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

CALL TO ORDER:  Mr. Dalessio called this Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.  This meeting was being recorded.

Mr. Dalessio called for a voice roll call of the Selectboard resent:  Peggy Pschirrer was present; Cheryl Mayberry was present; and Steven Dalessio, Chair, was present.  Also present was Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Regina Borden, Recording Secretary.  There were three members of the public in attendance:  Mr. Jack Neary, Wendy Grossman and Will Grossman.

POLICE DEPARTMENT COMPLAINT:  Mr. Neary was present regarding a wellness check earlier this week by police officers.  He thought Police Chief Sanctuary would be attending this meeting to discuss it. However, he was unable to be here.  Mr. Neary explained the encounter.  He knows the police have a tough job.  Ms. Mayberry thanked Mr. Neary for coming into the meeting.  They will talk to the Police Chief so they can understand what happened.     

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR RAIL TRAIL (MOA):  Mrs. Wendy Grossman and Mr. Will Grossman were present to discuss the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Rail Trial and completion of the End of Year Reporting Form for the State of NH, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Bureau of Trails. Mrs. Grossman reported that one of the big things they were waiting for was the brush hogging.  She distributed pictures of what the trail looks like in July.  The Bureau of Trails is requiring the Town to enter into a MOA with the State in order to brush hog.  She explained the difficulties of pursuing this.  Unfortunately, when they got this agreement, it does not solve the maintenance problem for the Rail Trail in Walpole.  It does not give them any capability to brush hog along the trails.  They can get a Special Use Permit if they enter into this agreement or not.  In principle she feels it is a great idea to have this agreement with the State as there are some things that establish a cooperative relationship but there are some downsides to it.  Mr. Grossman noted they do not define a lot of the terms.  You have to keep records of all the volunteer work.  Mr. Dalessio said there is a lot of burden on the Town.  Mrs. Grossman mentioned this is a brand-new agreement.  Walpole and maybe a few other local towns have received it; this has been passed on to the other areas that have rail trail maintenance.  They hope to collect comments.  Mr. Dalessio said from his perspective, the Selectboard would not sign this the way it is written.  Mrs. Pschirrer likes their sharing it and getting comments.  There are all kinds of things she objects to for a small town.  From her perspective she would be happy to draft a letter and send it to whomever and object on behalf of small towns.  They have made it burdensome and impossible for any of them to maintain a rail trail.  Mrs. Grossman stated that would be very welcome.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked what it takes to get a Special Use Permit.  Mrs. Grossman said it requires filing out an application plus insurance of $1,000,000-to-$2,000,000 per incident.  Mr. Grossman said there is a $100 fee and a $1,000 bond.  If they were to have two different brush hoggers, they would need to have two $100 fees and the bond.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked what would happen if the local Hooper Hill Hoppers Snowmobile Club cleared the trail.  Mrs. Grossman replied they do it every fall. Mr. Dalessio feels this is a case of where everyone wants to do the right thing and clear the trails. However, our government agencies are making it difficult to do what is proper.  There was a consensus to have Mrs. Pschirrer write the letter mentioned earlier.  Ms. Mayberry mentioned it makes the Town responsible for all litter on the trails. Mr. Dalessio summarized that the Selectboard will do what they can to support it.  He asked Mr. and Mrs. Grossman to keep them informed. They will see where it goes.  Mrs. Pschirrer will enclose the pictures with the letter.                  

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $33,006.97 for checks issued April 1, 2022.  This includes a payment in the amount of $9,771.99 to Reed Trucking for Highway truck repairs.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

PAYROLL:

Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Payroll Check Register for the week ending March 26, 2022, in the amount of $28,536.67 dated April 1, 2022, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $5,689.64.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – March 24, 2022:  Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboardmeeting of March 24, 2022, as submitted.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – March 24, 2022:  Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of March 24, 2022, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio 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 – March 1, 2022;

• North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes – March 8, 2022;

• North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes – March 15, 2022;

• Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting Minutes – March 16, 2022;

• Safety Committee Meeting Minutes – March 24, 2022.

BUILDING PERMIT:

Permit #2004-59 Renewal, MAP and LOT #009-023-000:  Mr. Dalessio reported there are some questions about Renewal Permit #2004-59 for Map and Lot #009-023-000.  Ms. Mayberry stated this building permit goes back to 2004; it is 18 years old.  She is concerned about automatically renewing something when they do not know what has been done since the initial permit was approved.  There is an outhouse; they do not need sewer. Is there electricity?  Mrs. Pschirrer noted there is a lot of information attached to this.  Initially they were going to be building a house for a camp.  There are a number of letters on this permit from Attorney Hanna.  It is off a private road (unnamed) that is off of March Hill Road.  How close is it to a well? Is the owner going to build up there?  Mr. Dalessio advised the owner keeps renewing it to keep the “Grandfathered” status.  Mrs. Pschirrer mentioned it states there is a “tee-pee” there.  They can write him a letter stating that nothing has happened in 18 years.  Mr. Dalessio summarized that the Selectboard is denying renewal of Permit #2004-59 for Map and Lot #009-023-000.  The owner will need to re-submit a building permit when he is ready to do something on the property as this original permit was issued in 2004.                  

OLD BUSINESS:

Color Choices for Town Hall Roofing:  Mrs. Downing reported that color choices for the Town Hall roofing are available for review in the Selectboard Office.  Let her know what their color preference is. 

PENDING FURTHER ACTIONS:

Generators, Wooden Chairs in the Town Hall, Trees on the Common, Walpole Players Posters, Reservoir Dam, Houghton Brook Bridge, Parking Ordinance, Three Phase Power for Industrial Park Drive and Bensonwood.

Plowing Procedure:  Mrs. Pschirrer distributed draft copies of a Plowing Procedure for review.  It will be an agenda item for the meeting next week.  

NEW BUSINESS:

Paper Shredder & Oil Purchase Orders and Quotes:  Ms. Mayberry moved to approve Purchase Order #789102 under Warrant Article No. 9 for the purchase of a Paper Shredder in the amount of $23,224.99 from W. B. Mason.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.  

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve Purchase Order #789103 under Warrant Article No. 9 for the purchase of accessory oil for the paper shredder in the amount of $407.76 from W.B. Mason.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.  

Town Hall Server Purchase Order and Quote:  Mr. Dalessio reported that Mr. Kreissle is making sure that all the equipment will work with this new server.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve Purchase Order No. 789245 for the purchase of a Server replacement with hardware and installation for the Town Hall in the amount of $10,309.47.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved. 

Town Hall Fire Alarm Purchase Order and Quote:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve Purchase Order #789238 under Warrant Article No. 5 for the purchase of a Town Hall Fire Alarm Replacement in the amount of $10,235.00 from Countryside Alarms.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Liberty Utilities Electrical Easement Application:  This application is related to the new parking lot conduit for lighting and EV charging stations.  One Selectboard signature is required on the form.  Mrs. Pschirrer pointed out that Mr. Mark Houghton has been handling this with Liberty Utilities.  

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to authorize Mr. Steven Dalessio, Chair of the Selectboard, to sign the Liberty Utilities Electrical Easement Application.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Deeded Property Lien Interest:  A memo was received from the Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s (TC-TC) office re: 14% interest rate once tax lien is recorded.  Mr. Dalessio reported that after reading the RSAs he does not think they have to do anything.  Ms. Mayberry mentioned the TC-TC is implying they are using 8% rather than the 14%.  Mrs. Pschirrer felt they just need to tell the TC-TC office to follow the RSAs and use 14%.  Ms. Mayberry will email them in the morning with this information.

Roundabout Request for Shaws & Pinnacle View Lanes:  Mr. Ted Johnson asked about having a roundabout at the junction of Route 12 and the entrance to the Shaws/Job Lots/Savings Bank of Walpole entrance land with the Pinnacle View Lane on the opposite side of the road.  Mr. Dalessio mentioned it was recommended that he call Region 4 Office of the NH Department of Transportation to discuss this since it is a State road.  They are not sure if he called.  Ms. Mayberry was to follow-up with J.B. Mack at SWRPC re: Traffic Study.  She was concerned about the logistics of doing a roundabout at that location because one side is so much lower than the other and the intersection is at the crest of the hill.  She will follow-up with Mr. Mack to obtain a copy of the traffic study. She will share it with the board.  Mrs. Pschirrer mentioned that traffic is a problem there.  For years people wondered why there was no traffic light there, but the State said “no” to traffic lights on Rt. 12.  The Selectboard does not feel this is a good location for a roundabout.

Thank-You Letters:  Mr. Dalessio acknowledged thank you letters from the Southwest Community Services and Takodah YMCA (Camp) for their annual contributions from Walpole.  

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:

Ms. Mayberry 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 Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved at 7:25 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting reconvened at 8:00 PM.

Ms. Mayberry moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of March 31, 2022, will be sealed.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

ADJOURNMENT:

Ms. Mayberry moved to adjourn this Selectboard meeting.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  Mr. Dalessio asked if there was any additional discussion.  There was none.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 8:01 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary