TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD
OCTOBER 9, 2014

Selectboard Present: Chas Street (Chair); Whitney Aldrich, Steven Dalessi

CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Street called this meeting to order at 6:00 PM in the Walpole Town Hall with five people in attendance.
These are unapproved Minutes.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:
RECYCLING CENTER – Paul Colburn: Mr. Colborn reported that the markets are down except for plastics. He distributed and reviewed copies of the Recyclable Report “Daily Weight Report and 5 Year to Date Comparison”; this is a quarterly report for the period ending September 30, 2014. The only thing this quarter exceeds in the past five years is returnables. Electronics are down but units are smaller than they used to be; the weight is down. They are down quite a bit on cardboard; 90% to 95% comes from commercial.
Mr. Colburn distributed and explained the Revenues “2014 Summary Quarterly Comparison 3rd Quarter Ending October 30, 2014”. The total is almost $12,000 for this quarter. This is good revenue for this quarter. ”Other Items” do not fit into the other categories and include catalytic converters, propane tanks, etc. They do twenty-four commodities. Mr. Colburn has a sign from NH The Beautiful; it breaks down the different components and they can list how much money the Town can save but he has not yet had time to set it up. Mr. Dalessio pointed out that it looks like the Town will be saving about $47,000 this year by people recycling. Mr. Colburn is thinking about putting out a bale of cardboard or pile of aluminum to show how much money the Town has saved.
Dodie Ransome is thinking about leaving. Tom Fitzgerald has terminated his employment. They had a small department party for him last Friday.
California has banned taking plastic bags. The average use for a plastic bag is 20 minutes but it takes 1,000 hours to break that bag down.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest for checks dated October 10, 2014, in the amount of $46,132.08. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

PAYROLL:
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending October 4, 2014, for checks dated October 10, 2014, in the amount of $20,090.46. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the electronic transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,439.43 for checks dated October 10, 2014. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:
SELECTBOARD MEETING – October 2, 2014: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 2, 2014, as submitted. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With Mr. Dalessio and Mr. Aldrich in favor, the Minutes were approved. Mr. Street abstained as he was not present at this meeting.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – October 2, 2014: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of October 2, 2014, as submitted. The Minutes will remain sealed. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With Mr. Dalessio and Mr. Aldrich in favor, the Minutes were approved. Mr. Street abstained as he was not present at this session.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Selectboard received and reviewed Minutes of the following meeting:
 North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – October 7, 2014.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO CUT WOOD OR TIMBER:
WALPOLE D & D, Ramsey Hill, Map & Lot #008-015-001, 008-015-006, 008-015-007, 008-015-008: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber, #14-461-10-T, for Walpole D & D, as submitted. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

WILLETT, Ramsey Hill Road, Map & Lot #011-010-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber, #14-461-11-T, for Kelly and Marcine Willette, as submitted. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

WATER / SEWER ABATEMENT:
SOBOLESKI – Hillcrest Road, Map & Lot #028-134-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to grant the Sewer Abatement for Patricia Soboleski in the amounts of $61.61 for Interest and $416.39 for Sewer, as submitted. This was a credit meter that had been billed as a regular meter since 2011. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

BUILDING PERMIT:
NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC TV / VERIZON WIRELESS, Scovill Road, Map & Lot #003-082-000: Mr. Dalessio’s concern is that in accordance with the Communications Ordinance this might need to go before the Planning Board. There was a consensus of the Selectboard to do research and to table this Building Permit until the next Selectboard meeting.

NEW BUSINESS:
SWRPC FALL NEETING: The Selectboard received an invitation to attend the Southwest Region Planning Commission’s Fall Meeting to be held at The Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy, NH on Tuesday, October 21, 2014. The three Selectboard members plan to attend.

PROPERTY LIABILITY TRUST – 2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPLICATION: A letter was received from the PLT including an application for their 2015 Board of Directors. There was a consensus to pass over this inquiry as the Selectboard members did not express an interest in applying.

