TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

OCTOBER 29, 2009

 

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

 

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

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

JANICE BARDIS – 21 Hillside Acres, Map 018-016-000:  Janice Bardis explained the drainage problems in her backyard that is caused by water and debris coming down the hill.  Last year it washed-out a part of her driveway and some foundation work had to be done.  It has gotten worse in the last five years.  Mr. Sawyer spoke to the Highway Road Agent, Jim Terrell, who has done extensive work in that area; he is aware of the drainage problem.

 

FRANK SIBLEY – 15 Hillside Acres, Map 018-015-000:  Frank Sibley is a neighbor of Ms. Bardis.  The storm last Saturday caused more damage.  He displayed some pictures of the damaged areas on his computer.  Mr. Sibley walked the area, did some extensive research and stated that the surface water is coming from Wentworth Road that then flows onto the Old Keene Road.  He traced this flow on a map.  There is a gully with the capacity to take much of the water if it is routed there.  Mr. Sibley offered to explain this solution to Mr. Terrell; estimated cost of the project would be about $720.00.  Mr. Sawyer advised that Mr. Terrell plans to attend the Selectboard meeting next Thursday.  This will be an agenda item.       

 

ERIC SMITH – Southwest Region Planning Commission:  Mr. Smith, Planner with SWRPC, submitted Requisition No. 7 in the amount of $1,018.00 for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the Monadnock Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) / Andrus Associates LLC located in the Dunning Building in North Walpole.

Mr. Sawyer moved to sign Requisition No. 7 in the amount of $1,018.00 for the CDBG for Andrus Associates LLC.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Smith left some information on the Brownfields Program.  SWRPC has funding to do site assessment work and they are available to assist the Town if requested to do so.  There was a consensus of the Selectboard to find out more about this program therefore a tentative meeting date was scheduled for Thursday, December 3rd at 7:00 PM.

 

LUCY WEBER – Vilas Bridge:  Mrs. Weber wanted to up-date the Selectboard and to be sure they are not missing any opportunities to move forward with the Vilas Bridge.  The Vilas Bridge is on the State’s Ten Year Plan; scheduled for repairs in 2015.  She has talked with the Assistant Commissioner.  She recommended that the Selectboard write a letter to him.  Mrs. Teague will formulate the letter and ask the North Walpole Board of Commissioners to sign it also as closure of the bridge impacts them a lot.  A few of the concerns are safety, Mutual Aid access, traffic and being good neighbors to our surrounding communities.  The Planning Board will be asked to send a similar letter.  Copies of the letters will be sent to the SWRPC as the Town would appreciate their support of this project.  Lucy Weber and Tara Sad will be happy to attend any meetings that the Selectboard feel they should go to.

 

ANDREW DEY:  Mr. Dey up-dated the Selectboard on the grant for the weatherization of the Town Hall and the North Walpole Fire Station building.  The next step is for the Town to invoice the State for one-third of the grant.  He will work with Mrs. Clough on the direct deposit. 

 

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Originally he felt the work could be done this fall but the process took longer than he thought so some work might not begin until the winter.  Mr. Dey would like to meet with some key people on Wednesday, November 4th at 8:30 am.  They need to walk the buildings, re-visit how to use the money to make the best use of it.  He will meet with the North Walpole Board of Commissioners during one of their regular meetings soon.

 

BETHANY COURSEN – Monthly Bingo:  Bethany Coursen inquired about holding a monthly bingo at the Walpole Village School as a fundraiser.  Mrs. Teague advised that the State has regulations on bingo; this information will be passed onto Mrs. Coursen.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $45,086.99.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

PAYROLL:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending October 24, 2009, for gross wages in the amount of $17,283.33 or net wages in the amount of $9,500.72.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  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 $3,872.32.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING –October 22, 2009:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 22, 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.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

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

·         Zoning Board of Adjustment – October 21, 2009; and

·         North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – October 27, 2009.

