The Walpolean

Hydrants will be flushed tomorrow night, Wednesday 11/17/21.  If your water is brown, let it run for 5 minutes. If it does not clear, please contact Jodi at the Selectboard Office 603-756-3672.

Yes, time again, just a tad over a week away, and I need your inputs and ads Monday, November 22 – if not sooner. I have a number of inputs already (thank you), but time approaches again. With the Thanksgiving Holiday and my printer’s schedule, the completed files will go to the printer on the 23rd, and I should have the December issue back and into the mail the first of December.

If you have any questions, do contact me. The email address is at the top right of any page on the CLARION website. Stay safe and stay well, and have a wonderful THANKSGIVING DAY.
Yours, RAY BOAS, Publisher

ORDER YOUR PIES NOW – Friday, Nov. 12
Today (well really by Saturday 9 AM) is last day to order your pie from St. John’s Cooks.  We still have apple pies (double crust),  crumb top apple pie, berry pies, and pumpkin pies.  (Most pies will be frozen.) Pickup and pay on Saturday, November 20th from 9-12. You can place your order at orders@stjohnswalpole.org (Leave name, contact info and order.)Thank you for your support.

Selectboard Present:      Cheryl Mayberry (Chair); Peggy Pschirrer; (Absent: Steven Dalessio)

CALL TO ORDER:  Ms. Mayberry called this meeting to order at 6:33 PM in the Walpole Town Hall. Mr. Dalessio was unable to attend this meeting due to another commitment.  This meeting was being recorded.  Also present was Mrs. Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Mrs. Regina Borden, Recording Secretary.  There were three members of the Walpole Players in attendance:  Lisa Bryan, Judy Epstein and Jennie Plante.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

Walpole Players Holiday Production:  Mrs. Bryan noted the Walpole Players are aware of the fact that the Selectboard also want the bathrooms and doorknobs cleaned.  They are happy to do all the cleaning and they have the right cleaning supplies according to Mr. Nash.  Mrs. Pschirrer had no problem with them doing all the cleaning as discussed.  Mrs. Bryan advised for this Radio Holiday Production there are quite a few people in it.  They only own two microphones. Therefore, they were wondering if they could borrow the Town’s microphones for this show.  They would only use them for the dress rehearsals and performances.  Mrs. Pschirrer had no problem with this as well.  She cautioned that sometimes they think the microphones are working but they might not be.  Ms. Mayberry pointed out they have to be sure they are charged.  Mrs. Bryan thanked the Selectboard for helping to make their Holiday Production a success.    

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $38,226.65 for checks issued November 5, 2021.  This includes a payment in the amount of $21,664.76 to the Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA).  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

PAYROLL:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Payroll Check Register for the week ending October 30, 2021, in the amount of $27,654.19 for checks dated November 5, 2021, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $5,288.84.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MINUTES – October 28, 2021:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 28, 2021, as submitted.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION MINUTES – October 28, 2021:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of October 28, 2021, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Minutes were approved.

COMMITTEE REPORT:

The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the following Committee report:

• Planning Board Workshop Minutes – October 26, 2021.

BUILDING PERMITS:

Permit No. 2021-35, MAP and LOT #011-043-003:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant Building Permit No. 2021-35 for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #011-043-003 to “Add a full second floor dormer and brow roofs for weather protection”.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

Permit No. 2021-42, MAP and LOT #017-005-004:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant Building Permit No. 2021-42 for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #017-005-004 to “Construct a 56’ x 24’ single family home”.  A stormwater site plan was required and submitted.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

OLD BUSINESS:

Brownfields Site Plan:  Mrs. Pschirrer reported that all the work was done at the Brownfields site.  Only gravel and dirt remain.  They are waiting for the next to final bills to come in from the companies who accepted the waste product; they excavated less than anticipated.  Both Ransom Consulting and Mr. Mike Rau are now looking at what it will cost to pave that area.  Mr. Rau is looking at where to put the drainage system.  They are also looking for the area where the green space will be.  Jersey barriers will be placed there. Vehicles should not be driving through that area.

Pending Further Actions:

Vilas Bridge, Houghton Brook Bridge, Generators, Three Phase Power for Industrial Park Drive and Bensonwood, Arborclimb:

Arborclimb:  Mrs. Downing was asked to call Arborclimb again tomorrow.  Ms. Mayberry stated they will give Arborclimb a deadline to submit their report.  After that, they can talk to Ms. Heather Green at Liberty Utilities about replacement trees.

NEW BUSINESS:

Tax Anticipation Note (TAN):  Ms. Mayberry reported that the Selectboard had talked about taking out a Tax Anticipation Note for “one million dollars”.  It will cover the time between now and when they are able to collect property taxes.   Because of the uncertainty with the timely setting of the tax rate, the $1.7 million county tax bill due on December 17^th and the monthly payments made to the Fall Mountain Regional School District, they are concerned about their cash flow during this time. 

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Tax Anticipation Note for $1,000,000 in order to meet the short fall that they will have in collecting the taxes.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.   

Groundwater Management Permit: The Application for Renewal of Groundwater Management Permit needs to be signed and submitted to the NH DES/Waste Management Division.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Selectboard authorize Sarah Downing, as the Manager of Administration, to sign the application for renewal of the Groundwater Management Permit.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Girl Scout Sponsorship Agreement:  Ms. Mayberry mentioned last Friday some Girl Scouts came into the Town Hall for a meeting while the 5-Town Joint Meeting was being held.  They were sent upstairs.  Ms. Daigle told Ms. Mayberry that there are two different Girl Scout groups.  One group meets on every other Tuesday and the other group meets every other Friday.  Mrs. Daigle was asked to reserve this room for January 28^th, 2022, for the next 5-Town Joint Meeting date.  Mrs. Pschirrer said it is the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains.  They meet twice a month.  Mrs. Downing noted they were meeting outside but have now moved into the Town Hall.  Ms. Mayberry would like clarity on their meeting dates.    

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Chair of the Selectboard, Cheryl Mayberry, be authorized to sign the Troop/Group Sponsorship Agreement for their meetings to be held in the Walpole Town Hall.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

E & W Salvage:  Ms. Mayberry reported a complaint was received about a property on the Walpole Valley Road.  There is concern about deterioration of the fence.  There was an agreement that the fence needed to be in good condition to hide some of the vehicles and other items but that was thirty years ago.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted they have a very up-to-date license.  Mrs. Pschirrer wondered if the bright light is one of the new LED lights recently installed.  It is not clear from the complaint if the light is a streetlight or the property owner’s light.  Mrs. Pschirrer will write a letter to E & W Salvage to let them know there has been a complaint about their fence; the letter will be brought to the meeting next week for approval and signatures.  Mrs. Downing advised that Liberty Utilities is still in the process of changing the streetlights.  Ms. Mayberry noted there is concern about some lights in North Walpole being so bright.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to recess this Selectboard meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved at 7:01 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:05 PM.         

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Selectboard will enter into a Non-Public Selectboard Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel and (c) Reputations.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:46 PM.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of November 4, 2021, will be sealed. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, motion was approved.

ADJOURNMENT:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to adjourn this Selectboard meeting.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Ms. Mayberry asked if there was any additional discussion.  There was none.  With Mrs. Pschirrer and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the meeting adjourned at 7:47 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

                                                              

COVID by the Numbers-November 12 Edition

There is a wicked lot of COVID out there.  And right here.

I wish I could give you hard data comparisons over time, but none of the New Hampshire numbers are particularly reliable right now.

Let’s start with vaccinations.  Last week, NH DHHS announced that their records on the vaccination status of Granite Staters might not be accurate.  Why is that?  Well, you all remember when the vaccine first became available.  You could only register for an appointment using the federal VAMS system, or by calling 211.  It was complicated, and tedious, and did not work very well.  We used VAMS because NH, alone of all the states, did not have its own vaccine registry.  But we were promised that a brand new shiny registry run by the state would be up and running in a week or so.  It took three month or so, but there was VINI, and it was certainly more user-friendly than VAMS.  Then, as vaccines became more widely available, they were accessed in different ways.  You could still sign up through the state web site, in which case, VINI would capture your information directly.  Or you could sign up with the local Walgreens, or just stand in line at the pharmacy in the larger supermarkets.  The problem is that the reporting system for these entities to get information to the state turns out to be less than seamless.  Among other issues, there is confusion in the data reporting about which shots are being given to first-time recipients, and which are boosters. We were told at a recent press conference that the CDC was the best source for accurate information on vaccination rates in NH.  The trouble is that the CDC web site reports some information and gives a link to click on for details.  That link leads back to…the NH dashboards.

The good news is that people are getting shots, and now children as young as 5 are getting shots.

So what about what I normally report, which is infection rates?  Well, it appears that a few weeks back, there was an issue with the reporting system that providers used to report cases to NH DHHS.  For over a week, there was spotty reporting of data, or no data at all.  Since then the reporting has resumed, but every day, NH DHHS releases The Number of New Cases.  The current issue is that the number of new cases is just the number of cases reported the day before.  But if you read the news updates, they then release revised numbers for the day before that, and the day before that.  As an example, on November 10, NH DHHS reported 736 new cases for November 8^th.  But the news release also listed 18 cases from Friday, Nov. 5, 33 new cases from Saturday, Nov. 6, 13 new cases from Sunday, Nov. 7 and 1 new case for Monday, Nov. 8.  So the totals for those past days all have to be recalculated.

The problem is that it is unclear, from the numbers, whether the sites that compare infection rates by state and county across the county go back and add in those extra numbers from days past.  Possibly not, as one site regularly has lower rates for the state as a whole than the rates for the individual counties combined.

All of which is just a long explanation of why I have avoided reporting for a while.  But we do know there is a wicked lot of COVID out there, so I want you to know that.  Here are the best numbers I can find.

First, hospitalizations are up.  There were 193 patients hospitalized for COVID at the beginning of November.  The November 10 number was 244.  Back on April 1, that number was 81.

If you look at the town maps (all of which have warnings that some map details may not be available) Walpole has 14 currently active reported cases, up from 8 on November 2^nd, but down from 17 on November 8. There were 15 new cases reported in Walpole from November 1 to November 10.  That compares with 22 new cases in Walpole for the entire month of October, and a high of 13 active cases reported on October 18.

In Cheshire County, there are 227 active cases reported as November 10, up from 215 at the beginning of the month.  That number is still down from the active cases in October, which peaked at 280 on October 21. Currently, we appear to have the lowest infection rate in the state.  Bear in mind that Sullivan county appears to have the highest.

Statewide, there are 5455 active cases reported currently.  This is a number not seen since some time in January.  And COVID deaths are on the rise again as well.  49 new deaths have been reported since the beginning of the month.  5 of these are deaths from earlier months just recently confirmed to be COVID related.  3 were from Cheshire County.  As always, we mourn their passing, and grieve for their families and friends.

So the bottom line is…well, you know the bottom line.  Get vaccinated if you are able, make careful choices about indoor gatherings, wear a mask when you are not certain, wash your hands, and stay safe.

~Rep. Lucy McVitty Weber
217 Old Keene Road
Walpole  NH  03608

Cell: 603-499-0282
lwmcv@comcast.net

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

Recording: Secretary Marilou Blaine. This meeting is being recorded. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the December 2021 meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions.

Call to order: Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7 pm.

Minutes: The October 12, 2021 minutes and the October 26, 2021 Workshop Minutes were approved as presented. A motion was made by Mr. Marcom, seconded by Mr. Perron and approved by the rest of the board.

New Business:

Liberty Utilities: Routine Maintenance on Scenic Roads (Farnum and Old Drewsville Roads).

Heather Green, Program Manager, Vegetation and Inspections, Request for a Public Hearing in December.  Ms. Green cannot attend the November meeting but Jeff will call her about the request.  

Ms. Green’s response via email. “Per our discussion earlier, Liberty Utilities has cycle vegetation work scheduled to occur in the (Walpole) area in the next 2 years. Some of this work is along scenic roads. We are requesting a public hearing on Dec. 14th in regards to this work. As I understand this request must made at the Nov. 9th Planning Board Meeting and an email will suffice for what you need to present at the November meeting. Please let me know if this is something we can schedule. Thank you.”

The Planning Board received a copy of the minutes of the Select Board meeting dated October 28, 2021 regarding maintenance work that Liberty Utilities would be doing in the town regarding tree trimming and removal.

Mr. Dalessio said a representative from Liberty Utilities came to a Select Board meeting and gave a presentation and the members of the Board were concerned because in previous routine maintenance cycles some trees were “butchered” according to Mr. Dalessio, He said the cut on the Drewsville Common was a heavy cut and according to the minutes “they ended up with some very ugly trees. The Select Board asked that the trees on town property be “gently cut” in the upcoming cycle. The Select Board also came to an agreement that Ms. Green would meet during daylight hours with someone from the town to discuss the type of trees that should be on the Walpole Common. Some dead trees are going to be removed and the Board would like an idea of what kind of trees should replace them.

Mr. Marcom made a motion to hold a public hearing in December for Liberty Utilities, Mr. Perron seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Storage Units approval letter

Jim Phippard, the agent on the recent Storage Units proposal, had a concern about one condition in the approval letter. One of the conditions called for inspections of the propane connections by the Walpole Fire Department. This was not a problem. But the condition that this must be done before issuing a building permit is a problem. He wrote in an email “I cannot get the propane installed and connected, ready for inspection, without a building permit.” Mr. Dalessio said that in the future it will state on the building permit that the applicant must submit a copy of the state inspection form of the propane tank. If the applicant does not submit a copy of the state inspection form of a propane installation, the Select Board will put write a cease and desist letter on the project.

Fees for applications

The Board voted to raise the application fees because the cost of legal notices in a local newspaper have risen so that the amount of the application fee is equal to the cost of the notice the town has to pay the paper. Included in that fee should be a $25 cost for the secretary to record these documents with Cheshire County Registry of Deeds. The reason the secretary records the documents is because in the past some applicants who have received approval for one of the above applications has neglected to record their document with the Registry of Deeds. These means the new boundary lines or changes made to a property are not recorded and the town’s assessor, Avitar, doesn’t know to include them in its yearly assessment of properties. The costs will now be $175 for a subdivision application, a lot line adjustment application and a site plan review application. The cost for sendingout certified/return receipt letters was also raised from $8 to $10. The motion to approve the raise in fees for applications and certified letters to abutters was made by Mr. Perron, seconded by Mr. Marcom and approved by the rest of the board.

Mr. Perron suggested tracking the cost for legals and keeping track of the cost of certified/return receipt letters. 

Discuss Goals and Objectives already included in Land Use Analysis Plan in the Master Plan and put them in the new Implementation Plan.

Since so many Planning Board members were missing, this item on the agenda will be taken up next month. 

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

WPB Secretary

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

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

The First Congregational Church of Walpole will be having their annual pie and other baked goods sale on Wednesday, November 24th from 9-12 at the Walpole Post Office. 

Yes, the date is correct. The meeting is Wednesday this week due to the holiday on Thursday. Public hearing at 6:00, followed by the meeting. – Lil

Starting at 6 PM in the Town Hall

SELECTBOARD MEETING

PUBLIC HEARING: TO REQUEST COMMENT REGARDING SNOWMOBILE USE OF ALL CLASS VI ROADS

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

• Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $64,523.40 for checks issued 11/12/21

PAYROLL

• Payroll Register totaling $26,680.37 dated 11/12/21 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $5,090.05

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

• Selectboard Meeting Minutes – November 4, 2021
• Non-Public Session Selectboard Minutes – November 4, 2021

COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Walpole Fire District Monthly Meeting – October 6, 2021
• Safety Committee Meeting – October 20, 2021
• Conservation Commission – November 1, 2021

OLD BUSINESS

• E & W Salvage Letter
• Reservoir Dam Meeting

Pending Further Actions

Vilas Bridge, Houghton Brook Bridge, Generators, Three Phase Power for Industrial Park Drive and Bensonwood, Arborclimb

NEW BUSINESS

• 2021 Equalization Municipal Assessment Date Certificate
• Monadnock Region Rail Trail Collaborative

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

WALPOLE GATEWAY

INFORMATIONAL WALK AND TALK

Come out for a short walk to learn more about the Walpole Gateway property with Town Forester Alex Barrett (Longview Forestry) and the Walpole Conservation Commission.

Saturday, November 13

11:00 AM

Meet at the kiosk on Walker Road. In case of inclement weather, we will move to the Town Hall for a discussion only.