Selectboard Present:  Peggy Pschirrer, Chair; Cheryl Mayberry and Steven Dalessio

Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration; Ahmad Esfahani, Recording Secretary

Others Present: Jocelyn Barrett of Great River Hydro; Mark Houghton, Fire Chief

CALL TO ORDER:  Mrs. Pschirrer called this Selectboard meeting to order at 7:05 PM in the Selectboard Office of the Town Hall. She introduced herself, Peggy Pschirrer, Selectboard Chair, Cheryl Mayberry, Steve Dalessio, Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Ahmad Esfahani, Recording Secretary.  

OLD BUSINESS:

Great River Hydro PILOT: Mrs. Pschirrer announced that Jocelyn Barrett from Great River Hydro was present. Ms. Barrett stated she was in attendance to introduce herself and to suggest a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with the Town. Mr. Dalessio commented on his concern that the future for tax increases is unknown. He described the projected increases in various taxes and stated his reluctance in doing a PILOT at the present time. 

NEW BUSINESS:

Walpole Fire and EMS Building Renovation Presentation: Chief Houghton stated he was present to inform the Selectboard of a proposal to renovate the Fire Station. He presented visuals in explanation of the intended renovations and described the areas of need within the present Fire Station building structure. He fielded questions from the Selectboard in the presentation of the floorplan. Chief Houghton stated that the present department is completely on call and that the proposed renovations may allow for overnight and full-time staff. Chief Houghton believes that the Walpole Fire and EMS District will only need to bond $827,000. Mr. Dalessio asked how the grant accounting would be managed. Chief Houghton responded that it would be handled within the Fire District. Ms. Mayberry suggested that Chief Houghton clarify on the map where the renovations would be relevant to the adjacent streets. Chief Houghton said that the square footage would be increasing from 9,683 to 15,538.  

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Accounts Payable Check Register totaling $798,113.86 dated 2/09/24. This includes a $700,531.13 monthly payment to Fall Mountain Regional School District. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

PAYROLL: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $31,562.86 dated 2/9/24 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,552.35. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES, February 1, 2024: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Selectboard Meeting minutes of February 1, 2024. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD NON-PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES, February 1, 2024: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Selectboard Non-Public Meeting minutes of February 1, 2024. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved. The minutes will remain sealed. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Mr. Dalessio brought the following committee reports to the chair’s attention.

   •​Police Building Committee Meeting – January 22, 2024

Mrs. Pschirrer acknowledged these reports.

REFUNDS: 

Map and Lot# 003-082-000:  Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the refund for Map and Lot# 003-082-000 for NH Public Radio’s third payment for 2022 taxes. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

ABATEMENTS: 

Map and Lot# 03-082-000:  Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the abatement for Map and Lot# 03-082-000 or $1,079.95 related to the interest. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberryand Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

TIMBER TAX WARRANT: 

Op# 23-461-07 for Map and Lot# 013-057-000:  Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the timber taxwarrant for Op# 23-461-07 for Map and Lot# 013-057-000 for $4,942.68. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

2024 Warrant Article Listing: Mrs. Pschirrer stated that the Selectboard has a new warrant to sign. A last-minute petition warrant article was submitted which would ask the Town to adopt a policy that all voting be done by paper ballot with the ballots being hand-counted. She commented that this is a movement that is happening all over the State. Mr. Dalessio motioned to sign the 2024 warrant article listing as presented. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

Letter to Kara Dexter: By consensus the Selectboard approved the letter to Kara Dexter. 

Fuss & O’Neill Proposal for Engineering Services: Mrs. Pschirrer motioned to have Mr. Dalessio sign the letter of agreement with Fuss & O’Neill for Reservoir Dam engineering services for $393,440 to be reimbursed to the Town from a grant. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberryand Mr. Dalessio in favor the motion was approved.

Graffiti: Mrs. Pschirrer stated that the graffiti was discussed at a recent conservation meeting. Chief Sanctuary has been made aware of the issue. The small gazebo that has been painted with graffiti which has been painted over. 

Houghton Brook Bridge Update: Mr. Dalessio stated that they are still working on the design.

Union and School Streets Drainage Project: Mr. Dalessio stated that the final plans for the project have been completed. He stated that the Town can get moving on this, but the final costs have not been received yet. 

NEW BUSINESS:

Walpole Fire District Hearing Dates for the Budget and Bond is Feb. 22^nd: Mrs. Pschirrer stated that the Fire District Public Hearing is 2/22/2024 at 7:00 PM. 

MS-636: Ms. Mayberry motioned to sign the MS-636. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Mayberry,Mr. Dalessio, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

Encumbering Funds Request: By consensus the Selectboard agreed that $250,000 from Article 6 for the new 6-wheel truck be encumbered. 

Selectboard Operational Guidelines: Mr. Dalessio stated that before Mrs. Pschirrer leaves the Selectboard, the guidelines should be reviewed. This item was tabled until the next meeting. 

River Valley Transmission Line Upgrade: Mrs. Pschirrer stated that five representatives from National Grid will be present on 2/15/2024 to present on the River Valley Transmission Line upgrade.

Selectboard Meeting Date: The Selectboard agreed to meet on 3/6/2024 and for all the first Wednesdays of the month going forward.

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS RSA 91-A:3 II (a):  

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into Non-Public meeting at 8:24 p.m. Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting reconvened at 8:25 PM. 

Mrs. Pschirrer declared the nonpublic minutes would be sealed. 

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING:  

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into Hooper Trustees meeting at 8:25 PM. Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting reconvened at 8:31 PM. 

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS RSA 91-A:3 II (c):  

Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into Non-Public Session at 8:31 PM. Ms. Mayberry seconded. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 8:40 PM. 

Mrs. Pschirrer declared the non-public minutes would be sealed. 

Recycling: Ms. Mayberry stated that the Recycling Department would like to host a 2/17/2024 outdoor movie night for volunteers. Consensus of the Selectboard was to accept this request. 

ADJOURNMENT:

Mrs. Pschirrer declared the meeting adjourned at 8:43 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Ahmad Esfahani, Recording Secretary