 

ABATEMENT:

WALPOLE WATER –Hazelton– 105 Prospect Hill Road- Map 008-066-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to grant the Water Abatement for interest only in the amount of $33.69 for Priscilla Hazelton.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

REFUND:

WALPOLE SEWER –Moore- 38 Center St.- Map 028-113-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to grant the Refund in the amount of $153.83 for Kimberly Moore.  This is the result of an over-payment of the Sewer bill.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

WARRANT: 

SUPPLEMENTAL WARRANT –Agnes Blanchard- Map 013-021-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Tax Collectors Supplemental Warrant, Tax Year 2009, Walpole Property Taxes in the amount of $250.00 to Agnes Blanchard.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Selectboard Meeting –October 29, 2009– Page 3

 

BUILDING PERMIT:

MICHAEL & KATHERINE NERRIE -507 March Hill Rd- Map 011-059-000:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve Building Permit No. 2009-027 to add a roof mounted Photovoltaic System to the existing roof (solar) for Michael and Katherine Nerrie.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

2010 MEDICAL INSURANCE RATES:  Due to the projected 2010 increased rates, Mrs. Teague will research the health insurance options and report back to the Selectboard.

 

CARTOGRAPHICS – Don Butson:  Mr. Sawyer suggested that a representative from the Planning Board be asked to attend the next meeting when Mr. Butson from Cartographics will do a presentation.  This meeting was scheduled for Thursday, November 5th starting at 7:00 PM.

 

TURKEYS FOR EMPLOYEES:  Mrs. Clough obtained prices per pound for turkeys from several stores in the area.

Mr. Sawyer moved to order the turkeys from Ralph’s Market in Charlestown.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously. 

 

VACHON, CLUKAY & CO., PC – Second Invoice:  Mrs. Teague volunteered to do some research on the additional invoice and to write a letter to Vachon, Clukay & Co., PC with a copy to be sent to the State.

 

SEWER JETTER:  Mark Houghton asked Jim Terrell if the Highway Department would be interested in buying the sewer jetter but he is not, therefore Mark Houghton would like to advertise it.  The Selectboard approved his request.    

 

DOWNSTAIRS MEETING ROOM:  The painting in the downstairs meeting room is finished, a window and vents have been installed and the carpeting should be done next Wednesday.   

 

NEW BUSINESS:

LETTER FROM ROBERT KASPER, Walpole Veterans Memorial:  Mr. Sawyer moved that the Selectboard accept the letter from Robert Kasper, on behalf of the Bridge Wilson Post #77, and accept the check in the amount of $9,500.00 to be used for the perpetual up-dating of the names inscribed on the Walpole Veterans Memorial.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

LETTER FROM JIM and PAM BAUCOM -40 School St.- Map 019-055-000:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a letter from Jim and Pam Baucom outlining flooding problems on their property several times each year.  Mr. Aldrich spoke to Jim Terrell about this and he is going to do some research on it.  Mrs. Teague recommended that a letter be sent to Jim and Pam Baucom to advise that the Selectboard has been in touch with Jim Terrell who is researching the flooding on their property and he will address it as soon.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY –Flood Maps:  Mrs. Clough was asked to contact Richard Hurlburt to make him aware of this correspondence from Homeland Security.

 

STU BAILEY –Ball Playing on the Common:  Mr. Bailey replaced the two broken spindles on the Band Stand.  He is concerned with people playing ball near the Band Stand and requested that

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the Selectboard restrict this.  He originally agreed to pay for maintenance but not vandalism.  Following a discussion, the Selectboard agreed to erect some signs and to monitor the area with a video camera to see what is causing this damage.

 

RADIO INTEROPERABILITY GRANT:  Mrs. Teague moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Radio Interoperability Grant application for the Fire Department.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

GREAT BROOK BRIDGE:  Mr. Aldrich announced that the Great Brook Bridge is out therefore Mill Road is closed for the winter.  (This is similar damage to what occurred on March Hill).

 

STREET LIGHTS:  Mr. Sawyer would like to work on the street lights to see if some of them can be eliminated.  Mrs. Clough was asked to contact National Grid to ask for a listing of the street lights.  This information will be reviewed during the budget process.

 

LETTER TO BE SIGNED:

SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY SERVICES –Warrant Item:  Southwestern Community Services requested that the Town include $1,200 on the Warrant.

Mrs. Teague moved to agree to include Southwestern Community Services on the Town Warrant for $1,200.  The Chairman is authorized to sign the confirmation letter to them.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Adjournment:  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 9:49 PM.

 

MEETING OF THE HOOPER TRUSTEES

Mr. Aldrich called the meeting of the Hooper Trustees to order at 9:50 PM.

 

HOOPER ELECTRICAL UPGRADE INVOICE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to send the invoice from the Everett Houghton Co., Inc. in the amount of $5,550.00 to the Trustees of Trust Funds to be paid out of the Hooper Maintenance Fund.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mrs. Teague moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 9:56 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 November 5, 2009, Selectboard meeting.)