TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

JANUARY 16, 2025

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

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

Guests Present: Ben Hoy, Recycling Center/Transfer Station Manager; Jean Kobeski, Diana Watson Petrie, Steve Varone, and Ray Boas

CALL TO ORDER: Mr.  Dalessio called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

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

M. Vose moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a) at 6:31 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:18 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.

Mr. Hoy left the meeting and Ms. Mayberry arrived during the Non-Public Session.

Old business was moved to this point in the agenda to accommodate guests who wished to speak to the agenda items.

OLD BUSINESS

Walpole School Withdrawal Warrant Article: Mrs. Kobeski, Mrs. Watson Petrie and Mr. Varone attended with questions for the Board so they can better explain what the vote at Town Meeting means.  Mr. Dalessio explained that a “Yes” vote means we direct Fall Mountain Regional School District to do a feasibility and sustainability study.  The school district will create a team of one Selectboard and one School Board member from each Town to work with the School District Business Administrator to study all aspects of a school.  The report of this study must be submitted to the NH Department of Education (DoE) by November 1, 2025.  If DoE approves the withdrawal, it comes back to the Town for a Yes/No vote in 2026 on whether to withdraw.  It would then be about 16 months before the actual withdrawal could be implemented.

Mrs. Watson Petrie and Mrs. Kobeski left the meeting.

Information Request from the Clarion: Mr. Boas also attended to get information on the Warrant Articles for the Clarion to help educate voters.  February Clarion will have reminders of important dates, a list of articles and whether they will be in the Tuesday ballot or voted on at Town Meeting on Saturday.   The March Clarion will have details on exactly what the votes on each article mean.

Mr. Varone left the meeting.

2025 Warrant Articles and the Town Budget: The order of the Warrant Articles was updated and the text edited per earlier discussions.  The Selectboard was aware that there is a potential petition warrant article coming.  Advice from Attorney Hockensmith on the School Withdrawal article was received.   Additional clarification of the wording of the articles was discussed and a review of the budget is planned for the 1/23/2025 meeting.

Mr. Boas would like more information about the School Withdrawal Article.  He will also talk to Jeff Miller, the Chair of the Planning Board, about the Zoning Warrant Articles.

Mr. Boas left the meeting.

2025 Town Budget Hearing: There will be a hearing on the 2025 Town Budget on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the Town Hall First Floor Meeting Room.   The Selectboard meeting will follow the hearing.

Fire Department Building Renovation Grant:   Mr. Dalessio reminded the Selectboard that the 2023 audit needs to be completed because it is holding up the million-dollar grant for the Fire Department expansion.  Ms. Mayberry will follow up again with the auditors.

PAYROLL

Ms. Vose moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $32,320.13 dated 1/17/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,608.84.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

Selectboard Meeting – January 9, 2025:  Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of January 9, 2025. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the minutes were approved.

Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – January 9, 2025:  Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of January 9, 2025.  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 remain sealed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

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

• Conservation Commission Minutes – January 6, 2025

Ms. Mayberry acknowledged these minutes.

WARRANTS

Walpole Water Tax Lien: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Walpole Water Tax Lein in the amount of $766.56.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion carried.

Walpole Sewer Tax Lien:  Ms. Vose moved to approve the Walpole Sewer Tax Lein in the amount of $1,247.05.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion carried.

North Walpole Sewer Tax Lien:  Ms. Vose moved to approve the North Walpole Sewer Tax Lein in the amount of $7,344.95.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS

Annual Landfill Post Closure Report: The report noted that methane levels decreased significantly in 2024 at the closed landfill.   Ms. Mayberry moved that Mr. Dalessio sign the form.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion passed, and Mr. Dalessio signed the form.

NH DES Culvert Replacement Notice: NH DOT is planning to replace a culvert near 125 Prospect Hill Road. The estimated start time is the spring or summer of 2025.  The Selectboard acknowledged they received the approval notice from the NH DES regarding the upcoming project.

Thank You Notes: Thank you notes were received from the Walpole Players and from a citizen thanking Officer Merkle in the Police Department for his help when she was locked out of her car.  

ADJOURNMENT: Ms. Mayberry declared the meeting adjourned at 8:46 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the January 23, 2025 Selectboard meeting.)

Tagged: Meeting Minutes, SELECTBOARD