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

CALL TO ORDER:  Ms. Mayberry called this Selectboard meeting to order at 8:30 AM in the Walpole Town Hall.  The three Selectboard members were present.  Also present was Mrs. Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Mrs. Regina Borden, Recording Secretary. This meeting was being recorded.  There were no members of the public in attendance.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $645,129.83 for checks issued September 17, 2021.  This includes a monthly payment in the amount of $607,559.42 to the Fall Mountain Regional School District.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

PAYROLL:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Payroll Check Register for the week ending September 11, 2021, in rhe amount of $28,844.28 for checks dated September 17, 2021, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $5,590.25.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MINUTES – September 9, 2021:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of September 9, 2021, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION MINUTES – September 9, 2021:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of September 9, 2021, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Minutes were approved.

REFUNDS:

MAP and LOT #028-008-000:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant the Property Tax Refund in the amount of $153.56 for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #028-008-000.  This is due to an overpayment of property taxes.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

Draft Letter to DRA Commissioner:  The Selectboard reviewed and approved the draft letter to the Department of Revenue Administration Commissioner to request approval to allow us to use the Unassigned Fund for highway projects and related infrastructure related to the flooding damage.  There was a consensus to sign this letter on September 23^rd, 2021, after the Public Hearing.

Solar Exemption: Ms. Mayberry asked Mrs. Downing if they have identified the properties with a large number of panels and, if so, have they requested copies of electric bills.  Are they selling to the grid or just covering their own expenses?  Mrs. Downing noted there are not that many.  She will do it before the next tax year.  At this point she cannot change anything.  Mrs. Downing will prepare a questionnaire.  After copies of electric bills are received the information will be sent to Avitar Associates for their calculations.     

Mill Pond Dam Inspection:  The Mill Pond Dam Inspection is scheduled for Thursday, September 23^rd at 10:00 AM.    

Pending Further Actions:

Vilas Bridge, Houghton Brook Bridge, Generators, Three Phase Power for Industrial Avenue and Bensonwood.   There were no new updates to these agenda items.

NEW BUSINESS:

Cemetery Deed D576:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the sale of Cemetery Deed D576.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Petition and Pole License:  Ms. Mayberry explained this Petition and Pole License submitted by Liberty Utilities is for North Road and the expansion to the Hubbard Pomerloy Farm on the north side of the cemetery.    

Mrs.  Pschirrer moved to approve and sign the two requests of Liberty Utilities to install three poles up North Road to the Hubbard Pomerloy Farm.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.        

Contract for Cheshire County ARPA Funding:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a letter from the County of Cheshire regarding the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).  There was a consensus to hold off signing their letter until the next meeting.  Contracts need to be signed by December 31, 2021.  

Wantastiquet Local River Subcommittee Appoint Form:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the appointment of Paul Reyns to the Wantastiquet Local River Subcommittee.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Mr. Reyns wrote a letter of interest.  He has been volunteering to take monthly river water samples.

Facial Masks and Municipal Buildings:  Mrs. Pschirrer reported a number of people are asking about this as the COVID numbers are increasing in Cheshire County.  The Women of Walpole just cancelled all their meetings.  The Library is requiring that masks be worn.  The masks do make it more difficult for people to hear.  Mr. Dalessio has no issues with requiring the wearing of masks in public buildings but they need to enforce it.  Ms. Mayberry noted if they are going to do this they need to send all employees a notice in writing.  There was discussion relative to enforcing masks.  There are economic issues in terms of the employees if they are out of work due to COVID related circumstances. Mr. Dalessio felt a compromise might be to require that all people attending meetings need to wear masks.  Mrs. Pschirrer would encourage employees to wear their masks.  At some point we hope COVID will retreat but it might not go away.  It is flu season again.  For now she felt they can require that people wear facial masks when attending public meetings and they encourage all people, including employees, to wear masks. Mr. Dalessio mentioned that they encourage all employees to get vaccinated.         

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:

Mr. Dalessio moved to recess this Selectboard meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Mr. Dalessio, Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved at 9:02 AM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 9:22 AM.

Selectboard Meeting –September 23, 2021- Page 3

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:

Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel and (c) Reputations.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer. With Mr. Dalessio, Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 9:32 AM. 

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of September 16, 2021, will be sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to adjourn this Selectboard meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Ms. Mayberry asked if there was any discussion.  There was none.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the meeting adjourned at 9:33 AM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary