The Walpolean

Selectboard Cheryl Mayberry 397

Town Moderator Jack Wozmak 390

Town Treasurer David Adams 396

Trustee of Trust Funds Michael Collier 282

Supervisor of Checklist Tara Sad 410

Supervisor of Checklist Michele Gallagher 386

Zoning Board Myra Mansouri 242

Tom Winmill 246

Jan Galloway-LeClerc 308

Planning Board Dennis Marcom 316

Shane O’Keefe 195

Jeff Harrington 242

Cemetery Trustee John Sheldon 383

Library Trustee (3 year) Gail LaHaise 349

Tim Lester 346

Jean Kobeski 380

Library Trustee (2 year) Sarah Mann 381

Library Trustee (1 year) Erin Bowen 377

Article 2 (regarding signage) yes 354

no 60

Come out and support The Walpole Players this Saturday, March 12! It has been a long two years, and The Players are so excited to be back in the Helen Miller Theater. Some of your friends and neighbors have been working very hard to put together a fun evening of entertainment just for you! So get your tickets now for the Cabin Fever Radio Follies and come cheer them on!

Starring

Tom Durnford Jan Kobeski Chuck Lessard

Wayne Miller Carolyn Norbeck Jenny Plante Ruth Pratt

Deb Robarge Juliana Stevens Tom Winmill

Featuring

Fibber McGee and Molly Doc Savage

Garish Summit Our Miss Brooks

With

Music provided by Mark Stevens

Lights & Sound by Adam Terrell

Directed By

Meg Kupiec & Judy Epstein

DON”T FORGET TO VOTE! Polls are open until 7:00 PM.

Minutes from another new committee in town – Lil

Walpole Police Committee

February 16, 2022

Minutes

Mr. Bourchard called the meeting to order at approximately 6:30 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 20022. The meeting was a hybrid Zoom meeting with Cheri Watson and Dave Adams present by Zoom and Mr. Bouchard, Chair, Steve Dalessio, Annette Grenier, Andrew Dey, Chief Justin Sanctuary and Peggy Pschirrer present in the Selectboard Office at Walpole Town Hall.

Andrew Dey was introduced as a new member of the Committee. Mr. Dey has a background and expertise in construction, engineering, and marketing. He is the Senior Manager at Unity Homes, a division of Bensonwood. Mr. Dey first joined Bensonwood in 1993, left in 2007 and returned with Unity Homes. Mr. Dey expressed some concern about how much time he must commit.

Site visits are to be scheduled for Charlestown Police Department, Brattleboro Police Department and sometime in the future the Department of Corrections in Keene. Mr. Bourchard has spoken to the Chiefs of Police in both Charlestown and Brattleboro. He has also talked with Sheriff Rivera of Cheshire County about training possibilities in a new police department.

Todd Faulkner is about to retire so he may be available to speak to the committee on how to build a good police department. We do not want to re-invent the wheel.

March 5 was suggested as a possible date to visit Brattleboro: Mr. Adams, Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Pschirrer are all available to participate that day.

A visit will be schedule with the Department of Corrections when Covid subsides. The purpose in visiting the new jail is to observe security, inspect modular cells an advanced HVAC system and how visitors are managed.

Other towns suggested were New London, Rockingham State Police Barracks and Chesterfield.

Perhaps the group could visit Chesterfield after a visit to Brattleboro.

Chief Sanctuary stated what is necessary in a new building, what the PD needs to operate. The Department needs three holding cells adjacent to bathrooms. We need to look closely at floor plans when we visit Brattleboro. Keene Police Department has a separate public entrance for meeting space.

Walpole would like a public meeting room as part of the new Police Department. It would be used by the community but also by the PD for training. It would need a kitchen, good soundproofing, be AD compliant and possibly meet RED Cross standards for shelter in an emergency.

Ms. Watson asked if there are rules for temporary, short-term shelters?

The group talked about location and most agreed the new station should be easily accessible, probably on Route 12. We are aware of a lot of about 9 acres of land on Route 12 which could be divided into smaller lots with approximately 4 acres left for the new station.

We need to look at the Town’s tax maps to learn where there are empty lots and who owns those lots. Ms. Pschirrer will provide those maps for the next meeting.

Chief Sanctuary reported they receive anywhere from 300 – 400 calls per month. They may be at the station or on the road when calls come in. The need for a flashing light which could signal cars leaving the station for an emergency may be needed. The question was asked if the local fire station had such an emergency light?

The answer is yes but it has been disconnected.

There is a data base for where calls go.

Ms. Watson was asked to research some grant availability for new police stations.

Ms. Grenier was asked to explore architects who specialize in building police stations.

We need to consider size of the building the configuration, what we would like to have, and we must have in the building.

The committee will meet again on March 16, 2022, in Town Hall.

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We need to look at the Town’s tax maps to learn where there are empty lots and who owns those lots. Ms.

Pschirrer will provide those maps for the next meeting.

Chief Sanctuary reported they receive anywhere from 300 – 400 calls per month. They may be at the station

or on the road when calls come in. The need for a flashing light which could signal cars leaving the station for

an emergency my be needed. The question was asked if the local fire station had such an emergency light?

The answer is yes but it has been disconnected.

There is a data base for where calls go.

Ms. Watson was asked to research some grant availability for new police stations.

Ms. Grenier was asked to explore architects who specialize in building police stations.

We need to consider size of the building the configuration, what we would like to have, and we must have in

the building.

The committee will meet again on March 16, 2022, in Town Hall.

You’ve been reading about the Power Committee and Sarah Downing is now able to share their minutes with The Walpolean. Hope this information helps keep you up-to-date (even though they are a month old). – Lil

WALPOLE POWER COMMITTEE

FEBRUARY 15, 2022

Minutes

Paul Looney, Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, in the Selectboard Office at Walpole Town Hall.

Present were Dennis Marcom, Rod Bouchard, Andrew Dey and Peggy Pschirrer. 

Absent were Steve Grenier and Patrick Kiniry.

Mr. Looney has recently attended the membership committee of CPCNH.  Three towns have submitted their Electric Aggregation Plans to the PUC and all three have been rejected.  The plans were rejected because the PUC has not completed their rule making. 

Keene’s plan has also been rejected and Harrisville’s was sent too early.

The Selectboard has the authority to modify an EAP after it has been accepted by the Town legislative body.

April Salas, Chair of CPCNH, has announced that Hanover is reaching out to large consumers in town by telling them they (Hanover) will be in the market as early a spring 2023.  She is asking what kind of load the company is carrying and basically marketing CPCNH.

Large consumers in Walpole may be LenTex, Chamberlin Machine, Bensonwoods.

We need an article in the CLARION.  Dennis Marcom will update the last article to include the Warrant article.   We will also include the Frequently Asked Questions which are on the Town’s website.

Our Public Meeting will be a Zoom meeting on February 23, 2022. Kara Dexter will be asked to manage the Zoom meeting.

It was agreed we need to include information on Net metering and be able to answer questions about Net metering.  Mr. Bouchard suggested we ask Henry Herndon to be available to explain net metering. Henry will be asked for suggestions or statements we can use for net metering.

Another person who may be able to help us is Dorie D.  She will know what other towns are doing.

Mr. Looney will be attending the CPCNH Board Metering this week where he will ask Cliff how net metering will be affected by this EAP.

Mr. Dey suggested that after Town Meeting we need to meet with Freedom and with Standard.

CPCNH needs funds to operate; until the rules are finished, they are limited in what they can do.

 Cheshire County has an “opt in” plan, not an “opt out” plan. 

Any costs which may be associated with the EAP will be paid by rate payers.  Cost sharing is among the rate payers, not the town.

Mr. Marcom will speak with Mr. Kiniry about another committee member who might attend from North Walpole.

Peter Palmiotto was suggested as another potential committee member.

The Committee will meet again in a public meeting on February 23rd to answer questions and urge the public to accept the warrant.

Selectboard Present:​Cheryl Mayberry (Chair); Steven Dalessio; Peggy L. Pschirrer

CALL TO ORDER:  Ms. Mayberry called this Selectboard meeting via Zoom to order at 6:30 PM.  The Selectboard members were in three separate locations.  This meeting was being recorded.

Ms. Mayberry called for a voice roll call of the Selectboard present.  Steve Dalessio was present at his home in Drewsville; Peggy Pschirrer was present at her home in Walpole; and Cheryl Mayberry was present at her home in North Walpole.  Also attending this meeting was Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, at the Walpole Town Hall and Regina Borden, Recording Secretary, at a separate location.  There were no members of the public in attendance.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $79,947.74 for checks issued February 25, 2022.  This includes a payment in the amount of $37,279.41 to the HealthTrust.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

PAYROLL:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Payroll Check Register for the week ending February 19, 2022, in the amount of $28,421.62 dated February 25, 2022, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $5,848.90.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.  

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – February 17, 2022:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of February 17, 2022, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – February 17, 2022:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of February 17, 2022, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Minutes were approved.

STAFF MEETING – February 17, 2022:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Staff Meeting of February 17, 2022, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Minutes were approved.

PROPERTY TAX REFUND:

MAP and LOT #010-019-000:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant the Property Tax Refund to the owner(s) of Map and Lot #010-019-000 in the amount of $449.31.  This is due to an overpayment of property taxes.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

DEMOLITION PERMIT:

Demolition Permit #2022-06, MAP and LOT #019-053-001: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant the Demolition Permit for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #019-053-001 to “Remove 42-feet from a 100-foot building”.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

Wastewater Line Under the Vilas Bridge:  Mr. Dalessiomoved to approve Purchase Orders 789222 to Weston and Sampson for the Planning Study, Risk Assessment and Central Design Services for Pump Station Upgrades and Sewer Force main Re-routing for their proposal dated February 10, 2022. The funds to come from the ARPA monies held in PDIP in the amount of $83,993.00.  This all related to our wastewater line re-location from the Vilas Bridge.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.

Mrs. Pschirrer read this and questioned that they talked about the line running alongside of the railroad; further north than that.  Mr. Dalessio clarified that that is the Arch Bridge.  If you look at where the Vilas Bridge is, there is a railroad bridge right next to it. They had talked briefly about running the line along that bridge, but it was discounted because no one is approving running lines across bridges any more.  Mrs. Pschirrer said it states “railroad bridge”.  She wanted to be sure it mentioned exactly what they were doing.  

On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.      

Warrant Articles re: Town Meeting:  The Selectboard members agreed to be assigned to and speak to the following Warrant Articles at the Town Meeting on Saturday, March 12^th, 2022, at 1:00 PM at the Walpole Elementary School Gymnasium:

Article #3​- Ms. Mayberry on the Town Budget;

Article #4​- Mrs. Pschirrer will present Paul Looney on the Walpole Community Power Electric 

Aggregation Plan;

Article #5​- Mr. Dalessio on the Town Hall Roof and Chimney;

Article #6​- Mrs. Pschirrer on the Maintenance and Repair of Town Facilities;

Article #7​- Mr. Dalessio and Mr. Rau on the Sidewalk Snow-blower; Mr. Dalessio advised the word “snow-blower is sort of a misnomer – people are thinking a small unit.  He asked Mr.  Rau to bring pictures of what this equipment looks like.  It has a sander, plow, snow-blower, closed cab, etc.  

Article #8​- Mr. Dalessio on the Highway Capitol Reserve Fund;

Article #9​- Ms. Mayberry on the Recycling Center Commercial Shredder;

Article #10​- Mrs. Pschirrer on Repairs of the Town Swimming Pool and Pool House;

Article #11​- Mrs. Pschirrer on the Repair of Chimney and Replace Front Door of the Bridge Library;

Article #12​- Mrs.  Pschirrer and Police Chief Justin Sanctuary on a vehicle for the Walpole Police 

Department;

Article #13​- Police Chief Justin Sanctuary on equipment in the new police vehicle;

Article #14​- Police Chief Justin Sanctuary on the Police Department Capitol Reserve Fund;

Article #15​- Transact any Other Business. 

Aerial Photographs in Town Hall Basement:  Mr. Dalessio looked at the aerial photographs and feels they should be archived.  They were taken when the asphalt plant was being considered.  They should be stored in a proper box or something similar to that and kept in the basement.  Mrs. Pschirrer does not feel they are very attractive.  Mrs. Downing will have this taken care of.  

Celeste Aumand re: Speed Signs and Hillcrest Road:   Ms. Mayberry attended the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meeting last Tuesday and made it clear that the flooding on the hill is impacting the other private properties but not the roadway.  The ability to schedule any kind of engineering work up there will be past the time line when they will do the road.  Then they talked about the speed signs; there is a 30 MPH sign up there now but they feel it should be less than that. They talked about a 20 MPH sign.  They asked about a sign going up Mountain View Road on the lower end as you are heading up the hill and then having the same sign coming down Mountain View Road in the area of Taylor Street.  If they have enough funds, Mr. Dalessio would like to see a solar digital unit similar to the one on Route 5 as you are entering the Village of Bellows Falls; it is slowing traffic down. Maybe they could split the cost with the Village?  Metal signs are not doing it.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted whether they are metal or solar you still have to enforce them.  Ms. Mayberry also feels some signs are needed.  Mr. Dalessio is not objecting to the signs but feels they should do something better.  Ms. Mayberry will discuss sharing the cost with the commissioners.  Mr. Dalessio will ask Mr. Rau to research how much the solar digital units cost and report back to the Selectboard.             

Pending Further Actions:

Generators, Wooden Chairs in the Town Hall, Trees on the Common, Walpole Players Posters, Reservoir Dam, Houghton Brook Bridge, Parking Ordinance, Three Phase Power for Industrial Park Drive and Bensonwood.  There were no new updates at this meeting.

School Street Storm–water Improvements:  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Purchase Order #789221 to Fuss & O’Neill for engineering services related to repairing drainage issues located on School Street and Union Street per their proposal dated February 18, 2022.   Funds to be paid from the Emergency Management Engineering line in the Budget in the amount of $51,700.00.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

Piano on Second Floor of Town Hall:  Ms. Mayberry advised that someone offered to give the Walpole Players a new piano.  Do we want to consider the offer, not consider the offer or consider a trade?  Mrs. Pschirrer mentioned the piano on the second floor is not in great shape and needs to be tuned.  She suggested saying “Thank You” to the person who made the offer but to decline acceptance.  Mr. Dalessio agreed and would consider putting a lock on the other piano.  Ms. Mayberry mentioned the Players tuned it five years ago.  They will let Mrs. Bryan know of their decision and will thank the resident.

Walpole Fire Department:   Mr. Dalessio reported that the Walpole Fire Department ordered a new ambulance with a power load.  The grant they are seeking for this piece of equipment needs to run through the Town.  They are asking the Selectboard to endorse that process.  

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to support the grant application for the Fire District in Walpole for the new ambulance.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Covid-19:  Ms. Mayberry reported that yesterday the Governor lifted the Mask Order for the schools.  She wants everybody to be aware of this.  The Governor is saying the Covid cases are dropping.  She asked if the Town wants to continue with the mask wearing requirements or make changes to their protocol. Mrs. Pschirrer has been reading and thinking about it.  She suggested making changes after the Town Meeting.  There are still federal regulations for transportation.  He cannot lift those.  The Legislature will go back to their regular meetings on Monday.  Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry also agreed to hold tight with waiting to make changes until after Town Meeting.  It was noted that the Health Department is not promoting this lifting of the Mask Order.            

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, (b) Hiring and (c) Reputations.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved at 7:02 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting reconvened at 7:22 PM.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of February 24, 2022, will be sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to adjourn this Selectboard meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Ms. Mayberry asked if there was any additional discussion.  There was none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 7:23 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

Town of Walpole, NH 

Limited Weight Roads Ordinance  

Pursuant to RSA 231:191, no motor vehicle having a gross weight of six (6) tons or greater shall operate on any street or road during the posted Spring Weight Limit season between March 14 and May 15, 2022. Special permits can be issued by the Road Agent at 603-904-4070.

7 pm

Town Hall

Roll Call: Appointment of alternates if needed.

Minutes: Review minutes of the February meeting and February workshop.

New Business:

Liberty Utilities: Public hearing for additional tree removal work on Farnum Rd.

Liberty Utilities is putting in taller poles on Farnum Road and will be removing additional trees – ones that were not mentioned at a previous hearing in December. Farnum Road is a designated scenic road. The project needs a public hearing. Vegetation manager Heather Green of Liberty Utilities will be at the hearing to explain the new work.

Spencer’s LLC – Request to continue outdoor seating for 2022. Owners of Spenser’s had a request from Walpole Foundation, owners of the building, to design the seating so that the handicapped space at or near the end if the ramp is restored. 

Update on Day Care at 11 Maplewood Circle. Jeff hadn’t heard from Jeremy as of Tuesday, March 

Next Meeting: April 12, 2022

Workshop: Tuesday, March 29, 7 pm: Review of completed Community Facilities Chapter and draft of Economic Development Chapter.

Documents provided:

Spencer’s plan.

Farnum Road Utility poles diagram.

Alteration of Terrain Permit Plan Store-It

Includes

Topography and wetland plan

Construction Plans

Pre and post development drainage plans