Reminder: Great Decisions at the Library – 9/21/26
“Great Decisions” Meets Tonight in the Walpole Town Library
Just a quick reminder that “Great Decisions” meets tonight (Monday) at 6:00 p.m. in the Walpole Library with Adrian Basora as moderator of our discussion. We will examine the impacts of Trump’s “America First” foreign policy on our allies and rivals and within our country. Is the “Liberal International Order” forever demolished? How does the war in Iran contradict “America First” priorities?
For the Zoom link, contact Jane Malmberg (jmalmberg@walpoletownlibrary.org) and please join at 6:30 p.m.
Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 9/10/26
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
September 10, 2026, 6:30 PM
34 Elm Street, Walpole, NH 03608
Present: Carolyn Vose (Chair), Steve Dalessio, Cheryl Mayberry
Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration and Recording Secretary (Pro-Tempore)
1. Accounts Payable
Motion to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $706,660.24 for checks dated 9/15/2026 was made by Steve Dalessio and seconded by Chair Vose. The motion carried.
The Board then considered each ACH payment request individually. A brief discussion arose regarding whether ACH items should be presented as a summary rather than itemized line-by-line.
During the discussion of the Reliance Matrix ACH payment, it was noted that billing had not been received for approximately three months. It was clarified that invoices had been sent via email only and were not reaching the appropriate staff member. The issue has since been resolved.
Motion to approve the ACH payment to Fall Mountain Regional School District in the amount of $583,655.19 was made by Steve Dalessio and seconded by Cheryl Mayberry. The motion carried.
Motion to approve the ACH payment to Colonial Life in the amount of $561.68 was made by Steve Dalessio and seconded by Cheryl Mayberry. The motion carried.
Motion to approve the ACH payment to Reliance Matrix in the amount of $4,049.39 was made by Steve Dalessio and seconded by Cheryl Mayberry. The motion carried.
Motion to approve the ACH payment to Consolidated Communications in the amount of $955.63 was made by Steve Dalessio and seconded by Cheryl Mayberry. The motion carried.
Motion to approve the ACH payment to Amazon in the amount of $1,056.70 was made by Steve Dalessio and seconded by Cheryl Mayberry. The motion carried.
2. Payroll
Motion to accept the Payroll Check Register in the amount of $37,517.65 dated 9/11/2026, and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,953.36, was made by Steve Dalessio and seconded by Cheryl Mayberry. The motion carried.
3. Selectboard Meeting Minutes
Motion to accept the Selectboard Meeting Minutes of September 3, 2026 was made by Steve Dalessio and seconded by Cheryl Mayberry. The motion carried.
Motion to accept the Selectboard Non-Public Session Minutes of September 3, 2026, with the stipulation that they shall remain sealed, was made by Steve Dalessio and seconded by Cheryl Mayberry. The motion carried.
4. Committee Reports
The Board acknowledged receipt of the Supervisors of the Checklist Meeting minutes from September 2, 2026. The item was so noted.
5. Old Business
Recycling Center Truck – Authorization Letter to Register
Motion to authorize Steve O’Connor to register the new box truck at the Recycling Center was made by Steve Dalessio and seconded by Cheryl Mayberry. The motion carried.
It was noted that the Recycling Center would be closed the following day due to a holiday, and that Chair Vose would visit the Recycling Center on an alternate day.
Cheryl Mayberry raised the question of whether the Recycling Center should be open to the public for a half-day on Fridays, given that the Center is no longer conducting business pickups in Town, the previous reason for Friday closures. Chair Vose expressed support for the idea and indicated she would consult with Steve O’Connor, the Recycling Center manager, on the matter.
MS-1 Update
A request for an extension until October 1st had been submitted to the State by Avatar on behalf of the Town. Outstanding tasks include utility updates and data verification. It was confirmed that the extension would have no impact on the timing of the tax rate setting.
6. New Business
Highway Safety Grant
The Board considered the annual Highway Safety Grant in the amount of $8,500. It was noted that this is a recurring grant the Town accepts each year, covering patrol-related activities.
Motion that the Selectboard, in a majority vote, accepts the terms of the Highway Safety Grant as presented in the amount of $8,500, and that Police Chief Justin Sanctuary is authorized to sign and initial this agreement, was made by Steve Dalessio and seconded by Cheryl Mayberry. The motion carried.
NHSP JONE Equipment Grant with a Certificate of Authority
The Board reviewed a new NHSP JONE Equipment Grant in the amount of $54,000 to update computers in police cruisers, enabling electronic ticketing and direct connectivity to the State system. It was emphasized that this grant requires no local match and is 100% state funded.
A brief discussion followed regarding how traffic fines are processed in New Hampshire. It was understood that fines are remitted to the State rather than to the municipality, though members acknowledged limited personal familiarity with the local ticketing process.
Chair Vose was identified as the authorized signatory on the Certificate of Authority. It was also noted that the Town’s notary would complete the notarization separately.
Motion to sign the Certificate of Authority authorizing Chair Carolyn Vose to sign on behalf of the Town for the NHSP JONE Equipment Grant was made by Steve Dalessio and seconded by Cheryl Mayberry. The motion carried.
Employee Resignation Letter
The Board acknowledged a resignation letter submitted by Jane Malmberg as Library Director, effective February 26, 2027. It was noted that the letter was addressed to the Trustees of the Town Library, with the Selectboard copied for informational purposes. No formal action was required; the item was acknowledged for the record.
Motion to enter Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A:3 II for reasons (a) (b) (e) at 6:45 PM was made by Steve Dalessio and seconded by Cheryl Mayberry. The motion carried. Cheryl Mayberry moved for the Non-Public Session Minutes to be sealed. Seconded by Steve Dalessio. The Motion carried.
The Selectboard reconvened at 7:01 PM.
Ms. Mayberry clarified how the ACH payment will be prepared for and presented in future agendas.
Ms. Vose declared the meeting adjourned at 7:06 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah Downing, Recording Secretary Pro Tempore
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the September 17, 2026 Selectboard meeting.)
“Prof. RAB’s Wagon of Wonders” at the Walpole Historical Society – 9/19/26
Please join us this Saturday, September 19 at 12:30 pm when Professor RAB’s Wagon of Wonders arrives at the museum. Prof. RAB will be exhibiting recently discovered artifacts illustrating Walpole’s unique and colorful history. The exhibit will continue throughout the afternoon, with wonderful refreshments and fun prizes!
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An event every Saturday, 12:30 pm at the Museum
September 26 – Walking Tour of Walpole’s Architectural History – Bill Ranauro, author of Frontier Elegance, will lead a tour of notable buildings in the village.
October 3 – Historical Treasure Hunt – a hunt throughout the museum, devised by Liam and Lily Schoen, which will reward visitors with surprising discoveries as well as delicious refreshments and great prizes!
October 10 – Favorite Dolls From Our Childhoods – Loribeth Robare will share her knowledge of dolls as she leads a discussion of dolls and the role they play in our early lives and why some of us still collect them. We invite you to bring a favorite doll for show and tell.
October 17 – Celebration of George and Martha Washington – with tea, cake, and special refreshments featuring the Washington favorite – cherries! The couple’s love story will be explored with readings from Mary Higgins Clark’s thoroughly researched book, Mount Vernon Love Story. Enter a raffle to win an antique tea set complete with vintage linens.
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The collections of the Walpole Historical Society contain thousands of items: clothing of all descriptions and eras, photos, pamphlets, books, tools, business ledgers, furniture, minutes of civic organizations, souvenir china, kitchen implements, even some vehicles. These objects have entered our collections through myriad sources: individuals and families donating family heirlooms, eagle-eyed folks at the Transfer Station or the Library Book Sale, basement and attic explorers, collectors seeking a home for their treasures. The Walpole Historical Society collections contain the commonplace and the rare and everything in between–all representing possible stories to discover. Please visit www.WalpoleHistory.com.
Selectboard Meeting Agenda – 9/17/26
TOWN OF WALPOLE
SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA
September 17, 2026
Starting at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall
SELECTBOARD MEETING
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
- ACH approval request for NH Retirement System (NHRS) for $33,087.87
PAYROLL
- Payroll Register totaling $42,681.41 dated 9/18/2026 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,995.75
SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES
- Selectboard Meeting – September 10, 2026
- Selectboard Non-Public Session – September 10, 2026
COMMITTEE REPORTS
- Planning Board Meeting Minutes – September 8, 2026
- Library Trustees Meeting Minutes – September 8, 2026
OLD BUSINESS
Pending Further Actions: Old North Main Bridge/Culvert, School and Union Street Drainage, Parking Ordinance
NEW BUSINESS
- Recognition Letter for Recycling Center
- ClerkMinutes Software
- Governor’s Office of New Opportunities & Rural Transformational Health (Go-North)
- Letter of Deficiency from NH DES
- Fire Station Progress Report Presentation
- SWRPC Fall Meeting
NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (b) (c) (e)
HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING
HOOPER TRUSTEES MINUTES
- Hooper Trustees Meeting Minutes – September 3, 2026
- Hooper Trustees Non-Public Session Minutes – September 3, 2026
HOOPER TRUSTEES PUBLIC BUSINESS
- Staff Resignation Letter
HOOPER TRUSTEES NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II
**Any recording, audio or visual, and/or other devices must be declared at the beginning of the meeting**
Library Trustees Meeting Minutes – 9/8/26
Walpole Town Library
Board of Trustees Meeting
September 8, 2026
Present: Susan Johnson (Chair), Kathy Nerrie (Treasurer), Gail Lahaise, Amy Howard, Erin Bowen, Jean Kobeski (Secretary), Jane Malmberg (Library Director)
Absent: Bill Ranauro, Sarah Mann, Jana Sellarole
Susan called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. in the Community Room of the main library
Approval of Minutes: Gail moved to approve the June minutes; Kathy seconded and all voted in favor. Motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report: Kathy emailed the Treasurer’s Report and Bills to the trustees prior to the meeting. She reported that interest rates are good and we’ve received more money than anticipated from our private fund accounts.
Bills: Kathy stated that the D. Rising Account, which was earmarked for landscaping, is almost out of money. With no further discussion, Gail moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report and Bills. Amy seconded, and all voted in favor. Motion carried.
Old Business
Library Director Search: Amy reported that the committee, consisting of trustees, staff, and community members, met during the summer to establish the hiring process. She stated candidates will initially be vetted over the phone so that they understand what the job entails: duties, salary, benefits, etc. The committee will then make recommendations to the trustees.
Jane, Susan, and Amy met with the selectboard to discuss the hiring process. They were told the selectboard may want to meet the candidates; therefore they would like the library to keep them informed about the progress. It was recommended that the salary range be posted in the job description but vacation hours are a question and will need to be discussed further. Amy told the selectboard the library would like to have overlap between Jane and the new hire, possibly for four weeks. She was told that, as long as the library doesn’t go 10% over budget, that would be acceptable. Jane said that in December, when budget meetings are held, she will be able to talk more about the overlap situation with the selectboard.
Jane sent a copy of her resignation letter to the trustees and will send a copy to Sara Downing.
Job postings are imminent.
Scholarship Wrap-up: Susan shared a thank-you note to the board from Emily Heddon, this year’s library scholarship recipient.
New Business: Jane shared a draft of her proposed 2027 library budget with the board. It will be discussed next month.
Technology: Jane explained the payment process for Libby, which 30% of our cardholders use. She received funding ($3,000) from the Friends of the Library to purchase additional copies of popular ebooks and audiobooks that would be available exclusively for our patrons. This will shorten the wait time for these popular titles. She will send out an announcement to the community. Both Hoopla and Libby are included in the technology line of the budget and Jane raised it by $4,000 for 2027.
There was a discussion about current donations to the library and to the Friends.
Operations: Julie Rios will present a program on floods in North Walpole on Saturday, September 26 at 1:30 in the main library.
Jane stated that an author has contacted her about a possible author talk.
Buildings and Grounds:
Gardens: Susan met with Jennifer about the gardens. Jennifer said perennials are doing so well she’ll be able to move some around and not use as many annuals next year. Jennifer asked for an increase in the landscaping budget; trustees will look at the budget in December before approving. Kathy volunteered to be the Buildings and Grounds liaison from the board.
Old Front Door: Some people have expressed interest in buying/having the old front door of the library. The board decided to hold a silent auction, with the door going to the highest bidder. Jane said she would make a poster announcing this for the library as soon as she gets info about the door and measurements from Michael Nerrie, who is currently storing the door.
Railing: Jane has spoken to the selectboard, Mark Houghton, and Prime about the railing. Due to costly necessary unrelated repairs in the library, the selectboard suggests that the railing project be put into a warrant article. Jane said Doug will write up a proposal and that’s how this will proceed.
Adjournment: Gail moved to adjourn the meeting to go into non-public session. Amy seconded and all voted in favor. Susan adjourned the meeting at 4:52p.m.
The next meeting will be October 13, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. in Walpole.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jean Kobeski, Recording Secretary
** These minutes are in draft form until approved at the October 13, 2026 meeting.
October Clarion Closing Date – 9/21/26
Hard to believe, but as the CLARION begins its 16th year, it is time again for your submissions for the October 2026 CLARION. Closing date for the October issue is Monday September 21 – 5 pm Walpole time. – Always earlier if you can. Submission guidelines, and contact email are on the CLARION website. — https://thewalpoleclarion.com
Your early submissions are always welcome and appreciated as I start developing the layout well beforehand. If you have some “news” send it along. In addition, I like to have on-hand material of interest that is not time-sensitive to fill space to round out a pleasing issue. So, if you would “like to be in print” and have something to write and share (images as well), send along for possible inclusion space permitting. Please do remember, it is the advertisers in each issue that make this community publication possible, so please support and thank them.
If you have any questions, or interest in placing an advertisement, reaching over 1900 Walpole, North Walpole and Drewsville addresses, I welcome your inquiries, so please do get in touch with me. Advertising information and contact information is on the CLARION website.
Thank you, RAY BOAS, Publisher
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