The Walpolean

Present: Chair Jeff Miller, Vice-Chair Dennis Marcom, Clerk Jason Perron, Joanna Andros, Bill Carmody, Select Board Representative Steve Dalessio, alternate Travis Adams. Absent: Jeff Harrington and Trevor MacLachlan. Others at the meeting were Ray Boas, Surveyor Joe DiBernardo, Tom Winmill, Chad Branon from Fieldstone Land Consultants and Michael Atkins, an attorney from Peterborough, was at the meeting representing NGP Management and Dunkin.

Recording: Secretary Marilou Blaine. This meeting was recorded. These minute are unapproved and will be reviewed at the November 2022 meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions.

Call to order: Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7 pm. He asked Mr. Adams to sit in for the absent board member and Mr. Adams agreed.

Minutes: Mr. Marcom made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Mr. Perron seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Old Business: Fieldstone Land Consultants will present the final site plan for the Dunkin – Tax Map 12, Lot 13-3, Route 12. Civil Engineer Chad Branon was the presenter.

Mr. Branon began by pointing out on the plat a dedicated slip lane turning into the Dunkin property. To the east of the property is Avanru Development Unit 2C. To the south is a pond and wetlands area. Across the street is a farm stand and farmland. To the north is Dollar General. The land is known as and recorded as Lot 13-3, Condo Unit 2A. It is 1.42 acres.

Mr. Branon said Customers will drive in and may go into the parking lot for the restaurant. There are about 20 parking spaces with two dedicated to handicap drivers. Another parking area is in the southeast corner with eight parking spaces for employees. The restaurant has seating for 20 people, restrooms and an ordering/pickup area. The location of the parking lot restaurant will allow people to not have to come back to Route 12 but customers may leave via Red Barn Lane. The important thing, Mr. Branon said, is that Dunkin has access from Route 12 and Red Barn Lane.

If you do not choose to go to the restaurant, there is a perimeter driveway around the building to the driver-thru, which is at the rear or north end of the building. From there customers may go out onto Route 12 or go around the perimeter road to Red Barn Lane. The dumpster in the rear of the building will be enclosed and screened. One propane tank is proposed on the back side of the building where the dumpster is. Lighting will be downward and there will be plenty of vegetation around the building as well as by the parking lot, pond and green space. Mr. Branon named a number of plants – red maple, hydrangea, lilac. Signage will consist of STOP, Do Not Enter, and handicap signs as well as arrows.

DOT wanted two access points and there are two – Route 12 and Red Barn Lane, Branon repeated. Fieldstone worked with DOT to address turning into the site and leaving from Red Barn Lane. There is also a sidewalk in front of the building. The entire area will not be paved. There is a retention basin above the pumping station that will be built and it will have a spillway. Sewer and water are along the north side of the building. Stormwater will go to the pond; culverts will be placed in the area going out to Red Barn Lane. Fieldstone still has to get a letter from the fire chief and water and sewer department.

 Branon submitted a letter from DOT Office No. 4 in Swanzey. Fieldstone talked to the highway department about restriping the lanes and were told it was not needed. So, according to Branon, the state is resolved the application is certainly in a good place to go forward. Branon said the company consulted with a traffic engineer to work on improvements to allow through traffic. An entrance has always been proposed there, he said. But Dunkin has found a way to have two entrances and two exits. The area has been researched and it is no more a hazardous exit than any all along Route 12. Mr. Branon gave the chair, Mr. Miller, a letter from DOT Office 4.

On November 8, 2022 Avanru divided the property into land condominium units. All the property, which is still owned by Avanru Development Group, is one lot but divided into four units – Unit 1 is delineated as wetlands and unbuildable. Then there are Unit 2 A, Unit 2B and Unit 2C.  Unit 2A is 1.43 acres, Unit 2B is .92 acres and Unit 2 C is .98 acres. Individual companies such as Dunkin will have rights on Unit 2A if their site plan is approved. According to the condo rules, all units share Route 12 as its frontage. This designation of the property being condominium land units was done without Avanru coming to the Planning Board to get permission and according to Surveyor Joe DiBernardo it was because Avanru’s  counsel said Avanru did not have to go to the Planning Board. While unit 2A will have one business on that unit, other units may have multiple businesses.

 Mr. Dalessio said the Dunkin lot may have proper setbacks, frontage and green space, but what about the condo lots that will be coming up. This may not be true. There was a lot of discussion back and forth about condo lot and there are questions about the definitions of condo lots and subdivision regulations. Mr. Miller said that town counsel has been contacted on the matter.

Ms. Andros asked Mr. Branon three questions. What are the proposed hours of operation? Mr. Branon said he wasn’t sure if it was the same as the Dunkin in the Jiffy Mart but he would have the information available at the hearing. 

What kind food will the restaurant serve? The standard – bagels donuts, breakfast, sandwiches, Mr. Branon said.

Will the landscaping be shown with the building at the next meeting? Yes, Branon said. It goes along the west side of building, east side, curb and in the green space.

A motion by Mr. Marcom was moved and seconded by Mr. Perron to hold a public hearing in December to approve the subdivision/condo lots lot units proposed by Avanru Development Group. The motion carried.

Mr. Perron made a motion to have a public hearing in December on the Dunkin site plan. Mr. Marcom seconded the motion and the motion carried. Mr. Branon said he knows the lot is a condo lot and they are happy to submit to the setback, frontage conditions, and green space of the site plan.

  New Business:

Lot Line Adjustment: Surveyor Joe DiBernardo submitted an application for a proposed lot line adjustment between Dale and Bonita Woodward and Judith Epstein on Flat and School Street. Tax Map 19, Lots 53-1 and 54. Lot 53-1 to gain 0.01 acres from 54.

Mr. Perron made a motion to hold a public hearing for a Lot Line Adjustment in December. Mr. Marcom seconded the motion and the motion carried. 

Petitions for the Warrant

Mr. Tom Winmill brought two petitions to the Planning Board that he would like to go on the warrant for the townspeople to vote on by ballot.

The first was:

To the Board of Selectmen: We, the undersigned registered voters of the Town of Walpole, hereby petition the Board of Selectmen pursuant to NH 675:4, Method of Enactment by Petition, to insert the following article into the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting to be held in 2023:

 To see if the Town will vote to amend ARTICLE XIV of the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Walpole, New Hampshire, to read as follows: Penalty Any violation of this Ordinance shall be made punishable by a fine to the full extent permitted under the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, Title LXIV (64) Planning and Zoning, or any successor statute as may then be in effect.

Mr. Winmill stated that currently the ordinance fine is one time only. The ordinance reads the fine “of not more than $100 for each day such violation my exist after the conviction date; provided, however, that the total fines imposed for any single violation shall not exceed $500.” The state penalty is tougher and it’s a payment each day.

His second petition article was “To see if the Town will vote to amend ARTICLE VI, Section B, 3 of the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Walpole, New Hampshire, to read as follows: Shops, restaurants, and other retail buildings not exceeding 40,000 square feet in gross floor area. For this purpose a (1) “restaurant” is defined as an eating establishment designed to allow patrons to eat on-site at tables, booths, or a counter, including diner, café and cafeteria, excluding an establishment that provides food for off-site consumption, except as incidental to on-site service retail sales, and (2) “retail building” is defined as one that offers the sale of goods, foods, and personal services directly to the consumer for use and consumption off-site, excluding any drive-through service, free-standing retail stand, new and used car sales and service, and trailer and manufactured housing sales and service.”

Mr. Winmill cited towns such as Wolfeboro, Hanover, Plaistow and others that already had an article like this in their zoning ordinance. People who didn’t want to sign this petition said because it was discriminatory, Mr. Winmill said. When it came to a place such as Diamond Pizza, they could either be grandfathered, Mr. Winmill said, or have to get a variance.

 Mr. Perron said he found the language of the petition confusing. Mr. Dalessio said suppose he had a small lot on Route 12 and wanted to open a small shop. This article would not allow him to do that. This article is discriminatory.

Mr. Winmill suggested the Planning Board work with the Zoning Board to improve the Zoning Ordinance and bring it up to date. He said it isn’t working for our town.

Adjournment:

Mr. Perron made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Marcom seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

WPB Secretary

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

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

Thanks to Lucy for sharing this information. Numbers yes, but not COVID – Lil

Looking for Election Results?

