TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

OCTOBER 22, 2009

 

Selectboard Present:     Whitney Aldrich (Chair); Sheldon Sawyer

                                    (Absent: Jamie Teague)

 

Mr. Aldrich called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with four people present in the audience.

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

ELISE WYMAN:  Mrs. Wyman would like to have something done to clean-up the vacant property at 3 Dearborn Circle.  Mr. Aldrich advised that when there was a health issue there they did step in but, as the Selectboard, they have no authority on the grass, shrubs, etc.  She then asked for information on the bank that holds the mortgage.  Mrs. Clough will do some research and notify Mrs. Wyman.

 

BLANC AND BAILEY – Matt Blanc:  Matt Blanc reported that Mark Houghton will be doing the electrical work involved with the Town Hall ceiling repairs.  The Selectboard approved his request to have a dumpster and job trailer on the lawn between the building and sidewalk.  Mr. Blanc recommended that the HVAC system be isolated from the first floor hall to control the dust throughout the building; this work will be under a change order (they can isolate the zones).  He will talk to Andrew Dey about implementing the grant with this work.  The work will be done around the Town Hall schedule to keep everything neat and orderly.  They expect to begin immobilizing the beginning of next week.  The Selectboard are anxious to get this project done as soon as possible.            

 

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT – Larry Devault:  Larry Devault brought the Selectboard up-to-date on the Town’s preparations regarding “H1N1”.  Currently the vaccines are coming into the Greater Monadnock Network.  Pregnant women, children and first responders are eligible.  The Fire Department will be taken care of by the Visiting Nurses Association.  Points of distribution might be opened after January 1st, 2010.  They feel they are on top of this and are in decent shape in terms of taking care of the townspeople; the planning stages are in place.

 

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT – Jim Terrell:  Jim Terrell reported that effective November 1st the Highway crew will be back on regular winter hours.  The wash-out area on March Hill is all done.  There is a problem on another area of March Hill near the Ricci property; to avoid another emergency the headwall was taken care of.  The island on Brewery Road was taken out and it has been paved over.  The work on River Road North is finished.  Winter salt has been ordered.  A culvert was replaced on Bookseller Road; the headwall will be removed soon.

 

Jim Terrell handed in the traffic count that was done on Barnett Hill.  The count was minor and speeds were average; almost all were passenger cars.  This is an average width road, 19’ to 21’, for Walpole.  He intends to do another count in one area.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $14,866.14.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payment to Cold River Bridges, LLC. in the amount of $18,771.40 for repairs to the other part of March Hill.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Selectboard Meeting –October 22, 2009- Page 2

 

PAYROLL:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending October 17, 2009, for gross wages in the amount of $13,134.21 or net wages in the amount of $6,413.88.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  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 $2,835.00.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – October 15, 2009:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 15, 2009, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the Minutes of the North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners meeting on October 20, 2009. 

 

ABATEMENTS:

PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT – Map 005-018-001:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the 2008 Property Tax Abatement in the amount of $20.96 for Map 005-018-001 due to a computer error.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Sawyer requested that Mrs. Clough ask the Town Clerk for the number of tax liens that were placed on Town properties.

 

WARRANTS:

WARRANT FOR WALPOLE WATER FEES:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Water Fees in the amount of $86,649.38.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

WARRANT FOR WALPOLE SEWER FEES:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Sewer Fees in the amount of $51,562.86.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

WARRANT FOR NORTH WALPOLE SEWER FEES:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of North Walpole Sewer Fees in the amount of $42,459.42.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

BUILDING PERMIT:

BEVAN & WENDY FARNHAM -418 March Hill Road- Map 009-041-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to grant Building Permit No. 2009-026 for Bevan & Wendy Farnham to rebuild the barn that was previously burned.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

DOWNSTAIRS ROOM: Sherwin Williams Carpet Quote and Line of Credit Application:  Sherwin Williams will be able to do the carpeting in the downstairs meeting room as quickly as November 4th.  Everything has been removed from that room.  Jerry Brady will do the painting.  The Recycling Center has some windows with screens that will be used for ventilation. 

Selectboard Meeting –October 22, 2009- Page 3

 

Mr. Sawyer moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Sherwin Williams credit application.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

BLANC & BAILEY CONTRACT:  Mr. Sawyer moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Blanc and Bailey contract.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TREES AROUND THE VETERAN’S MEMORIAL:  Chris Ricci looked at the trees and has agreed to trim several trees near the Memorial and Town Hall.

 

LETTER FROM THE TOWN OF LANGDON:  A letter was received from the Town of Langdon Selectboard advising that the meeting date for the roundtable discussion for creative ideas relative to the Food Shelf has been changed from Monday, October 26th to Monday, November 2nd at 7:00 pm at the Langdon Town Office. 

Mr. Sawyer moved to pass over this agenda item.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TOWN HALL ROOF:  Mrs. Clough advised that Guyer and Son Roofing will be here tomorrow or the first of next week to check the roof; he will take care of it before there are any ice build-ups.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

2010 MEDICAL INSURANCE RATES:  The medical insurance rates did not increase last year but the Town has been notified of a 19% increase for 2010. 

Mr. Sawyer moved to wait to discuss this agenda item until a full Selectboard is present.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

REPLACING THE SPINDLES ON THE BAND STAND:  The Selectboard were notified that there are two broken spindles on the Band Stand.  Mrs. Clough was asked to contact Stu Bailey to see if he had any extra spindles.

 

POLICE GRANT FORM:  Mr. Sawyer moved that the Chairman be authorized to sign the Police Grant document for the Police Department radio up-grades.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

FEMA REIMBURSEMENT FOR 2008 ICE STORM:  Mr. Sawyer moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Acceptance of Audit Requirements - DR 1812 for the December 2008 Ice Storm.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

3 DEARBORN CIRCLE PROPERTY – Susan Doyle:  Acknowledgement was made of an email from Susan Doyle from the BH & G Masiello Real Estate office stating that the neighborhood values are being affected by the condition of this property.  She asked the Town to mow the lawn, etc.  The Selectboard previously clarified their position under Public Business.

 

HOLIDAY TURKEYS:  Mr. Sawyer moved to handle Thanksgiving Day turkeys for the employees in the same manner as last year.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

Selectboard Meeting –October 22, 2009- Page 4

 

TERESA KISSELL – Request for Time Off:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the request from Teresa Kissell to take one personal day off on Tuesday, October 27th.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:

2009 PARCEL COUNT REQUEST:  Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the Department of Revenue Administration 2009 Parcel Count document.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Adjournment:  Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 9:08 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 29, 2009, Selectboard meeting.)