, Invoice dated December 11, 2008, from the Monadnock Economic Development Corporation to the NH Community Development Finance Authority for Andrus Associates.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously. 

 

Selectboard Meeting – January 8, 2009 – Page 3

 

 

HUBBARD FARMS – ABATEMENT:  There was a consensus of the Selectboard to put this agenda item “on-hold” for clarification.

 

MERRIAM FARMS – BRADLEY & FAULKNER, PC- Meeting:  The Selectboard is waiting for a meeting date to be set on the Merriam Farms matter.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

BURTON & BARBARA EMERSON –Elderly Exemption- Map 013-031-001:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the Elderly Exemption for Burton & Barbara Emerson.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

GRANT –Form 486-4- DES Yearly Wastewater Grant:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the Request for Certification for the NH Department of Environmental Services for the annual funding for the Wastewater Grant.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

RECREATION ALARM – Police Billing:  The Selectboard will review the security system at the Recreation area.

 

CLOSE FINANCIAL BOOKS 10th OF THE MONTH:  Mr. Aldrich moved to authorize that the financial books will be closed for the year 2008 on January 10th, 2009.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING – February 5, 2009:  The Selectboard announced that the Annual School District meeting will be held on February 5, 2009, at 6:30 pm at the Fall Mountain District Regional High School.

 

SALLY and FRANK McGAFFIGAN – Dangerous Intersection Concern:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a letter from Sally and Frank McGaffigan expressing concern for the potentially dangerous intersection of Route 123 and the Upper Valley Road.  They asked that the Selectboard look at it and help to resolve it.  Mr. Sawyer recommended that a letter be written to Mr. and Mrs. McGaffigan to explain that this is a State road and is out of the jurisdiction of the Town Selectboard therefore they would urge Mr. and Mrs. McGaffigan to direct a letter to the NH Department of Transportation.  In the past the Selectboard has complained to the NH DOT and they will continue to do so as it is a dangerous intersection.         

 

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS:  The Selectboard feel that the projected County budget for 2009 is excessive.  A letter will be written to their Representative expressing this concern with a copy to the Commissioners; a copy will also be sent to the newspaper.   

 

Mr. Sawyer recessed this meeting at 10:02 pm as the Selectboard entered into a meeting of the Trustees of the Hooper Fund.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – January 8, 2009 – Page 4

 

 

MEETING OF THE TRUSTEES OF HOOPER FUND

 

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting of the Trustees of Hooper Fund to order at 10:05 pm.

 

LONG’S ROOFING – Roof At Pro Shop Invoice:  Mr. Sawyer moved to pay the bill from Long’s Roofing in the amount of $14,600 for the installation of a roof over the Pro Shop.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

160 PROSPECT HILL – Refrigerator Problem:  The tenant at 160 Prospect Hill reported that there is a problem with the refrigerator.  It is anticipated that it is at least 15 years old.  The Selectboard will authorize the tenant to purchase a reasonable replacement.

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting of the Trustees of Hooper Fund.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 10:09 pm.

 

 

SELECTBOARD MEETING (Continued)

 

Mr. Aldrich moved to recess this meeting until Friday, January 9th, 2009, at 10:00 am.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 10:11 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 January 15, 2009, Selectboard meeting.)