TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Selectboard Present: Cheryl Mayberry, Chair; Steven Dalessio and Carolyn Vose (via phone)

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

Guests Present: Paul Looney, Community Power Committee; Peggy Pschirrer (via phone), and Joanna Andros

CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Mayberry called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:15 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

PAYROLL

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $35,431.30 dated 2/14/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,540.34.  Seconded by Ms. Vose.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

Selectboard Meeting – February 4, 2025: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of February 4, 2025. Seconded by Ms. Vose.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – February 4, 2025:  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of February 4, 2025.  The minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Ms. Vose.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

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

• Conservation Commission Meeting – February 3, 2025

Ms. Mayberry acknowledged these minutes.

VETERANS’ TAX CREDIT:

Map and Lot # 012-055-016: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Veterans’ Property Tax Credit for Map and Lot# 012-055-016.  The applicant has a total disability connected to military service. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

OLD BUSINESS

2025 Warrant Articles: Ms. Mayberry reviewed the updated warrant. The Police Station article was removed, the articles renumbered, and the dump truck purchase article text was updated.  Mr. Dalessio stated that although everyone agreed a new Police Station is needed at the Monday night public meeting, more work is needed before the project moves forward.  In the meantime, the fundraising will proceed, which was the original plan.  The Police Building Capital Reserve Fund article will have the amount changed from $25,000 to $55,000. Also, the Selectboard are the agents of the fund will be added to the text. The additional $30,000 is for a grant writer.

The type of funding for the purchase of a 6-wheel truck was adjusted. The DRA requested the change. 

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve and sign the Warrant Articles as amended.  Seconded by Ms. Vose.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Warrant Articles were approved and signed.

Total Loss of Highway Dump Truck: Ms. Mayberry reported that the value of the truck was $21,023.  The Town’s deductible of $1,000 will be applied to this amount.  The truck’s title needs to be signed by one member of the Selectboard.  Mr. Dalessio moved that the Chair sign the Title of the burned dump truck so it can be turned over to the insurance company.   Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor the motion passed, and Ms. Mayberry signed the Title. 

Follow-up Item – Financing the replacement of the driver’s lost personal items:  By consensus, the money to replace the employee’s personal items lost in the truck fire will be taken from the “staff relations” line in the Executive budget.  It was noted that Keene DMV employees paid for the employee’s new license since he his wallet was burnt up. A thank you note was sent to the DMV.

2023 Financial Audit and FEMA Grant: The auditors need some 2023 information from Highway and the Police Department.  The employees are both away this week, but they will work on it next week.

Article 2: The whole of Article 2 must be printed on a single legal-size sheet of paper as part of the official ballot. The long article makes the font extremely small and difficult to read.  There will be copies of large font version available for all voters to read on Voting Day.

Mr. Looney arrived.

Ms. Andros left the meeting.

Mrs. Pschirrer was called and put on speaker phone.

NEW BUSINESS

Solar System Refund Federal Tax Forms: Mr. Looney has been working on federal tax forms for the Selectboard to review and sign.  The forms must be submitted to obtain a refund of almost $26,000.  Mr. Looney has spent many hours on this project. He would like the forms reviewed by an expert before they are signed. Mr. Looney has not been able to find anyone to do it.  Mr. Dalessio recommended that he ask Bob Kimball to review it or recommend someone who could.  Mr. Looney hopes to have it done by next week.

Mr. Looney gave a rate update. CPCNH had a contract with a power producer up north fall through. They now need to purchase power at a higher rate.  The Town will get its $0.089 rate all year per the contract, but the rate will increase on March 2^nd to $0.097 for individuals.  Liberty’s rate is $0.084.  Mr. Looney will put something in the Clarion and Walpolean about the new rates and remind people they can opt out of CPCNH and come back later when rates are more favorable.  This is a period of uncertainty in power rates.

Mr. Looney left the meeting. 

Reservoir Dam ARPA Grant Funding Reimbursement Form: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the ARPA Grant Funding Reimbursement Form for Reservoir Dam and for Mr. Dalessio to sign he form.  The reimbursement is for $8,588.25.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the form was approved, and it was signed by Mr. Dalessio.  

Reimbursement Request to the Trustees of Trust Funds:  The roofs on the shelters at the rest areas on Route 12 have been replaced by Longs Roofing.  The bill for both shelters is $ 7,728.60.   Ms. Mayberry moved that the letter to the Trustees of Trust Funds requesting reimbursement be approved and signed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Vose in favor the letter was approved and signed.

HOOPER TRUSTEES

Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into the Hooper Trustees meeting at 6:52 PM.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:13 PM.

Mrs. Pschirrer left during the Hooper Trustees meeting.

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

Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a) at 7:13 PM.  Ms. Vose seconded. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:56PM.

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 8:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the February 20, 2025 Selectboard meeting.)

Tagged: Meeting Minutes, SELECTBOARD