TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

JANUARY 15, 2009

 

Selectboard Present:      Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Jamie Teague

 

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM with four people present in the audience.

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

CRAIG HENDERSON – Board of Tax and Land Appeal:  Craig and Kate Henderson presented information in connection with their Board of Tax and Land Appeal for their property located at 1094 Main Street which they have owned for seven years.  They distributed copies of a report from Hastings Real Estate.  

Mr. Aldrich moved to postpone a decision on the Henderson appeal for one week.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TARA SAD – Community Bus Service:  Tara Sad discussed the fact that some people need rides for medical appointments, etc.  At one of the transportation meetings the Red Cross advised that they provide this service and they would be the coordinators.  The cost to the town would be $2,550/year.  They provide a similar service to the Town of Charlestown.  There is a statute that allows the towns to collect $1.00 extra per vehicle registration to cover this transportation if the Selectboard choose to do so.  The date for Petitions is February 3rd, 2009.  If the Selectboard recommend this Petition the 25 signatures will not be needed.  Mrs. Sad will come back to the next meeting with a Petition to request that this service be provided.  

 

TARA SAD – Cool Monadnock:  Tara Sad advised that there is an organization called “Cool Monadnock” that is interested in doing a study of energy uses from the 2005 utility records of the various town buildings.  The Selectboard asked that the person in charge write them a letter and/or attend a meeting to talk about and provide additional information relative to this request.   

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $83,685.52.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

PAYROLL:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending January 10, 2009, for gross wages in the amount of $16,501.53 or net wages in the amount of $7,278.60.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  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 $4,237.78.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – JANUARY 08, 2009:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of January 08, 2009, as printed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

SELECTBOARD MEETING – RECESSED MEETING / JANUARY 09, 2009:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the recessed meeting of January 09, 2009, as printed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

Selectboard Meeting – January 15, 2009 – Page 2

 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the minutes of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meeting of January 13, 2009.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

INTERSECTION OF RT. 123 AND UPPER WALPOLE ROAD:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of an email from Robert Landry to Doug Graham of the Department of Transportation with reference to the intersection of Route 123 and the Upper Walpole Road.  Mrs. Teague noted that the Selectboard heard the concerns of Mr. and Mrs. McGaffigan and agree with them.  Mr. Sawyer recommended writing a letter to Robert Landry to schedule a meeting at the intersection of Rt. 123 and the Upper Walpole Road to study what can be done. 

 

LaVALLEY VOUCHER:  Paul Colburn at the Solid Waste Facility requested that the Selectboard approve and sign the voucher for LaValley’s Building Supply.

Mr. Aldrich moved to sign the voucher from LaValley’s for the new shed to replace the one that collapsed at the Recycling Center.  The Town received a settlement check from the insurance carrier.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

HUBBARD FARMS – ABATEMENT:  This agenda item was put on-hold. 

 

CLARIFICATION OF OVERTIME:  The Selectboard approved a revised policy on Overtime Pay.  It was agreed that hours worked do not include Vacation, Personal or Sick Time.  If an employee is called out on a town paid holiday they will be paid overtime at one and one-half times their regular rate.

 

VILAS BRIDGE:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of an email from Cathy Bergman, Village of Bellows Falls, following her meeting with them last week.  The Selectboard has written letters to the State before on the deteriorating condition of the Vilas Bridge.  There was a consensus of the Selectboard to contact the Southwest Region Planning Commission to inquire as to who their Transportation Board representative is from Walpole.  The name of the Town’s representative will then be forwarded to Ms. Bergman as the person for her to contact relative to obtaining additional information on the Vilas Bridge. 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

VACHON, CLUKAY & CO., PC – Auditors Here Last Week of January:  Vachon, Clukay & Co., PC, the auditors, will be in the town offices starting on January 26th.  The State recommends that the towns change auditors every five years.  The Selectboard will look into this for next year.

Mr. Aldrich moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the contract with Vachon, Clukay & Co., PC to do the 2008 audit.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

MAPPING:  The Selectboard reviewed proposals from Cartographics and from Avitar to do the up-dating of the maps.

Mr. Aldrich moved to sign the contract with Cartographics for the amount of $2,475.00 for the up-dating of the maps.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – January 15, 2009 – Page 3

 

 

VACATION TIME –TERESA KISSELL- TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 03 TO FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2009:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the four vacation days off, February 03 to February 06, 2009, for Teresa Kissell.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TERESA KISSELL –ATTEND WORKSHOP ON NEW EMPLOYMENT LAW- MARCH 09, 2009, AT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER:  The Selectboard approved this request.

 

MARION and FREDERICK BLAKE –ELDERLY EXEMPTION- MAP 008-002-000:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Elderly Exemption in the amount of $20,000 for Marion and Frederick Blake.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS:  The Selectboard reviewed a draft letter regarding the County Tax Rate that will be sent to the County Commissioners and the Town’s representatives.  Several revisions were made.  It will be re-written and held over to the next meeting. 

 

TOWN REPORTS:  Elaine Moore suggested that the Town Report be put on the internet web page this year.  The Selectboard felt this was a good idea.

 

NON-PUBLIC SESSION:

Mrs. Teague moved to enter into a Non-Public session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel.  Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved unanimously.  The time was 9:26 PM.

 

The regular meeting resumed at 9:40 PM.  There were no announcements.

 

Mrs. Teague moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 9:42 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 22, 2009, Selectboard meeting.)