Selectboard Present:​Peggy Pschirrer (Chair); Cheryl Mayberry; Steven Dalessio

CALL TO ORDER:  Mrs. Pschirrer, Chair of the Walpole Selectboard, called this meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.  She introduced Ms. Cheryl Mayberry and Mr. Steven Dalessio, the other two Selectboard members.  Mrs. Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Mrs. Regina Borden, Recording Secretary, are also in attendance.  This meeting was being recorded.  There were no members of the public in attendance.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $24,589.47 for checks issued November 6, 2020.  This includes a payment to E.E. Houghton in the amount of $6,787.04 for water/sewer operations and Town building maintenance.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.  

PAYROLL:

Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Payroll Check Register for the week ending October 31, 2020, in the amount of $31,151.53 for checks dated November 6, 2020, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $6,509.62.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MINUTES – October 29, 2020:  Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 29, 2020, as submitted.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – October 29, 2020:  Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of October 29, 2020, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the Minutes were approved.

TIMBER TAX WARRANT:

CERTIFICATION of YIELD TAXES ASSESSED For MAPand LOT #027-006-000:  Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Certification of Yield Taxes Assessed for Map and Lot #027-006-000, Operation Number 20-461-001-T, in the amount of $2,239.72.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

TIMBER YIELD TAX LEVY For MAP and LOT #027-006-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Timber Yield Tax Levy for Map and Lot #027-006-000 in the amount of $2,239.72.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

BUILDING PERMIT:

Building Permit #2020-48; MAP and LOT #012-059-001:  Mr. Dalessio moved to grant Building Permit No. 2020-48 for the owners of Map and Lot #012-059-001 to build a “10’ x 12’ Shed”.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

2020 Preliminary Tax Rate:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the 2020 Preliminary Tax Rate from the NH Department of Revenue Administration (DRA).  A decision needs to be made today so Mr. Rich Kreissle can respond to the DRA tomorrow for the overlay and amount of money the Selectboard wishes to withhold to use.  The Unassigned Fund Balance is $2,136,701.  This is slightly less than last year but not a significant difference.  Last year they retained 17% or the maximum.  The minimum they can keep is 5%.  For two years in a row they have retained a similar overlay of $61,192.  At this time they do not know what the disparity between the sale prices of properties and their assessed value is, but they do know that properties are selling above their assessed values.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted that last year they kept $400,000 which they allocated to various things the Town needed.  They are retaining the maximum allowed.  Mrs. Sandra Smith is anxious because she hopes by next Thursday the Selectboard will sign the warrant so she can process and mail tax bills the following Monday.    

Mr. Dalessio moved to do the same as last year which is to use $400,000 of the Unassigned Fund Balance of $2,136,701 to be used for various needs in the Town and stay with the same overlay.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

Reservoir Dam Repairs:  There is a meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) at 1:00 PM with Fuss and O’Neill.

Pending Further Actions:

Quote for Pool Roof:  Mrs. Pschirrer reported that they cannot find any notes that indicate the pool roof was to be a part of the 2020 Article for Town building repairs. Therefore, she suggested it go into the 2021 Budget as it cannot get done until the spring.  Ms. Mayberry is agreeable to having it go into the 2021 Budget.

Sewer Bond Fees:  Mr. Dalessio advised they will run a model as they want to be sure there will be enough money to pay for the bond and reduce the user fee a little bit.  It is being worked on.

Town Street Lights:  Mrs. Pschirrer spoke with Mr. Steven Grenier about the Town street lights. He is happy to work on this project.

Tax Deeded Property Sale:  This item will remain on the agenda.

Houghton Brook Bridge Repair and Grant: Mr. Dalessio hopes to have an update tomorrow.  

NEW BUSINESS:

MRRTC Support Request:  Mrs. Pschirrer reported that theMonadnock Regional Rail Trail Collaborative (MRRTC) would like to have the Town’s endorsement on what they want to do.  They made a presentation to the Conservation Commission last Monday.  Ms. Mayberry feels it will be continued at the December meeting of the Conservation Commission.  At this point they are asking for support; there are no financial obligations.  Mrs. Pschirrer will draft a letter of support for what the MRRTC would like to do and bring it back to the next Selectboard meeting.

HealthTrust Annual Meeting and Board Elections:  A notice was received from the HealthTrust that their Annual Member Meeting & Board Elections will still be held on December 1, 2020, but it will now be a virtual format as NH continues to deal with the impacts of COVID-19.  

Mr. Dalessio moved to allow Mrs. Sarah Downing to represent the Town of Walpole at the Annual Meeting and Board Elections of the HealthTrust.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

Mr. Dalessio moved to authorize the Selectboard Chair, Peggy L. Pschirrer, to sign the Certificate of Authorizing Resolution to confirm that Mrs. Sarah Downing is authorized to vote on behalf of the Town of Walpole.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, motion was approved.  

Yoga Classes in Town Hall:  Mrs. Pschirrer reported a request was received from Kate Kim, a certified yoga instructor, to use the Town Hall to teach yoga classes.  There will be no set fee but donations would be accepted that she would then give to an organization in Town.  Participants would wear masks and be asked to sign COVID-19 waivers.  Ms. Mayberry would be fine with this.  In yoga they use mats on the floor rather than tables and chairs.  Mr. Dalessio would be uncomfortable with the number of users (groups) using the Town Hall.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted the Town’s Boards/Committees also meet in this room.  Mr. Brad Nash has to sanitize the room after each use.  Mrs. Pschirrer pointed out that at some time the Selectboard might have to consider going back to Zoom meetings given increases in COVID-19 cases.  They will have to alert the Town Boards/Committees of the possibility of going back to Zoom meetings.  People are becoming more nervous now that everyone is moving indoors due to the weather.  There was a consensus to ask Mrs. Kim to return in the spring because now is not a good time for the Selectboard to allow another group to use the Town Hall.      

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved at 7:02 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:13 PM.

Ms. Mayberry moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of November 5, 2020, will be sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, motion was approved.

OTHER BUSINESS:    

Veterans’ Day:  Mrs. Pschirrer announced that next Wednesday, November 11^th, 2020, is Veterans’ Day.  The Selectboard Office and other Town departments will be closed to observe this Holiday.

COVID-19:  Dr. Charles Shaw and Ms. France Menk came into the meeting.  Dr. Shaw explained they have been working on signage.  Ms. Menk displayed sketches of buttons and magnets, T-shirts and signs for outside of business/stores, the schools, etc.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted many stores have their own signs.  These are to remind everyone to “Wear Masks”, “Social Distancing” and “Washing Hands”.  They thought the T-shirts should be a pale color so the lettering stands out.  Dr. Shaw mentioned that Mr. Jacobs was concerned about parents showing up at the school fields with many of them were not wearing masks.  Mrs. Pschirrer would like to see similar signs on the Westminster Street field as soon as it is used for winter activities.  She asked about funds to pay for these items.  The Town has used the CARES money the Town was allocated.  There was discussion about the Conservation Commission having money as well as the welfare account.  Ms. Menk felt the T-shirts would be sold. Mrs. Pschirrer suggested the buttons state “I Wear A Mask”. Everyone attending approved.  She felt for $1,000 they could buy a lot.  Ms. Mayberry felt they could use welfare funds. A couple of signs should go to the Recycling Center as they are using handmade signs at this time.  Dr. Shaw suggested that they do more research on prices and come back to the next Selectboard meeting.        

ADJOURNMENT:

Ms. Mayberry moved to adjourn this Selectboard meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 PM.  

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden