Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Meeting of the Selectboard

JUNE 19, 2025

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

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

Guests Present: Sue Nadeau, Seth Andrews, and Joe Fennessey

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

Hooper Trustees

Ms. Vose moved to enter into the Hooper Trustees meeting at 6:17 PM.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Ms. Nadeau and Mr. Andrews left during the Hooper Trustees meeting.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:12 PM.  The remainder of the Hooper Trustees agenda was paused because a citizen was waiting to speak to the following item.

Mr. Fennessey joined the meeting.

Pavillion on the Drewsville Common:  Joe Fennessey presented a petition to the Selectboard requesting that no pavilion be built on the Drewsville Common.  This is in response to plans published on Facebook.  Mr. Fennessey state there has been no discussion with landowners around the Drewsville Common.  There are several concerns with the proposed project including: 1) the proposed location is in the catch basin, 2) the lack of adequate parking, and 3) if people park on the street, the remaining road is too narrow to allow emergency vehicles to pass.  Signatures are just starting to be collected. Additional signatures will be presented at during a public hearing. 

Mr. Fennessey left the meeting.

Accounts Payable

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Accounts Payable Check Register totaling $2,134,118.73 dated 6/23/2025 including $804,108.98 payment to Fall Mountain Regional School District.  This is a new check to replace the one lost in the mail.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved. 

Payroll

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $33,137.67 dated 6/20/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,393.84. Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved. 

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Selectboard Meeting June 12, 2025: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of June 12, 2025.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the minutes were approved.

Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – June 12, 2025: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of June 12, 2025.  The minutes will remain sealed.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the minutes were approved and remain sealed.

Committee Reports

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

• Police Building Committee Meeting – June 9, 2025
• Cemetery Trustees Meeting – June 10, 2025
• Library Trustees Meeting – June 10, 2025
• Planning Board Meeting – June 10, 2025

Mr. Dalessio acknowledged these minutes.

Abatements

Map and Lot # 012-013-3U1: Ms. Mayberry moved to deny the Abatement request for Map and Lot # 012-013-3U1.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved and the abatement denied.

Map and Lot # 021-049-000: Ms. Mayberry moved to deny the Abatement request for Map and Lot # 021-049-000. Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved and the abatement denied.

Map and Lot # 017-005-002 and 017-005-003: Ms. Mayberry moved to deny the Abatement request for Map and Lot # 017-005-002 and 017-005-003.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved and the abatement denied.

Map and Lot # 028-019-000: Ms. Mayberry moved to deny the Abatement request for Map and Lot # 028-019-000. Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved and the abatement denied.

Old Business

Recycling Center Solar System Repair Update: Paul Looney notified the Selectboard that two people from the company that made the replacement inverter will be onsite Tuesday, June 24^th to inspect the system for other problems that might cause the new inverter to fail.

Unlicensed Dogs Annual Report: The Selectboard reviewed the unlicensed dog report for dogs they know that are no longer in Walpole.  The report needs to be updated accordingly. Mrs. Hansson should try to license dogs with rabies expirations in 2024 or later. 

Shade Project at Pool: Ms. Vose updated the Selectboard to say that the shelter is complete and the fence will be done soon. For now, an orange construction fence is being used.  A plaque is needed to recognize those who made the shade shelter possible.

Proposed Gazebo at Drewsville Common: Mr. Benoit wishes to present his plan for a gazebo/pavilion at the 6/26/2025 Selectboard meeting.  A drawing was delivered. Mr. Benoit of the Drewsville General Store has posted the plans on Facebook.  A public hearing will need to be planned for July 10^th.

New Business

Drinking Water Sustainability Grant Reimbursement: Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the reimbursement application and for the Chair to sign it.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion passed, and Mr. Dalessio signed the reimbursement application.

Sewer Bond and Water-Sewer Rates: Mr. Dalessio reported that there is a lot going on with respect to sewer rates. Bellows Fall Village communicated that the current formulas are not distributing the whole cost.  Currently, Walpole cost share is at 24% for cost sharing. The rate needs to change to 25%. Additionally, there needs to be a measurement process to verify if the formulas are correct. Mark Houghton is responding to Bellows Falls with a proposal.  The Town will need to set the sewer usage rates in a couple weeks. However, there needs to be models.  All this will tie into the new meter reading software by Beacon. The water & sewer department is working on getting the new software to communicate with AccuFund, the Town’s financial software.

Vilas Bridge Review by State Reps: Mr. Dalessio, Pat Kiniry, and Katherine Kopij attended the meeting with the Executive Counselor Hill and the NHDOT Commissioner.  Mr. Dalessio stressed to the visitors that the sewer line crosses the river under the bridge and other issues such as traffic; emergency vehicles; poor access to Bellows Falls, our sister town.  Mark Houghton is already talking to the person working on the design of the new bridge.  There was a discussion about how imbedded Walpole people are in the greater community. 

Closed Landfill Gas Monitoring Report: The methane reading is up this time, but it fluctuates.  Remediation may be needed. By consensus, the Selectboard agreed it will be postponed until the remediation needs to be done.

Complete Streets Grant Announcement: Walpole has completed its project but has received a request from Southwest Regional Planning Commission (SWRPC) for a support letter as they look for additional funding.  SWRPC provided a letter template. Mrs. Downing will use the template to create a letter for the Selectboard to sign at the next meeting.

Site Plan Reviews and Building Permits for Commercial Properties:  

• 40 Main Street, Map and Lot # 021-013-000: a two-story addition built of used wood and three new dormers have been added to the white building at 40 Main Street, but no building permit has been requested.  The owner will be sent a cease-and-desist letter.
• 10 Westminster Street, Map and Lot # 020-067-000: in preparation for a new restaurant, they have added a new bar with plumbing, and they are painting and adding tile work.  The owner was instructed last week to contact Jeff Miller about a new sign.  Mr. Miller will handle it.
• 604 Whitcomb Road, Map and Lot # 026-017-000: scaffolding is up on the outside of the building and rumor has it that interior renovation is planned.  This building is in North Walpole, but the Planning Board does commercial development for the whole Town.
• 708 Main Street, Map and Lot # 026-016-000: a major renovation occurred with excavation occurring.  If the owner is hauling earth from the location, an intent to excavate should have been obtained as this is state-regulated activity.  The building is in North Walpole, but the Planning Board has commercial development for the whole Town. 

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

Ms. Vose moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (b)(c) at 8:13 PM.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 8:34 PM.

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

Hooper Trustees

Ms. Vose moved to enter into the Hooper Trustees meeting at 8:34 PM to complete the agenda items.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 8:52 PM. 

The next meeting will be July 2nd.

ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Dalessio declared the meeting adjourned at 8:52 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the June 26, 2025 Selectboard meeting.)

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