Selectboard Present:  Cheryl Mayberry, Chair; Steven Dalessio and Carolyn Vose

Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Guests Present:  Patrick Kiniry, North Walpole Commissioner

Call to Order:  Ms. Mayberry called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

The Chair moved the following items to the top of the agenda since a guest wished to speak to them.

North Walpole Library Lease:  Pat Kiniry delivered the lease agreement that has been signed by the Commissioners.  Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the North Walpole Library lease for two years at the same price as the past two years.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was accepted, and the lease was signed.

North Walpole Road Signage and Speeding Issues:  Pat Kiniry discussed the problem areas:

• Church Street, especially during peak traffic at 6:00 – 8:00 AM, regularly moves at 50 – 60 miles per hour.  There are a lot of complaints, and an accident seems likely.  Mr. Kiniry will talk to Chief Justin Sanctuary and report back.  
• There are complaints and problems with the Police Department and visitors pulling in and out of Russell Street.  The street is too narrow, some vines have been cut back but visibility is very limited, and people are entering and exiting too fast or cutting into the Fire Department parking lot. 
• Winter parking signs are not visible.  The one at Main and Killeen is twenty feet off the road and under a tree.  At Main and Church, the sign faces the wrong way so it cannot be read by drivers on the road.  The Board recommended asking Mike Symonds to move signs if needed.
• The yield sign near the former Arch Bridge is not visible until you are right on it.  Mr. Kiniry will call NH DOT District 4 and report back.
• Mike Symonds, the Road Agent, was great to work with. The walks were striped by the Fire Station, and the underpass height signs were done quickly.  Mark Houghton did great job with manhole covers. It is now much easier to drive through North Walpole.

Mr. Kiniry left the meeting.

Accounts Payable

Ms. Vose moved to approve Accounts Payable totaling $889,088.85 dated 8/16/2024.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.  This included a $561,631.87 monthly payment to Fall Mountain Regional School District.

Payroll

Ms. Vose moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $35,716.96 dated 8/16/2024 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,729.70.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Selectboard Meeting – August 8, 2024:   Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of August 8, 2024, Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved. Ms. Mayberry abstained since she was absent from this meeting.

Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – August 8, 2024:   Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of August 8, 2024.  The minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Ms. Vose, and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved, and the minutes are sealed.  Ms. Mayberry abstained.

Committee Reports

Ms. Vose brought to the chair’s attention the following committee reports:

• Walpole Fire District Meeting – June 2, 2024
• Walpole Fire District Meeting – July 10, 2024
• Conservation Commission Meeting – August 5, 2024

Ms. Mayberry acknowledged these minutes.

Building Permit

2024-29, Map and Lot# 016-014-000:  Ms. Vose moved to approve Building Permit #2024-29 for Map and Lot # 016-014-000 to construct a 14’ x 14’ addition with an attached carport. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Old Business

Pending Further Action:  Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Street Bridges/Culverts, Houghton Brook Bridge, and Reservoir Dam

Funding for the Bridge at Elm and Main:  Mr. Dalessio explained that the purchase order for Daniels Construction was approved last week but it wasn’t decided upon where the funds would come from.  With Rich Kreissle back from vacation, it was determined that $50,000 will come from Emergency Management, $50,000 from the Trans Canada account, and $50,000 from the bridge block grant.  The contract with Daniels Construction has been signed. The Town is in their scheduling queue, but we do not know when construction will start.  They will invoice as the project progresses.

Public Hearing Date for School Withdrawal Study Committee’s Report (tabled last week):  The Selectboard will meet with the Withdrawal Study Committee next Thursday, August 22, at 6:00 PM.   There will be a public hearing Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 5:00 PM.  The public hearing will also cover the new Police building and other projects.

2022 DRA Assessment Review Report:  This was a review of current use, property exemptions and credits from the 2022 Revaluation project.   About half the current use files are not currently compliant.  Sarah Downing will correct current use records, but it is very time-consuming.  Older files need to be updated because they are missing form A-10 forms and/or maps or requirements have changed and there is not enough detail.

New Business

Ecumenical Service on the Common September 8^th (rain date September 15^th):  The service is sponsored by the First Congregational Church and St. John’s Episcopal Church.  Everyone is invited.  By consensus, the service can take place on the Common with use of the gazebo.

Hooper Trustees

Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into the Hooper Trustees meeting at 7:31 PM.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms.  Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:33 PM.

Non-Public Business RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (b)

Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (b) at 7:33 PM.  Ms. Vose seconded. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 8:23 PM.

Mr. Dalessio moved that the Non-Public Session Minutes be sealed. Seconded by Ms. Vose. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Adjournment:  Ms. Mayberry declared the meeting adjourned at 8:23 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary