TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

APRIL 4, 2013

Selectboard Present:     Jamie Teague (Chair); Chas Street; (Whitney Aldrich – late)

 CALL TO ORDER:  Mrs. Teague called the Selectboard meeting to order at 7:00 PM in the Walpole Town Hall with ten people present in the audience.

These are unapproved Minutes.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

NON-PUBLIC SESSION:  Mr. Street moved to enter into a Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel.  Mrs. Teague seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved.

The regular meeting resumed at 7:24 PM.  No announcements were made.

Mr. Aldrich came into the meeting.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

ABUTTERS OF THE PROPOSED PLAYGROUND:  Seven concerned abutters of the proposed playground on Washington Street, across from the Common, were present.  Mr. Charlie Lennon read their letter to the Selectboard as a result of their hearing indirectly that construction of a playground has been proposed on the lot owned by Eleven Westminster Street LLC.  The lot contains the Savings Bank of Walpole, the Walpole Clinic, a busy parking lot and a gazebo.  They asked that:  1) A public hearing be held so all concerned residents have an opportunity to learn what the actual plans for the playground involve, and the opportunity to voice their opinions as to the appropriateness of a playground on this site, and, 2) A Site Plan Review be done by the Planning Board, in light of the change in use proposed for this project.  The letter was submitted by Sheila and Charlie Lennon, Ellie and Fred Ernst, Carole and John Cramer and Fred Dill.  They plan to attend the next Planning Board meeting.  Mrs. Teague advised that now that the Selectboard is aware of this proposed project and the concerns of the abutters they will ask Mrs. Clough to contact the property owners to inquire about the project and to obtain a legal opinion from the Local Government Center.  When the legal opinion is received it will be shared with the abutters.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: 

Mr. Street moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $123,073.85.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

It was noted that $43,000.00 is the payment for Article 5 for the purchase of the Highway roller.

PAYROLL:

Mr. Street moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending March 30, 2013, for checks dated April 5, 2013, for gross wages in the amount of $19,925.86.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Mr. Street moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,451.55.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Mr. Street moved to approve the FICA tax payment in the amount of $1,679.78.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING – March 21, 2013:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the March 21, 2013, Selectboard meeting, as printed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With Mr. Aldrich and Mrs. Teague in favor, the Minutes were approved.  Mr. Street abstained as he was not present at this meeting.

SELECTBOARD MEETING – March 28, 2013:  Mr. Street moved to approve the Minutes of the March 28, 2013, Selectboard meeting, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With Mr. Street and Mr. Aldrich in favor, the Minutes were approved.  Mrs. Teague abstained as she was not present at this meeting.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – March 28, 2013:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard session of March 28, 2013, as printed.  The Minutes will remain sealed until this matter is resolved.  Seconded by Mr. Street.  With Mr. Aldrich and Mr. Street in favor, the Minutes were approved.  Mrs. Teague abstained as she was not present at this session.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the following meeting Minutes:

• Hooper Institute – March 26, 2013;
• Conservation Commission – March 4, 2013;
• North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – April 2, 2013.

Mr. Aldrich left the meeting for a short period of time.

BUILDING PERMITS:

MICHAUD, Wentworth Road, Map & Lot #008-009-008:  Mrs. Teague moved to grant Building Permit No. 2013-06 for Jeffrey J. Michaud to “Enclose a 16’ x 14’ deck into a sun porch”.  Seconded by Mr. Street.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

CRAVEN, (Terrapin Moise, LLC), Reservoir Road, Map & Lot #010-026-002:  Mr. Street moved to grant Building Permit No. 2013-07 for Sidney Craven (Terrapin Moise, LLC) to “Construct a 120’ x 50’ Garage with Suite and a 4 Bedroom Home” pending receipt of Septic System approval.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

WARRANTS:

TIMBER TAX:  MERRIAM FARM, Inc., Merriam Road, Map & Lot #003-050-000:  Mr. Street moved to approve the Certification of Yield Taxes Assessed – Intent Filed During Tax Year: April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013 – and the Warrant for Timber Tax Levy in the amount of $75.16 for Timber Cut #12-461-16  for Merriam Farms, Inc.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

JUNK YARD PERMIT:  Mr. Street moved to grant the Town of Walpole License to E.W. Salvage to Operate a Junk Yard on Valley Road from March 25, 2013 to March 24, 2014.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

WALPOLE SCHOOL REQUEST:  Mr. Street moved to approve the request from the Walpole School to use the Walpole Common on Monday, June 17, 2013, at 6:30 PM for their eighth grade graduating class ceremony and to utilize the entire Town Hall for their graduation party immediately following the ceremony.  There will be no charge for the rental.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

DISCHARGE OF MORTGAGE REQUEST:  Mr. Street moved to approve the request from Southwestern Community Services, Inc. and its affiliated entity, Drewsville Carriage House Limited Partnership to discharge the mortgage that was given to secure the Community Development Block Grant funds which the Town of Walpole made available to develop this project in 1997.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

ROUTE 12 PROJECT INFORMATION:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the letter from DeLucca Fence Company, Inc. advising that their work will begin on April 1, 2013, on the Route 12 project for new guardrails.  Work should be completed prior to the June 28, 2013, completion date.

OLD BUSINESS:

PROCLAMATION:  This Agenda item was put “on-hold” until the next regular meeting.

Mr. Aldrich came back into the meeting.

COMMITTEE VACANCIES:  The list of Committee Vacancies has been posted.  The vacancies are as follows:

• Walpole Recycling Action Committee: Two (2), Three Year Term Seats;
• Hooper Institute Committee:  Three (3), Three Year Term Seats;
• Recreation Committee:  Two (2), Three Year Term Seats;
• Conservation Commission Alternate:  Two (2) Member Three Year Term Seats and One (1), Alternate Three Year Term Seat.

Any Walpole, North Walpole or Drewsville resident interested in volunteering should forward a letter of interest along with relevant experience to the Town of Walpole Selectboard by Tuesday, April 9, 2013.  Letters of interest can be emailed to jclough@walpolenh.us, faxed to (603) 756-9209 or mailed to Town of Walpole Selectboard Office, attn: Janet Clough, PO Box 729, Walpole, NH 03608.  If there are questions, please feel free to contact the Selectboard office.

Committee appointments will be made after the deadline has passed and the Selectboard have had the opportunity to review the letters of interest.

MEETING WITH SWRPC:  The Selectboard will be meeting with the Southwest Regional Planning Commission representatives on Thursday, April 11^th at 6:00 PM in the Walpole Town Hall. 

EQUALIZATION MEETING:  The New Hampshire Municipal Association and Cheshire County are offering an informational session “Understanding the Equalization Process and the Impact on County Taxes” for Cheshire County municipal, county and state officials to help in understanding the equalization process and how it impacts shared property taxes, particularly county taxes.  It is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, 2013, in the Training Room at Cheshire County Department of Corrections in Keene, NH.

EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK:  Mrs. Clough distributed draft copies of the Employee Handbook with requested revisions to the Selectboard for their review.  The revised handbooks should be ready for distribution on May 1^st.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:  Mr. Street moved to recess the Selectboard meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.  The time was 8:21 PM.

The regular meeting resumed at 8:28 PM.

Mrs. Teague called the recessed Selectboard meeting back to order.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION:

Mr. Street moved to enter into a Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel.  Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved.  The time was 8:29 PM.

The regular meeting resumed at 8:46 PM.  No announcements were made.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mr. Street moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.  The time was 8:47 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

____________________________

Jamie J. Teague, Chair

____________________________

Chas G. Street

____________________________

Whitney R. Aldrich

(Note:  These are unapproved Minutes.  Corrections, if necessary, will be found in the Minutes of the April 11, 2013, Selectboard meeting.)