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 Jodi Daigle, Water & Sewer Clerk and Administrative Assistant, and Regina Borden, Recording Secretary. There were three members of the public in attendance:  Joe Ruggiero, Ernie Vose and Jan Galloway-Leclerc.

OLD BUSINESS:

ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT – Maps:  Mrs. Leclerc, Chair of the ZBA, talked to Mr. Peter Palmiotto who is looking into the following: The only thing wrong on the map is it does not include the Commercial District going back further.  She asked him about moving the title and legend over to one side so no lots will be covered over.  He is also looking into that and will get back to her. 

NEW BUSINESS:

RUGGIERO PROCESSING FACILITY:  Mr. Joe Ruggiero advised they will be moving forward on a volume increase.  He talked to Mr. Mark Houghton about it.  There will not be any more trash on-site but there will be one more trailer in use each day.  Right now he is at about three-quarters of his capacity.  Mr. Dalessio pointed out that this will be a change with the Department of Environmental Services (DES).  Mr. Ruggiero said the facility will have the same amount of trash.   Right now he has one trailer come in to take out material but eventually he would like to use two trailers.  It will not increase any of his traffic.   He cannot find CDL drivers so will use bigger trucks.  Mr. Dalessio asked if he will eventually finish the other project.  Mr. Ruggiero wants to put the office up but he does not want to invest in it until he is sure someone will be there.  COVID slowed down the building but it is still in his future plans. Mrs. Pschirrer asked if he had replaced the access driveway.  Mr. Ruggiero did do that.  Mr. Dalessio asked if the facility is affected by the lack of three-phase power.  Mr. Ruggiero said he is but they cannot seem to get it in their budgets to bring it in.  It is costly.  Mr. Dalessio noted they are looking for Grants but not much is available for this service.              

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION #1:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard Session #1 pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (c) Reputations.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved at 6:39 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting reconvened at 7:09 PM.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session #1 of May 12, 2022, will be sealed.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $469,057.00 for checks issued May 13, 2022.  This includes a payment in the amount of $275,000 to the Walpole Fire 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 May 07, 2022, in the amount of $30,195.19 dated May 13, 2022, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $6,080.10.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – May 5, 2022:  Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of May 5, 2022, as submitted.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Minutes were approved.

COMMITTEE REPORT:

The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the following Committee report:

• Walpole Conservation Commission Meeting – May 2, 2022.

WARRANT:

Spring Property Taxes:  Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Warrant for the Property Tax Levy, Spring Property Taxes, in the amount of $5,891,363.00.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

North Walpole Library Lease:  Mr. Dalessio reported that the North Walpole Library Lease was signed by the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners.  A copy will be given to the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners, Mr. Rich Kreissle and one will be kept in the Selectboard Office.

PENDING FURTHER ACTIONS:

Generators, Trees on the Common, Reservoir Dam, Houghton Brook Bridge, Parking Ordinance, Power for Industrial Park Drive and Bensonwood:

Trees on the Common:  Mr. Hartmann had suggested doing the walk around the Common on Thursday, May 26^th, however Mrs. Pschirrer would not be able to attend.  Mr. Dalessio would like everyone to be there.  Mrs. Daigle had emailed Mr. Hartmann to see what other Thursdays he will be available but she has not yet received a reply.

Houghton Brook Bridge:  Mr. Dalessio reported they are waiting to go out for Bid but waiting for Mr. Graves to give them the Right-of-Way so they do not have to build a temporary bridge. 

NEW BUSINESS (Continued):

Revolving Fund Request:  Police Chief Sanctuary wanted Mrs. Pschirrer to present his proposal to buy an unmanned aerial vehicle or a drone.  It is for the public’s safety.  At this point there are no laws on the use of drones.  They cannot be used as evidence but the Police Department has had many calls to houses with potential suicides.  It would be very useful if they had a drone.  It could fly around the house to see where certain people are.  They hover around 100-to-200 feet and have terrific cameras.  It would be very useful for them to buy a drone to meet their needs.  They cost about $14,000.  When you are trained to use this drone a license is needed with the FAA.  Officer Josh Healy would be trained however Mrs. Pschirrer suggested that more than one person should be trained and have a license.  It can be used to check properties when asked by people who are away; there would be safety issues when they are asked to check the River.  Somebody could call and think there is a body in the River but it might only be a jacket floating out there.  Recently the Bellows Falls Police were searching for a person and the Walpole Police got involved.  It ended up with the Walpole police officer going into the River on the VT side; it took them a while to find that person.  With the infrared lights they would have found him faster and no one would have had to go into the River.  A Walpole officer was in the River as well as a Bellows Falls officer.  The drone he is interested in comes with three batteries.  There might be $4,000 available from the Police Association who is promoting the use of drones.  They will also be used to look for marijuana fields.  He is excited about the potential of using it.  Other departments are using them more frequently.  Mr. Dalessio did not see a problem with it.  They should check with the Town’s liability insurance carrier.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted that Chief Sanctuary feels it could be enormously useful as they have suicide calls and/or would be used when they are searching for someone.  She does not believe there is a cost for the training.  They have enough money in their Revolving Fund.  Chief Sanctuary felt it would be useful for the Fire Department as well.                       

Procedures/Policies: This will be discussed during the next Staff Meeting on May 19, 2022. 

Wage and Classification Study:  The Selectboard will meet in a Non-Public Session on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at 6:00 PM, to discuss the Wage and Classification Study that was recently completed.  Mr. Dalessio will send out a spreadsheet.  He will be researching more information prior to this meeting. 

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION #2:

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard Session #2 to discuss (a) Personnel and (b) Hiring.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved at 7:27 PM.

The regular meeting reconvened at 8:02 PM.

Ms. Mayberry moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session #2 of May 12, 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 8:03 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary