TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

MAY 7, 2015

Selectboard Present:     Steven Dalessio (Chair); Whitney Aldrich; Peggy Pschirrer

CALL TO ORDER:  Mr. Dalessio called this Selectboard meeting to order at 8:00 AM 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 four people in attendance.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

HOOPER HILL HOPPERS SNOWMOBILE CLUB:  Mrs. Marcia Galloway advised that the Hooper Hill Hoppers Snowmobile Club want to apply for a Grant to do a bridge that goes over the Great Brook; they have the abutments.  She talked to Mr. Jim Terrell who thinks the abutments are fine where they are and she talked to Mr. Mark Houghton who had no problem with the Water Department.  The application will need a signature of approval from the Town of Walpole Selectboard.

Mr. Aldrich moved to authorize the Chair to sign the permission slip to apply for a Grant In Aid from the State of New Hampshire, Department of Resources and Economic Development, for a bridge project on behalf of the Town of Walpole on Water Department land.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN – Mr. David Edkins:  Mr. Edkins was here on behalf of the Town of Charlestown.  He noticed in previous meeting minutes that Fire Chief Dick Hurlburt was concerned with the fact that Charlestown was looking to leave the Southwest Fire Mutual Aid (SWFMA) system.  He wanted to clarify this because that is not the case.  They do not want to leave Mutual Aid but they do not want to pay them $43,000/year to something they can do in-house.

There are two pieces to SWFMA; 1) there is mutual aid which means if we need help you will come to help us and when you need help we will come to help you; and 2) there is also the dispatch portion of mutual aid and that is basically a business.  It was not the original purpose of mutual aid.  In Charlestown they have had for many years full-time 24/7 dispatch capabilities in their Police Department.  For many years the Charlestown Finance Committee has been discussing why we are paying Mutual Aid $43,000/year to do something they can do in-house.

They notified SWFMA in early February that, in accordance with their By-laws, Charlestown wanted to transition from being a Dispatched Member to a Non-Dispatched Member.  They have a number of Non-Dispatched members such as Brattleboro, Claremont and Newport.  Charlestown gave SWFMA far more than their required 90 days notice.

This year Charlestown appropriated about $90,000.00 to up-grade their dispatch equipment and facilities to facilitate that.  At $43,000.00/year there is a pretty quick pay-back on that.  After Charlestown notified them of this proposed change effective July 1^st, 2015, the SWFMA immediately called a meeting of their membership in February to change the By-laws and they enacted a By-law change stating that they would no longer accept Non-Dispatch members and they made that retro-active back to December 31^st, 2014.  Later in February the motion to change the By-laws that would change Charlestown’s status was actually defeated by the SWFMA membership but at their annual meeting in mid-April they adopted that change but made it retroactive back to December 31^st, 2014.

Charlestown at some point may come to the Town of Walpole and the other surrounding towns to ask them to sign individual Mutual Aid agreements.  They have no problems with Fire Chief Hurlburt being a part of that process and Mr. Edkins has explained this to him.

The Selectboard appreciated this explanation as they were not aware that there were options before they decided to eliminate Charlestown.  Charlestown has a problem with their adopting a retroactive By-law change specifically directed to Charlestown.  There is a fee of $150.00/year to be a member of SWFMA.  To be a dispatched member they use a formula that is based on the population and equalized evaluation.  There is also a Non-dispatch Member fee of about $1,500.00 to $2,000.00/year and Charlestown is willing to pay that.

Mr. Dalessio thanked Mr. Edkins for clarifying this.  Going forward the Selectboard will wait to see what happens when an agreement comes to them for a decision.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $32,512.77 for checks dated May 08, 2015.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

PAYROLL:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Payroll voucher for the week ending May 02, 2015, in the amount of $21,761.59 for checks dated May 08, 2015.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the electronic transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,846.48 for the week ending May 02, 2015 for checks dated May 08, 2015.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – April 30, 2015:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of April 30, 2015, as presented.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – April 30, 2015:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of April 30, 2015, as presented.  The Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the Minutes were approved.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

There were no Committee Reports presented at this meeting.

