Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Meeting of the Selectboard

August 14, 2025

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

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

Guests Present: John Peska and Peter Palmiotto, Conservation Commission Co-Chairs

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

Payroll

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $35,946.07 dated 8/15/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,842.78.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved. 

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Selectboard Meeting – August 6, 2025: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of August 6, 2025. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Non-Public Selectboard Session – August 6, 2025: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of August 6, 2025.  The minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved, and the minutes are sealed.

Correction to Selectboard Statement on Racism:  The Selectboard opposes racism in Walpole whether intentional or unintentional.

Committee Reports

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

Conservation Commission Meeting – August 4, 2025

Mr. Dalessio acknowledged these minutes.

Building Permit

2025-19, Map and Lot# 008-053-000:  Ms. Mayberry moved to not approve Building Permit #2025-19 for Map and Lot # 008-053-000 to construct a 24’ x 24’ Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (DADU) – the plan does not meet the required specifications. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved with the building permit not being approved. The applicant is to be contacted. A better plot map in required.

2025-20, Map and Lot# 005-034-000: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve Building Permit #2025-20 for Map and Lot # 005-034-000 to construct a 16’ x 14’ carport for a tractor. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Old Business

ARPA Grant Disbursement Forms for Reservoir Dam: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve and have the Chair sign ARPA Grant Disbursement Request #17 for $1,360 and Request #18 for $10,472.50.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, both requests were approved and signed by Mr. Dalessio.

Groundwater Management Permit for former Central Plating Site: Mr. Dalessio stated that the permit has been issued by DES and is acknowledged.  Ransom Consulting was contracted on February 29, 2024 to manage the process.  However, since the permit took so long, Pinchin LLC (previously Ransom) requires a new contract with updated costs using the new company name. 

New Business

HealthTrust Updated Transmittal: HealthTrust has created a retiree BCBS Advantage plan, which includes drug coverage.  The separate prescription plan has been eliminated. Ms. Mayberry made a motion to have the Chair sign the corrected transmittal form from HealthTrust.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion passed, and Mr. Dalessio signed the transmittal.

Inspection for Toxic Air Pollutants: During a NH DES inspection for toxic air pollutants on July 21, 2025 at Len Tex Corporation in North Walpole, deficiencies were noted.  Mr. Dalessio acknowledged the report.

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 6:44 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:01PM.

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

Mr. Peska and Mr. Palmiotto entered the meeting.

Reservoir Dam

Mr. Peska and Mr. Palmiotto were in attendance to discuss options for the Reservoir Dam. There are two options. It can be either removed or repaired.  Mr. Dalessio stated that the estimated cost to remove the dam is $380,000 – 580,000 plus possibly additional costs for remediation depending on what is found when the dam is removed.  In addition, the Town could lose the ARPA grant of almost $750,000. The Town may need to repay the grant money that has already been spent.  The State now requires dams to withstand a 1,000-year flood. This change makes current and future maintenance more costly. Mr. Dalessio added that the work needs to start early in 2026 to repair the dam.  All invoices must be processed by DES by 9/16/2026.  A letter to Mr. Scott, the head of DES, expressing the Town’s concerns will be prepared.

Walpole Trees Committee

Mr. Palmiotto described the Tree Committee’s plan for trees in the three villages.  The plan is to have another planting October 19, 2025 with more trees planted around the Common.  Future plantings will be in the spring.  The plan for the Common was discussed. The goal is to plant trees that will have a good start before the existing Norway maples must be taken down.  The next step is to focus on the trees needed in North Walpole and on the Drewsville Common.  Advocates for both villages were suggested.  The Selectboard noted that Liberty Utilities offered Walpole money for trees. That opportunity will be investigated.  The Selectboard stated that while planning the trees for the Common, there needs to be a plan to reinstall the plaques that were removed during prior construction on the Common.

Mr. Palmiotto and Mr. Peska left the meeting.

ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Dalessio declared the meeting adjourned at 8:01PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the August 21, 2025 Selectboard meeting.)

Tagged: Meeting Minutes, SELECTBOARD