TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

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

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

Guests Present: Peggy Pschirrer and Paul Looney

Call to Order: Mr. Dalessio called the Selectboard meeting to order at 7:00 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

Town Properties and CPCNH: Mr. Looney, on behalf of the Community Power Committee, requested the Town’s source of electricity be moved to CPCNH. The Town’s contract with Constellation Energy ends in mid-November.  CPCNH can offer us a rate of $0.086 for the remainder of the year, which is better than the quote from Constellation Energy.  Next year CPCNH will have a one-year rate of $0.089, part of which goes into the reserves.  It is expected that two waves of towns/cities will be joining CPCNH in 2025. Therefore, rates will continue to be low for everyone.   Constellation Energy has a rate of $0.0945 for a one-year contract. The Community Power Committee recommended that the Town go with the $0.086 contract for the rest of the year.  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve moving the Town’s electricity supplier from Constellation Energy to CPCNH with a rate of $0.086 until 12/31/2024.  Ms. Vose seconded the motion.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved, and the Town will switch to CPCNH as the Town’s electricity supplier.

Mr. Looney reported that the updated contract to sell solar electricity credits arrived today, just before the meeting. It has not been reviewed.  Mr. Looney and Mrs. Pschirrer will be back with the contract next week.

Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Looney left the meeting.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Ms. Vose moved to approve the Accounts Payable Check Register totaling $135,027.92 dated 11/08/2024 including $70,082.76 payment to the Village of Bellows Falls for the third quarter sewer usage and bond.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

PAYROLL

Ms. Vose moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $31,447.57 dated 11/08/2024 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,332.34.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the payroll register was approved. 

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

Selectboard Meeting – October 31, 2024:  Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 31, 2024. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the minutes were approved.

Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – October 31, 2024:  Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of October 31, 2024.  The minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the minutes were approved, and the minutes are sealed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

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

• Library Trustees Meeting Minutes – October 8, 2024
• Joint Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting – October 22, 2024

Ms. Mayberry acknowledged these minutes.

BUILDING PERMIT

2024-36, Map and Lot# 011-001-001: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Building Permit #2024-36 for Map and Lot # 011-001-001 to construct a 38’ x 12’ overhang roof to a garage. Seconded by Ms. Vose. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Building Permit 2024-36 was approved.

OLD BUSINESS

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

Police Station Land Purchase Deposit: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve Purchase Order #201256 to make a $10,000 deposit on the land for the Police Station and the cover letter.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms.  Vose in favor, the motion passed, and the purchase order and cover letter were signed.

Reservoir Dam Update: Mr. Dalessio reported that NH DES has reached out Fuss & O’Neill.  The DES are nervous about the completion of the contract. The Dam Bureau is contacting Fuss and O’Neill directly to make sure the latest guidelines are followed.  This will ensure that the planning is done correctly.

Petition Warrant Article: There is a question about appropriations being requested within a petition warrant article for pickleball courts.  Per research conducted, only the Selectboard can decide upon funding. Given this information, if a warrant article passes that states where funding will come from, it will not necessarily happen. 

Invitation to Bid: Four properties have been tax-deeded and will be going up for sale by sealed bid on December 4, 2024. The pamphlet has been updated.  Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the invitation to bid on tax-deeded properties.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor the invitation to bid was approved, and the letter was signed.

NEW BUSINESS

Facility Agreement for North Walpole Polling Area:  A form was received from St. Peter’s Catholic Church, which is used for the North Walpole polling area on November 6, 2024, and the Town Election Day on March 11, 2025.  Their insurance vendor also requests a Certificate of Liability.  Mr. Dalessio moved the Town continue to use St. Peter’s Church for voting, complete the form, and provide the Certificate of Liability.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion passed, and Ms. Mayberry signed the form. Mrs. Downing will send the Certificate of Liability with the form to All Saints Parish.

Recreation Committee Letter: Ms. Vose moved to accept the letter to the Recreation Committee members.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the letter was accepted and signed.  Mrs. Downing will email the letter to the committee members.

Payroll Service: Mr. Kreissle sent an email to the Selectboard requesting the Town hire a payroll service. Mr. Kreissle and Mrs. Daigle are having trouble entering benefit time and Colonial Life deductions.  They have a work-around, but it is very clumsy and produces incorrect information on paycheck stubs. There is also an issue with water and sewer invoices.  If the owner has multiple properties and has a credit on one, the credit shows on all the properties. Mrs. Daigle must create manual invoices for these accounts.  AccuFund is not supportive in getting the issues resolved.  The Selectboard agreed by consensus to keep using workarounds until a better financial software system can be found.  The research on possible systems is not yet complete and will take some time.

Ms. Mayberry added that because of the incorrect benefit time printed on payroll stubs, Mrs. Clough in the Police Department is asking for a monthly payroll report with the correct information.  Ms. Mayberry felt this request was reasonable, and Mr. Kreissle needs to send the reports monthly.  A decision on this item is postponed while research on potential alternative systems continues.

Thanksgiving Feast Invitation: The Selectboard and Town Hall Office Staff have been invited to the Thanksgiving Feast at the Walpole School.  The Selectboard Office staff are planning to attend.  Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose have prior commitments.  Mr. Dalessio is uncertain whether he will be able to attend.

HOOPER TRUSTEES

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into the Hooper Trustees meeting at 8:05 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms.  Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 8:26 PM.

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

Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a)(c) at 8:26 PM.  Ms. Vose seconded. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 8:43 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.

Ms. Mayberry felt that Election Day went very well because of the hard work and professionalism of everyone involved.  The other Selectboard members agreed with Ms. Mayberry. The Selectboard wished to thank everyone involved: the Supervisors of the Checklist, all the volunteers and paid workers, the Walpole Community Grange and everyone who participated in any way.  Thank you!! 

Adjournment: Ms. Mayberry declared the meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the November 14, 2024 Selectboard meeting.)

Tagged: Meeting Minutes, SELECTBOARD