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

CALL TO ORDER:  Ms. Mayberry, Chair of the Walpole Selectboard, called this meeting via Zoom to order at 6:30 PM.  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 three members of the public in attendance:  Mr. Joe Levesque, (Alstead Selectboard); Ms. Jenny Plante and Mrs. Lisa Bryan.  

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:

Alstead-Langdon Transfer Station re: Ben Hoy:  Mr. Joe Levesque had sent a request to the Walpole Selectboard regarding having Mr. Ben Hoy of the Walpole Recycling Center do some consulting work for them. Ms. Mayberry spoke with Mr. Hoy and the Selectboard and they have no concerns with him supporting the Alstead-Langdon Transfer Station when he is not working for the Town of Walpole.  Mr. Levesque explained their transfer station runs well on the day-to-day operation but they have no vision to improve it and to do a better job with recycling.  They are hoping Mr. Hoy can help them out.  He was impressed with the presentation Mr. Hoy made at the last Five-Town meeting.  If the Walpole Selectboard approves their request they will approach Mr. Hoy about scheduling some time from him to check out their operations.  Walpole is not open on Wednesdays but Alstead-Langdon is so that might be a good day for Mr. Hoy to check-in with them.  Mrs. Pschirrer had no problems providing Mr. Hoy works on his free time.  Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry agreed.  

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to allow Mr. Ben Hoy to work on his own time for the Town of Alstead at their Alstead-Langdon Transfer Station.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.   

Ms. Mayberry did speak to Mr. Hoy to gage his interest. He looks forward to supporting them.

Home Away From Home Timeline:  Ms. Mayberry asked Ms. Plante if she was present to acknowledge her letter.  Ms. Plante advised that Home Away From Home was on the agenda. Therefore, she felt she should be present to answer any questions.  Ms. Mayberry apologized stating that it was not meant to be on this agenda.  Mrs. Downing agreed that it was to be removed but it was on the original public agenda.  

Ms. Plante saw it on the Walpolean.

Lisa Bryan:  Mrs. Bryan was present just as a person in the audience.  

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $147,395.28 for checks issued January 14, 2022.  This includes a payment in the amount of $75,511.44 to Primex. 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 8, 2022, in the amount of $54,757.60 dated January 14, 2022, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $13,267.24.  This includes a vacation time buy-out for employees with an excess of 80 hours of vacation time for the previous year.  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 – January 13, 2021:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of January 13, 2022, as submitted.  The Agenda stated January 13, 2021, in error.  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 – January 13, 2021:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of January 13, 2022, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed.  The Agenda stated January 13, 2021, in error.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Minutes were approved.  

Mr. Dalessio pointed out that the agenda states the Selectboard Meeting Minutes were dated January 13, 2021, in error.  The correct date for both the regular Selectboard Minutes and the Non-Public Selectboard Session Minutes should be January 13, 2022.

COMMITTEE REPORT:​

The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the following Committee report:

• Conservation Commission Meeting – January 3, 2022.

PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT:

MAP and LOT #012-013-004:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant the Property Tax Abatement in the amount of $4,523.00 for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #012-013-004.  This Abatement is due to an error in the original data submission to Avitar.  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:

Health Trust Updated Medical Coverage and Rates Transmittal:  Ms. Mayberry reported the Health Trust Updated Medical Coverage and Rates Transmittal now include the Domestic Partner Rider.  

Mr. Dalessio moved to authorize the Chair, Cheryl Mayberry, to sign the Health Trust Updated Medical Coverage and Rates Transmittal to include the Domestic Partner Rider to be effective February 1, 2022.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Former Brownfields Site Parking Lot:  Mrs. Pschirrer reported that Mr. Steve Rickerich from Ransom Consulting is our engineer on the Brownfields Site Project. They have been talking regularly about what kind of money is left in the EPA Grant.  Mr. Rickerich is communicating with the EPA in Boston. Mr. Mike McClusky, who represents the State Brownfields Grant and Mr. Rickerich both appear to indicate they are going to approve our using the extra money to pave the lot as well as the clean-up and planting of the green space where the former garage was.  He was preparing that budget right now to show that we can, in fact, complete the paving and everything else with the money we have left. They will give us a final approval. They will be doing it with grant money.  If they want to pave the current parking lot that will have to be done at Town expense as there would not be enough money left to do that.  Mrs. Pschirrer said that the Walpole Foundation is willing to pay for the electric charging stations. They are researching where they can be purchased and how.  A week from tomorrow, the Walpole Foundation is going to be meeting with a company out of Rhode Island who has been installing electric charging stations all over New England.  She expects the Town will not have an expense or create a warrant article for the installation.  Ms. Mayberry believes there is some funding out there to install electric charging stations. She will reach out to Southwest Regional Planning Commission (SWRPC) to ask about putting them in and if there is funding for that.  As soon as she hears back from SWRPC, she will share that information with the Selectboard.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted the company that the Foundation is talking to makes and installs the units.  She thanked Ms. Mayberry.

Houghton Brook Bridge:  Mr. Dalessio reported that the Notice of Submittal has been sent for the NH Department of Environmental Services Wetlands Permits.

Three Phase Power for Industrial Park Drive and Bensonwood:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of an inquiry from Mr. Tom Hancock of Bensonwood as to the status of the Three Phase Power for Industrial Park Drive and Bensonwood.  Ms. Mayberry stated this continues to be in the Town’s “Pending Further Actions”.  Mr. Dalessio suggested having Mrs. Downing send Mr. Hancock an email advising there are no new updates.

Vilas Bridge:  Mr. Dalessio reported that he, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Mark Houghton met with Weston and Sampson Engineering out of Portsmouth, NH. They will prepare a Scope of Work and some cost estimates to go along with it.  They are very qualified so they will see what comes back.  This is all in moving the Town’s wastewater line from the Vilas Bridge and to send it in a different direction.  Ms. Mayberry noted that Weston and Sampson has been working with the Village of North Walpole on their water system for many years.  Mr. Dalessio asked Mrs. Downing to change “Vilas Bridge” to the “Wastewater Line on The Vilas Bridge” so people will know they are not working on the Vilas Bridge.        

NEW BUSINESS:

2022 Draft Warrant Articles:  The Selectboard reviewed Draft No. 2 of the Warrant Articles: 2022 – Town Meeting, March 12, 2022.  

Mr. Dalessio suggested the following change: “Sidewalk Plow and Snow-blower”; they had agreed to take half of the cost from the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve and half from the Unassigned Fund Balance.  Mrs. Pschirrer agreed to re-write this article.  She used the figure of $170,000.

Mrs. Pschirrer made the following change:  Left out “repair” for the front door at the Library.  It needs to be a “replacement” not a “repair”.  Mr. Dalessio feels the proposal they received looks reasonable.  

Mrs. Pschirrer is still waiting for Chief Sanctuary to get back to her on what the State is recommending for police cars this year.  Mascoma Bank is willing to lend the Town money again at a good interest rate of 2.65% for 36-to-38 months.

Mrs. Pschirrer had the Warrant Article for the Community Power Aggregation Plan.  She would like to place it close to the top when the most voters are attending the meeting.

Mrs. Pschirrer advised that the Warrant Articles will be reorganized and revised as suggested.    

Edson Grout Associates Contract and Purchase Order:  Ms. Mayberry had several concerns one of which is there is no reporting element.  Would it be better to have a two year contract rather than “terminated by either party with 60 days written notice.” There is concern with No. 4 “All case files shall be filed at the Town of Walpole 90 days after a case has been closed”.  They have been paying the Welfare Director on a weekly basis. Mrs. Pschirrer went onto the NH Municipal Association website; some receive a stipend, some a small salary but in the cities, they are extremely well paid.  They have never discussed how many hours a week the Town of Walpole’s Director works.  Ms. Mayberry would like to see some accountability. How many people does she see?  Mr. Dalessio agrees because our spending is very low.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted that for the last year-and-a-half, during COVID, people have been referred to requesting money from the State/other agencies.  Ms. Mayberry questioned but how many people did we help and how many were referred to other agencies.  There was a consensus to table this agenda item.     

Library Trustee Appointment Notice: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the appointment of Erin Bowen, as a member of the Library Board of Trustees, for a period of three (3) months, January 13, 2022 through Town Meeting, March 2022.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

2022 Revaluation Meeting with Avitar and the NH Department of Revenue Administration:  Mrs. Downing advised this meeting is to finalize the 2022 Revaluation Meeting.  In 2023 the Town will need a new contract with Avitar or another agency.  The best time for Mr. Dalessio to meet would be the morning of Wednesday, January 19^th.  Mrs. Pschirrer is available during the day.  Ms. Mayberry is also available that day.  She asked Mrs. Downing to contact Ms. Loren Martin at Avitar to propose meeting with Avitar and the DRA on that date and time.  They can counter with another date if needed.     

City of Keene Invitation to Legislative Delegation Meeting: The Selectboard received an invitation to join the Mayor and City of Keene Council at their Legislative Delegation meeting on Monday, January 24, 2022 beginning at 6:00 PM with light refreshments – the meeting will commence at 6:30 PM in-person or via Zoom.  The meeting will be held in the old courthouse building at 12 Court Street.  The Selectboard will RSVP individually and plan to attend via Zoom.  

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 7:08 PM.  

The regular Selectboard meeting reconvened at 8:03 PM.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of January 13, 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.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Clarify Dates for Meeting Minutes:  Ms. Mayberry reported that for the purpose of clarifying the dates of the Selectboard meeting and the Non-Public Selectboard Session previously approved at this meeting as January 13, 2022, the following motion was made to correct this date to January 6, 2022.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to clarify that the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting previously approved at this meeting be changed from January 13, 2022, to January 6, 2022, and that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session that were previously approved at this meeting be changed from January 13, 2022, to January 6, 2022.  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 information.  There was none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary