TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECT BOARD

MARCH 19, 2009

Select Board Present: Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Jamie Teague

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM with twelve people present in the audience.

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS:

APPOINT CHAIRMAN FOR MARCH 2009 TO MARCH 2010: The Secretary asked for nominations for a Chairman for March 2009 to March 2010.

Mrs. Teague nominated Whitney Aldrich as the Select Board Chairman for March 2009 to March 2010. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. With Mrs. Teague and Mr. Sawyer in favor, the motion was approved. Mr. Aldrich abstained from the vote.

Mr. Aldrich assumed the position as Chairman until after Town Meeting March 2010.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

MICHAEL BERGERON – Tax Credits for Businesses in Walpole: Michael Bergeron, NH Division of Economic Development, presented an overview for the Revitalization Zone Tax Credit (RZTC). James Robb, Division of Economic Development, covers the Walpole region. The municipality would apply to the NH Department of Resources & Economic Development (DRED) to create a zone. After the zone is approved any company in the zone can apply to DRED for tax credit approval. The tax credit does not cost the town anything; it is actually a benefit that can help Walpole attract new business or retain current business. The tax credit goes to companies in Walpole and comes from the state’s general fund, not the Town of Walpole. The general criteria are: (a) Quality and quantity of jobs to be created; (b) Duration of the taxpayer’s commitments with respect to the economic revitalization zone; (c) The amount of the taxpayer’s investment in the project; (d) A precise definition of the location of the facility eligible for the credit; and (e) The maximum amount of the economic revitalization zone tax credit that will be allowed to the business under this agreement for jobs created and for construction or reconstruction expenses. Mr. Robb would explain the advantages to the companies. Peter Wojenski from Bensonwood said this seems like a good opportunity; in these times the businesses need all the help they can get. Bensonwood would be happy to help get this application moving forward. Mrs. Teague wanted to be sure that North Walpole is not over-looked. There was a consensus of the Select Board to refer this to the Planning Board but that the Select Board would make the final decisions.

JIM TERRELL: Summer Hours & High Street: During the Select Board meeting of March 5^th there was a consensus to ask Jim Terrell to come in to discuss his request to begin summer hours on March 28^th. Jim Terrell explained that for the past three years they began with the time change that was about April 1^st until October 1^st. Last year there was no need for work hours on a Friday; a few hours were put in on a Saturday and/or Sunday but that was not included in the Monday through Friday normal work-week. Right now he is short one person so they need everyone to work on the same days; he would not recommend a staggered work week.

Mrs. Teague moved that the summer hours for the Highway Department begin the first full week of April each year and run until such time as Mr. Terrell feels they should change back. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed unanimously.

High Street: Jim Terrell agreed with the Select Board that making High Street one way from Main Street it would solve a lot of problems as it is a tight area. There was a consensus of the Select Board to schedule a Public Hearing on April 2^nd, 2009, at 7:00 PM. Residents living in

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the areas of High Street, Good Circle, and a part of School Street to Union Street that will be affected by this change are to be notified of the Public Hearing.

March Hill: Jim Terrell talked to the DES engineer about March Hill. The Wetland Permit is being worked on.

Old Keene Road Bridge: Jim Terrell talked to someone at the State who confirmed that they are finalizing the settlement for the Old Keene Road Bridge.

DEY – REF: Tri-Village Energy: Mr. Dey explained that he is interested in making buildings more energy efficient. He heard about an Energy Grant and thought the Town might be interested in applying for it so he talked to several members of the Tri Village Committee. Since the application is due on March 23^rd he started filling it out but he felt it would be helpful to have a short letter from the Select Board stating that they support it. Mr. Dey will check with the office tomorrow to see if the Select Board made a decision to write the letter.

OLD BUSINESS:

MASON FOREST: Mr. Shelley and Mrs. Montgomery were present to represent the Conservation Commission (CC). Mr. Shelley advised that their “Proposal for Purchase of Hodgkins Property: A Summary of the Uses and Benefits to the Residents of Walpole” had been submitted to the Select Board. Mr. Sawyer felt they should add horse back riding to the allowed uses. Solar or motion lightings could be put in to hinder vandalism in the open area off Route 12. Mr. Hodgkins noted that the only problem they had was with hunters parking there but not with vandalism. Mr. Shelley said the CC plans to do some pruning and trimming on the east side to open up the trails. He is not in favor of storing equipment in the existing shelter. Mr. Sawyer is concerned with the well as they do not know what lies in the future. He questioned how much it would cost to finish the drilling but cap it for now. Mrs. Teague is saddened that they could not re-negotiate to the $255,000 appraisal price but the $270,000 will not deplete the Mason Forest account; the timber tax money received will be placed in the Mason Forest account when timbering is complete.

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the purchase of the abutting parcel to the Fanny Mason Forest for $270,000, Map 007-007-000, 21.45 acres. Mr. Sawyer seconded and amended the motion to add that this is with the intent that there will be an annual report and there is due diligence when the timber changes (matures) and it can be properly forested. Motion and amendment passed unanimously.

BOARD OF TAXES AND LAND APPEALS – Matthew Suchodolski: Elaine Moore reported that the house is the issue not the land. Loren Martin of Avitar believes this appeal should go back to the BTLA and she will defend it because of the difference in appraisal dates.

Mr. Aldrich moved to deny Matthew Suchodolski’s appeal and to send it back to the BTLA based on the Avitar recommendation. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed unanimously.

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE ADMINISTRATION – REF: Elaine’s Letter to the DRA: Elaine Moore will respond to the letter from the DRA and set up an appointment for someone to come in and talk to the Select Board.

TARA SAD LETTER – Tri-Village Energy: The Select Board acknowledged receipt of a letter from Tara Sad regarding the Tri-Village Energy Committee. Mr. Sawyer would like to have them come in to talk to the Select Board.

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Mr. Sawyer moved to reinstate the Tri-Village Energy Committee and to have them come in to discuss their responsibilities. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.

RESIGNATION – TRI-VILLAGE ENERGY- Jill Robinson: Mrs. Teague moved to accept Jill Robinson’s resignation from the Tri-Village Energy Committee. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed unanimously.

KEENE NEWS ARTICLE ON TOWN MEETING: The Select Board discussed two inaccurate statements in the Keene Sentinel newspaper article relative to Town Meeting; the vests for the Police Department and that the stipends were only paid to the full time employees. Mrs. Teague will request that they do a retraction and publish the accurate information.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $65,907.46. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed unanimously.

PAYROLL: Mrs. Teague moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending March 14, 2009, for gross wages in the amount of $17,731.21 or net wages in the amount of $9,048.50. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the voucher for the stipends for the full time employees in the gross amount of $4,900.00. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the payroll voucher for the election workers for gross wages in the amount of $1,524.00. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. 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 $5,002.49. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed unanimously.

MINUTES:

SELECT BOARD MEETING – March 12, 2009: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Select Board meeting of March 12, 2009, as printed. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich in favor the minutes were approved. Mrs. Teague abstained as she was not present at this meeting.

JOINT MEETING – March 16, 2009: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the Joint Meeting of the Select Board with the Conservation Commission and Trustees of Trust Funds on March 16, 2009, as printed. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Select Board received and reviewed the minutes of the following meetings: 1) Planning Board – March 10, 2009; and 2) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners – March 17, 2009.

BUILDING PERMIT:

GEORGE TSITSONIS – Map 015-005-003: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2009-001 for George and Sheila Tsitsonis to construct a full second floor to the existing house

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and add a new truss roof on the Drewsville Road. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.

ABATEMENTS:

TOWN OF WALPOLE – Map 030-055-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement in the amount of $47.00 for the Town of Walpole on Russell Street as the property is owned by the Town and should not have been taxed. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.

TOWN OF WALPOLE – Map 028-115-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for the Town of Walpole on Center Street as the former railroad tunnel property is now owned by the Town and should not have been taxed. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.

WARRANT:

JEFFREY J. MICHAUD –Map 008-009-008- Timber Cut 08-461-011: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Timber Tax in the amount of $175.00 for Jeffrey J. Michaud. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

SKID STEER: Mrs. Teague moved to purchase the Skid Steer loader, Model S185 in the amount of $18,700.00 from Pinnacleview Equipment to be used by the Recycle/Transfer Center. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed unanimously.

WATER RATE INCREASE: Mark Houghton discussed implementing a water rate increase prior to printing the new water bills. The Select Board asked for additional information before making a decision on the percentage to be used.

CLOSING OF VILAS BRIDGE: Mr. Sawyer announced that the Vilas Bridge was closed this morning by the State. It was on the red list for bridges.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOMELAND SECURITY: The Town received a check in the amount of $30,071.26 from the NH Homeland Security for the ice storm. The Select Board had to sign the document to verify that all the work was done.

Mr. Sawyer moved that the Chairman sign this document for the NH Homeland Security. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.

VETERANS EXEMPTION –Alan Victor- Map 030-003-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Veterans Exemption for Alan Victor for 2009 and forward. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.

INTENT TO EXCAVATE – (4) Cold River Materials: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve four Notices of Intent to Excavate for Cold River Materials as follows:

1. Number 08-461-01-E – Supplemental Notice of Intent to Excavate;

2. Number 09-461-03-E – Notice of Intent to Excavate;

3. Number 09-461-01-E – Notice of Intent to Excavate;

4. Number 09-461-02-E – Notice of Intent to Excavate.

Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.

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VACATION DAYS: Mrs. Teague moved to approve the list of vacation days for Elaine Moore, Teresa Kissell and Audrey Clinger as submitted. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed unanimously.

APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS COMMITTEES: There was a consensus of the Select Board to pass over appointments to the Conservation Commission.

Wrap Committee: Mrs. Teague moved to approve the re-appointments to the WRAP Committee as recommended by their Chairman as follows:

Carol Christian Mike Nerrie

George Watkins Donald Lennon

Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed unanimously.

Hooper Institute Committee: Mrs. Teague moved to appoint Erin Bickford to the Hooper Institute Committee for a three year term or until Town Meeting in March 2011. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed unanimously.

TAX CARD FILE –Request Sandra Smith- Lock Cabinet Wednesdays: The Select Board discussed Sandra Smith’s request to lock the tax card cabinet on Wednesdays when the Select Board office is closed to the public. Following a discussion the Select Board made a decision that the cabinets will stay open five days a week from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

SELECT BOARD – Liaisons: The Select Board chose the departments / committees they will be liaisons to for the March 2009-to-March 2010 year:

Planning Board – Mr. Sawyer Recycle/Transfer – Mrs. Teague

Hooper Institute – Mr. Aldrich Conservation Commission – Mr. Aldrich

Highway – Mrs. Teague Police – Mrs. Teague

Recreation – Mr. Sawyer

LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:

IRVING OIL: The Select Board agreed to put this letter “on-hold” at this time.

DEY: The Select Board signed the letter for Mr. Andrew Dey to authorize him to apply for the RGGI Energy Grant.

Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously. The time was 10:19 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

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Whitney R. Aldrich, Chair

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Jamie J. Teague

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Sheldon S. Sawyer

(Note: These are unapproved minutes. Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the minutes of the March 26, 2009, Select Board meeting.)