The Walpolean

APRIL 2022 – CLARION CLOSING DATE – MARCH 21 by Ray Boas

Here wego again with time passing too quickly. Submissions for the next issue of THE WALPOLE CLARION are due just a week away – Monday, March 21. My list of submissions already has some entries, and those articles and images placed on the working draft for April.

So, do not delay, type away, and email your submissions to me. And, I always acknowledge receipt, so if you do not hear from me the electrons went astray somewhere along the way. If you have any questions, please contact me, and new or return advertisers are welcome to contact me as well.

Soon we may even be able to start a “new normal.” In the meantime – Stay Safe and Stay Well, Yours, RAY BOAS, Publisher

7 pm

Roll Call: Appointment of alternates if needed.

Minutes: Review minutes of February meeting.

New Business:

Election of officers

Variance: Elizabeth Roos, 14 Middle Street, Tax Map 20, Lot 77, Residential B. Ms. Roos would like to change and slightly enlarge her deck on west side of the house. The door to the deck is the second egress from the house. The door is even with the deck and gets frozen shut in the winter. The plan is to drop the deck down one step. Request for a Public Hearing. This has been postponed until April.

Signage: US Cellular, 48 North Meadow Access Road. Commercial District. New sign company called. April or May meeting.

Old Business:

Clarion article for March. Special Exceptions. Pauline Barnes.

Update on day care center. The matter is now in the hands of the Planning Board.

Applications on website – Expansion of Non-Conforming Use, Bylaws, Special Exceptions, etc.

Zoning Map from Antioch. Don Sellarole.

Review minutes of nonpublic session.

Next meeting April 20, 2022.

Handouts: When does zoning apply to governmental use of land?

Walpole Planning Board Minutes

March 8, 2022

Town Hall

7 pm

Roll Call: Present were board members Vice-Chair Dennis Marcom, Clerk Jason Perron, Jeff Harrington, Bill Carmody, Select Board Representative Steve Dalessio and alternate Trevor MacLachlan. Absent: Chair Jeff Miller and board member Joanna Andros and alternate Travis Adams. Mr. Marcom asked Mr. MacLachlan to sit in for an absent board members.

Also present were Kelly Hoffman of Liberty Utilities, Shanda and Steve Donovan, owners of Spencer’s Tavern, Zoning Board of Adjustment Chair Jan Leclerc, Amanda Raney, abutter of the day care center on Maplewood Circle, and Shane O’Keeffe.

Recording: Secretary Marilou Blaine. Meeting minutes are recorded. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the April 2022 meeting for corrections, and additions and/or omissions.

Meeting coming to order: Mr. Marcom called the meeting to order at 7 pm.

Minutes: Therewas one correction to the minutes on page 2, paragraph 2. Mr. Perron asked that the word “this” be inserted before the word “constitutes.” Mr. Perron made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion passed by voice vote. Since Mr. Marcom had not read the February workshop minutes, a vote on these minutes was postponed until next month.

Old Business

Public Hearing for Liberty Utilities for additional tree removal on Farnum Road, a scenic road.

Ms. Heather Green, Vegetation Manager for Liberty Utilities, did not attend the meeting. Kelly Hoffman, a consultant for arboreal matters for Liberty Utilities represented Liberty Utilities at the hearing. Ms. Green and Ms. Hoffman were at a public hearing in December 2021 when the Planning Board approved routine maintenance on the two scenic roads in Walpole – Old Drewsville Road and Farnum Road. In February, Liberty Utilities requested another public hearing to do additional work on Farnum Road. The fee for two legals in The Keene Sentinel as required by RSA 271:172 arrived at the Town Offices on Monday, March 7, 2022.

Board members had a diagram of Farnum Road showing the existing poles that were going to be replaced by taller poles and updated lines. Ms. Hoffman handed out a list of trees that were on the December list of trees to be removed and, on the same paper, a list of additional trees to be cut when the taller poles are installed. She said that there are some well-established cherry trees along the road that bend over the existing line and they are going to be severely impacted by the installation. Ms. Hoffman said the trees could be trimmed but it would hurt the trees. She said all the trees but one, which will be removed have been tagged

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with pink or red tags.

What happens to the wood after the tree has been removed? Mr. Dalessio asked. Ms. Hoffman said that a Liberty Utilities person talks to the landowner to get permission to remove trees. Then they typically leave the wood on site. However, if the landowner wants to use the wood for firewood, it can be cut to log lengths, she said.

When they install the new poles do they leave the old poles behind? Mr. Dalessio asked. Ms. Hoffman said yes. The Select Board is very unhappy with Liberty Utilities leaving the poles behind, Mr. Dalessio said. He asked Ms. Hoffman if she would take that information back to the company and let them know. “We’re getting tired of looking at our landscape and seeing all these poles sticking up all over the place.” He said that the request would not be approved until he hears back from Liberty Utilities about what they are going to do with the poles. He suggested driving on Route 123 if anyone were interested in seeing poles that were not removed.

Mr. MacLachlan asked about the schedule for cutting. Ms. Hoffman wasn’t sure but said that Liberty had to get approval from the board first and it was certainly not going to be cutting tomorrow. She could find out the schedule if that’s what the board wanted.

Mr. Marcom wanted to know what kind of options the board had. They could approve or not approve tonight or continue the hearing until next month and when Heather gets here she could answer questions, Mr. Dalessio said.

Shane O’Keefe said he was acquainted with Farnum Road. He has had some knowledge of the shorter poles being abandoned after taller ones are installed. He thought maybe the Planning Board could put some kind of conditions on removal of the trees. Maybe have some kind of performance review, he said. Perhaps give them six months after the work is completed to take down the old poles, he suggested.

Mr. Marcom asked if there were any other questions from the public. He closed the public hearing. Now the question was does the board want to continue the meeting until next month when they could ask questions of Ms. Green or put conditions on a motion to approve. Mr. Dalessio said six months seemed enough time for them to remove the cables and put them on the new poles.

Mr. Dalessio made a motion to approve the removal of trees on Farnum Road on the condition that Liberty Utilities remove the old poles within six months of completing their work. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the board vote unanimously to approved the motion.

Mr. Dalessio told Ms. Hoffman that if Ms. Green had any questions she could come to the meeting next month.

Spencer’s LLC – Outdoor seating and a handicap parking space. Mr. Spencer had a letter from The Walpole Foundation saying that his outdoor seating for the restaurant had to be approved by the Planning Board yearly. Also, The Foundation wanted the handicap space that was there before restored so it is at or near the end of the ramp. Mr. Perron recused himself from voting because he was the one who presented Mr. Spencer’s plan to the board

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 last month to be put on the agenda. Mr. Spencer said the outdoor seating at the restaurant will be the same as last year and the handicap parking space would be moved over one spot

to in front of Edward Jones. He said he would put up a handicap sign there as well. Mr. Dalessio made a motion to approve outdoor seating for Spencer’s restaurant and including moving the handicap parking space. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by the board.

Workshop

Mr. Marcom reminded board members that there was workshop meeting at the end of the month. It is not the usual 4^th Tuesday of the month so instead of the workshop being held on the 22^nd, it will be held on the 29^th. Mr. Dalessio reminded the secretary that because it was not on the 4^th Tuesday, the public meeting will have to be posted.

Update on day care center

Mr. Marcom told the public that the board was going into a nonpublic session to discuss an update on the day care center because it had received a letter from Town Counsel, Jeremy Hockensmith. There is an RSA that allows a board to go into nonpublic session when considering information from legal counsel, he said. He had a roll call vote of every board member and they all voted aye to go into nonpublic session.

Ms. Dalessio made a motion to go into nonpublic session to discuss based on attorney-client privilege. The motion was seconded and the motion carried. The board went into nonpublic session at 7:25 pm and Mr. Dalessio made a motion to come out of nonpublic session at 7:51 pm. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the rest of the board voted in the affirmative.

Public Session resumes

Mr. Marcom said it was decided that the board would like input from the abutters on Maplewood Circle on the day care situation. This would help the board make a decision on whether or not to have a site plan review. So the board intends to ask town counsel Jeremy Hockensmith about the matter and if he okays it, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing in April and invite the neighborhood of Maplewood Circle to comment on traffic and parking. Mr. Perron made a motion to invite the people on Maplewood Circle to a public hearing to discuss the day care center and a site plan. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Ms. Raney asked the board if the dumpster in the front yard of the day care center was going to be screened when spring begins on March 21. The Select Board minutes of December 2, 2021 state that the board was agreeable to wait until spring to have the dumpster screened. Mr. Dalessio said he would bring it up at the next Select Board meeting.

Mr. Perron made a motion to close the meeting. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

Recording Secretary

cc: WPB, ZBA, Town Offices.

Posted: Inside the Town Offices, on the bulletin board outside the Post Office, www.walpolenh.us                                           3.

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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:  Steven 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 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 $14,880.31 for checks issued March 4, 2022.  This includes a payment in the amount of $8,183.65 to E.E. Houghton Company.  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 26, 2022, in the amount of $28,603.35 for checks dated March 4, 2022, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $5,950.69.  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 24, 2022:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of February 24, 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 24, 2022:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of February 24, 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.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the following Committee reports:

• Walpole Power Committee Meeting – February 15, 2022;
• Walpole Police Committee Meeting – February 16, 2022;
• Walpole Planning Board Meeting Minutes (updated) – February 8, 2022;
• Walpole Planning Board Workshop Minutes – February 22, 2022.

PROPERTY TAX REFUND:

MAP and LOT # 028-103-000:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant the Property Tax Refund in the amount of $13.31 for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #028-103-000.  This is due to an overpayment of 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.

VETERAN TAX CREDITS:

Mr. Dalessio moved to grant the following Veteran Tax Credits for the owner(s) of:

• Map and Lot #006-016-000 – this is for a Veterans’ Tax Credit;
• Map and Lot #017-008-001 – this is for a Veterans’ Tax Credit;
• Map and Lot #029-036-000 – this is for an All Veterans’ Tax Credit;

They all served over 90 days of active service and were Honorably Discharged.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer. 

Ms. Mayberry asked what the difference is between a “Veterans’ Tax Credit” and an “All Veterans’ Tax Credit.  Mrs. Downing explained that both get the $500 tax credit.  The Veterans’ Tax Credit is for veterans who served during a conflict and the All Veterans’ Tax Credit is for veterans who served during a time of a non-conflict.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

SOLAR ENERGY EXEMPTION:

MAP and LOT #029-036-000:  Mr. Dalessio moved to grant the Solar Energy Exemption for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #029-036-000.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Mr. Dalessio questioned if the applicants generate more than they use, how are they dealing with the tax credit?  Mrs. Downing talked to a few people who applied, and they claim they are just getting enough to run their homes and/or whatever is on their property.  They cannot get the grant money if the solar array produces more than they use.  With net metering, they are finding out that they might have to pay in a few dollars.  They are getting a statement at the end of the year.  A measurement is set-up.  This goes with the applicant.  Mr. Dalessio thinks that with the tax bill they should send out an affidavit to be signed and returned and to have the owner(s) give the Town a copy of the net metering statement.  They have some big producers in Town.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted that rules change.  Mr. Dalessio will continue his research.  

OLD BUSINESS:

Piano on 2^nd Floor of Town Hall:  Mr. Dalessio was fine with disposing of the piano.  Mrs. Pschirrer agreed.  At one point they could not even move it.  The Selectboard asked Mrs. Downing to advertise it as “free – provided you can move it out of the Town Hall” in the Clarion and Walpolean.  

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.

Ordinances:  Mrs. Pschirrer has been reading the Parking Ordinance but the problem with all the Ordinances is they contain so many RSAs they are not easy for most people to read; she wants to re-write them in plain English but reference the RSAs. Mr. Dalessio agreed as long as they reference the RSAs.  Should they focus on the enforcement part first?  Mrs. Pschirrer agreed with Mr. Dalessio that tickets will be needed as a part of the Parking Ordinance enforcement.  Mr. Dalessio wants enforcement added to the Dog procedures too.  Ms. Mayberry agreed.

Staff Training Session:  The next Staff Training Session is scheduled for Thursday, March 17^th at 5:00 PM.  Mrs. Downing asked if some employees will be able to attend at home or do they need to be in the Town Hall?  Mr. Dalessio suggested postponing the change-over from Zoom to in-person Selectboard meetings one more week so this Staff Training Session can be a Zoom meeting.  Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry agreed to schedule this as a Zoom meeting.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:

Mr. Dalessio moved to recess this Selectboard meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees.  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 6:52 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting reconvened at 6:57 PM.

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 6:58 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting reconvened at 7:49 PM. 

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of March 3, 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 7:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

Starting at 6:30 PM on Zoom

SELECTBOARD MEETING

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

• Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $65,849.03 for checks issued 3/11/2022

PAYROLL

• Payroll Register totaling $27,723.63 dated 3/11/22 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $5,775.24

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

• Selectboard Meeting – March 3, 2022

• Non-Public Session Selectboard Minutes – March 3, 2022

COMMITTEE REPORTS

• North Walpole Village District Meeting – February 15, 2022

• North Walpole Village District Meeting – February 22, 2022

• Walpole Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes – March 7, 2022

PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS

• Map and Lot# 019-069-000

• Map and Lot# 011-007-001

• Map and Lot# 001-001-000

• Map and Lot# 003-082-CL3

SOLAR ENERGY EXEMPTION

• Map and Lot# 010-022-000

OLD BUSINESS

• Plowing Ordinance

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, 

NEW BUSINESS

• Welfare Case Summary – Jan. & Feb. 2022

• Trail Map Box

• SAU 60 Budget Committee

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (c)

**Any recording, audio or visual, and/or other devices must be declared at the beginning of the meeting**

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.