TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

DECEMBER 3, 2009

 

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

 

Mr. Aldrich called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM with four people present in the audience.

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

ERIC SMITH – Southwest Regional Planning Commission (SWRPC):  Eric Smith discussed the Brownfields Program.  Brochures provided to the Selectboard during his previous visit were developed by the SWRPC as a part of a 2007 “Brownfields Strategic Outreach and Education Plan”.  A Brownfield is “an abandoned or underused industrial or commercial facility where expansion of redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination”.  A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is the first step in the program at no cost to the community.  A town can support nomination even if they are not the owners however the owner’s permission is required.  The Selectboard agreed to support having Mr. Smith look into potential properties. 

 

Recess Regular Meeting:  Mrs. Teague moved to recess this meeting to allow the Selectboard to enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion was approved unanimously.  The time was 7:30 PM.

 

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING

 

Mr. Aldrich called the Hooper Trustees meeting to order at 7:32 PM.

 

JOE DION – Hooper Property:  The Selectboard and Trustees of Trust Funds had previously talked about contacting a consultant to do an appraisal of the antiques in the Hooper Mansion.  The last one was done about 15 years ago.  There was a consensus to have this done with the funding coming out of the Hooper Maintenance account but it will not be done until May 2010.

 

HOOPER COTTAGE REPAIRS:  Mrs. Teague moved to authorize the hiring of Mark Fetzer to do the repairs to the Hooper cottage.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mrs. Teague moved to adjourn this meeting and to return to the recessed regular Selectboard meeting. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 7:41 PM.

 

SELECTBOARD MEETING (Continued)

 

Mr. Sawyer called the recessed regular Selectboard meeting to order at 7:42 PM.

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS (Continued):

CINDY WESTOVER:  Mrs. Westover asked the Selectboard for guidance on how to proceed with a client who would like to remove a double-wide mobile home and replace it with another one that is 16-feet longer.  The Selectboard advised that a Building Permit would be required. 

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $527,316.91.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Selectboard Meeting –December 03, 2009- Page 2

 

This includes a monthly payment in the amount of $429,031.14 to the Fall Mountain Regional School District.

 

S.E.E.D.S. GRANT:  Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the S.E.E.D.S. Grant (Town Hall Energy Grant) document from the State.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

YEARLY REPORT OF FOREST FIRE WARDEN:  Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the New Hampshire Yearly Report of the Forest Fire Warden based on 330 reports at $2.00/each.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

PAYROLL:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending November 28, 2009, for gross wages in the amount of $14,947.56 or net wages in the amount of $6,990.17.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $3,331.40.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – November 25, 2009:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of November 25, 2009, as printed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

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

·         Hooper Institute Committee – November 17, 2009;

·         Planning Board Work Session – November 24, 2009 **;

·         North Walpole Village District – November 24, 2009;

·         North Walpole Village District – December 01, 2009.

 

** Mr. Sawyer is concerned with the following statement made by Mr. Daviss during the PB Work Session:  “Mr. Daviss asked if the town should consider a list of industrial uses that are not acceptable in Walpole, such as feed lots”.  He feels there is a misconception on Mr. Daviss’s part about “feed lots”.

 

BUILDING PERMIT:

DAVID & SARAH TUCKER, Map 019-001-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2009-031 for David and Sarah Tucker for an additional room to be added to the existing house.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

ACCEPTING OF THE AMERICAN LEGION MONEY:  Mr. Sawyer moved to accept the funds from the American Legion for the cleaning and maintenance of the Veteran’s Memorial.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

NORTH WALPOLE VILLAGE DISTRICT: Letter to NH Dept of Transportation:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a copy of the letter sent to the NH Department of Transportation on behalf of the North Walpole Village District Commissioners regarding the Vilas Bridge closure.

Selectboard Meeting –December 03, 2009- Page 3

 

STATE OF NH WINTERIZATION PAYMENT – November 27, 2009:  Mrs. Clough reported that the Town received a partial payment of the State of NH Winterization Program that the Tri Village Energy Committee obtained.

 

NILES WESTBERG WATER BILL:  A response was received from Niles Westberg stating that the final water and sewer bill was handled by his attorney at the closing.  Mrs. Teague felt they need to pull the paperwork from the time of the sale and to FAX a copy of Mr. Westberg’s reply to Attorney Kasper to try to resolve this issue.

 

INSURANCE DISCUSSION WITH LGC ON December 17, 2009:  Mrs. Clough advised that the Local Government Center will be attending the Selectboard meeting on December 17th at 7:00 PM to discuss the Town’s insurance coverage with them.

 

BARNETT HILL ROAD TRAFFIC COUNTS –November vs. September:  A copy of the traffic counts on Barnett Hill Road will be sent to Ms. Beaudoin.

 

VACHON, CLUKAY & COMPANY, PC:  Mrs. Teague provided an up-date on recent research of the work done and invoices from Vachon, Clukay & Company, PC (auditors).  She will contact them to discuss the findings. 

 

STREET LIGHTS:  Audrey Clinger contacted National Grid regarding the street pole lights, their numbers and locations.  The Selectboard reviewed the information provided.  It was suggested that they replace 44 of the outdated Mercury Vapor lights with energy efficient Mercury Sodium bulbs for a cost saving.  Following a discussion the Selectboard agreed to turn this over to the Tri Village Energy Committee for their recommendations.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – December 24, 2009 (Christmas Eve):  Mrs. Teague moved to change the Selectboard meeting scheduled for December 24th to Wednesday, December 23rd at 4:00 PM.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.  

 

WALMART:  Mr. Sawyer recommended that a Thank You letter be sent to Walmart to thank them for their contributions to the Town’s Police Department and to the Walpole Elementary School.  Mrs. Clough will research the amount.

 

REGIONAL PROSECUTOR PROGRAM MEETING LETTER:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a letter from the Cheshire County Board of Commissioners with reference to the Regional Prosecutor Program.  The next meeting regarding this program will be held on December 15, 2009, at 5:00 PM in the Jury Assembly Room at Cheshire County Superior Court.  Mr. Sawyer noted that full amount for the town’s share of this program will be included in the town’s 2010 budget.

 

NH DOT LETTER – Repairs to Route 12:  A notice was received that the next meeting to discuss the design of the proposed project has been scheduled for December 9, 2009, at 6:00 PM at the North Walpole School on Cray Road in North Walpole, NH.  This meeting offers an opportunity to provide feedback on the preliminary design of the proposed project as well as a chance to raise any concerns the Selectboard or their staff may have regarding the noted resources.  Mrs. Teague will represent the Selectboard.  Notices will be posted at several locations.

 

Selectboard Meeting –December 03, 2009- Page 4

 

LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:

FAIRPOINT: Petition and License:  Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the three copies of the Petition and Pole License for the following: 1 new pole and 1 replacement pole (24/20 ½ and 24/1) on March Hill Road. Seconded by  Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TERESA KISSELL – Local Government Center Class:  Mr. Sawyer moved to grant permission for Teresa Kissell to attend the Financial Account Reconciliation LGC classes on January 12 and January 26, 2010.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

HIGHWAY SAFETY GRANT:  Mr. Sawyer moved to authorize the Chair to sign the Highway Safety Grants for the Town of Walpole.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

EQUALIZATION MUNICIPAL ASSESSMENT DATA SHEETS CERTIFICATE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the Equalization Municipal Assessment Data Sheets Certificate.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Adjournment:  Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 9:14 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 December 10, 2009, Selectboard meeting.)