The Walpolean

TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

JANUARY 28, 2016

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

CALL TO ORDER:  Mr. Dalessio called this Selectboard meeting to order at 6:05 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 three people in attendance.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register in the amount of $77,871.64 for checks dated January 29, 2016.  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 January 23, 2016, in the amount of $19,634.77 for checks dated January 29, 2016.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,219.78 for the week ending January 23, 2016.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – January 21, 2016:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of January 21, 2016, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the Minutes were approved.

SELECTBOARD STAFF MEETING – January 21, 2016:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard Staff meeting of January 21, 2016, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – January 14, 2016:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session #1 of January 14, 2016, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – January 21, 2016:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of January 21, 2016, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – January 22, 2016: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of January 22, 2016, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the Minutes were approved.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed Minutes of the following meetings:

• Zoning Board of Adjustment – January 20, 2016;
• Library Trustees Meeting – January 12, 2016;
• Conservation Commission – January 4, 2016. 

BUILDING PERMIT:

UNITY BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES, Wentworth Road, Map & Lot #017-053–000:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2016-01 for Unity Building Technologies, Inc. to “Construct a 24’ x 32’ 1 Story Garage” at 6 Blackjack Crossing Road.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO CUT WOOD OR TIMBER:

NEAL, Aldrich Lane, Map & Lot #008-053-000:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber, Operation #15-461-16-T, for Christine Neal, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

Transfer of Hubbard Property to the Town of Walpole: The Selectboard received the paperwork on the gift of the BBQ Pit area from Hubbard, LLC. The fees for Attorney Kinyon will be charged to the Town’s legal expenses.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve and sign the documents received from Hubbard, LLC for transfer of the BBQ property to the Town of Walpole.  (PA-34 Property Transfer and CD-57P Transfer Tax Form). Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

NH Department of Labor Audit and Inspection Report: Mr. Dalessio reviewed his responses on the violations found by Inspector Perry during his administrative audit on December 11, 2015.   The Selectboard will sign the letter and document next week.  Mr. Dalessio thanked everyone for getting their responses in on this Labor Audit and Inspection Report.

2016 Warrant Articles:  Mr. Dalessio reported that the 2016 Warrant Articles are almost ready.  The wording in the Recreation Department’s Article for the pool will be changed and they are waiting for a few more figures from Mr. Kreissle.

Department Reports for the 2015 Town Report:  Mrs. Clough continues to work on the 2015 Town Report.

Server Update:  Mr. Dalessio signed the up-dated contract for the server with True North Networks to change the date from February 1^st to March 1^st, 2016 subject to appropriations.

Library Building:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to authorize the Chair of the Selectboard, Steven Dalessio, to sign the contract with ABS Consulting who removed the asbestos from the Town Library for the amount of $5,800.00.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Town Ordinance, Procedure and Policy Manual:  This is an on-going project for the Selectboard.

NH Dept. of Revenue Administration; Community Action Report:  Mrs. Clough is waiting for more information from the Department of Revenue Administration.  They will let her know exactly what they need.  For Current Use they will pick out 30 of the approximately 200 that the Town has; it will require all up-dated information on the maps, etc.

PUBLIC BUSINESS: 

Mr. Jack Franks:  Mr. Franks advised that construction will begin on the 26 housing units next Tuesday.  It will continue for about 8 days.  After that sub-contractors will be working on the project.  He invited the Selectboard members to visit the site and see the process.  There will be a ribbon cutting sometime in May.  Mr. Franks has been in contact with Mr. Mark Houghton at the Fire Department.  He will be meeting with the Management Company soon to start advertising.  The Selectboard office has had some inquiries.  When Mr. Franks has some more information on the rentals he will drop that off in the Selectboard’s office.

NEW BUSINESS:

SWRPC, Winter Meeting Invitation:  An invitation was received from the Southwest Region Planning Commission to attend their Winter Meeting on Tuesday, February 16^th, at Papagallos Restaurant in Swanzey, NH.  The topic of discussion will be NH’s 2016 Legislative Session.  Contact Mrs. Clough to make a reservation if anyone plans to attend.

Savings Bank of Walpole – 2016 Concerts on the Green Request:  A request was received from the Savings Bank of Walpole to announce that they are again sponsoring their Concerts on the Green series this summer.

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the request of the Savings Bank of Walpole to use the town green on consecutive Sunday evenings beginning at 6:30 pm and concluding at 8:00 pm.  The first concert will take place on Sunday, June 26^th and then every Sunday thereafter through August 14, 2016.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Letter from Pamela Howard:  A request was received from Pamela Howard and David Howard to extend the sewer line up Colonial Drive.  The letter states that Mr. Tom Murray and John and Linda Burroughs have also expressed an interest in connecting.  This has been forwarded to Mr. Mark Houghton who will figure the cost of the project and handle the negotiations.  All costs will be paid for by the property owners being connected.  The Selectboard supports their connections to the sewer line.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD BUSINESS:

Mr. Aldrich moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel and (c) Reputations.  Mrs. Pschirrer seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved at 6:55 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:08 PM.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard session of January 28, 2016, be sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Elderly Exemption:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant an Elderly Property Tax Exemption for a person in the Town of Walpole.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

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 7:28 PM.

NH Municipal Association:  Mrs. Pschirrer read the NH Municipal Association web-site and there is legislation coming up that she would like to do some research on.  One will increase the fees for cars that get high mileage because they are not using enough gas; the State is losing income.  There was another one about towns, by Town vote, having the ability to attach a fee that would go into their Highway and Bridge Funds. The State keeps cutting back on what they send the towns.

Accessory Dwelling Units:  Mrs. Pschirrer has been reading about Accessory Dwelling Units.  Mr. Dalessio noted that it is pending legislation.  It would not go into effect until 2017.  The Selectboard discussed some property owners who wanted to put an apartment/room above their unattached garage but they were voted down by the Zoning Board because the garage and house were not on a common foundation.  They feel there has to be a way to make this work as many families need extra room when their children/friends come back to visit or for a caretaker.  The Zoning Board feels the big concern is the fact that people will rent them.  Mr. Dalessio felt that the Zoning Board could make it contingent upon not renting the unit.  The State feels this is important enough to spend time on it. At one time it may have been an unreasonable request but it is no longer unreasonable.

ADJOURNMENT:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 7:48 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary