TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

APRIL 8, 2010

 

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:

PAUL COLBURN – Solid Waste Facility:  Mr. Colburn reported that they now have the new used truck, it is registered but a few things need to be done to it.  The old truck will be put out for bid.  It is now in the front of the facility with a “for sale” sign on it.  The waste oil burner is 90% complete; they are waiting for an oil holding tank from the Highway Department.  The Oil Grant does not start until July so there is time to complete it.  Hopefully, the money generated from the sale of the old truck will be used to purchase a used bailer from Lebanon; this will allow them to be more productive.  Today the employees passed their exams for the Weight Masters licenses.  The Re-use Center will re-open on April 15th.  Putney Paper in Claremont closed so they are having trouble tracking their monies.  There are a few people from Community Service working at the facility.  They have been working on “sealing-up” the building.  Hazardous waste collection dates will start in July 2010.  Mr. Colburn requested permission to take off Saturday, April 17th, 2010.

Mr. Sawyer moved to allow Mr. Colburn to have April 17th, 2010, off.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.    

 

MYRA MANSOURI:  Mrs. Mansouri received an email from Pam Aslinger last Saturday regarding the septic issue at the former “Potato Barn”.  She read the original email from Cliff Harper, Harper Environmental Associates, and her response.  A copy of the document will be attached as a part of these Minutes.  Mr. Sawyer noted that Mark Houghton has a copy of the 1995 septic system design.  He asked Janet Clough to notify Mr. Harper that the Selectboard is still doing research; Mr. Houghton will be meeting with Attorney Hockinsmith next week. 

 

BOB DUDLEY:  Mr. Dudley lives on Prospect Hill and explained drainage issues in front of his property.  In the past he was able to clean the grate but is no longer able to do so.  The water is making its own exit under the road.  It is a small matter now but it should be taken care of soon before it becomes a big problem.  Mr. Sawyer noted that it is a State road but the Selectboard will ask Jim Terrell to look at it and then contact the Department of Transportation.

 

ANDREW DEY – Walpole Energy Retrofit Finances:  Mr. Dey wanted to up-date the Selectboard on the Energy Grant.  He distributed copies of the “Walpole Energy Retrofit Finances” work sheet.  Work in the Town Hall will begin this month; they will start at the top and work down.  In the next couple of months the Selectboard should start to see some action in Walpole and North Walpole.  He is developing a plan for North Walpole for more insulation to make it more energy efficient if they receive more funding.  Mr. Dey is working with Blanc and Bailey and Mark Houghton. They have not spent much money to-date.   He applied for another energy grant for the three schools and received $26,000.  This grant will have to go through the Town therefore he asked the Selectboard for their acceptance of this.  The Selectmen approved this request. 

 

GEORGE GRAVES:  Mr. Graves asked if the Town had discontinued the Class VI road known as Phipps Road.  They would like to gate it off to keep traffic out of there.  The Selectboard will research this.

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PAYROLL:

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending April 3, 2010, for checks dated April 09, 2010, for gross wages in the amount of $16,467.25 or net wages in the amount of $8,284.64.  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 $3,638.44.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $584,538.56.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

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

 

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the voided check register for check No. 055464 in the amount of $15,013.00 for the Trustees of Trust Funds.  This amount should have been broken down into two checks rather than one.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

WATER DEPARTMENT – H.R. PRESCOTT & SONS INVOICE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve payment of this invoice from H.R. Prescott & Sons in the amount of $3,578.88 for a medallion hydrant.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

SELECTBOARD MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING  - April 1, 2010:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of April 01, 2010, as printed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

BUILDING PERMIT:

MEH Elm Street, LLC - MARK HOUGHTON – 9 Elm Street, Walpole, Map & Lot #020-056-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2010-12 for Mark Houghton to construct an 8’ x 14’ deck on 9 Elm Street.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

REFUNDS:

SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY SERVICES, NW VILLAGE HOUSING, 26 Kiniry Street, Map & Lot #028-011-000: Mrs. Teague moved to sign the 2007 and 2008 Refunds for Property Taxes in the amount of $2,696.16 for Southwestern Community Services.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY SERVICES, NW VILLAGE HOUSING, 10 Merchant Street, Map & Lot #028-102-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the 2007 and 2008 Refunds for Property Taxes in the amount of $3,804.48 for Southwestern Community Services.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

EXCAVATION:

INTENT TO EXCAVATE:  HODGKINS & SONS, INC., Old Drewsville Road, Walpole, Map & Lot #012-073-000:  Mrs. Teague moved to sign the Notice of Intent to Excavate #10-461-05 for Hodgkins & Sons, Inc.

Selectboard Meeting –April 8, 2010- Page 3

 

on the Old Drewsville Road for an estimated amount of cubic yards of sand to be excavated.   Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

INTENT TO EXCAVATE: HODGKINS & SONS, INC., Route 12, Walpole, Map & Lot #001-010-000:  Mrs. Teague moved to sign the Notice of Intent to Excavate #10-461-04 for Hodgkins & Sons, Inc. on Route 12 for an estimated amount of cubic yards of fill to be excavated.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

WARRANTS:

WALPOLE WATER FEES:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Walpole Warrant for the Collection of Water Fees in the amount of $73,002.36.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

WALPOLE SEWER FEES:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Walpole Warrant for the Collection of Sewer Fees in the amount of $44,854.33.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

NORTH WALPOLE SEWER FEES:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the North Walpole Warrant for the Collection of North Walpole Sewer Fees in the amount of $40,147.31.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

ESTIMATE OF REPAIRS TO KASPER & ASSOCIATES BUILDING:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve payment of the estimate from M.J. Swain Building & Remodeling in the amount of $1,840.00 for repairs to the Kasper & Associates building which is the result of winter damage.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously. 

 

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS:  The Selectboard reviewed the memo from Teresa Kissell relative to her compilation of a Management Discussion & Analysis.  There was a consensus to include this in the Annual Financial Report for the year ending December 31, 2009.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S COMPUTER:  Janet Clough reported that the lock on the filing cabinet in the hallway is broken.  When the new computer is operating she suggested putting the old computer in the hallway for people to do research; they will still have a paper trail in the office.  When properties are up-dated it will be automatically done in the computer in the hallway.  Her concern is the safety of the computer when the Town Hall is open.  Mrs. Mansouri recommended using a cart to roll it in and out each day. 

 

MAD BROOK:  Mrs. Mansouri expressed concern about the re-routing of water into the Mad Brook.  The Selectboard will ask Mr. Terrell to do an inspection of the area.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

WALPOLE FARMERS MARKET GUIDELINES:  A copy of the Walpole Farmers Market Guidelines was left for the Selectboard’s information.  After reviewing the document, Mr. Sawyer recommended that Bruce Bickford be asked to come in as the Selectboard has concerns about the parameters of the guidelines.

 

PALMER PROPERTY:  Mr. Aldrich went to the Doug Palmer property and confirmed that it does appear that, as of today, Mr. Palmer is living there. 

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LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:

DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY, CURBSIDE PICK-UP FORM:  Mr. Sawyer moved to have the Chairman sign the February 2010 Wind Storm – Debris Removal Activity document for Walpole.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

WORKSHOP APPROVAL:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve having Janet Clough attend the 2010 Local Officials 2-part workshop on Wednesday, June 2nd and Wednesday, June 9th in Marlborough, NH.  The workshop is at no-cost and they will receive the 2010 edition of Knowing the Territory.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.   

 

Next Meeting:  The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 15, 2010.  Mrs. Teague will be unable to attend.      

      

Adjournment:  Mrs. Teague moved to adjourn this meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a Hooper Trustees meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 9:38 PM.

 

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING

 

Mr. Aldrich called the Hooper Trustees meeting to order at 9:39 PM. 

 

HOOPER COTTAGE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to pay the bill from E.E. Houghton Co., Inc. in the amount of $117.00.  A notice will be sent to the tenant advising that in the future they need to monitor all users on what gets flushed down the toilet as the Hooper Trustees will not pay future bills unless there is a failure of the system.   Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Adjournment:  Mrs. Teague moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr.  Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.  The time was 9:46 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 April 15, 2010, Selectboard meeting.)