Selectboard Present:Cheryl Mayberry (Chair); Steven Dalessio; Peggy Pschirrer
CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Mayberry called this Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall. This meeting was being recorded. Also present was Mrs. Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Mrs. Regina Borden, Recording Secretary. There were two members of the public in attendance: Jody Spivey and Barbara Spivey.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
Jody Spivey: Mr. Spivey asked if anything was said last week about Whipple Hill. They could not make the meeting; he requested a copy of the recording but had not yet received it. Ms. Mayberry replied that the Selectboard will have a public hearing on advice of their attorney. The attorney suggested they have a public hearing to address access to the road and if it was impeded by the gates or not. They will have a second public hearing to talk about snowmobile access to the road; class VI roads in general not specific to Whipple Hill. Mr. O’Keefe had asked for an update, and they are in the process of trying to schedule the public hearing. They will see if they can do the two public hearings on the same date. Mr. Spivey asked if the Selectboard would be interested in having an “off-the-record” conversation. Mrs. Pschirrer advised that they would not without legal counsel being present. Mr. Dalessio agreed in that they are following advice of their legal counsel right now. Mr. Spivey stated what they wanted to talk about was voluntarily removing the gates. They are not the first ones to put up a gate. It never was locked. He does not know what this means for a conversation with their attorney but the Selectboard knows where to find them. Ms. Mayberry stated they will be happy to discuss this with their attorney. Mr. and Mrs. Spivey left the meeting.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $113,622.03 for checks issued October 22, 2021. This includes a payment in the amount of $74,313.25 to the Village of Bellows Falls for wastewater usage and the sewer bond. 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 October 16, 2021, in the amount of $25,957.30 for checks dated October 22, 2021, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $4,982.93. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:
SELECTBOARD MINUTES – October 14, 2021: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 14, 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 – October 14, 2021: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of October 14, 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.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the following Committee reports:
North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes – September 28, 2021
Library Trustees Minutes – October 12, 2021
Planning Board Minutes – October 12, 2021.
OLD BUSINESS:
Avitar Amended Assessor’s Agreement and Revaluation/Update Agreement: Mrs. Downing reported that Mrs. Loren Martin of Avitar had a Board meeting yesterday and the Board made a decision to honor the old rates. Avitar will send revised contracts.
Selectboard Meeting Dates: Ms. Mayberry advised that Wednesday, November 10th, 2021, is the date for the Whipple Hill Public Hearing. It will begin at 6:00 PM. Attorney Hockensmith will attend. The Selectboard meeting will following with the time to be determined. On Thursday November 18th, 2021, the Hooper Trustees will meet with the Trustees of Trust Funds.
5-Town Meeting: Ms. Mayberry announced that the 5-Town Meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 29, 2021, at 4:30 PM. They are seeking agenda items to share with the Town of Charlestown. The primary focus of this meeting is the Walpole Recycling Center. Mr. Ben Hoy will attend. At the last meeting they talked about recreation and coaching between town teams. They will also discuss the Route 12 closure. It will be open discussion as things come up.
Utility Tree Pruning of Town Properties: The Program Manager and Arborist of Liberty Utilities will attend the next Selectboard meeting on October 28th. They will talk about their tree trimming list and answer questions. They have a free donor tree program. Mrs. Pschirrer mentioned they sent a second list for an area to be worked on.
Health Trust Return of Surplus: The Town is expecting a total return amount of $43,428.52. Ms. Mayberry reported they are waiting for the spreadsheet from Mr. Kreissle to see how it breaks out the figures. The surplus is higher than last year.
Pre-Payments of Taxes: Ms. Mayberry spoke to Mrs. Hansson after the last Selectboard meeting about the decision that was made; they were not in favor of people using credit cards to pay their property taxes. Ms. Mayberry told her they needed to see some data if Mrs. Hansson wanted them to revisit using credit cards. She wanted to know when they could meet with the Selectboard. Ms. Mayberry said Mr. Dalessio would get back to her with a date. There was discussion about pre-payments of taxes. They have accepted pre-payments for the current tax year. Mrs. Hansson felt rather than emails it would be beneficial if they sat down at the table for a conversation. Ms. Mayberry thought that was a great idea. Mrs. Pschirrer did not think that Mrs. Smith took pre-payments but did make payment plans that the Selectboard approved. Ms. Mayberry asked Mrs. Hansson for some data. Mr. Dalessio will talk to Mrs. Hansson and Mrs. Gohl on Tuesday.
Pending Further Actions:
Vilas Bridge, Houghton Brook Bridge, Generators, Three Phase Power for Industrial Park Drive and Bensonwood, Arborclimb.
Houghton Brook Bridge: Mr. Dalessio reported that the Department of Environmental Services (DES) has once again changed their staffing. They will have to review everything. Mrs. Pschirrer said that is not alright; it increases the cost. We have the ARP Grant and the Executive Council approved it. Mr. Dalessio was thinking about writing to Representative Lucy Weber and Senator Jay Kahn because this is costing us more money as we will need another meeting. Three people from Fuss & O’Neill were at the last meeting for a cost of about $1,000. Ms. Mayberry noted it is causing an economic hardship. This will be continued.
Vilas Bridge: Ms. Mayberry advised that the Vilas Bridge came up during the GACIT and SWRPC Fall meeting. The article in the newspaper could be helpful as it made more people aware of it.
NEW BUSINESS:
NH Association of Assessing Officials 2022 Election Ballot: Ms. Mayberry mentioned this is an annual election.
Mrs. Pschirrer moved to authorize the Chair of the Selectboard, Cheryl Mayberry, to sign the NH Association of Assessing Officials 2022 Election Ballot. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
TrueNorth Agreement and IT Budget Plan: Mr. Dalessio advised that they should put about $10,000 or $15,000 in the 2022 budget as they will need to start replacing some of the equipment they have. A lot of it is about eight (8) years old. Do they want to put one-half in 2022 and one-half in 2023? Mrs. Pschirrer suggested putting it all in 2022 initially but after they put other things together they might have to go back and split it in half. Ms. Mayberry noted they will let Mr. Kreissle know about this budget addition.
HSEM Meeting Feedback: This meeting was scheduled for last Friday. Mrs. Pschirrer did not get that email until Mrs. Downing forwarded it to her today.
Greater Keene & Peterborough Chamber Focus Group for Regional Branding: The Selectboard members do not plan to attend this meeting on Thursday morning.
SWRPC Road Safety Audit: This application is due December 1st, 2021. Ms. Mayberry mentioned having conversations with Mr. Jim Tyrrell about the Upper Valley Road (the triangle). All the Town would have to do is authorize them to come and they would do their data. Mr. Dalessio felt they should do this Road Safety Audit. Mrs. Pschirrer is more concerned with Route 123 past Whitcomb’s just past the Recycling Center. There have been accidents. There is also concern about South Street intersection with Route 12 and the Westminster Bridge onto Route 12. She does not know if there have been fatalities but there were personal injuries. Ms. Mayberry noted they have discussed the Shaw’s intersection to Route 12. Ms. Mayberry will contact SWRPC about doing the Road Safety Audit.
RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:
Mrs. Pschirrer moved to recess this Selectboard meeting. The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved at 7:21 PM.
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:28 PM.
NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:
Mrs. Pschirrer 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 Mr. Dalessio. With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:38 PM.
Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of October 21, 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 was adjourned at 7:39 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary
The Walpolean 
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