TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD
JANUARY 22, 2015

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

CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Street called this Selectboard meeting to order at 6:00 PM in the Walpole Town Hall. He advised that this meeting is being recorded and asked anyone wishing to speak to identify themselves for the record. There were six people in attendance.
These are unapproved Minutes.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:
BRUCE BLANCHETTE:  Mr. Blanchette brought in the following Petition for a Warrant Article earlier in the week.

“That the New Hampshire State Legislators shall join more than 500 municipalities and 16 other states, including all other New England states, in calling upon Congress to move forward a Constitutional Amendment that 1) clarifies that constitutional rights were established for people, not corporations, unions or other artificial entitles and, 2) guarantees the right of our elected representatives and of the American people to safeguard fair elections through authority to regulate political spending.
That the New Hampshire Congressional delegation shall support such a constitutional amendment.
That the New Hampshire State Legislature shall support such an amendment when it is approved by Congress and sent to the State for ratification.
That the record of the vote approving this article shall be transmitted by written notice to Walpole’s Congressional delegation, and to Walpole’s State Legislators, and to the Governor of New Hampshire, and to the President of the United States, informing them of the instructions from their constituents, by the Town of Walpole’s Office of Selectmen within 30 days of the vote.”

Mr. Blanchette pointed out that they are trying to join a larger group of individuals who are looking to make a change to the Constitution. The first step is to get approval at the local level by the voters and then it goes to Concord. He came in to see if the Selectboard would go forward with it and also where would it show up for a vote by the Town voters. Would it be as a Warrant Article on the ballot or by a vote during the Saturday Town Meeting. Mrs. Clough advised that it would be brought up on Saturday during the Town Meeting because a Petition does not go on the ballot. Mr. Street pointed out that as long as the Petition had the 25 or more eligible voters of the town sign the Petition it will be on the Warrant and will be voted upon at the Town Meeting. Mrs. Clough said because this is a Petitioned Warrant Article the Selectboard can abstain from stating whether they recommend or do not recommend this Article.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:
Mr. Dalessio moved to recess this 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 at 6:07 PM.
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 6:38 PM.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $23,738.27 for checks dated January 23, 2015. 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 January 17, 2015, in the amount of $20,454.23 for checks dated January 23, 2015. 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 $4,546.02 for the week ending January 17, 2015. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:
SELECTBOARD MEETING – January 15, 2015: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of January 15, 2015, as submitted. Seconded by Mr. Street. With Mr. Dalessio and Mr. Street in favor, the Minutes were approved. Mr. Aldrich abstained as he was not present at this meeting.
NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – January 15, 2015: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of January 15, 2015, as submitted. The Minutes will remain sealed. Seconded by Mr. Street. With Mr. Dalessio and Mr. Street in favor, the Minutes were approved. Mr. Aldrich abstained as he was not present at this meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Selectboard received and reviewed Minutes of the following meetings:
 North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – January 13, 2015; and
 North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – January 20, 2015.
Mr. Street advised that the Minutes of the North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners meeting of January 20th state that their Village Meeting is scheduled for March 31, 2015 at 7:00 PM at St. Peter’s Hall and their Budget Hearing is tentatively scheduled for February 24, 2015.

PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT REFUND:
NORTH WALPOLE VILLAGE HOUSING, SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY SERVICES, Map & Lot #018-011-000, Kiniry Street, and Map & Lot #028-102-000, Merchant Street: Mrs. Clough advised that their tax burden is determined by the greater of 10% of the actual rental income and other income or the taxes calculated using the income approach. The Town had billed them for the full amount and the property owner paid it; this is for the refund.
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Property Tax Abatement Refund for the North Walpole Village Housing c/o Southwestern Community Services for property located in North Walpole at 10 Merchant Street and 26 Kiniry Street in the amount of $2,316.00 ($2,296.00 plus interest of $20.00). Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

NEW BUSINESS:
CERTIFICATION TO PROTECT INFORMATION: Mrs. Clough reported that this is from the Health Trust. The Certification To Protect Information is for the Health Trust to be sure that the Town is keeping their records sealed with regards to the HIPPA laws for the Town employees.
Mr. Dalessio moved to authorize the Chair of the Selectboard to sign the New Hampshire Health Trust Certification to Protect Information document. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

REQUEST FROM PLANNING BOARD: Mr. Bauer came into the office regarding the operation of a B&B next door to him. Mrs. Mansouri took this to the Planning Board meeting and, following a discussion, the members requested that the Selectboard issue a cease and desist order of the B&B until a Site Plan Review is presented. Mr. Dalessio observed that the house has been dark for weeks but the neighbor, Mr. Bauer, said there is a lot of traffic however that does not mean it is a B&B. Mrs. Pschirrer noted that this was brought up at the ZBA meeting. It is not a B&B but rather a house that is rented periodically. Possibly a family might rent it for a week or two or maybe just for a week-end. According to the RSA for a B&B the owner has to be on the premises and it has to be serving at least one meal a day; that is not going on. It should not be advertised as a B&B because it is not. It is a dwelling with two bedrooms and a garage and appears to be a private residence that is being rented out. Mr. Street and Mr. Aldrich were agreeable with having Mr. Dalessio draft a letter to the property owner to caution that this does not qualify as a B&B. If she is renting the house as a commercial enterprise it is probably not allowed in that district. A copy of the letter will be forwarded to Mr. Bauer.

WALPOLE FIRE DISTRICT BUDGET HEARING: The public is invited to a Budget Hearing on Tuesday, February 10, 2015, for the Walpole Fire District. The hearing is set for 7:00 pm and will be held at the Walpole Fire Station.

TOWN HALL RENTAL REQUEST: Mrs. Clough advised that the High School Prom Committee Chair called to discuss the Town Hall contract for rentals. In the agreement, under Fire Safety Code, it states that no one can have live vegetation. Their theme for this prom is “The Enchanted Forest” therefore she called to see if there was any way that they could have live plants. Mrs. Clough called Mr. Mark Houghton to discuss this and he said the only tree he does not want in the Town Hall is live Pine Christmas trees. He does, however, still want to know how many trees and what kind they intend to have at the prom. Mrs. Clough will call the Chair of the Prom Committee and then let Mr. Houghton and the Selectboard know what her answer is. Mr. Dalessio stated that if Mr. Houghton waives this regulation it should be in writing and the contract be amended to reflect this plus a copy of the waiver should be attached to the rental contract.

SOUTHWEST MUTUAL AID: Mr. Hurlburt submitted the annual assessment bill from the Southwest Mutual Aid that the Fire Department just received.

OLD BUSINESS:
COLD RIVER ROAD: Mrs. Clough explained that an Article that will be on the Warrant is to change the use of Cold River Road to a Class A or B Trail from a Class V (five) road. Mr. Dalessio explained that there are two wash-outs on the Cold River Road dirt area (next to Aubuchon’s Store and before you go over the bridge) that is partially on the Langdon side and partially on the Walpole side. It is an unsafe drive. Mrs. Clough had spoken with Mr. Bob Cunniff, Administrative Assistant of the Town of Langdon, and he asked where Walpole was on this reclassification. She told him that Walpole was waiting for Langdon to lead on what they were doing relative to changing the road. Mr. Cunniff sent her a copy of their Warrant Article 10. They are changing that section of Cold River road to a Class VI (six) road but that is not what Mr. Jim Terrell is recommending for Walpole. Mr. Terrell contacted Mr. Todd Porter, Road Agent in Langdon, who recommended that a Walpole Selectboard member attend the next Langdon Selectboard meeting next Monday night at 7:00 PM to discuss this. Mr. Terrell feels it would be better if it was all classified the same. Langdon had been maintaining all of the dirt section. Mr. Terrell will be attending the Langdon Selectboard meeting and the Selectboard will also attend.

WARRANT ARTICLES: The Selectboard reviewed the draft version of the Warrant Articles. There was a consensus to recommend all the 2015 Warrant Articles to-date except for No. 11 (Trustees of Trust Funds). The Selectboard agreed to “abstain” on Article No. 13 (Petitioned Article).

POLE LICENSE AGREEMENT: Mrs. Clough pointed out that the Selectboard will need to set a date for a Public Hearing however she still does not have the actual map of the poles in Town. The Town needs to up-date their Pole License Agreement because of the FairPoint issue. As soon as she has the map she can make copies of the agreement and map and send it to Comcast, Liberty Utilities and FairPoint and to advise them that the Town will have a Public Hearing.
Mr. Aldrich moved to sign the Pole License Agreement and to set the Public Hearing date for February 5th, 2015. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Dalessio moved to adjourn this Selectboard meeting. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved at 7:35 PM.
Respectfully submitted.
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary