The Walpolean

Roll Call: Present Board Members: Chair Jeff Miller, Vice-Chair Dennis Marcom, Clerk Jason Perron, Jeff Harrington, Joanna Andros, Trevor MacLachlan, Select Board Representative Steve Dalessio and alternates Bill Carmody and Travis Adams.

Call to Order: Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7 pm. A full board was present so no alternates were needed to fill in.

Review of Minutes of June 2024: Mr. Marcom made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion carried.

New Business:

Public Hearing for three sections of the updated Master Plan: Implementation Plan, Land Use Analysis and Population and Housing.

Mr. Miller explained that the Land Use Analysis was a statistical look at the town and categorizes the different types of uses of the land in Walpole from farmland to residential to commercial. The first sentence of this document says “an analysis of the present land use pattern in a town is one of the first steps in the formulation of a Land Use Plan.” The population and housing sections goes into home values and types of buildings and compares Walpole to neighboring town regarding education levels, growth trends, age and income. And the Implementation plan states the goals and objective for each of the sections of the Master Plan and then has action plans for the goals to be implemented. 

Mr. Marcom and Mr. Perron started looking at some of the numbers and trying to understand them. For example, on page 6 in the Land Use Analysis section it shows that there were 14 parcels used for farmland, 277.71 acres and the taxable value was only $66,300. They went back and forth about the numbers and wondered if the numbers were correct. One of them mentioned that the amount for land in current use was higher than farmland. They finally realized that the calculations given for some of the information in this section came from the census of 2010. 

Wendy Grossman noted that the population of Walpole was down. She wondered why the board didn’t use the information from the census of 2020. Mr. Miller said updating of the Master Plan started several years ago and the Land Use Analysis was one of the first sections that the board began to look at. Actually the board began updating the Master Plan in 2019. It was before Covid and Covid put a stop to the fourth Tuesday workshop meetings for updating the Master Plan for quite a long time. 

Mr. Miller closed the public hearing at 7:20 pm. He said he would go back to the  Southwest Region Planning Commission and talk to the executive director Todd Horner to see if some of the numbers and information could be changed and updated to reflect the numbers of the 2020 census.

Andrew Dey said he tried to take a look at these sections of the Master Plan on the town web site but that none of the Master Plan was on the web site. Ms. Pauline Barnes said she too tried to find the information on line. Mr. Perron said that’s because the Master Plan has just been and still is in “draft” form. That’s one of the reason why the Planning Board is having these hearings. The Planning Board has no responsibility for putting information on the web site and supposedly a new format for the web site is in the works. 

Perhaps, Mr. Perron said, after the Planning Board has reviewed all the sections of the Master Plan at tonight’s and future public hearings, the results or any changes made to any section will be incorporated and the Master Plan will be available online.  

However, copies of the three sections of the Master Plan, the ones being discussed this evening, were available at the Town Offices for the public to look at. A public notice of this meeting was posted in two places in town – in the Town Offices and on the bulletin board at the Post Office, and residents who wanted to attend the meeting were notified via that public notice that the Master Plan sections were available at the Town Offices.

Mr. Perron made a motion to approve these three sections of the Master Plan and said there would be an effort to update some information. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion passed.

The next meeting in August will also be a public hearing and will consider some of the remaining sections of the Master Plan. Some of those sections include Transportation, Natural Features, Economic Development and Historic and Recreational Resources.

Mr. Miller reminded the board of the upcoming joint board meeting with the Zoning Board and Southwest Region Planning Commission on the fourth Tuesday of this month regarding Planner Carole Ogilvie’s suggestions for the zoning ordinances and site plan. 

Mr. Perron made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion passed.

These minutes are unapproved but will be reviewed at the August meeting for corrections. 

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

Secretary

cc: WPB, ZBA, Town Offices, The Walpolean.

Posted: In the Town Offices, on the bulletin board outside the Post Office. 

Attention Pickle Ball Players

Fun Round Robin Play

Wednesday July 17th @ 6:00 pm at the Walpole Recreation Park Pickle Ball Courts

Maximum 16 players. You will play 6 games, with games lasting no longer than 15 minutes.

Come Play!

Please call or text Mike Hayes if you are interested 603-209-3836.

ALL levels of players welcome!

Selectboard Present: Cheryl Mayberry, Chair, and Steven Dalessio. Carolyn Vose was not present.

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

Guests Present: Paul Looney and Peggy Pschirrer

Call to Order: Ms. Mayberry called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

This item was moved to the beginning of the meeting because guests were waiting to speak to it.

Knollwood Energy – Renewable Energy Credit Sale and Purchase Agreement:  Paul Looney and Peggy Pschirrer attended to provide background information. Mr. Looney explained Recycling Center’s solar system produces more electricity than is used. The system records the energy produced.  CPCNH is not yet ready to buy renewable energy credits at this time but may be in a year.  Knollwood is a renewable energy credit broker.  Once the Town signs a contract with them, Knollwood will set up and register the Town.  A year from now, the Town will have more flexibility in selling credit.  The registration is also needed to obtain the $6,000 federal credit that was part of the warrant article.  Knollwood offers two contract options: a fixed price three-year contract or a contract that automatically renews each year, but that can be cancelled with 90 days’ notice.   Mr. Dalessio asked for an annual renewal.  Mr. Looney stated that renewable energy credits are sold quarterly. Mr. Dalessio noted that per the contract, Knollwood will pay the Town when the customer pays them.  There was a consensus by the Selectboard to request ACH payment when the credits are sold.  This item was then tabled until next week to allow Mr. Looney and Mrs. Pschirrer to research whether the contract could be changed.

Peggy Pschirrer and Paul Looney left the meeting at 7:01 PM.

Payroll

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $37,177.24 dated 7/5/2024 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,715.74.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Selectboard Meeting – June 27, 2024: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of June 27, 2024. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Non-Public Selectboard Session – June 27, 2024:  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of theNon-Public Selectboard session of June 27, 2024.  The minutes will remain sealed. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved, and the minutes are sealed.

Committee Reports

Mr. Dalessio brought to the chair’s attention the following committee reports:

• Hooper Institute Board Meeting – December 6, 2023 

• Walpole Pre-K – 8 Withdrawal Study Committee Meeting – June 26, 2024

Ms. Mayberry acknowledged these minutes.

Property Tax Abatement

Map and Lot 008-008-001:  The Avitar assessor visited the new home and applied data corrections.  The home has one bedroom, one bathroom and a crawl space underneath.  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Property Tax Abatement in the amount of $3,626.00 for Map and Lot # 008-008-001.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Supplemental Tax Warrant

Map and Lot # 008-008-001:  This is related to the above abatement.  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Supplemental Tax Warrant in the amount or $2,892.00 for Map and Lot # 008-008-001.  Seconded by Ms.Mayberry.  With Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Building Permit

2024-24, Map and Lot# 008-077-001:  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Building Permit #2024-24 for Map and Lot # 008-077-001 to construct a 36’ x 24’ two story horse barn. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

2024-22, Map and Lot# 011-027-000:  There was a discussion of follow-up questions on the number of bedrooms and the septic requirements from the previous meetings.  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Building Permit #2024-22 for Map and Lot # 011-027-000 to construct an office addition. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Map and Lot# 022-014-000:  A front porch is being installed at 105 North Road with no building permit.  The owner will get a $500 fine for building without a permit and without a ZBA variance.

Old Business

Pending Further Action:  Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Street Bridges/Culverts, Houghton Brook Bridge, and Reservoir Dam

Mr. Dalessio reported that the Town has requested that Fuss & O’Neill provide an update on all the projects pending further action.

FMRSD Response re: LEAP charges to Walpole:  The amount due for the last three years is $1,751.29.  Mr. Dalessio moved that Sarah Downing send FMRSD a letter thanking them for the information provided.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

New Business

Open Container Request:   Watkins Inn and Tavern is hosting an outdoor wedding on October 12, 2024.  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the request for open container to end at 10:00 PM.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

West Side of Town Hall Siding Project:   There are structural questions related to the bulge that has been uncovered.  Can a structural expert be contacted for advice? There was a consensus that the Town needs to contact a qualified person such as Annette Dey, who is a structural engineer.

New North Walpole Water User Rates:   This is for informational purposes only.  Note:  the rate increase is to cover the cost of the upgraded system.

Hooper Trustees

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into the Hooper Trustees meeting at 7:31 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:33 PM.

Non-Public Business RSA 91-A:3 II (b) (c)

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (b) (c) at 7:33 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:38 PM.

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

Adjournment: Ms. Mayberry declared the meeting adjourned at 7:38 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Pickleball Clinic, presented by Mike Hayes

Wednesday, July 10, 2024. 6-8 pm

Whitcomb Park Recreation Center

Have you ever wondered:

Was that ball mine or yours? Where do I stand when receiving the ball? Who has middle? Do I stay back or move up?

Get answers to these questions and more this Wednesday! 

Players are asked to wear a bright-colored knee sock on the leg opposite their dominant hand.

REMINDER:

“GREAT DECISIONS” MEETS TONIGHT

Join us tonight at 6:00 in the Walpole Town Library for “NATO at a Strategic Crossroads,” moderated by Adrian Basora, former United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. This promises to be a highly informative look at NATO’s evolution over the past 75 years, the Alliance’s original purpose, its structure, present challenges and options for the future.

Adrian Basora is a trustee of the Foreign Policy Research Institute and chairs its Eurasia Program. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and is on the international advisory board of the Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities. During his 33 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, Adrian served in former Soviet Bloc countries and helped develop America’s programs in support of their transition to democracy while serving at the National Security Council (1989–91).

As NATO’s 32 members – along with leaders from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea – meet this week in Washington to celebrate the Alliance’s 75th anniversary and grapple with threats to global security, we will consider NATO’s relevance and future role in a changing world.  

We look forward to seeing you either in person or via Zoom. If you are joining via Zoom, please log on at 6:20, after the Foreign Policy Association’s Master Class video, which we are not permitted to show on Zoom. For the Zoom link, contact Jane Malmberg in advance of the meeting: jmalmberg@walpoletownlibrary.org.

Sue Kibbe

The Board of Directors of CPCNH that buys power for Walpole Community Power voted 6/27/24 to establish rates for the period 8/1/24 through 1/31/25.

Current rates from 2/1/24 through 7/31/24

Granite Basic.     .081 per KWH

Granite Plus.       .084 per KWh

Clean 50.             .094 per KWh

Clean 100.           .124 per KWh

New rates from 8/1/24 through 1/31/25

Granite Basic.   .086 per KWh

Granite plus.      .093 per KWh

Clean 50.           .100 per KWh

Clean 100.         .120 per KWh

Liberty default rates for the same period are going up .012, to .10976 up from .09758 vs Walpole Community power rate of .086, while up from .081 is still a savings of .02376 or  about 20%. 

Thank you

Walpole community Power Committee