Selectboard Present: Steven Dalessio, Chair; Peggy Pschirrer and Cheryl Mayberry.
CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Dalessio called this meeting of the Selectboard to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.There were three members of the public present including Dennis Marcom, Paul Looney and Ray Boas.
WALPOLE COMMUNITY POWER: Mr. Looney said that the committee felt it was a long and not short-term decision. They felt that the broker model was a short-term decision. The process is creating competition with communities seeking lower rates. Mr. Looney is confident that someone will eventually come out with a lower rate than CPCNH. It will be easy for residents to opt out of the CPCNH. For the Town to leave CPCNH is more complex.
Mr. Jarod Walters joined the meeting at 6:32 PM.
The Town will always have input to the CPCNH board even if the Town doesn’t have a board member. There will be a maximum of 21 board members, stated Mr. Looney. There will be a few bumps in the process. The first one is that the utilities are saying they cannot provide net metering information. Mr. Dalessio commented that this would affect customers with solar arrays. Mr. Marcom and Looney agreed. Mr. Looney believed in the next couple of weeks he will be able to provide information about net metering. The Town attorney reviewed the cost sharing agreement. Mrs. Pschirrer questioned the last line in the opinion that the agreement should be taken to Town Meeting. She has written to the attorney since Mrs. Pschirrer believes this an extension of the Electric Aggregation Plan (EAP) that was approved last year at Town Meeting. Mr. Looney said that the next step in the process is for the Selectboard to approve and sign the Cost Sharing and Services Agreements. The Board would also give voting authority to Mr. Marcom and Mr. Looney on January 30th at the CPCNH meeting. The Wave 1 towns will decide whether to proceed ahead with CPCNH. Mr. Marcom stated that CPCNH cannot establish rates until they know how much power is being collectively being requested. This is the next step if there is a positive vote. The pie chart was reviewed from the handout. Mr. Looney said that the actual rates will not be set until after the finance and risk committees meet. Mr. Dalessio asked what happens if CPCNH cannot buy power cheaper than the utilities? Mr. Looney said that it would then be a “no go”. The aggregation plan states that the CPCNH rate must meet or beat the utility rate.
Mrs. Pschirrer moved to authorize the Selectboard chair to enter into the Cost Sharing Agreement and Member Services Contract for the Complete Service Bundle with the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) with Dennis Marcom and Paul Looney as the Authorized Officers and with elections on page 19 of the Agreement being “Yes” and BE IT FURTHER MOVED, that the Walpole Selectboard hereby 1) approves CPCNH’s Data Security and Privacy, Energy Portfolio Risk Management, Rates and Financial Reserve Policies; and 2) approves the amendments to the Electric Aggregation Plan for Walpole Community Power as presented in tonight’s agenda packet. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry, and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved. Mr. Looney noted that the Town Clerk needs to sign the agreement. Mr. Looney and Mr. Marcom thanked the Selectboard for the opportunity to work with CPCNH.
TREES ON THE COMMON: Mr. Boas recounted that he attended the Dec. 29th Selectboard Meeting after reading the December 5th Selectboard Meeting minutes. At that time, it was mentioned that the Selectboard had a hard time finding an arborist to come up with ideas for the Common. Three or four years ago Mr. Boas brought forester names to the Selectboard. Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry confirmed that Alex Barrett of Long View Forest was the contracted forester and not an arborist for the Conservation Commission. Mr. Boas had concerns regarding comments made about the arborist in the December 5th minutes. By definition an arborist is a tree surgeon. Mr. Boas appreciated being provided the arborist’s report which contained more detail. There were some things in the report that were troubling to Mr. Boas. He noticed in the three proposals; the only contact information is a phone number. The arborist does not have a website and filed his LLC in 2021. The arborist is 39 years old. At the Dec. 29th meeting, Mr. Boas remembered the need for an arborist and that the current Norway maples are an invasive species. From Mr. Boas’ research, the Norway maples are invasive in a forested landscape. The Town Common is not a forested landscape. From one of the proposals, Mr. Boas wondered where the two Norway maples were located on the Common and their age since any surgery done to them may not be worth the cost if the trees are aged. New trees may be more cost effective. Mr. Boas felt that the Town would do better with larger trees. The drip system and the tree guarantees were also not satisfactory to Mr. Boas. Mr. Boas investigated Liberty Utilities’ website regarding the replacement tree program which he could not find. In Mr. Boas’ opinion, the recommended landscape architect did not have the proper experience and only recently formed an LLC. He felt a landscape architect was not needed. Mr. Boas agreed with the proposal that an inclusive plan was needed. Mr. Boas contacted a three-generational landscaping firm. He sent 4 questions to the firm. Mr. Boas shared the emailed response with the Selectboard. Mr. Boas felt there was more work needed to develop a full plan. Mr. Dalessio thanked Mr. Boas for his research. The Selectboard will take it under advisement. Mr. Walters commented that the sugar maples do well and live for a long time.
Mr. Marcom left the meeting at 7:06 PM.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $917,030.30 for checks issued January 13, 2023. Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer. With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved. This includes a check for $700,531.13 to the Fall Mountain Regional School District.
PARKING ORDINANCE: Mr. Walters had a question regarding the Parking Ordinance that has been listed under Old Business. Some time ago, there were people camping down by the river across from Aubuchons. When he spoke with the Police Department at that time, it was mentioned that people could park and camp on Town property such as in the recreation area parking lot for long periods without any legal way to block them from doing so. Mr. Dalessio said that there had been a similar situation on a commercial property. The Town needs to post signage that no overnight parking is allowed. Mr. Walters had safety concerns about children being in that area. Mr. Dalessio said this will be added to the agenda.
PAYROLL:
SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:
SELECTBOARD MEETING – January 5, 2023: Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of January 5, 2023, as submitted. Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer. With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Minutes were approved.
SELECTBOARD NON-PUBLIC SESSION – January 5, 2023: Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard Non-Public Session of January 5, 2023, as submitted. Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer. With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Minutes were approved.
ALL VETERANS CREDIT:
Map and Lot# 013-006-000: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the All Veterans Tax Credit for Map and Lot# 013-006-000. Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer. With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved. The applicant served over 90 days of active service, was honorably discharged and served during a time of non-conflict.
OLD BUSINESS:
Pending Further Actions: Generators, School and Old North Main Bridges/Culverts, School Street Drainage Project, Phase 3 Power for Industrial Drive and Bensonwood, Houghton Brook Bridge
Hooper Forest Timber Sales Contract: Mr. Dalessio stated that Chris Ricci will be the logger and Alex Barrett of Long View Forest is the forester for the Hooper Forest cut. Ms. Mayberry moved to approve and sign the Hooper Forest Timber Sales Contract. Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer. With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved. Mr. Dalessio said that the proceeds from this cut will go to the Hooper Institute.
Sewer Easement Signature Page: A replacement signature page was signed by the Selectboard. The original motion was made on October 22, 2022.
2023 Draft Warrant Articles: The Selectboard did a second review of the draft warrant articles. The Planning Board votes for Articles 2 and 3 need to be added. Mr. Dalessio said that Article 2 was recommended by the Planning Board. Article 3 for “formula business” was not recommended. The question whether the Selectboard should recommend the ballot warrant articles will be researched. Non-lapsing must be kept or added to the six-wheel truck, police vehicle and equipment for the police vehicle due to delivery issues. For Article 8, the wording is to be changed to “construct storage at the Recycling Center”. Mr. Dalessio explained that the 3 storage trailers are now unsafe. Article 12 needs to be rewritten by Mr. Dalessio. There was a discussion of the wording for Article 12 related to work to be done on Middle Street.
Mr. Walters departed the meeting at 7:30 PM.
NH DRA 2019 Cyclical Monitoring Report: The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the report. Nothing was found of any significance.
Mr. Looney and Mr. Boas departed the meeting at 7:36 PM.
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 (c) Reputations and (e) Legal at 7:36 PM. Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer. Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved. These minutes are to remain sealed.
The regular Selectboard meeting reconvened at 8:10 PM.
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 8:10 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah Downing, Recording Secretary Pro Tempore
The Walpolean 
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