The Walpolean

TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD
SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Selectboard Present: Chas Street (Chair); Steven Dalessio; (Whitney Aldrich – late)

CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Street called this meeting to order at 5:35 PM in the Walpole Town Hall with three people in attendance.
These are unapproved Minutes.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:
Mr. Dalessio moved to recess this Selectboard meeting. The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:00 PM with four people in attendance.
Mr. Aldrich came in during the Hooper meeting.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:
MATT PHILLIPS: Mr. Phillips, Chair of the Booster Club, advised that the Fall Mountain Cross Country Running and Skiing Program have a fund raiser in the fall. For about 23 years they have been doing a 5K race at the Fall Mountain Regional High School on their cross country course. This year they are hoping to do a Turkey Trot in Walpole. It would be a 5K race with the same loop that is done for Old Home Days. It would begin about 9:00 AM on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. They would have people at every intersection. Mr. Aldrich pointed out that they will have to talk to Police Chief Paquette about it so the date can be put on their calendar.
Mr. Dalessio moved to allow the Fall Mountain Regional High School Booster Club to have a 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day in the Town of Walpole. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest for checks dated September 12, 2014, in the amount of $70,935.94. This includes $$25,180.00 to the Walpole Fire District. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

PAYROLL:
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending September 06, 2014, for checks dated September 12, 2014, in the amount of $19,249.00. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the electronic transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,256.52 for checks dated September 12, 2014. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:
SELECTBOARD MEETING – September 4, 2014: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the September 4, 2014, Selectboard meeting, as submitted. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – September 4, 2014: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of September 4, 2014, as submitted. The Minutes will remain sealed. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the minutes were approved.

ABATEMENTS:
SEWER: ADAMS, Church Street, Map & Lot #030-004-001: Mr. Dalessio moved to grant the Abatement for Sewer in the amount of $155.96 for Madelyn Adams. This is due to an incorrect meter reading. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

SEWER: CHAMPNEY, Pine Street, Map & Lot #028-052-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to grant the Abatement for Sewer in the amount of 190.92 for Donald Champney, Sr. This is due to an incorrect meter reading. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

SEWER: DCR REAL ESTATE / LENTEX, Lentex Lane, Map & Lot #027-007-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to grant the Abatement for Sewer in the amount of $644.39 for DCR Real Estate / Lentex. This is due to an incorrect meter reading. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

WATER & SEWER: MADDEN, Old North Main, Map & Lot #021-038-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to grant the Abatement for Water in the amount of $96.76 and Sewer in the amount of $69.36 for Madden. This is due to a double billing; a final bill was issued to the tenant but a duplicate bill was issued to the owner. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

NEW BUSINESS:
PERSONNEL: Police Chief Paquette is recommending that the Temporary Administrative Assistant be paid at the same rate as the current Administrative Assistant who is on leave. Mr. Dalessio feels it would be a good idea to see a copy of her Performance Evaluation. Mr. Street felt a short synopsis of the evaluation would be satisfactory.

NORTH WALPOLE SIDEWALKS: Mr. Dalessio reported that the sidewalk surfaces are crumbling in the Village. He is concerned that the new sidewalk work in North Walpole was given to the same contractor. There is no contract. Mrs. Teague noted that some sidewalks are pitted. Mr. Dalessio recommended that they ask Mr. Terrell to attend the next meeting to address the quality problems and other problem areas.

9-1-1 DISPATCH AGENCY CONFIRMATION: Mrs. Clough sent the Primary 9-1-1 Dispatch Agency Confirmation to Mr. Terrell who checked the document. It is to confirm the Primary 9-1-1 Dispatch Agencies for Police, Fire and EMS calls.

Mr. Dalessio moved to authorize Mr. Street, the Chair, to sign the New Hampshire Department of Safety Primary 9-1-1 Dispatch Agency Confirmation document. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

OFFICE RECEPTION WINDOW: With the new bookkeeper starting next week Mrs. Clough had mentioned putting a door between her office and the file area so if she needed to speak to Mrs. Edkins she did not have to walk through this room to disturb someone. However, she discovered that door would go into the kitchen. When the mailboxes were put in she talked about eventually moving the reception window into this room next to the mailboxes. If they rearranged they could put the bookkeeper in Mrs. Edkins office and move Mrs. Edkins into this room so she would be in the middle of the office space. The Selectboard table would be moved to the other side of this room. She received a quote of $2,080 to move the window. They cleaned out a lot of obsolete things so there is more storage downstairs.
Mr. Aldrich moved to authorize having the customer service window moved based on the estimate not to exceed $2,080.00. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:
OFFICE FOLLOW-UPS – Janet Clough:
Mapping: Mr. Dalessio had asked Mrs. Clough for an up-date on the mapping. They went through the maps, the old maps vs the new maps, and found 118 differences. A lot of them were acreage differences. Mrs. Clough is almost done working on them but wants to be sure they are accurate. Avitar Associates made a lot of those changes.

Tennis Courts: The tennis courts were completed and people seem to be happy with the work that was done. Mr. Aldrich agreed that they look very nice.

Town Hall Painting: The Town Hall painting seems to be going along well. Relative to the construction part they did repairs to the roof toward Westminster Street as it was rotting. Mrs. Clough spoke to the company that did the floors about the stairs but they are just doing flooring now therefore she contacted three different companies about doing the foyer and stairs and is waiting for estimates.

Town Hall: The Selectboard had also talked about painting interior walls in the foyer and putting in better lighting. Mrs. Clough was asked to obtain quotes. She talked to Mr. Houghton about a handicapped sink in the ladies room. There are two old stoves in the kitchen that are about 15 years old; one does not work. When the Town Hall is rented many parties use the kitchen; the stove presents a problem for caterers. It would be nice to have one commercial stove and a dish washer. Mrs. Clough will obtain quotes. Mr. Aldrich mentioned that the Quinton Fund could be used toward some of the funding.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:
Mr. Dalessio moved to recess this Selectboard meeting. The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved at 7:46 PM.
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 8:06 PM.

OTHER BUSINESS:
ELECTRIC RATES: Mrs. Teague explained that right now rates are high because the mid-west just had massive storms and damage. For the short-term now through winter they are high. For next March through November she is trying to lock the rates for that section if they do not have to include the section from now until March. Next March the electric company is willing to give them $.07.7 cents. If the School District, Alstead and the Town enter into the agreement they would aggregate with the school for lower rates.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:
Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel, (c) Reputations and (e) Pending Claims or Litigation. Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved at 8:10 PM.
The regular meeting resumed at 8:21 PM. There were no announcements.

OTHER BUSINESS (Continued):
Town Pool: Mrs. Clough reported that the alarm at the pool has been going off several times a day for the past few weeks. Country Side Alarm Company came in, cleaned the sensors and re-adjusted it. There are cameras there but they are not active anymore. There are a lot of youth hanging around the area. The lights are now on again with a timer. She is working with the Recreation Committee to see if they could get the cameras working.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:
Mr. Dalessio moved to recess this Selectboard meeting. The Selectboard will enter into a Non-Public Session as the Hooper Trustees. Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved at 8:26 PM.
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 8:33 PM.

ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Dalessio moved to adjourn this Selectboard meeting. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved at 8:34 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD
SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Selectboard Present: Chas Street (Chair); Steven Dalessio; (Whitney Aldrich – late)

CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Street called this meeting to order at 6:00 PM in the Walpole Town Hall with six people in attendance.
These are unapproved Minutes.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest for checks dated September 5, 2014, in the amount of $8,882.97. Seconded by Mr. Street. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

PAYROLL:
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending August 30, 2014, for checks dated September 5, 2014, in the amount of $21,158.38. Seconded by Mr. Street. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the electronic transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,806.25 for checks dated September 5, 2014. Seconded by Mr. Street. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Selectboard received and reviewed Minutes of the following meeting:
 North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – September 2, 2014.

BUILDING AND DEMOLITION PERMIT:
FRYE, Bookseller Road, Map & Lot #004-035-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Demolition and Building Permit #2014-30 for Paul E. Frye to “Replace a 20’ x 10’ 1 story Woodshed”, as submitted. Seconded by Mr. Street. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:
LETTER FROM THE NH DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES: The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a different letter than the letter acknowledged last week from the NH Division of Historical Resources, dated August 22, 2014.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:
Mr. Dalessio moved to recess this Selectboard meeting. The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees. Seconded by Mr. Street. With all in favor, the motion was approved at 6:07 PM.
Mr. Aldrich came into during the Hooper Trustees meeting.
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 6:16 PM.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
Mr. Aldrich moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel. Mr. Dalessio seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved,
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:27 PM. No announcements were made.

VILLAGE SPEED LIMITS: Mr. Terrell looked at the speed limit signs as requested. He can move the 25 MPH back to before North Road so people realize there is a speed limit; right now it is close to the school. The Village is 25 MPH; they cannot go below 20 MPH in the school zones. Mr. Street recommended having signs at the entrances to the Village for 25 MPH. There was discussion relative to having solar speed radar panels. Chief Paquette will research the cost for the panels that are bolted to the poles and report back to the Selectboard.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:
SELECTBOARD MEETING – August 28, 2014: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of August 28, 2014, as submitted. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION #1 – August 28, 2014: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the August 28, 2014, Non-Public Selectboard Session #1, with one correction. The Minutes will not be sealed. Seconded by Mr. Street. With Mr. Dalessio and Mr. Street in favor, the Minutes were approved. Mr. Aldrich abstained as he was not present.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION #2 – August 28, 2014: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the August 28, 2014, Non-Public Selectboard Session #2, as submitted. The Minutes will remain sealed. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the Minutes were approved.

ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Dalessio moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the meeting adjourned at 7:38 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD
AUGUST 28, 2014

Selectboard Present: Chas Street (Chair); Steven Dalessio; (Whitney Aldrich – late)

CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Street called this meeting to order at 5:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall with three people in attendance.
These are unapproved Minutes.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into a Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to meet with the Auditor. It will include discussion covered under (a) Personnel. Mr. Street seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved.
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 6:25 PM. No announcements were made.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:
DAVE ADAMS: Mr. Adams wanted to talk about speeding vehicles going by his house. It was pretty bad this summer and there was an accident. Signage is important but some are missing. By the Edkins house there is a sign that indicates 35 MPH, before the school the speed changes to 25 MPH but after the school zone people assume the Village speed goes back to 35 MPH as there is no sign. Going in the other direction by Edward Jones they start going as fast as they can. There are flashing speed limit signs on both sides of the school. After that people assume the speed limit goes back to 35 MPH. Police presence would be helpful. Mr. Street felt more research needs to be done regarding the speed limit in the Village. Mr. Terrell is in charge of signs but the Selectboard will take this under advisement.
Mr. Aldrich came into the meeting.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest for checks dated August 29, 2014, in the amount of $106,699.20. This amount includes payments to the Health Trust in the amount of $30,998.02 and $50,751.93 for road tar. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

PAYROLL:
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending August 23, 2014, for checks dated August 29, 2014, in the amount of $20,907.81. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the electronic transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,625.14 for checks dated August 29, 2014. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:
SELECTBOARD MEETING – August 21, 2014: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of August 21, 2014, as submitted. Seconded by Mr. Street. With Mr. Dalessio and Mr. Street in favor, the Minutes were approved. Mr. Aldrich abstained as he was not present.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – August 21, 2014: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard session of August 21, 2014, as submitted. The Minutes will
remain sealed. Seconded by Mr. Street. With Mr. Dalessio and Mr. Street in favor, the Minutes were approved. Mr. Aldrich abstained as he was not present.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Selectboard received and reviewed Minutes of the following meetings:
 Zoning Board of Adjustment – August 20, 2014;
 North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – August 26, 2014; and
 Planning Board – August 12, 2014.

PUBLIC BUSINESS (Continued):
SGT. JUSTIN SANCTUARY: Police Chief Paquette asked Sgt. Sanctuary to come to this meeting as they want to do an expenditure for replacing their tasers because they are down to one that is functioning properly. Originally they were going to put this expenditure in next year’s budget but they would like to place the order tomorrow. He distributed an informational sheet that totaled $7,975.25 for five tasers (buy four and get one free). The first tasers were purchased 6-to-7 years ago; the warranties have expired. There is always new technology. They will not go over the bottom line of their budget. The Selectboard concurred to purchase the tasers this year for an amount of $7,975.25.

JAMIE TEAGUE: Mrs. Teague was unable to attend this meeting. Mr. Street advised that she will have more information on the electricity matter for the Selectboard next week.

ABATEMENTS:
LAND USE CHANGE TAX (LUCT) ABATEMENT – Avanru Development, Main Street, Map & Lot #012-013-004: The Selectboard received a report from Mrs. Loren Martin, Avitar Associates, following the abatement request from Avanru Development. She is recommending that the Land Use Change Tax be reduced from $26,500 to $23,500. The Selectboard agreed to have Mrs. Clough forward a copy of the Avitar letter to Mr. Franks.
Mr. Dalessio moved to grant the Notice of Land Use Change Tax Abatement for Avanru Development Group, Ltd, Map #012, Lot #013-004, in the amount of $3,000. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

NEW BUSINESS:
MS-1: Mr. Dalessio had questioned the land portion. Mrs. Clough advised that there is a difference between a Conservation Easement and a Conservation Assessment Restriction. A Conservation Assessment Restriction is any land that is less than ten acres therefore cannot go into Current Use.
Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the MS-1 report as presented. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:
R.B. COOK CONSTRUCTION, LLC – Painting Contract: Mrs. Clough reported that R.B. Cook accepted the painting agreement with revisions. He put in a deposit because the painter wants to start next week. He wrote in a high estimate of $3,000 to fix the roof issue as the exact repairs are unknown at this time. Mr. Cook does not have anything in there for the foundation work because the person he contacted to do the work has not gotten back to him.
Mr. Dalessio moved to accept and to authorize the Chair to sign the contract for R.B. Cook Construction, LLC, as presented. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

MS-4: Mrs. Clough made a small change on the interest and penalties. The Tax Collector’s office has done well in collecting interest in the first half of the year. Registrations are up.
Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the MS-4 as presented. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

ZONING BOARD COMPLAINT: Following receipt of the letter from the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Mr. Street talked to the property owner about the complaint. The owner asked him to send a formal letter and he will get together with the partners and make sure it gets taken care of. There was a consensus to give them 60 days to comply. It was noted that Mrs. Mansouri is concerned that there is a business in the big barn. Mr. Street will generate this letter regarding the clean-up of the vehicles / parts and will include the concern about the business in the big barn.

CONNECTICUT RIVER BANK TREE REMOVAL: Mrs. Clough reported that Mr. Gallagher came into the office today and wanted the Selectboard to know that the Connecticut River Bank paid the bill to have the tree removed. Mascoma Savings Bank may come back and want some reimbursement. Mr. Street thanked the Connecticut River Bank for taking care of the situation in a timely fashion.

AVANRU PROJECT: The Selectboard received a copy of the letter to Mr. Jack Franks from the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources referencing a report from Monadnock Archaeological Consulting, LLC.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:
Mr. Aldrich moved to enter into a Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel, (d) Acquisition, Sale or Lease of Real or Personal Property and (e) Pending Claims or Litigation. Mr. Dalessio seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved at 7:28 PM.
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 8:09 PM.

OLD BUSINESS (Continued):
MAIN STREET PARK: Mr. Aldrich moved to rescind their decision of August 7, 2014, to give the Main Street Park back to the Hubbard Foundation. This is with the understanding that the Hubbard Foundation will assume the responsibility of maintaining the park. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:
Mr. Aldrich moved to recess this Selectboard meeting. The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 8:30 PM.

ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With all in favor, the motion was approved at 8:31 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

This was sent by Patricia Royce.  Make your plans now. – Lil

On Saturday, October 18, 2014 the Fall Mountain Educational Endowment Association will host its annual dinner auction at the Walpole Town Hall. The beautiful venue, decorated in festive fall floral arrangements by the Fall Mountain Horticultural class with set the mood for a delightful evening of food, fun, and auctions to benefit the district.  As usual, the smaller items will be displayed around the hall for folks to bid on as they visit and enjoy complementary hors d’oeuvres.  Guests may bring in their own wine for the affair.  There’s room for 130 guests so book your reservations now.  Last year’s event had about 70 silent auction offerings and another 35 live auction items.

Each year the Endowment brings in about $10,000.00 from the auctions.  To date we have tickets to Indian Head Resort in the White Mountains, tickets for live performances at the Hopkins Center,  Colonial Theatre, Northen Stage, Claremont Opera House,  with dining accommodations to accompany the shows.  A 12’ Manatee Kayak package, donated by Dan Caloras and Sheila Kendrick is also up for auction, along with ski passes, golf certificate, and much more.

Dinner offers three entrees catered by the Fall Mountain School District Banquet Food Service.  Please join us for a funfilled evening that helps us fund so many programs for the students in the Fall Mountain schools.   For reservations,  call Patricia Royce at 826-4831 or e-mail us at fmeeassoc@gmail.com.

Walpole Zoning Board of Adjustment

Minutes: September 17,  2014

Present: Board Members: Chair Myra Mansouri, Vice-Chair Peggy Pschirrer, Clerk Ernie Vose, Jan Galloway Le Clerc, Mary Therese Lester, Judy Trow.

Alternates: Stephanie Stoughton, Bob Anderson.

Recording: Marilou Blaine, Recording Secretary.

These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the October 2014 meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions.

Roll Call: Ms. Mansouri called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. No Alternates were needed as a full board was present.

Minutes: Mr. Vose made a motion to accept the minutes as printed. The motion was seconded and approved by the board.

Correspondence: Ms. Mansouri read a letter to the board from Paul Fyre. Mr. Frye explained that he had finished taking down his house at 90 Booksellers Road and appreciated the extensions of time from the board. Mr. Frye also said he was able to recycle the wood.

New Business: JR Development request a Special Exception for Walpole Sign Ordinance, Article IV, Part D, No. 6 for a proposed Sears Sign at Town Tax Map 12, Lot 55-2. The ordinance states that signs must be at least 100 feet apart in the Commercial and Industrial Districts.

JR Development also requested a sign at the entrance to the Plaza, also in the Commercial District.

Chris Stone of C&S Signs in Hudson, NH, said that he was proposing a 2-foot-by-10-foot Sears Sign on the face of the building centered in front of the store. It is an illuminated sign. Also, at the existing entrance to the North Meadow Plaza sign, Mr. Stone was proposing to put a non-illuminated sign under the La Valley sign that was the same size as the La Valley sign.

Ms. Mansouri asked how the store sign would be illuminated. Mr. Stone replied there would be either fluorescent or LED lights inside, probably fluorescent. It would be on a timer and the timer could be set to meet any requirements.

Ms. Lester asked about the construction of the sign. Mr. Stone said it was an  aluminum frame with a polycarbonate face and vinyl graphics. She then asked about the colors. Mr. Stone said it would be Red Sears and Hometown lettering on a white base and a blue cabinet. The cabinet is about 8 (eight) inches deep and that is where the lights are contained.

Looking at a photo of the sign for the used furniture shop, Ms. Lester said it’ was actually smaller than the previous sign.

Mr. Vose asked where the sign would be mounted. Mr. Stone said on the face of the building. Mr. Vose pointed out there would be snow and ice. Mr. Stone said there were breakers on the roof and this is standard in the industry for a boxed cabinet sign, even in New Hampshire where there is ice and snow.

Ms. Pschirrer asked about the sign at the entrance to the Plaza. Mr. Stone said it would be constructed just like La Valleys, an inch and a half deep with a frame and a polycarbonate face with the same vinyl graphics. Ms. Lester asked if it was double-sided. Mr. Stone said yes.

Mr. Anderson asked about the square footage of the entire sign. Mr. Stone didn’t know but the size of the Sears sign would be 2-feet-6-inches by five-feet-10-inches, the same as the La Valley sign. The upper cabinet (sign) is probably 10 feet long by 7 feet tall.

Mr. Vose asked if there was previously a sign where the Sears sign is going. Board members speculated there had to be an Ames sign and a CVS sign. Mr. Vose was wondering if there was a special exception originally when the sign went in. The ordinance says multiple signs should be on the same post but there probably was a special exception or a variance to the total size of the sign. Ms. Lester, the Sears sign is replacing what was there before.

Ms. Mansouri asked if there were further questions before closing the public hearing. Ms. Le Clerc made a motion to approve the special exception for the store sign and for the entrance sign as presented. Mr. Vose seconded the motion. Ms. Pschirrer amended the motion to include that the store should not exceed the time when Ocean State and Shaw’s turn off their lights. Ms. Lester seconded her motion.

Ms. Mansouri asked for a vote on the amendment and it passed and then a vote on the original motion. That passed as well.

Orthodontist sign: Ms. Mansouri said the contractor working on the office where Dr. Peter Bowman previously practice called her about a sign and some lighting around the building. No one came to this meeting.

Inquiry about zoning for where a building that housed and repaired antique cars could be built:

Greg Gay of Westminster, Vt., said he and his father had a hobby of restoring old cars. They had previously tried to build a place in Westminster. Vt., but were turned down because of “agricultural overlay.” The building he and his father wanted to build would be 60 feet by 150 feet. It would have very few windows and only one or two doors. All the vehicles, some unregistered, would be inside the building.

Mr. Gay was wondering if there were restrictions in Walpole on zoning that would prevent him from building a building for the cars and maybe a home for his family.

Ms. Mansouri said that there was little land available for a project like this in Residential A or B. She suggested maybe looking at property in the Industrial Park. Ms. Le Clerc said that in the Rural Agricultural District one could build a house and a building of that size behind the home.

Ms. Mansouri asked about chemicals being used. Mr. Gay responded that there was brake cleaner but most every tool was a manual tool. Mr. Gay thanked everyone for the information.

Drinking Water Committee: Since November 2013, a committee has been working on public drinking water. Either next month or in November, the committee will share its findings with the Zoning Board.

Gravel Pit Inspection Assignments:

Hodgkins: Industrial Park and Drewsville sites: Bob Anderson and Peggy Pschirrer.

George Graves: Jan Le Clerc and Judy Trow

Joe Sawyer: Mary Therese Lester and Stephanie Stoughton

Cold River Materials: Myra Mansouri and Ernie Vose.

Site Plan Review Regulations: Board members received copies of the Site Plan Review Regulations that the Planning Board uses to determine their decisions.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

cc: ZBA, Selectboard, Walpolean,

The minutes are posted in and outside the Town Offices and at the bulletin board outside Burdick’s Market.

Walpole School Site-Based Committee seeks Community Representation on Committee

            The Walpole School Site-Based Committee, comprised of teachers, parents, community members, support staff, a school board member and the principal, is looking for several community members.  The committee meets on the first Wednesday of the month in the school library.

The purpose of the committee is to provide a forum of ideas and opinions from everyone within our community and school.  We want to incorporate community input into our decision making process, as we review, discuss, adopt and annually evaluate a school improvement plan.  We try to enlist support of all staff, students, parents, school district and student representatives in the implementation of the improvement plan and present an annual report on the progress of this plan.  Each year, the group helps plan and evaluate the school budget, participates in the selection of special programs and school personnel decisions, where warranted.

If you are interested in becoming a member, the school would appreciate your involvement.  Call Mr. Sam Jacobs, Principal of the school at 603-756-4728.  More information is available on the Walpole Site-Based Committee’s blog at walpoleschool.blogspot.com.

From Tom Ronning, FMRHS Principal – Lil

September 8, 2014

• Earlier today, our freshmen signed certificates and received green “Committed to Graduate” bands.
• FMRHS is further developing personalize learning plans for our students. This past summer eight staff members participated in 33 hours of professional development at a Next Generation Personalized Learning Institute to help with the process.
• A group of present and past FMRHS students from the club STAND (Students Take Action Now: Darfur) went to the Keene State College Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies on Wednesday, September 3, to witness Gov. Maggie Hassan sign a Genocide Awareness bill into legislation. NH is one of four states to have such a law. Several students have collected names for a petition to name the month of April Genocide Awareness month in New Hampshire. The hope is that this will encourage teachers and other agencies to talk about past and more importantly present genocides in an effort to bring an end to such human atrocities.
• For the first time in the school’s history, FMRHS has fielded a golf team and is competing in Division III of the NHIAA.
• Thank you to Target for the recent check to help our students be successful.