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

CALL TO ORDER:  Mrs. Pschirrer, Chair of the Walpole Selectboard, called this meeting via Zoom to order at 6:30 PM.  She announced that Ms. Cheryl Mayberry and Mr. Steven Dalessio, the other two Selectboard members are present.  The Selectboard members are in three separate locations.  Also attending this meeting is Mrs. Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, in the Walpole Town Hall and Mrs. Regina Borden, Recording Secretary, by telephone at a separate location.  This meeting is being live-streamed on FACT-TV and recorded by the Town.  

Public comments are to be emailed to Mrs. Downing at the Walpole Town Hall or by calling 603-756-3672.  She will display the agenda.  That will be followed by documents as they are being discussed.

Mrs. Pschirrer called for a voice roll call of the Selectboard present: Cheryl Mayberry was present; Steven Dalessio was present and Peggy Pschirrer was present.  This meeting will be in accordance with Virtual Meetings, Emergency Order #12, which has been effective since March 2020.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $521,638.92 for checks issued January 22, 2021.  This includes a payment of $464,025.00 to Consolidated Communications Inc. for a Broadband Bond payment for 50% of the work accomplished.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, motion was approved.

PAYROLL:

Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Payroll Check Register for the week ending January 16, 2021, in the amount of $28,096.81 for checks dated January 22, 2021, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $5,487.41.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MINUTES – January 14, 2021:  Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of January 14, 2021, as submitted.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – January 14, 2021: Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard session of January 14, 2021, as submitted.   These Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the Minutes were approved.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the following Committee reports:• Planning Board Meeting – January 12, 2021;• Library Trustees Meeting – January 12, 2021.

TOWN MODERATOR: Mr. Jack Wozmak came into the meeting to discuss the Annual Town Meeting.  Mrs. Pschirrer advised they had not yet put this on the agenda.  She was not aware of legislation to give the towns the opportunity to postpone their dates in March until April, May, June or July.  She assumes they will continue with the dates of March 9^th and 13^th, 2021.  Mr.  Wozmak noted that between the Moderator and Selectboard, they can delay it if they need to.  Mrs. Pschirrer would like to wait as it seems too early to make a decision. Mr. Wozmak will stay in touch with the Selectboard.

LAND USE CHANGE TAX:

MAP 21, LOTS 25 & 26:  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Land Use Change Tax for the owner(s) of Map 21, Lots 25 & 26 for $37,500 in Land Use Change Tax for the two adjacent lots on North Road.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO CUT WOOD OR TIMBER:  

MAP and LOT #013-060-001:  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #013-060-001 for a lot located off of Cheney Hill Road with access through Alstead.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

2021 General Fund Expenditure Detail Budget:  Mrs. Pschirrer reported that the 2021 General Fund Expenditure Detail Budget was distributed by Mr. Kreissle prior to this meeting.  It is at a 2.51% Operating Budget increase.   

2021 Draft Warrant Articles:  Mrs. Pschirrer advised that in the unassigned fund balance proposal they still want to repair and do painting in the Town Hall, paint the second floor ceiling in the Town Hall, repair roof damage on the Town Hall and do some work in the Library.  They could only get one bid for the painting.  There is money left in the $200,000 if something else comes up in the Town buildings.  Repairs to the second floor ceiling will cost about $15,000.  They still do not have estimates for work in the North Walpole Library.  Mr. Dalessio noted they have to include the water meter at the North Walpole Park; the cost is about $6,000.  He feels this Warrant Article needs to be re-written.  It was agreed to add the concrete pad at the Recycling Center into Article 9.  Mr. Hoy will have to provide a figure soon.        

Brownfields Project Update:  Mrs. Pschirrer reported the Request for Proposals (RFP) to find a contractor to remove the contaminated soil will be sent out in about two weeks.  She will talk to the abutters because they will need space over the property lines for equipment.  Their new Environmental Protection Agency representative is Katy Deng.  She is replacing Mr. Joe Ferrari who passed away in December.  Mrs. Pschirrer introduced her to Mr. Steve Rickerich.  Mr. Mike McCluskey plans to get them together to bring Ms. Deng up-to-date.  They do not know where the contractor will start; maybe by removing the shed.  She asked Mr. Rau of the Highway Department and Mr. Hoy of the Recycling Center if either of them could take out the fence and use it. Otherwise, it will cost them more money to have this done.  The fence was paid for out of money held in escrow from the Westberg Estate.  This site will be more active in late spring.

Mrs. Pschirrer is also in conversation with Mascoma Bank because the project is responsible to clean-up the grassy spot between the parking lot and the Brownfields site.  She needs written approval from the Bank to clean it up.  They gave permission to test it.  At the same time the Mascoma Bank is considering giving the Town that strip plus the parking lot.  The Town would have to go through a Public Hearing process if they are to accept the parking lot.  We currently lease the parking lot.  There are pros and cons to owning it.  She will keep everyone informed as this moves forward.  Ms. Mayberry has no concerns except to know what condition it is in and when will it need to be re-paved.  Mrs. Pschirrer said there will be costs because after this site is completely cleaned up as there will be a green area with benches and suitable landscaping where the shed is now.  They will have to go before the Town in 2022 to ask to pave that area to extend the parking lot and to have electric stanchions for electric cars.  A part of the lot behind Jake’s Market/Gas Station belongs to the Walpole Foundation.  At that time they will also re-pave their section.  Mrs. Pschirrer will keep everyone up-to-date on this project.           

Houghton Brook Bridge Repair:  Mr. Dalessio was unable to attend the recent meeting but had notes from Fuss & O’Neill.  They met with the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to get the paperwork for the $250,000 Grant approval.  Fuss & O’Neill will generate the required paperwork and the Selectboard will sign the documents.  The next phase is the permitting phase.  The Town will have to up-date their purchase order.  They will be working on a price in the next 2-to-3 weeks.  They got verbal permission from the landowner to use their property; this will eliminate the need for a temporary replacement bridge.  It should save $75,000-to-$100,000 on the cost of the project.  This is providing the other property owners on that road are willing to go along with this idea.  Police and Fire Departments have accepted this.  It will take about nine months for the permitting process.  This will be a 2022 project.  Mr. Dalessio wrote an article for the Clarion on this project, the Reservoir Dam and Mill Pond projects.

Reservoir Dam:  Mr. Dalessio reported that Fuss & O’Neill met with the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to be sure they got the parameters correct.  They are almost ready to submit the 2-D model to DES.  

Mill Pond Dam:  Early indications are the Mill Pond Dam will have to go through the same 2-D modeling process.  There are discussions taking place on the infrastructure.  

Committee –Emergency Management Plan:  Mr. Dalessio has been having conversations with Mr. Mark Houghton over the last couple of months.  In the spring they need to have another meeting of the committee that worked on the Emergency Management Plan.  The meetings should continue.  They need to prepare themselves for emergencies in the Town.  There is still work to be done.

Pending Further Actions:  Town Street Lights, Tax Deeded Property Sale, Emergency Generators:  These agenda items will remain on the Pending Further Actions list.

NEW BUSINESS:

Appointment Notice:  Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Appointment Notice for Meghan Hansson as the Interim Town Clerk/Tax Collector through the 2021 Town Meeting.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.  

Walpole Sewer Users Notice:  Mrs. Pschirrer advised this Walpole Sewer Users Notice will be enclosed in the mailing with the bills that Mrs. Jodi Daigle will be doing if approved by the Selectboard.

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Walpole Sewer Users Notice.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

Walpole Landfill Post Closure Report:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the Walpole Landfill Post Closure Report.  The Chair needs to be authorized to sign the document.  Mr. Dalessio would like to have a written brief summary of their report.  

Mr. Dalessio moved to authorize Peggy L. Pschirrer, Chair of the Selectboard, to sign the Walpole Landfill Post Closure Report.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

Fall Mountain Regional School District:  Ms. Mayberry asked Mr. Wozmak if the FMRSD had talked to him about doing a walk-through before the FMRSD Budget Hearing on Tuesday, February 2^nd.  All five towns in the district were invited to attend.  Mr. Wozmak knew they were going to have a Zoom meeting in the evening on February 1^st; a training orientation.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:

Ms. Mayberry moved to recess this Selectboard meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved at 7:14 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:21 PM.

FACT-TV:  FACT-TV discontinued filming as this was the end of the regular meeting.     

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD MEETING:

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboardmeeting pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel and (c) Reputations.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mrs. Pschirrerasked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved at 7:22 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 8:14 PM.

Ms. Mayberry moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard session of January 21, 2021, will be sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

ADJOURNMENT:  Ms. Mayberry moved to adjourn this Selectboard meeting. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. Mrs. Pschirrerasked if there were any questions or comments. There were none. On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, meeting adjourned at 8:16 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary