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 present:  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.  One member of the public was in attendance:  Jennie Plante.

OLD BUSINESS:

Maplewood Circle Traffic Patterns and Speed Limit:  Mrs. Pschirrer had attended the Planning Board meeting on April 12. 2022, when the Public Hearing to gather information on traffic, speed limits and parking in the Maplewood Circle and Firehouse Road neighborhood was discussed.  She pointed out that the neighborhood has changed; more people are coming and going constantly and there were several requests that the Town buy new traffic signs.  There were some good suggestions for the Selectboard to consider.  One suggestion was to make the speed limit in front of the daycare 15 MPH plus a request from a resident to consider making Maplewood Circle a one-way street.  The neighbors agreed there was too much traffic going too fast and even though there are speed signs posted, people seem to ignore them.  The three Selectboard members agree that with any posted speed signs the problem is enforcement.  The Town does not have traffic police officers.  Mrs. Pschirrer is in the process of revising the Parking Ordinances as they need to be understandable and in plain English.  Right now they are heavily quoted with RSAs.  The Parking Ordinances need to be adopted at a Town Meeting. Therefore, there is time to rewrite them before March 2023.  Ms. Plante mentioned the signs have been posted for a long time.  There are “Children at Play” signs.  Mrs. Pschirrer advised that none of the Town roads are consistent on their width.  Mr. Dalessio noted every time the road gets paved, there is the possibility of the width changing slightly. He will discuss this with Mr. Mike Rau, Road Agent.  He has no problem with changing the speed limit to 15 MPH but as Mrs. Pschirrer said, the real issue is the Town does not have an officer who can sit on the corner and watch the traffic for an extended period of time.   Mrs. Pschirrer mentioned the Highway Department has a way to check traffic.  There was discussion on which would be the best way to change the traffic pattern to one-way.  Mr. Dalessio advised the Town just purchased two solar speed units; one will be placed by the North Walpole School but they haven’t decided on a location for the second unit.  If they work out, more will be purchased in the future.  The first priority is to make sure everybody is safe.  Ms. Plante wants to be sure parents and children will be able to exit vehicles safely by the daycare.            

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $612,260.76 for checks issued April 15, 2022.  This includes a monthly payment in the amount of $529,226.92 to the Fall Mountain Regional School District.  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 April 9, 2022, in the amount of $28,692.21 for checks dated April 15, 2022, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $5,799.28.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – April 7, 2022:  Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of April 7, 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 – April 7, 2022:  Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of April 7, 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:

• Walpole Fire District Monthly Meeting – January 5, 2022;

• Walpole Fire District Monthly Meeting – February 9, 2022;

• Walpole Fire District Monthly Meeting – March 2, 2022;

• Walpole Power Committee Meeting – March 30, 2022;

• Conservation Commission Meeting – April 4, 2022.

VETERANS TAX CREDIT:

MAP and LOT #013-009-007:  Ms. Mayberry moved to grant the Veterans’ Tax Credit to the owner(s) of Map and Lot #013-009-007.  This applicant served over 90 days of active duty during a time of conflict and was honorably discharged.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

SOLAR ENERGY EXEMPTIONS:

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Solar Energy Exemptions for the owner(s) of the following two properties:

• MAP and LOT #021-023-000 for $18,000;

• MAP and LOT #021-036-000 for $12,000.

Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

Endorsement Letter re: Expansion of Walpole Fire Station:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to sign the Endorsement Letter regarding the Expansion of the Walpole Fire Station to Nick Brown, District Director, and Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster(NH-02).  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

PENDING FURTHER ACTIONS:  

Generators, Reservoir Dam, Houghton Brook Bridge, Parking Ordinance, Three Phase Power for Industrial Park Drive and Bensonwood

Trees on the Common:  Mrs. Downing is waiting for a certified arborist to contact her about the trees on the Common.

Vilas Bridge:  Mr. Dalessio reported that they were supposed to do a drone video of conditions on the Vilas Bridge for preliminary engineering on movement of the wastewater line off the bridge.

Post-Recorded Lien Interest Rate:  Ms. Mayberry advised that the interest rate for taxable property is 8% for past due payments.  Once a lien is placed on a property, the interest rate climbs to 14% annually.  After three (3) years when the Town is able to Deed the property; in the past they have stopped accruing interest.  The question was should they still be accounting for that potential debt at 8% or 14% up until the sale or buy-back?  The RSA is not clear and leaves this somewhat open which is why they were being asked to decide.  In summary, there was a consensus of the Selectboard to accrue taxable rate interest at 8% after deeding and up until the sale or buy-back.

NEW BUSINESS:

New Library Front Door Purchase Order and Contractor Agreement:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve and sign Purchase Order #789233 in the amount of $4,500 to Mark McGill, McGill Woodworking for a new Library Front Door that was approved at the Annual Town Meeting under Warrant Article #11.  A $2,500 payment is due with the order.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

North Walpole Library Lease:  Mrs. Pschirrer advised that the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners agreed to a two year lease for the North Walpole Library.  She will write the new lease.

Thank–You Letters:  Mr. Dalessio acknowledged receipt of Thank-You letters from the Community Volunteer Transportation Company (CVTC) and the Monadnock Family Services for the Town’s annual donations.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to recess this Selectboard meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved at 7:12 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting reconvened at 7:16 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 Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

The regular Selectboard meeting reconvened at 7:44 PM.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of April 14, 2022, will be sealed.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry 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 7:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary