The Walt Sayre Orchestra will present the first concert on the common in Walpole on Sunday June 16 from 6:30-8:00. This concert is sponsored by the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of Walpole. The boys will be selling refreshments, including hot dogs and pie. A collection will be taken during intermission to help support Scout activities.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Bus Trip to the Museum of Fine Arts – 6/18/19
Sponsored by the Saxtons River Art Guild
Boston, Massachusetts
TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2019
Enjoy all the Museum has to offer and TOULOUSE-LAUTREC AND THE STARS OF PARIS
Explores the celebrity culture of Lautrec’s time and the artist’s fascination with its stars.
Other time-limited shows include: Frida Kahlo and Arte Popular Gender Bending Fashion
THOMAS TRANSPORTATION will leave from the Airport in Swanzey, NY at 8:00 sharp and will be returning at about 5:30 p.m.
The cost of the trip will be $75.00 for SRAG members and $85.00 for non-members. This will cover the bus and museum admission; lunch will be on your own, with various options available at the museum.
WE MUST HAVE SOLID NUMBERS FOR THE BUS COMPANY BY JUNE 10th.
Please contact Kathy Greve at 802-874-4403, or at kgreve23@yahoo.com to reserve your place.
Planning Board Workshop Minutes – 5/28/19
Present: Planning Board: Chair Jeffrey Miller, Vice-Chair Dennis Marcom, Secretary James Aldrich, Jeff White, Jason Perron, Jeff Harrington. Alternates: Jeff Colley, Joanna Andros. Zoning Board of Adjustment: Chair Myra Mansouri, Don Sellarole.
Recording: Marilou Blaine. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the regular June 2019 meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions.
Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7 pm.
The purpose of this meeting was to finalize the language of the Nonresidential Solar Regulations because a Public Hearing on this document is scheduled for the regular Planning Board meeting on June 11, 2019 in the Town Hall and the document must be posted in two places within 10 days of the hearing.
The Board has spent several months working on two interim solar documents. One, which is already complete and in use, is for residential installations and attached to the building permit process. The other document is for nonresidential solar installations.
The process was as follows: At the first meeting last fall a lot of ideas were thrown out about what Board members already knew and what was good and definitely not good for Walpole. Board members look at ordinances from other towns about the size of Walpole as well as the NHSEA Model Solar Zoning Ordinance, prepared by the NH Municipal Association, which covered everything that an ordinance needed to have in it including things that didn’t apply to a small town like Walpole. After realizing there was so much information out there and so many varieties of installations, it was decided a couple of members should cull together the information and put together a draft of possible regulations. The result was several months of draft for solar regulations for nonresidential installations put together by Jeff Colley and Joanna Andros.
When the first draft for nonresidential installations was finished, the Board began taking out regulations, adding some and tinkering with the language of the document.
At this May workshop meeting, Ms. Andros referred to the Planning Board’s regular May meeting in which there was a discussion of larger installations now being considered because the NH state legislature has recently increased the mega watts for an installation from 1 to 5 and that requires larger parcels of land in the 30 to 35 acre range. Later in the meeting Mr. Aldrich said he didn’t see these larger solar farms coming to Walpole.
Then a good portion of the meeting focused on draft regulation 2.3 – “Abandonment: Assent notice of a proposed date of decommissioning or written notice of extenuating circumstance, the non-residential solar facility shall be considered abandoned when it fails to operate for more than one year without the written consent of the Planning Board. If the owner or operator fails to remove the installation in accordance with the requirements of this section within one hundred fifty (150) days of abandonment or the proposed date of decommissioning, the Town may enter the property and physically remove the facility.” Several Board members people felt this might mean that the Town and its taxpayers would be left with the cost of decommissioning an installation and that the language “at the expense of the owner” should be added.
Mr. Miller said that the Site Plan already includes verbiage regarding decommissioning. Others were not convinced that it was enough and thought there should be some phrase in the document that indicated that the owner should be responsible for taking the installation down. Mr. Perron cited language from the town of Peterborough Solar Ordinance and also referenced the NH Municipal Association’s recommendation in its document on solar installations. ZBA member Pauline Barnes, who was not at the meeting but sent an email to be distributed at the meeting, cited Section XI Performance Guarantees in the Site Plan saying that the Site Plan “does provide for bonds and sureties, but only with regard to “completion” of a project – in other words, putting something up, not taking something down.”
Mr. White mentioned there was a cost of getting rid of the batteries. Ms. Mansouri said that currently only gravel pits are required to pay for their decommissioning.
After the discussion on the language about decommissioning was complete and added to, the Board discussed two sections in Part 1 – In addition to the submission requirements in the Planning Board’s Site Plan Review Regulation, the applicant shall provide the following documents: Sections 1.3 and 1.4 – “Copy of approved permits awarded to the applicant by electrical utilities associated with the project.” and “Copy of power purchase agreement.” respectively.
The discussion centered around that the more important point was that the town should know about the agreement between the owner and the utility commission and that the agreement between the owner/operator was none of the town’s business.
Here is the final document. There will be a Public Hearing regarding adding these regulations to the Site Plan at the regular meeting of the Planning Board on June 11 at 7 pm in the Town Hall. The Public is encouraged to attend.
Town of Walpole, NH
Site Plan: Nonresidential Solar Facilities
May 28, 2019
Site Plan Review: All non residential solar energy installations whose value exceeds $10,000 shall undergo site plan review by the Planning Board prior to construction, installation, or modification as provided in this section. All installations shall conform to the goals and objectives identified in Walpole’s Master Plan.
1. Required Documents: In addition to the submission requirements in the Planning Board’s Site Plan Review Regulations, the applicant shall provide the following documents:
1.1 Plans and drawings of the solar installation signed and stamped by a Professional Engineer licensed to practice in New Hampshire showing the proposed layout of the system.
1.2 For ground-mounted solar collection systems with solar land coverage greater than 5 acres, an operation and maintenance plan including measures for maintaining safe access and general procedures for operating and maintaining the installation.
1.3 Copy of approved permits awarded to the applicant by the electrical utilities associated with the project.
1.4 Statement that the solar energy system will be installed in compliance with manufacturers’ specifications.
1.5 Statement that the owner/operator will construct and operate each solar energy system in compliance with all applicable local, State, and Federal codes, laws, orders regulations and rules.
2. Decommissioning or Abandonment
2.1 Removal Requirements: Any nonresidential solar installation that has reached the end of its useful life or has been abandoned shall be removed. The owner or operator shall physically remove the installation within one hundred fifty (150) days after the date of discontinued operations. The owner or operator shall notify the Planning Board by certified mail of the proposed date of discontinued operations and plans for removal.
2.2 Decommissioning: Decommissioning shall consist of:
2.2.1. Physical removal of the solar arrays, structures, equipment, security barriers, and electrical transmission lines from the site.
2.2.2. Stabilization or re-vegetation of the site as necessary to minimize erosion. The Planning Board may allow the owner or operator to leave landscaping or below-grade foundations in order to minimize erosion and disruption of vegetation.
2.3 Abandonment: Absent notice of a proposed date of decommissioning or written notice of extenuating circumstances, the nonresidential solar facility shall be considered abandoned when it fails to operate for more than one year without the written consent of the Planning Board. The owner/operator shall remove an abandoned installation within one hundred fifty (150) days of abandonment or the proposed date of decommissioning.
2.4 To assure that such removal takes place a performance guarantee shall be provided in a form that is acceptable to the Planning Board, equal to the estimated cost of removal of the approved facilities.
Respectfully submitted,
Marilou Blaine
WPB Secretary
Conservation Commission Meeting Agenda – 6/3/19
Location and Time: Walpole Town Hall, Downstairs Office at 7:30 PM.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. SEATING OF ALTERNATES
3. REVIEW and APPROVE MINUTES – May 6, 2019
4. PUBLIC BUSINESS:
Report from Chair:
A. Treasury Report.
B. Correspondence.
5. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Harold Putnam Memorial.
6. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Walker Road Property:
a. Open House review.
b. Haying/Maintenance Agreement.
B. WALS Collaborative Informational Dinner – May 29th.
C. Trail Work Day: Mill Pond.
D. Town Easement Report, Maps, website.
E. Reservoir Dam Work – Update.
F. Long View Forest Rapid Assessments – Update.
G. Expiring Term letters.
7. OTHER BUSINESS:
8. ADJOURNMENT
Conservation Commission Meting Minutes – 5/6/19
Members Present: Alicia Flammia (Chair), John Peska (Vice Chair), Lewis Shelley, Steven Dumont
Alternates Present: Peter Palmiotto, Myra Mansouri
Members Absent: Laura Hayes, Duncan Watson, Gary Speed, Elaine Heleen, Kelli Wilson, Jackie Kensen
Others Present: Jeremy Hockensmith, Peggy Pschirrer, Cheryl Mayberry (Selectboard Representative)
Call to Order: Alicia called the meeting to order at 7:31 PM.
Seating of Alternates: Peter Palmiotto has been seated as a regular member.
Review and approve minutes – April 1, 2019. Lew made a motion to accept the minutes as written. John seconded. All in favor.
Public Business:
1. Treasury: the Conservation fund savings balance is $43,350.76, PDIP is $87,939.15. Forestry savings account balance is $1027.02, PDIP is $47,224.81. The Walker Road PDIP account has $4,000.69. The Mason non-expendable account has $16,380.08, the expendable fund balance is $393,837.30.
2. Correspondence:
a. NH Lakes Association; Lakes Congress in the end of May.
b. NH DES Wetland Permit Application, culvert replacement, March Hill Road.
New Business:
1. Walker Road Property; Town Attorney: Mr. Hockensmith was in attendance to answer questions from the WCC about the Walker Road Property and the deed language. One question is “what a conservation purpose was”. It is defined in federal law for tax purposes. Definition there is very stringent and has to do with tax deductions. NH RSA 477:45 defines what a conservation restriction is and puts limits on what can be done. The definition is quite broad and wide open, which allows the enforcer say in what will fulfill the purposes and what won’t. He also handed out an article put out by the municipal association titled “The Roles and Responsibilities of Municipalities in Monitoring and Enforcing Conservation Easements”.
A second question was that the WCC would like to work with a local farmer to hay the land. He stated that it is clearly an agricultural activity and is allowed.
Another question was about public parking on the land. He thinks it is allowable as long as it is to allow the public to enjoy the property. He also believes gazebos or picnic tables are allowed. The deed lists things like structures which are not allowed, except for structures or improvements which are necessary and are not detrimental to the purposes of the agreement.
Another subparagraph lists structures which definitely can not be on the property. If the WCC would like to have something on the property they would have to vote on it.
John asked about gating the property to stop any possible activity down below which could not be seen. If the WCC is having a problem with activity down there it could be done. Currently motor vehicles are not even allowed on the property and there has not been any activity in the lower fields.
Steven asked what would happen if the current WCC allowed, for example, a gazebo down in the lower fields, could a future WCC remove it? The answer was yes.
Peter asked if boat access could be allowed per the deed language. Jeremy said it could be done. Whether the WCC would want it is a different question.
There was another question about liability if someone was injured or died on the property if we allowed access. Jeremy recommends we check with the town insurance property. Peggy asked that we contact Sarah Downing to let them alert the insurance company that we are having an event there. Jeremy recommends we put up some signage on the property describing what is and what is not allowed.
John brought up the issue of mowing the land and the lease agreement we have with Boggy Meadow. Jeremy’s opinion is that because Boggy Meadow is leasing the land out to someone else, it is a commercial activity. Mowing the land for hay is agricultural and a different scenario. Jeremy recommends we state in an agreement that the farmer is the only one to hay and is not allowed to reassign it to someone else. It could be a simple haying agreement. Peter believes a farmer’s perspective should be sought while writing the agreement. It was agreed that Jeremy will review the agreement.
On the topic of the open house, Steven has a message in to the chief of police to discuss parking. There will be a large tent setup at the event. Eric M. is bringing chairs. Steven and Eric are coordinating stakes and ribbon for parking. The Boy Scouts will not be able to attend to help with parking. Eric is inquiring about a podium and a PA system. The 4-H group will have a generator. There will be a donation jar and suggestion box.
2. WALS Collaborative Informational Dinner – May 29th. Alicia let the WCC know we are all invited to the dinner at the Walpole Town Hall. Alicia will send out the email. They are asking if we would like to put up a table.
Old Business:
1. Trail Work Day review. Lew stated we had a good turnout. Completed everything we set out to do that day. Lew would like to do the Mill Pond next, maybe sometime in June. He is hoping to schedule it at the June meeting. Steven asked if we want to put up a kiosk or signage at all our trails to set a precedent. Lew agrees. We would need to come up with a standard blaze color for all the trails, as well as names. Blue was agreed upon for the blazes.
2. Town Easement Report & Maps: skipping until next meeting. Steven needs to reach out to Sarah about the website. Peter will send a link for the map. We could post the map, minutes, and conservation plan on a section of the town website designed for the WCC.
3. Reservoir Dam: three outstanding invoices from Fuss & O’Neill, one for $3,935.21, one for $5,944.33, and one for $1,191.76. To date the town has paid about $45,000 on five different projects to Fuss & O’Neill, with about $18,691.00 being paid from the WCC funds. John made a motion to pay the engineer a total of $11,071.30 for the three invoices. Steven seconded. All in favor. John included that we move the same amount from the PDIP account to the local savings account to pay them. Steven asked what is next.
There are three primary areas of concern; slip lining the culvert, lowering the slope of the bank and lowering the slip overflow way by 8”. The culvert work is the primary concern. John and the engineer are having trouble finding anyone who can do the culvert work. John believes Mark Houghton’s crew can lower the slope of the bank. All three projects will need a DES permit. There is no current timeline to complete the projects, and John does not have an estimate to do any of the work. Peter asked if have to bear all the costs or if we can go to the selectboard for funds if it is too much. Peter also suggested we fix the culvert before we do the cosmetic work of fixing the grades. Peggy noted that there was a town vote stating that Forestry funds go to pay for the reservoir project repairs. John noted that anyone who does the repairs has to be certified by the DES. John will talk to Mark H. to see if the Fuzzy Brothers have been asked if they can do the work, and he’ll also follow up with Brian Vincent to ask again for recommendations.
4. Long View Forest Management: Alex walked the Fanny Mason Forest last week. Said we did a great job on the trail work. He is looking forward to finishing up the assessment but has to go back for a little further field work. He also wanted to reach out about invasive work in the Hooper Forest. The WCC’s agreement was to get all the rapid assessments in and review and prioritize them before we pull the trigger on any one forest.
5. Expiring Terms: Duncan is interested in staying on as an alternate but understands he is not able to participate much, and is willing to step down if asked. The WCC believes he is a great resource and should stay on as an alternate. Gary has to get sworn in.
6. Commercial Solar Project: they did not show at the last meeting. Agreed to remove from the agenda.
Other Business:
1. None.
Adjournment: At 9:02 Peter made a motion to adjourn the meeting. John seconded. Meeting adjourned.
Next Meeting: Monday, June 3, 2019 at 7:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted; Steven Dumont, Recording Secretary
Note: These are unapproved minutes. Corrections, if any, will be found in the minutes of June 3, 2019.
Community Conversation – 6/3/19
As part of the Age-Focused Planning Initiative, we are holding Community Conversations to get input from residents from each town. These will be held next week in the Towns of Jaffrey and Walpole. The one in Jaffrey will be held on Monday, June 3rd at the Jaffrey Town Hall, and the one in Walpole will be held on Wednesday, June 5th at the Walpole Town Hall. Both meetings are from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The event in Jaffrey will also be live streamed if you are unable to attend. The link for that session is: https://livestream.com/accounts/24838427/events/8700024
We are hoping to get residents from Walpole, as well as other nearby towns, to attend and provide their input on the four main topics of the study which include issues and concerns for all ages regarding transportation, housing, economic opportunity, and social engagement. The input from participants of each town will help us to provide more town-specific information for the town assessments. Please consider attending and bringing family and friends, and pass this on to others who may be interested in attending. This is not just for Planning Board members, but for all residents. This is a good opportunity to meet people from other towns and hear what is happening in other communities.
Also, please consider participating in the survey if you have not yet taken it. The link is www.surveymonkey.com/r/AgeFocused
If you have any questions, please call or email me.
Thanks,
Lisa
Lisa Murphy, Senior Planner
Southwest Region Planning Commission

Clarion Now On-Line
Your June issue of the CLARION, with its twenty-four pages, is now on-line, and will be in the mail the end of the week. By clicking on the link below you can take a look, and also share with out of town friends by providing them the link.
CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR THE JUNE ISSUE
Another wide variety of local happenings, past and upcoming for you to read about and possibly take part in. School is about to end for the summer, and the library is moving now for the renovations to begin. Remember, the CLARION is your local news source, and it is the generous advertisers that make it possible, so do give them a call for their services and say, “I saw you in the CLARION.”
Deadline for the July 2019 issue is Friday 21 June. Thank you, yours, RAY, Publisher
Age-Focused Planning Project Meeting – 6/5/19
The Southwest Region Planning Commission is hosting a focus group meeting on the Age-Focused Planning project. The discussion will include local issues conconing housing and transportation needs, economic opportunity and social engagement issues. The commission wants to hear from people of all ages to better assist towns in becoming more livable for everyone.
Meeting: June 5 at the Walpole Town Hall
6:30 to 8 pm.
Hope you’ll attend this important meeting.
Marilou Blaine
WPB and ZBA Secretary
Walpole Science Olympiad Team
The Walpole Middle School Science Olympiad team is in final preparation to represent the State of NH at the National Science Olympiad Tournament.
Your state Science Olympiad team consists of 31 students from Walpole NH. 15 of those will be competing in the 1-day event this Saturday, June 1, 2019 at Cornell University.
This team has been meeting 3 times a week (including every Saturday), for at least 2 hours a practice since the beginning of the school year. They have worked very hard to be the NH State Champions and earn their place at nationals. They are hardworking, dedicated and passionate about science!
They are excited to begin their venture to Cornell University on Thursday morning. Feel free to follow our us on our adventure on Facebook @walpolescienceolympiad
Wish us luck and we will represent your state to the best of our ability!
Walpole Science Olympiad Team!
Grant Peeples, Mark Russell, Ezra Vetch Concert – 6/16/19
Florida’s unfiltered leftneck singer-songwriter Grant Peeples and innovative violinist Mark Russell with local hero Ezra Veitch opening on Sunday, June 16 at at Stage 33 Live, 33 Bridge Street in Bellows Falls VT. Door at 6, music at 7. Suggested donation $10+, 100% goes to the musicians. Limited seating; prepay to reserve at stage33live.com
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Grant Peeples, Mark Russell, and Ezra Veitch at Stage 33 Live
Before Grant Peeples makes his way to Woody Guthrie‘s hometown of Okemah in Oklahoma’s interior to play the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, he’s going to play an intimate listening event at Stage 33 Live in Bellows Falls. Innovative violin player Mark Russell is coming with him, and local hero Ezra Veitch opens. Sunday, June 16; doors at 6:00, Ezra at 7:00, Grant and Mark at 8:00.
A “tree-hugger that watches NASCAR, and Buddhist with a gun below the seat,” Grant Peeples isn’t afraid to share what’s on his mind. He’s known for his axe-sharp socio-political tunes, raucous humor, and heart-gigging ballads in shows that are a churning mix of hilarious and dead serious.
Florida-based Peeples tours coast to coast, primarily as a solo artist. His four most recent albums were produced by Gurf Morlix, who has also produced Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier, Ray Wiley Hubbard, Robert Earl Keen, and Slaid Cleaves, among many others. He’s made ten studio records, three live recordings, and two poetry books. He lived on a small island off the Miskito Coast of Nicaragua for eleven years.
“The only songwriter I have ever called ‘ruthless’.” — John Conquest, 3rd Coast Magazine
“A man of deeply held conviction… and cajones.” — D.C. Bloom, Lonestar Magazine
“Comedic, acute, smart, intensely political.” — Mark Stern, WMBR-FM
“He’s the Woody Guthrie of the New Millennium” — Larry Newman, WSCA-FM
“No performer holds a crowd like Grant Peeples.” — Barry White, S. Florida Folk Network
Special guest Mark Russell is bringing his innovative violin to accompany Grant. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, he was a longtime resident of Tallahassee, Florida, where he and Grant often performed together. Mark also plays solo and with various groups, interpreting everything from Prince to classical to folk.
Popular local musician and artist Ezra Veitch opens with a solo set.
The suggested donation is $10, more if you can. 100% supports the players. Grant Peeple’s concerts as a solo performer are typically $15 to $20.
Seating is limited to 40. Prepaid entry donations made through the stage33live.comwebsite double as chair reservations.
This listening event will be recorded and filmed.
Stage 33 Live documents live performances and presentations on a simple stage in a former factory building for downstream audiences. Only original material is allowed. Find more info about the project, and this and other upcoming events online at stage33live.com
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* HIGH-RES IMAGES https://www.grantpeeples.com/epk.html
* ARTIST CONTACT grant@grantpeeples.com or 850-322-6917
* PUBLICITY donnasamericana@gmail.com
* STAGE 33 LIVE CONTACT stage33@stage33live.com or ph/txt 802-289-0148
The Walpolean 
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