WATER AND SEWER RATES: An email was received from Mr. Mark Houghton pointing out that in light of the Bellows Falls Sewer Bond passing it would be wise to ask the Selectboard for a 5% increase in the sewer rates. This would result in an increase from $40.00 per thousand to $42.00 per thousand. The exact amount is still unknown as it will hinge on if Bellows Falls receives grant money to help with the project.

Mr. Dalessio moved to accept Mr. Mark Houghton’s recommendation for a 5% increase in the sewer rates. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

FOREST LAWS CLASS: Mr. Dalessio moved to recommend that Mr. Rich Kreissle, Mrs. Janet Clough and Mrs. Linda Edkins go to these classes. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

TAX RATE: Mrs. Clough wanted the taxpayers to know where the Town stands with setting the tax rate. Mrs. Clough emailed the Department of Revenue Administration to inquire as to when they might set the tax and she got a reply that neither the Fall Mountain School District or the Walpole Fire District sent in all their paperwork. These reports were due September 1st. Mr. Dalessio recommended putting a note on the bulletin board to advise that the Town is waiting for the DRA to set the tax rate.

STATE OF NH NOTIFICATION OF VOTING: Mrs. Clough advised that the NH Notification of Voting notice has to be posted at the polling places in both Walpole and North Walpole.
Mr. Aldrich moved to sign the three forms. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

SOUTH STREET: Mr. Street mentioned that South Street needs to be resurfaced. Mr. Terrell pointed out that last year was a bad year for a lot of roads due to the weather. South Street is a State road therefore he will draft a letter to the State to advise them that both South Street and Prospect Hill are in need of repairs; it is a maintenance issue. Mrs. Clough will put his letter on letterhead before mailing.

COLONIAL ROAD AND NORTH ROAD: Mr. Aldrich was contacted by Mr. Ken Kennison about a hole by his driveway that is on Town property. He is afraid someone will drive into it. Mr. Kennison said he left information on Mr. Terrell’s desk. Mr. Terrell will check on it tomorrow.

OLD BUSINESS:
MANAGERIAL AUDIT LETTER: Mrs. Clough noted that this is the usual letter that the Selectboard signs after the audit.
Mr. Aldrich moved to sign this managerial audit letter. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Mr. Dalessio recommended that there should be a statement attached to the letter to state that the auditors provided the information to the Selectboard; the office staff provided the information to the auditors based on the best of their knowledge. Mrs. Clough will work on this for next year.

OFFICE FOLLOW-UPS:
Employee Appreciation Dinner: Mrs. Clough had asked the Department Heads for different ideas for entertainment. Although they enjoyed the same band for the past two years they decided that this year was a good time to make a change. She contacted Bob Cunniff and then Walt Sayre. They could not be here until 6:30 but they would play until 8:30 PM for $150.00 more than the previous band. The cost would be $625.00 for two hours. The Selectboard were in favor of this change.

Town Hall: The painters are here now. Mrs. Clough did not get an estimate from Mr. Cook on the five stairs that are cracked. She is also waiting for a quote on the risers and the wainscoting.

WALPOLE LIBRARY: Mr. Aldrich advised that the Walpole Library Appreciation Dinner is scheduled for next Thursday at the same time as the Selectboard meeting. The Selectboard felt it was important to support the Library and Trustees.

Mr. Aldrich moved to change the next Selectboard meeting on October 16th, 2014, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 AM to enable the Selectboard to attend the Walpole Library Appreciation Dinner. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

NON PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:
Mr. Aldrich moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel and (e) Pending Claims or Litigation. Mr. Dalessio seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved at 7:01 PM.
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:42 PM. No announcements were made.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:
Mr. Aldrich moved to recess this Selectboard meeting. The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
The regular Selectboard resumed at 8:01 PM.

OTHER BUSINESS:
BUDGET: Mr. Kreissle is working on reconciliation and then will begin to work on the budget. In the near future he will also be doing the Payroll and Accounts Payable. Mrs. Clough will start to work on a schedule beginning in November for the Department Heads to come in to meet with the Selectboard to discuss their proposed 2015 budgets. The Health Trust will not have their new rates until their Board meets on November 22nd.

ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this Selectboard meeting. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved at 8:08 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary