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

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

Others Present: Meghan Hansson, Town Clerk/Tax Collector; Carolyn Vose and David Edkins

CALL TO ORDER:  Mrs. Pschirrer called this Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall. She introduced herself, Peggy Pschirrer, Selectboard Chair and Steve Dalessio, Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Ahmad Esfahani, Recording Secretary.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted that Ms. Mayberry was not yet present.

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

Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into Non-Public meeting at 6:31 PM. Mrs. Pschirrer seconded. With Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting reconvened at 7:01 PM. 

Mrs. Pschirrer declared the nonpublic minutes would be sealed. 

Mrs. Pschirrer reflected that Ms. Mayberry entered the meeting at 6:31 PM during the Non-Public meeting. 

PAYROLL: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $36,334.96 dated 3/01/24 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,617.44. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES, February 22, 2024: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Selectboard Meeting minutes of February 22, 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 22, 2024: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Selectboard Non-Public Meeting minutes of February 22, 2024. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry, and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved. These minutes were not sealed and are public.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

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

   •​North Walpole Village Commissioner’s Meeting – January 23, 2024

   •​North Walpole Village Commissioner’s Meeting – January 30, 2024

   •​North Walpole Village Commissioner’s Meeting – February 6, 2024

   •​North Walpole Village Commissioner’s Meeting – February 13, 2024

   •​Conservation Commission Meeting – February 5, 2024

   •​Police Building Committee Meeting – February 6, 2024

   •​Library Trustees Meeting – February 13, 2024

   •​Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting – February 21, 2024

Mrs. Pschirrer acknowledged these reports.

REFUNDS: 

Map and Lot# 023-012-000:  Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the refund for Map and Lot# 003-023-000 for $16.37 for overpayment. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

TIMBER TAX WARRANT: 

Op# 23-461-08, Map and Lot#s 011-013-000 and 001:  Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the timber tax warrant for Map and Lot#s 011-013-000 and 001 for $11,153.05. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

Op# 23-461-09, Map and Lot# 005-050-000:  Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the timber tax warrant for Map and Lot# 005-050-000 for $2,548.63. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

BUILDING PERMITS: 

2024-05, Map and Lot# 003-082-000:  Mr. Dalessio motioned to approve the building permit for Map and Lot# 003-082-000 to add new antennas, radio equipment, and a generator to the NHPB cell tower. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

Three Phase Power for Bensonwood and Industrial Park Drive: Mrs. Pschirrer stated that the Power Committee met last night and discussed the issue of three phase power for Bensonwood and the Industrial Park. The Community Power Committee has been reading messages from US Senators regarding funding for three phase power. Bensonwood asked the Selectboard to investigate federal grants so that that three-phase power can be added to Industrial Park Drive. The Selectboard was in consensus of allowing the Community Power Committee to research these grants.  Mr. Dalessio spoke to those in attendance of the upcoming increases in various costs the Town must anticipate.

Meeting with SAU 29: Mrs. Pschirrer asked if the Selectboard could meet at Keene High School on 3/13/2024 at 8:00 AM. The Selectboard reached consensus, and Mrs. Pschirrer advised Mrs. Downing to relay this message to Steve Varone, so that the meeting could be confirmed.

Purchase Order for New Police Vehicle and Equipment: Mrs. Pschirrer spoke to the purchase orders of the Police Vehicle and Equipment being non-lapsing.  

Mr. Dalessio motioned to accept purchase order# 629242 for a police cruiser for $65,000 to encumber from warrant article 10-23 from 2023. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

Mr. Dalessio motioned to accept purchase order# 629244 for police vehicle equipment for $16,500 to encumber from warrant article 11-23 from 2023. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

Pending Further Action: Mrs. Pschirrer asked Mrs. Downing to get a quote from Constellation for a new contract when the present one expires in November. Mr. Dalessio stated that next week, the School Street and High Street Project will go out to bid. Drawings are presently being reviewed. 

Selectboard Operational Guidelines: Mr. Dalessio stated he marked his copy and will send it out. Mrs. Pschirrer commented that she would do the same, and then send these to Mrs. Downing.  

NEW BUSINESS:

Warrant Article #2: Mrs. Pschirrer stated that a reporter from Keene Sentinel contacted the Town and informed them that the Walpole town budget was set to increase at 5.06% this year. Upon confirming this information, Mrs. Pschirrer stated that this was a correct statement, even though it had been proposed to increase by 3.85%. The Selectboard was advised to amend the budget article per direction from the DRA(Dept. of Revenue Administration) to match the previously stated increase of 3.85%. Mrs. Pschirrer will put forth the amendment at Town Meeting. 

Town Meeting: Mrs. Pschirrer reflected on the upcoming town meeting. Mrs. Pschirrer stated she would speak to Article #2 and #7; #3, #4, #8, and #11 by Mr. Dalessio; #6 and #9 by Ms. Mayberry; Mrs.Downing #5 and #10; and a non-resident would be speaking to article #12.

Ransom Consulting Scope of Work: Mrs. Pschirrer stated that another test well may be installed by Ransom Consulting in the future. Mr. Dalessio motioned for the chair to sign the Ransom Consulting 5-year contract for monitoring of testing wells on the former central planning site. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

Letter of Support for AARP Grant: Ms. Mayberry motioned that the Selectboard sign the letter of support for the AARP grant for Distant Hill Gardens. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor the motion was approved.

Legislative Delegation Meeting: Mrs. Pschirrer stated that the Selectboard was in possession of an invitation to a meeting at Keene Public Library on 3/26/2024 at 6:00 PM to discuss upcoming legislation. 

Whitcomb Park Dedication Plaque: Mrs. Pschirrer stated a resident advised the Town that there was a dedication plaque missing from the monument at Whitcomb Park. The recreation director and the Recreation Committee will follow up on this matter.

SWRPC: Ms. Mayberry informed those in attendance that there would be upcoming staffing changes at SWRPC (Southwest Regional Planning Commission).  Mrs. Downing was asked by Mrs. Pschirrer to place this topic item on next week’s agenda. 

ADJOURNMENT:

Mrs. Pschirrer declared the meeting adjourned at 7:56 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Ahmad Esfahani, Recording Secretary