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

CALL TO ORDER:  Mrs. Pschirrer, Walpole Selectboard, called this meeting via Zoom to order at 6:30 PM.  She expects Ms. Mayberry, Chair, to arrive shortly.  The Selectboard members are in three separate locations.  Also attending this meeting is Mrs. Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, at the Walpole Town Hall and Mrs. Regina Borden, Recording Secretary, at a separate location.  This meeting was being recorded.  There were two members of the public in attendance:  Mr. David Adams and Ms. Jenny Plante.  Ms. Mayberry arrived at the Zoom meeting.

Ms. Mayberry called for a voice roll call of the Selectboard present.   Steven Dalessio was present at his home; Peggy Pschirrer was present at her home and Cheryl Mayberry was present at her home.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

Appointment Notice for Treasurer:  Ms. Mayberry reported that the Selectboard had asked Mr. David Adams if he would be interested in being appointed as the Interim Town Treasurer due to the resignation of Mr. Thomas Goins.  Mr. Dalessio asked if Mr. Adams had met with Mr. Goins.  Mr. Adams replied they would meet next Tuesday.  Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Rich Kreissle have provided quite a lot of information to Mr. Adams. Therefore, he will be better prepared with his meeting with Mr. Goins. 

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Town of Walpole Selectboard approve the appointment of Mr. David Adams as Treasurer for a period of three (3) months, January 2022 through Town Meeting in March 2022.  He must be elected to fill the uncompleted term of Mr. Thomas Goins; that term will extend to 2023.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was unanimously approved.

Ms. Jenny Plante:  Ms. Mayberry asked Ms. Plante if there was something specific that she would like to discuss.  Ms. Plante responded that she did not. 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $580,656.76 for checks issued January 7, 2022.  This includes a monthly payment in the amount of $529,226.92 to the Fall Mountain Regional School District.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote 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 January 1, 2022, in the amount of $29,082.41 dated January 7, 2022, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $5,766.20.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – December 30, 2021:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of December 30, 2021, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION MINUTES – December 30, 2021:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of December 30, 2021, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Minutes were approved.

PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS:

MAP and LOT #009-012-002:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant the Property Tax Refund in the amount of $149.00 for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #009-012-002.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant the Property Tax Refunds for the owner(s) of the following properties:

• MAP and LOT #015-002-000 in the amount of $41.00;
• MAP and LOT #002-005-000 in the amount of $101.99;
• MAP and LOT #029-019-000 in the amount of $8.00;
• MAP and LOT #003-007-002 in the amount of $10.45;
• MAP and LOT #027-001-006 in the amount of $168.78   

Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

Power Committee Public Hearing:  Ms. Mayberry reported the date for the Power Committee Public Hearing is Tuesday, January 25, 2022.  Mr. Dalessio said that is not a good date as there is a Planning Board Workshop and they are working on the Master Plan.  Mrs. Pschirrer said every other date is filled-in as well.  She will check with the other members of the Power Committee to see if Wednesday, January 26, 2022, is a good date for them. 

Health Trust Domestic Partner Rider:  Ms. Mayberry advised this was discussed last week.  This Health Trust Domestic Partner Rider will become effective February 1^st, 2022.  Mrs. Downing was asked to share this information with the other employees.

Pending Further Actions:

Vilas Bridge, Generators, Tree Phase Power for Industrial Park Drive and Bensonwood, Wooden Chairs in the Town Hall, Trees on the Common, Walpole Players Posters

Houghton Brook Bridge:  Mr. Dalessio reported the Department of Environmental Services (DES) was going to begin working on the permitting package.  Fuss & O’Neill will be sending in a contract format. 

They should be meeting on January 11^th at 9:30 AM to talk about the Water and Sewer projects. 

Reservoir Dam:  Mr. Dalessio advised they are trying to coordinate a meeting with the DES and with their new hire the Project Manager.  There will be a lot of material coming out in the next week or so.

NEW BUSINESS:   

Request for ACH Payments for Property Taxes:  Ms. Mayberry acknowledged receipt of a letter from a property owner regarding a request for ACH payments on property taxes.  Mrs. Pschirrer would like the sentiment of the Selectboard but she is happy to write to the property owner.  Mr. Dalessio felt they should consider ACH payments; they are different than credit card payments.  It is usually convenient for businesses.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted someone will have to speak to Mr. Rich Kreissle about doing the research as to what is required.  Ms. Mayberry believes there are some transactional things that need to be worked out.  She does not see it as a burden but if there is a request for it and/or a need, she sees a request for that.  She would like to know how many people are asking about ACH payments other than the one they are aware of.  There are more details to be documented.  It has to be done correctly.  Mrs. Pschirrer mentioned if they charge a fee property owners might not be that excited about it.  She will speak to Mr. Kreissle about ACH payments.         

Air Quality Issue on North Road:  Ms. Mayberry acknowledged receipt of copies of the email Mr. Merklein sent to the NH DES Air Resources Division about his complaint.  Has anyone else noticed it in Walpole? Mrs. Pschirrer lives a block away and has not seen anything.  Mr. Dalessio followed up with Mr. Eric Merklein on that whole conversation. At first it looked like ice pellets.  Mr. Merklein said it is hard to see in the grass but it shows up in his water troughs.  That is a big concern with his horses.  He also said it was on Mrs. Pauline Barnes property as well.  Mr. Dalessio felt with all the construction going on it might be some sort of material that got blown around in the strong winds.  It looks like some type of plastic pellet.  It is getting some attention from the Department of Environmental Services (DES).   

Parking Ordinance:  Last week Mrs. Pschirrer had agreed to work on the Parking Ordinance text.  Unfortunately, she did not have time to do it this last week. Therefore, this agenda item will be tabled for another week.  Mrs. Pschirrer suggested it be added to the “Pending Further Actions” and she will let them know when it is completed. 

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.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved at 6:58 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:01 PM.

Ms. Mayberry thanked Mr. Dave Adams and Ms. Jenny Plante for sitting through this meeting with them.

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.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved at 7:02 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:40 PM.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of January 6, 2022, will be sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote 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 additional discussion.  There was none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 7:42 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary