As you all know, as elected Select Board members of the Town of Walpole, we are also, by order of the Court, Trustees of the Hooper Trust. We take the responsibility seriously and regularly meet with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Hooper Study Committee. Last August 17, 2013 we held a properly noticed Town Hearing so the Hooper Study Committee could present their formal recommendations after nearly two years of work. One hundred twelve people attended that hearing and a majority clearly expressed support for a Conservation Easement as well as the sale of the Hooper Property.

We took all comments into consideration, reviewed the written recommendations of the Hooper Committee and at an open meeting of the Hooper Trustees on August 29, 2013, we voted unanimously to accept the recommendation for the Conservation Easement as well as the sale of the Property. We agreed to petition the Probate Court to accept that decision. The Office of Charitable Trusts of the Attorney General’s office approved our decision and petition. Currently, we are waiting for the Court to set a date for the hearing.

Once there is an affirmative decision from the Probate Court we will approve the Purchase and Sale of the Conservation Easement and advertise the 140 acres, more or less, for public sale. Your generous support of this easement purchase is greatly appreciated. In the meantime, we have renewed the Golf Club lease for the full calendar year of 2014. We hope this clarifies the current status.

Jamie Teague      Charles Street      Whit Aldrich