TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

MAY 21, 2009

 

Selectboard Present:     Whitney Aldrich (Chair); Jamie Teague, Sheldon Sawyer

 

Mr. Sawyer, Acting Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with three people present in the audience.  He advised that Mr. Aldrich would be a little late.

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

NEIL COUGHLIN – Assessing Question:  Mr. Coughlin had two concerns with his recent tax bill.  He will be paying new taxes for four years while people that were not included in this “random draw” will be excluded.  As a result his taxes went up 9.17% which he feels is excessive.  Elaine Moore outlined the features and the building features that the assessors changed that resulted in the increased value.  Avitar said they are following State regulations.  (Whitney Aldrich came into the meeting.)  Following a discussion the Selectboard agreed to look at the Coughlin property on Thursday, May 28th, at 8:00 AM.

 

BALDASARO PROPERTY – Assessing Question:  Joseph Baldasaro contacted the office relative to the increased value on his property.  Elaine Moore looked at the property and noted several discrepancies with the current card and the assessor’s changes that she outlined to the Selectboard.  A revised assessment would reduce the new value from $200,400 to $199,200.

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the assessing changes as presented to decrease the value.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $33,057.76.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

PAYROLL:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending May 16, 2009, for gross wages in the amount of $14,448.99 or net wages in the amount of $6,626.86.  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 $3,260.36.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously. 

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – May 14, 2009:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of May 14, 2009, as printed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Mr. Aldrich amended the motion as follows:  Page 3, under Ernest and Wanda Way, lines 2 and 3 – change “for Ernest and Wanda Way” to “for the purchasers of Ernest and Wanda Way’s property.”  Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich approved the motion and amendment.  Mrs. Teague abstained as she was not present at this meeting.

 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the minutes of the following meetings:  1) Cemetery Committee – May 08, 2009; 2) Planning Board – May 12, 2009; 3) Zoning Board – May 20, 2009; and 4) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners – May 19, 2009. 

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – May 21, 2009 – Page 2

 

ABATEMENTS:

JOHN O’BRIEN –Map 108-007-000- Water:  Mr. Sawyer moved to grant the Abatement in the amount of $63.00 to John O’Brien because the outside (second) meter was to be billed only in the fall.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

EMMA O’BRIEN –Map 003-050-001:  Mr. Sawyer moved to grant the Abatement in the total amount of $470.62 for the 2008 and 2009 Property Taxes for the Heirs of Emma O’Brien.  The Deed to the Town for unpaid taxes had not been recorded.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously. 

 

WARRANT:

JESSICA A. WILSON –Map 013-041-001:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve this Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Land Use Change Tax in the amount of $7,820.00 for Jessica A. Wilson.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

BUILDING PERMIT:

LAWRENCE A. BURDICK REVO TRUST –Map 021-009-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2009-007 for Lawrence A. Burdick Revo Trust to renovate an existing building with a 6’ x 24’ addition on the back of 72 Elm Street.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

MEETING WITH TERRY KNOWLES – Ref: Hooper –June 11, 2009- 10:00 am at Town Hall:  Mr. Sawyer announced that the Selectboard will meet with Terry Knowles on June 11, 2009, at 10:00 am at the Town Hall regarding the Hooper Property Trust.

 

MERRIAM FARM –Posting Notice for Building on Class 6 Road:  The Selectboard scheduled a Public Hearing for Merriam Farm to build on a Class VI Road on June 9th, 2009, at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall.  This will be posted in the customary locations.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

RECREATION 2009 EMPLOYEE RATES:  The Selectboard discussed proposed 2009 Recreation employee salaries.  Mr. Aldrich stated that Town employees were not given pay raises in 2009 yet salary increases are being proposed for these seasonal employees.

Mr. Sawyer moved to deny any pay increases other than to meet the minimum wage requirements for the Recreation Department employees in 2009.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

SCHOOL CROSSWALK PAINTING:  Sam Jacobs from the Walpole Elementary School contacted Mrs. Teague requesting that the words “Slow School” be painted in the road by the school.  The Selectboard discussed the fact that the road painting was done prior to the installation of the blinking lights.  Mr. Sawyer noted that there also is a 25 MPH sign.  Therefore a decision was made not to do the painting by the school at this time.   

 

RECYCLE CLOSED TUESDAY MAY 26 FOR HOLIDAY:  The Selectboard announced that the Recycle Facility will be closed on Tuesday, May 26th for the Memorial Day Holiday.

 

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – May 21, 2009 – Page 3

 

APPOINTMENT OF SHELDON SAWYER TO THE SWRPC TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD:  Mr. Aldrich acknowledged that the Selectboard appointed Sheldon Sawyer to the Southwest Regional Planning Commission Transportation Advisory Board during their meeting on April 14, 2009.

 

APPOINTMENTS OF BEN DAVISS and ROBERT MILLER TO SWRPC:  Mr. Sawyer advised that the Selectboard appoints two representatives to the Southwest Regional Planning Commission – one for two years and one for four years.

Mr. Sawyer moved to appoint Robert Miller for the four year term and Ben Daviss for a two year term to the Southwest Regional Planning Commission as the Town of Walpole’s representatives.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

AVITAR MEETING – JULY 15, 2009:  Mrs. Teague moved to allow Elaine Moore to attend the Avitar meeting on July 15, 2009.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

LGC WORKSHOP:  Mrs. Teague and Mr. Aldrich are planning to attend the Local Government Center Workshop on Saturday, June 13th in Concord.  Mr. Aldrich will attend the second workshop on Thursday, June 4th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in Rindge.

 

WREATHS FOR TOWN HALL:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the purchase of seven Memorial Day wreaths.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

QUESTION REGARDING NEIGHBOR’S TREES:  Mr. Barrett would like to know what his rights are regarding the cutting of his neighbor’s limbs that lean over onto his property.  This agenda item was put on-hold to allow time for Elaine Moore to contact the Local Government Center for a legal opinion. 

 

SEWER BILL:  Mrs. Teague explained that Bud Shaughnessey received a sewer bill for $120.00 which he questioned as all his previous bills are for small amounts.  Mr. Shaughnessey could not hear any water running but a plumber discovered a leak in the toilet tank.  The North Walpole Commissioners will request a pro-rated figure based on his past usage.  Mr. Sawyer recommended that after North Walpole makes their adjustment they send the information to Walpole for a similar adjustment. 

 

LOCAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS:  Local Energy Solutions sent a notice to the Town that they will be holding a meeting in Concord on June 20th.  This will be forwarded to the Tri Village Commission.

 

 

LETTER:

BERNARD KARNACIEWICZ –37 Center Street- Map 028-116-000:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve and sign the letter to Bernard Karnaciewicz.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mrs. Teague moved to adjourn this meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 9:22 PM.

 

 

Selectboard Meeting – May 21, 2009 – Page 4

 

 

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING

 

Mr. Aldrich called the meeting of the Hooper Trustees to order at 9:24 PM.

 

FUEL TANK REMOVAL ESTIMATES:  Mr. Aldrich announced that two fuel tank removal bids were received.  He opened and read them as follows:

1)      E.E. Houghton Company - $2,245.00 plus $472.50 if soil sampling is required;

2)      M.E. Matthews, Inc. - $2,840.00.

 

Mr. Sawyer moved to inform E.E. Houghton that he received the bid to remove the 500 gallon tank and to replace it with a new smaller tank inside.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague who noted that the Selectboard did not have a copy of the specs; she discussed the process of the bids.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

HOOPER GOLF CLUB:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a memo from Jack Noonan, Chairman of the Hooper Golf Club, recommending a Practice Facility Study.  There was a consensus to pass this over pending receipt of additional information. 

 

Adjournment:  Mrs. Teague moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 9:32 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

                                                                        _______________________

                                                                        Whitney R. Aldrich

 

                                                                        _______________________

                                                                        Jamie J. Teague

 

                                                                        _______________________

                                                                        Sheldon S. Sawyer

 

 

(Note:  These are unapproved minutes.  Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the minutes of the May 28, 2009, Selectboard meeting.)