Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Meeting of the Selectboard

July 17, 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: Pat Kiniry and Katherine Kopij; North Walpole Commissioners, and Peggy Pschirrer

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

The following item and the Hooper Trustees have been moved to the top of the agenda to accommodate guests who wish to speak to these items.

Crosswalk at State Line Grocery: The North Walpole Commissioners wished to discuss the NH DOT crosswalk proposal. The Selectboard and the Commissioners agreed that just a crosswalk or sidewalk would not be adequate to improve safety for those walking to State Line Grocery from Bellows Falls or North Walpole.  The intersection of the New Arch Bridge, Church Street and Killeen Street is very dangerous. Suggested improvements included installing “Directional Use Required” signs like at the intersection of Routes 101 and 202 in Peterborough; replacing the yield sign with a light; buttons to stop all traffic at the crosswalk; a new sidewalk on the west side of Main Street from Killeen Street to State Line Grocery and slowing the traffic speed in that area.

Mr. Kiniry and Mrs. Kopij left the meeting.

Hooper Trustees

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into the Hooper Trustees meeting at 7:08 PM.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 8:08 PM.

Mrs. Pschirrer left during the Hooper Trustees meeting.

Payroll

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $38,851.14 dated 7/18/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,383.37. Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Payroll was approved.

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve a second Payroll Register totaling $720.00 dated 7/11/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $124.47. Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Payroll was approved.  This register was for severance pay.

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Selectboard Meeting – July 10, 2025: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of July 10, 2025. Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Selectboard minutes were approved.

Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – July 10, 2025: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of July 10 1015.  The minutes will remain sealed.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Non-Public minutes were approved.

Committee Reports

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

• North Walpole Village Commissioners Meeting – June 10, 2025
• Conservation Commission Meeting – July 7, 2025
• Planning Board Meeting – July 8, 2025

Mr. Dalessio acknowledged these minutes.

Property Tax Refunds

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Property Tax Refund for Map and Lot #003-004-000 of $5,094.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Property Tax Refund for Map and Lot #004-005-001 of $6,884.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Property Tax Refund for Map and Lot #012-049-000 of $1,309.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Property Tax Refund for Map and Lot #028-021-000 of $150.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Old Business

Emergency Medical Situation Procedure – Draft: The draft is a good start, but the Board would like to think more about the text. Further discussion was postponed until next week.

Cease-and-Desist Letter for Map and Lot # 021-012-000: Work is continuing at Map and Lot #021-012-000 without a Building Permit even though the owner was warned.  Ms. Mayberry moved to approve and sign the fine letter to the owner of Map and Lot # 021-012-000.  This time the first bill will be included with the letter.  Once the letter is received, a weekly bill will be sent for $550 per day until work stops or a building permit is obtained.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion passed, and the letter was signed.

AED Purchases Update: Mr. Dalesio reported that Police Chief Sanctuary did not wish to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for the Police Station.  There is an AED in each police vehicle and a spare AED in the station.  The AEDs had been ordered based on the Selectboard’s request. There was a consensus that one AED will be charged to the Police Revolving Fund, and the Town will have a spare. 

New Business

Closed Landfill Mowing Proposal:  Purchase Order # 665580 to Connecticut Valley Yard Works for $2,650 for mowing the closed landfill was reviewed.  The contractor will mow, clear small trees, and manually clear drainage areas that cannot be mowed.  Ms. Mayberry moved Purchase Order #665580 to be approved for an amount not to exceed $2,650 and that the Chair sign the form.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved, and Mr. Dalessio signed the purchase order.

Smoke Testing for Sewer Line Leak:  The test will happen on July 18th from 12:00 – 4:00 PM at Walpole Handmade Chocolates at 288 Main Street.  Abutters have been notified of the test and  told how to prepare.  Mr. Dalessio explained that the smoke is non-toxic, causes no damage, and dissipates quickly.  Excessive ground water is getting into the sewer system. It was detected at the pumping station.

Deputy Town Clerk Resignation Letter: Lucy (Holly) Gowdy submitted a letter of resignation.  Her last day will be July 24th.  The Selectboard thanked Mrs. Gowdy for her service to the Town and wished her well in her career as a para educator with FMRHS.

August 21st In-Person Staff Meeting:  Topics will be determined next week.  A topic could be to follow up on the processes started at the last in-person meeting.

Backward Rescue Training on Ramsay Hill: The Fire Department is training on Ramsey Hill Road this evening.  A lot of activity and vehicles will be noticed in the area.

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

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (b) at 8:36 PM.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 9:12 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.

ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Dalessio declared the meeting adjourned at 9:12 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the July 24, 2025 Selectboard meeting.)

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