TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

OCTOBER 15, 2009

 

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

 

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

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

RICHARD HURLBURT:  Mr. Hurlburt had been communicating with the State relative to receiving a reimbursement in the amount of $5,506.00 that goes back to the ice storm.  He has now received an acceptance document that will be signed and returned to the Emergency Management office. 

 

Mr. Hurlburt talked to the Walpole Police Department about having their own emergency power in the station.  Two options for generators were submitted to the Selectboard; Option #1 totals $9,350.00 and Option #2 totals $9,034.00.  There is not enough Emergency Management funding left in this year’s budget therefore the Selectboard will take it into consideration when preparing the 2010 budget. 

 

ROBERT KASPER:  Robert Kasper explained that the American Legion Bridge Wilson Post #77 had approximately $12,000 left after the Veterans’ Memorial was erected.  They proposed turning this over to the Town as a Trust Fund to be used for adding names and maintenance of the monument.  The Selectboard agreed to accept it as a gift to be used for the monument but felt the American Legion should submit, in writing, the intent of their request with the amount to the Selectboard.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $139,898.67.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable voided check register for check No. 054593 that had been issued to Keene Industrial Paper.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

PAYROLL:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending October 10, 2009, and dated October 16, 2009, for gross wages in the amount of $15,368.74 or net wages in the amount of $8,360.25.  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 $3,308.92.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.      

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – October 2, 2009:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 2, 2009, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With Mrs. Teague and Mr. Aldrich in favor, the motion was approved.  Mr. Sawyer abstained as he was not present at this meeting.

 

SELECTBOARD MEETING – October 8, 2009:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 8, 2009, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  With Mrs.

Selectboard Meeting –October 15, 2009- Page 2

 

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

 

SELECTBOARD MEETING – October 12, 2009:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 12, 2009, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With Mrs. Teague and Mr. Aldrich in favor, the motion was approved.  Mr. Sawyer abstained as he was not present at this meeting.

 

COMMITTEE / DEPARTMENT REPORTS: 

The Selectboard received and reviewed the Minutes of the following meetings:

  • Conservation Commission – October 5, 2009; and
  • North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – October 13, 2009.

 

BUILDING PERMIT:

STEVEN & BRENDA BENSON -9 Pinewood Circle, Map 008-052-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to grant Building Permit No. 2009-025 for Steven & Brenda Benson to construct a 16’ x 8’ tool shed on Pinewood Circle.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

DOWNSTAIRS ROOM:  Matt Cormi from the Local Government Center did an inspection of the downstairs room today.  He will be sending a list of his recommendations.  When received, it can be seen in the Selectboard’s office.  Teresa Kissell will be asked to set this up as a separate budget line item.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

SIGNING THE TAX RATE:  Mr. Sawyer moved that the Selectboard will come in, individually, to sign the official Tax Rate when it is received from the Department of Revenue Administration.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.  

 

SEWER JETTER:  Mark Houghton talked to Mr. Aldrich about the possibility of selling the sewer jetter. 

Mrs. Teague moved to have Mark Houghton contact Jim Terrell first to see if there is a need for the Highway Department to have one and then proceed accordingly based on Jim Terrell’s answer.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TAXES ON THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH PARSONAGE RENTAL:  The Congregational Church questioned the taxes they pay on the parsonage rental.  They were advised that if it is occupied on April 1st they have to pay a full year of taxes.

 

PLANNING AND USE MANUALS:  The new Planning and Use manuals are $10.00 each.

Mr. Sawyer moved to order one for the Selectboard and one for each department as they are a useful reference.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

LETTER FROM THE TOWN OF LANGDON:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a letter from the Town of Langdon.  They would like to set-up a round table discussion on Monday, October 26th for the purpose of funding the Fall Mountain Food Shelf and its companion organization, Friendly Meals.  There was a consensus to pass over this agenda item until the next meeting.

 

Selectboard Meeting –October 15, 2009- Page 3

 

GOVERNMENT COMES TO THE PEOPLE RECOMMENDATIONS:  The Selectboard mentioned a few people that could be recognized.  Copies of this letter will be passed on to other groups.

 

UPDATING THE TOWN HALL RENTAL AGREEMENT:  It was noted that the Town Hall rental agreement does include language to state that deposits will not be returned to people that have made arrangements to rent the Town Hall and then change their minds unless it can be rented to another person/party.  Mrs. Teague did recommend that this section be “bold and underlined”.

 

RECYCLING FACILITY:  Mrs. Teague asked for clarification about who is allowed to bring rubbish to the Walpole Recycling Facility.  A North Walpole resident has been questioning this.  Mr. Aldrich said as long as a Walpole bag is used people can use the facility.  It was noted that the Walpole Selectboard has no jurisdiction or say over the pick-up of rubbish bags in the North Walpole Precinct.  If anyone has any questions they should contact the North Walpole Board of Commissioners.

 

TREE ON COMMON:  Mr. Aldrich noted that the Guy Bemis memorial sycamore tree is close to the Veterans’ Memorial and is staining it.  If two branches are cut the problem will be eliminated.  There was a consensus to call Chris Ricci to see if he will do the trimming and at what cost.

 

Adjournment:  Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 8:42 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 October 22, 2009, Selectboard meeting.)