TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

MARCH 4, 2010

 

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

 

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

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

POLICE CHIEF DAVID HEWES:  Chief Hewes received two quotes for software and other equipment for the new computers that were donated by Walmart at no cost to the Town.  One quote was low while the second one was high. He would like to have this resolved as soon as possible as the department is three weeks behind in sending data to the State.  Mrs. Teague recommended obtaining a third quote that will be a good comparison.  She will provide the dispatcher/secretary with some information tomorrow in order to obtain this quote.  Chief Hewes will come back to the meeting next Thursday for a final decision from the Selectboard.

 

Chief Hewes reported that there is a suspect in custody following the armed robbery last week.  Right now they are working 90% on criminal cases.  The Selectboard thanked Chief Hewes, Lt. Paquette and the other officers for doing such a good job.       

 

JIM TERRELL – Road Agent:  Jim Terrell explained the process he used when contracting for the new highway department truck.  By ordering in 2009 saved the town a substantial amount of money and he was able to order the emissions system he wanted; the actual purchasing was contingent upon a favorable vote of the residents.  Maurice Biron from L & B Trucking felt they could have saved the Town some money but due to circumstances it did not work out this time.  He asked the Town to give them the opportunity to quote the next time.  They have a new owner, are located right across the river and would provide top-notch maintenance.  He invited interested people to attend one of their demonstrations of Freightliner trucks on March 16th.

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT:  Fire Chief Richard Hurlburt came in to sign the Building Permit for Shaw’s Supermarket.      

 

NON-PUBLIC SESSION – RSA 91-A:3 II:

Mr. Sawyer moved to enter into a Non-Public meeting pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel and ( c) Reputations.  Mrs. Teague seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved.  The time was 8:11 PM.

 

The regular meeting resumed at 8:39 PM.

No announcements were made.

 

PAYROLL: 

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending February 27, 2010, for checks dated March 5, 2010, for gross wages in the amount of $23,187.59 or net wages in the amount of $12,476.63.  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 $5,944.07.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Selectboard Meeting –March 4, 2010- Page 2

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $470,969.65.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

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

 

NH DEPARTMENT OF LABOR:  Mr. Sawyer moved to authorize the payment of the Assessment of Civil Penalty in the amount of $900.00 for three violations of RSA 281-A:6411 and RSA 281-A:64111due to not having a Safety Summary Form, no establishment of a Joint Loss Management Committee (JLMC) and no Duties and Responsibilities of the JLMC.  This is being done and approved under protest.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

There was a consensus of the Selectboard to bring this to the attention of the Town’s Representatives Tara Sad and Lucy Weber.    

 

VOIDED CHECK:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the voided check register for check No. 055040 in the amount of $290.60 as it was a lost check.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – February 25, 2010:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of February 25, 2010, 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.

 

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of February 25, 2010, as printed.  The Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich in favor, the Minutes were approved.  Mrs. Teague abstained as she was not present. 

 

COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed Minutes of the following meeting:

Mrs. Clough was asked to request a copy of the Warrant Articles from North Walpole.

 

REFUNDS:

NORTH WALPOLE PROPERTY TAX REFUND – David & Marybeth Gordon – Map 029-005-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to grant the Refund in the amount of $244.08 for David and Marybeth Gordon.  This was the result of an overpayment on the 2009 taxes.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TOWN OF WALPOLE TAX CREDITS: 

Mr. Sawyer moved to grant the following Refunds.  These are the result of overpayment on the 2009 Property taxes:

Selectboard Meeting –March 4, 2010- Page 3

 

·         Robert S. Popovac, Map 003-013-003 - $8.21.

Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

ABATEMENTS:

TOWN OF WALPOLE, Russell Street, North Walpole, Map 030-055-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Property Tax Abatement for 2008 in the amount of $47.00 plus interest for the Town of Walpole.  This property is exempt and should not have been taxed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TOWN OF WALPOLE, Center Street, North Walpole, Map 028-115-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Property Tax Abatement for 2006 in the amount of $802.23 plus interest for the Town of Walpole.  This is for entry ways to the railroad tunnels and should not have been billed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

WELLSTONE ASSOCIATES, 11 Maplewood Circle, Map 028-115-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Water/Sewer in the amount of $233.66 plus interest for Wellstone Associates.  This bill should have been for water only.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

LEE BEERS, 17 Mountain View Road, Map 029-029-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Water/Sewer in the amount of $67.94 plus interest for Lee Beers.  They have a private septic system so should not have been billed for sewer.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously. 

 

NORTH WALPOLE VILLAGE HOUSING, Map 028-102-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Property Tax Abatement for 2009 in the amount of $5.50 for the North Walpole Village Housing.  This is interest due to the delay in billing and receiving payment.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

NORTH WALPOLE VILLAGE HOUSING, Map 028-011-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Property Tax Abatement for 2009 in the amount of $27.11 for the North Walpole Village Housing.  This is interest due to the delay in billing and receiving payment.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

WARRANTS:

TIMBER TAX LEVY’S:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the three Warrants for Timber Tax Levy’s as follows:

·         Meadowsend Timberlands, LTD, Map 006-021-000 - $2,187.35;

·         Peter Renzelman, Map 013-014-000 - $98.59;

·         Peter Renzelman, Map 012-072-000 - $330.90

The total amount is $2,616.84.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

BUILDING PERMIT:

ERIC FRINK, 131 Merriam Road, Map 003-054-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2010-005 for Eric Frink to construct a two story, three bedroom house with attached garage on 131 Merriam Road.  This is a renewal of a 2009 Permit.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

Selectboard Meeting –March 4, 2010- Page 4

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

BOSTON AND MAINE RAILROAD:  Mrs. Teague moved to have Teresa Kissell proceed with  Deeding ownership of the following three parcels to the Town:

Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

PEPSI COMMUNITY PROGRAM:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a letter from Pepsi advising that they are looking for 16 towns in New England that need Pepsi volunteers who are ready to get to work and help the towns.  They are encouraging the town to apply to their Pepsi Supports Surrounding Towns Program.

Mrs. Teague moved to forward this letter to the Chair of the Recreation Committee and also to Mary Lou Huffling.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

INTERNET-EMAIL ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY:  Mrs. Teague explained that all computer passwords should be on file with the Treasurer in the event of an emergency.  There was a consensus to pass over this agenda item to allow time for further study.  A copy will be forwarded to the Department Heads who have computer availability.  Any questions or concerns should be submitted to Janet Clough.

 

ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE OPEN HOUSE:  The Selectboard encouraged Teresa Kissell to attend an Open House/Overview session for two hours next Thursday at one of the companies where she was considering purchasing some new software.

 

ROBERTS, GREENE & DROLET, PLLC:  Teresa Kissell distributed and reviewed the Control Deficiency Comment and Management Point Development Worksheet forwarded to her from the new auditing firm.  Mrs. Teague recommended that the Selectboard take the next week to read the document and bring it back to the meeting next week. 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

ZONING ORDINANCE: Letter from G. Jeremy Hockensmith, Esq.:  Acknowledgement was made of a legal opinion from Attorney Hockensmith relative to a Zoning Ordinance question.  It will be taken under advisement.   

 

SELECTBOARD MEETINGS – Department Representation:  The following schedule was established to have Department Representation at the Selectboard meetings beginning in April:

 

OTHER BUSINESS:

Soda Machine Monies:  The Selectboard agreed to keep the soda machine money in a separate reserve account for this year.  Mr. Sawyer suggested that, in the future, it would be nice to use it to purchase a dishwasher for the kitchen.

 

 

 

Selectboard Meeting –March 4, 2010- Page 5

 

 

Adjournment:  Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously. The time was 10:06 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 March 11, 2010, Selectboard meeting.)