BUILDING PERMITS:

BUILDING AND DEMOLITION:

PUTNAM, 768 Valley Road, Map & Lot #011-043-004:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant Building and Demolition Permit No. 2015-16 for the Putnam Family Revocable Trust, Bruce A. & Tammy F. Putnam to “Demolish an existing 12’ x 8’ Sugarhouse and construct a new 24’ x 24’ 1 story Sugarhouse” as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

BUILDING:

PUTNAM, 768 Valley Road, Map & Lot #011-043-004: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant Building Permit No. 2015-17 for the Putnam Family Revocable Trust, Bruce A. & Tammy F. Putnam to “Construct a 48’ x 32’ 1 Story 3 Sided Pole Barn” as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

VANCE, 62 Graves Road, Map & Lot #005-007-000:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant Building Permit No. 2015-18 for Julianne Vance to “Construct a 18’ x 22’ 1 story garage” as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

NOTICES OF INTENT TO CUT WOOD OR TIMBER:

WALPOLE D&D, LLC., Hooper Road, Map & Lot #008-015-009:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve and sign the Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber, Operation No. 15-461-01-T, for Walpole D&D, LLC., Randall Daniels and Fred Dill,  as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

WALPOLE D&D, LLC., Hooper Road, Map & Lot #008-015-001:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve and sign the Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber, Operation No. 15-461-02-T, for Walpole D&D, LLC, Randall Daniels and Fred Dill, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

BARNARD SHERWIN, County Road, Map & Lot #008-042-000:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve and sign the Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber, Operation No. 15-461-03-T, for Barnard Sherwin, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

LANE CONSTRUCTION CORP., Whipple Hill Road, Map & Lot #003-002-000:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve and sign the Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber, Operation No. 15-461-04-T, for The Lane Construction Corporation, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS:

JONES, Cray Road, North Walpole, Map & Lot #030-073-000:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve a Property Tax Refund due to an over payment of $10.49 for James Jones, as submitted by the Town Clerk/Tax Collector.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

LETTER FROM THE WALPOLE UNITARIAN CHURCH BOARD:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a copy of the letter from the Walpole Unitarian Church Board to Richard Hurlburt, Walpole NH Fire Department, requesting permission to have their Sunday evening worship around a fire, which will be set in the lower third of their lawn on the corner of Union Street and Main Street.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the request of the Walpole Unitarian Church Board subject to the approval of the Walpole Fire Department.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

APPOINTMENT NOTICES:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the following appointments to Town Committees / Commissions:

Hooper Scholarship Committee – Susan C. Wyckoff – Three year term;

Hooper Institute Committee – Karen Kuniholm and Joseph Coneeney – Three Year Terms;

Recreation Committee – Stacie Gay and Evelyn Beliveau – Three Year Terms;

Conservation Commission – John Peska – Three Year Term;

Conservation Commission – Myra Mansouri – Alternate for Three Year Term;

WRAP Committee – Roger Weil and David Adams – Three Year Terms;

Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

LETTER FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE; RE: ANNUAL TRUST FUND SEMINAR:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the letter from the Attorney General regarding the Annual Trust Fund Seminar.  The Library and Cemetery Trustees are urged to attend. A copy of this letter will be forwarded to Mr. Tom Goins, Trustee of Trust Funds.

NORTHCOTT LLA:  Mr. Dalessio reported that they have corresponded with Mr. Jeff Miller of the Planning Board on this merger matter.  He will be coming in to pick-up copies of the plans, minutes and Avitar Associate emails, look it all over and come into the Selectboard meeting next week to discuss it.

OLD BUSINESS:

DEPARTMENT HEADS MEETING LETTER:  Mr. Dalessio drafted a letter to the Department Heads outlining the agenda for their monthly staff meetings.  Mr. Terrell will be unable to attend the first meeting due to a family conflict.  Eventually other departments will be added (Library, Hooper Institute and Town Clerk).

LETTER FROM NH DES – Ruggiero Processing Facility:  Mr. Dalessio stated that the Ruggiero Processing Facility had applied to the NH DES to change their processing about a year ago.  Their application is now complete and the appropriate notifications and postings, etc. will need to be made on the change of permit.  This Public Hearing is scheduled for June 25^th, 2015, at 6:00 PM however Mr. Dalessio asked that this date be changed as it will prevent the Selectboard from attending because it is a Selectboard meeting night and they would like to attend this Public Hearing.  After confirmation of the date is received, Mr. Dalessio advised that it will be posted and put on the Town’s web site.

LIBRARY MEETING – Follow-Ups: Mrs. Pschirrer advised that the Library Board decided to re-advertise the Librarian’s position and to make it a full time position.  Many applicants had no library experience or credentials.  They were paying the current Librarian for 32 hours but felt 40 hours is not unreasonable.  The Library is open for 35 hours each week plus the Librarian needs extra time to do all the paperwork, etc.  The question is benefits as they want to offer health insurance.  There was discussion relative to offering health insurance benefits after a six month probationary period or they could design this position through a contractual relationship.  An offer letter should clearly represent what the expectations are.  Mrs. Pschirrer will reassure the Library Board that they have the support of the Selectboard to change this position to full-time.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to enter into a Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (c) Reputations.  Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved at 9:29 AM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 9:36 AM.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:

Mr. Aldrich moved to recess this Selectboard meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 9:50 AM.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved at 9:52 AM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary