TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECT BOARD

APRIL 2, 2009

 

Select Board Present:   Whitney Aldrich (Chair), Jamie Teague, Sheldon Sawyer

 

Mr. Aldrich called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with seven people in the audience.  He noted that prior to this meeting the Select Board held a Public Hearing on the proposed High Street - One Way Closure.

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

NORTH WALPOLE VILLAGE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – Vilas Bridge:  Barbara O’Brien and Pat Kiniry, Commissioners, expressed concern with the increased traffic in the Village as the result of the Vilas Bridge closing.  Killeen Street is a State road.  When trains go through they block Killeen Street beyond the Five Star Beverage store; in the other direction Center Street is blocked beyond the new restaurant.  This results in the blockage of many side streets as well.  Pat Kiniry advised that when traffic is coming from the Bellows Falls side of the bridge the “Yield” sign is in the wrong location and is too small.  They would like the State to get a bigger “Yield” sign and to move it closer to the Bellows Falls side.  Drivers should be warned and mandated to use directional signals.  It is a dangerous intersection.  Emergency vehicles will not be able to get through.  There needs to be a way to open it up.  Posting “Do Not Block” signs would help.  There was discussion relative to asking Southwest Region Planning Commission to do a traffic count on the NH side of the bridge.  The Select Board agreed that a meeting of the Select Board and North Walpole Village Commissioners should be set-up, as soon as possible, with Doug Graham of the Swanzey Department of Transportation to work toward a solution for the traffic issues in this area. 

 

WATER RATES:  Bill Moses urged the Select Board not to increase the water rates because this is not a good time to do it due to the economy.  He suggested that they look at alternatives for operating the system.

 

TOWN RESOLUTION:  John Rogers had a copy of the Resolution adopted by the Select Board in December of 1998 relative to dog owners “cleaning-up” after their dogs.  Children playing step in the defecation left on the sidewalks and in play areas.  He noted that after an ordinance is adopted it should be enforced. 

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $79,422.83.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

PAYROLL:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending March 28, 2009 for gross wages in the amount of $16,795.86 or net wages in the amount of $8,710.13.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $3,609.54.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

MINUTES:

SELECT BOARD MEETING – March 26, 2009:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Select Board meeting of March 26, 2009, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With

Select Board Meeting – April 02, 2009 – Page 2

 

Mrs. Teague and Mr. Aldrich in favor the motion was approved.  Mr. Sawyer abstained as he was not present at this meeting.

 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Select Board received and reviewed minutes of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meetings of March 24, 2009 and March 31, 2009.

 

WARRANTS:

TIMBER CUT –Mary McMahon– Map 003-001-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection for Walpole Timber Cut Fees in the amount of $1,284.00 for Mary McMahon.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TIMBER CUT –Mary McMahon- Map 003-012-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Timber Cut Fees in the amount of $673.00 for Mary McMahon.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

RECLASSIFICATION OF OLD DREWSVILLE ROAD:  The Select Board received a letter from the State of New Hampshire confirming the reclassification of a portion of the Old Drewsville Road beginning at the junction of Old Main Street and continuing northerly approximately 0.61 miles to the present Town portion of the Old Drewsville Road. 

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and accept the State’s reclassification of a portion of the Old Drewsville Road from a Class II Highway to a Class V Highway.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

MINUTES OF MARCH 19, 2009 – Correction:  The Select Board clarified the following in the March 19, 2009, Minutes:  Page 4 – under “Skid Steer” - that the Skid Steer loader will be purchased from “E.W. Greenwood Supply” with the assistance of “Pinnacleview Equipment”.

 

NH THE BEAUTIFUL GRANT:  Mrs. Teague moved to sign the NH The Beautiful Grant form for $2,500 to be used toward the Bobcat.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

APPOINTMENTS:  There was a consensus of the Select Board to put this agenda item on-hold.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

2008 TAX RATIO:  A notice was received from the NH Department of Revenue Administration notifying that the Town’s 2008 Tax Ratio is still at 100%.  This was for the period of October 01, 2007 to September 30, 2008.

 

BANDSTAND RENTAL/RESERVATION – JULY 18, 2009:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve rental of the Bandstand on July 18, 2009 by Jodie Pratt.  Mr. Sawyer seconded the motion and made the amendment that there will be no alterations to it.  Motion and amendment passed unanimously.

 

JUNK YARD LICENSE – E.W. SALVAGE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to grant the Junk Yard License for E.W. Salvage at 402 Valley Road and to accept the $25.00 fee for one year from March 25, 2009 to March 25, 2010.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

Select Board Meeting – April 02, 2009 – Page 3

 

CURRENT USE –Michael and Janet Swain- Map 013-031-003:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Current Use application for Michael and Janet Swain for 15.8 acres.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

INTENT TO EXCAVATE – Hodgkins & Sons (2):  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the application for the Intent to Excavate for Hodgkins & Sons off Route 12 – No. 09-461-04-E.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the application for the Intent to Excavate for Hodgkins & Sons off the Old Drewsville Road – No. 09-461-05-E.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.           

 

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT PROBATION INCREASES (2):  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the following payroll increases for two Highway Department employees as their probation period has ended:  1) Ralph Campbell - $12.50/hour to $13.50/hour; and 2) Nate Westney - $12.00/hour to $12.50/hour.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

VACATION TIME – Teresa Kissell:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve vacation time on April 16th and 17th, 2009, for Teresa Kissell.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

FANNY MASON FOREST – Letter From the Trustees of Trust Funds: The Select Board acknowledged receipt of a letter from the Trustees of Trust Funds indicating their opposition to buying the Hodgkins property that is being added to the Fanny Mason Forest.  Mr. Sawyer noted that the minutes of the March 19th meeting confirm that “the timber tax money received will be placed in the Mason Forest account when timbering is complete”.   

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS (Continued): 

MARK HOUGHTON -            Water/Sewer Rates and Handheld Meter Reader:  The Select Board reviewed various figures on the Revenues, Expenses, Profit Margins and Fund Balances for both the Water and Sewer Departments as well as the statement outlining the quarterly billing wastewater figures from the Village of Bellows Falls.  Mr. Houghton explained that usage went down drastically over the last few years; an example was the closing of several Hubbard Farms properties.  He met with the Granite State Electric Company and National Grid relative to working on reducing electric costs but that will take time.

Mr. Sawyer moved to raise the Water and Sewer rates by 8%. This will be reflected in the next billing to be mailed out in April 2009.   Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich in favor the motion was approved.  Abstained: Mrs. Teague.

 

There was discussion regarding the elimination of credits on second meters used to monitor water that does not go down into the sewer system.  They are usually read once a year in the fall.  Mr. Houghton recommended that the Select Board eliminate future installations of second meters but maintain the ones currently in use.  There was a consensus of the Select Board to put this on-hold for one week to allow time to obtain additional input from the Bookkeeper.

 

 

Mr. Sawyer moved to recess this meeting to allow the Select Board to enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously. The time was 9:44 PM.

 

 

Select Board Meeting – April 02, 2009 – Page 4

 

 

MEETING OF THE HOOPER TRUSTEES

 

Mr. Aldrich called the meeting of the Hooper Trustees to order at 9:45 PM.

 

HOOPER GOLF CLUB LEASE:  The Hooper Trustees acknowledged receipt of a letter from the Trustees of the Hooper Golf Club requesting that they be invited to attend the meeting when discussions begin on the next lease agreement.  The Select Board has not yet set a date to begin this deliberation.  

 

Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this Hooper Trustees Meeting.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously. The time was 9:51 PM.

 

REGULAR SELECT BOARD MEETING (Continued)

 

Mr. Aldrich resumed the regular meeting of the Select Board.

 

NON-PUBLIC MEETING:  Mr. Sawyer moved to enter into a Non-Public meeting pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (e) Pending Claims or Litigation.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  On a roll call with all in favor, the motion was approved unanimously.  The time was 9:52 PM. 

 

The regular meeting resumed at 10:08 PM.

 

Mr. Sawyer moved that the Select Board agrees with the settlement that Attorney Nancy Oliver of the Jackson Lewis, LLP, firm recommends on the labor dispute.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Adjournment:

Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 10:12 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 April 9, 2009, Select Board meeting.)