Because of some posts on social media, I decided to take a look at voter turnout from Tuesday. The Secretary of State’s web site is not the easiest to navigate, so here is an overview of the numbers in my new State Representative district, Cheshire District 05—Surry and Walpole,

The statewide turnout for the last midterm election, in 2018, was 580,214. If I recall correctly, the Secretary of State predicted that turnout this year statewide would top 590,000. Actual turnout was 626,823. 451Surry voters went to the polls; 1893 ballots were cast in Walpole. By comparison, Surry voters cast 397 ballots in 2018; in Walpole the number was 1776.

Midterm numbers are always less than the presidential year turnout. In 2020, 819,499 ballots were cast statewide; 567 of those in Surry and 2349 in Walpole.

Here is the link to election results is below for those who want to take a deeper dive into the numbers, and the results for each individual candidate.

https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/elections/election-results

For those who want a quick reference for the more locally elected officials, here are ours:

State Senator:  Donovan Fenton 

State Representative, Cheshire District 5:  Lucy Weber

State Representatives, Cheshire District 15:  Amanda Elizabeth Toll and Renee Monteil

Sheriff: Eli Rivera

County Attorney:  Chris McLaughlin

County Treasurer:  Chuck Weed

Register of Deeds:  Anna Tilton

County Commissioner:  Jack Wozmak is completing his 4 year term; Bob Englund has been elected to the two year term.

As of this writing, the state Senate has remained steady at 14 Rs and 10 Ds.  The state House is in an historic position.  As of this writing, there are 203 Rs and 197 Ds.  Many recounts are scheduled for next week.  Think your vote does not count?  The closest race has the Democrat losing to the Republican by 1 vote; the second closest has the Dem losing by 4 votes.  There are numerous races which have been decided by fewer than 10 votes.  Stay tuned.

Best part of hanging out at the polls on Tuesday?  Seeing how many parents brought their children with them to the polls.  So glad the next generation of voters is already being introduced to the election process.

And thank you to all the election workers who once again did a great job making the election process run smoothly.

~Representative Lucy Weber

LWMcV@comcast.net

603-499-0282

Members Present:  Alicia Flammia (Chair), John Peska, Peter Palmiotto, Lew Shelley, Laura Hayes, Steven Dumont,    

Members Absent:  France Menk

Alternates Present:  Wendy Grossman

Visitors Present:  Cheryl Mayberry (Selectboard liaison), Jean Kobeski (Recording Secretary)

Call to Order:  Alicia called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  The meeting was recorded.

Review and Approval of Minutes:  Peter moved to accept the October 3, 2022, minutes as written.  Laura seconded, and all voted to approve. 

Public Business

Report from the Chair:  Alicia reported that she talked to Christian Gowdy about the Ballam Farm.  He said he is working with NRCS to keep the hedgerows open along the edges of the fields.  Because he is certified organic he cannot use pesticides, so he is mowing to keep the invasives down.  Laura asked who owns the property.  Alicia answered that Gowdys own it and the town has a conservation easement on it.

Alicia announced she will not seek the position of Chair of the Commission for next year. She wants to remain a member but not serve as Chair. She asked commissioners to think about who would like to take over the role.

Treasury:​​Conservation Savings Acct.​ $191,583.69

​​​​​       Forestry       $23,449.01

​​​​​      Gateway         $1,983.56

​​                 Mason Non-Expendable       $18,003.20

​​​​ Mason Expendable     $383,487.87

New Business

2023 Budget: This year, taking out the $50,000 for consulting work that was not expended but expected to possibly be used in 2023, there was $8,473 budgeted but just $6,624 used. 

The Easement Monitoring Committee has discussed the possibility of hiring an intern to help with the monitoring.  Alicia asked Cheryl how the inclusion of a paid intern should appear on the 2023 budget. Cheryl said they could level fund, create a line item for the intern, and move money from another line item they do not expect to expend.  Peter stated a stipend of $2500 would be a reasonable amount for 225 hours of work over an academic year. Wendy also reminded commissioners they will receive the $1000 bond refund, which can be put back into the general fund.  Peter moved to create a line item in the 2023 budget for an intern to help develop a systematic easement tracking and monitoring program.  John seconded the motion, and all voted in favor. The motion carried.

Steven asked if the $1500 line item for Rail Trail maintenance would be added. Alicia said she already added that to the budget, asking for extra money, not level funding

Old Business

Hooper Forest:  Alicia has not received an update from Alex. Wendy asked if hiking and biking trails would be marked before cutting begins.  Alicia said trees to be cut are marked, as are clearly visible trails. Alex plans to have a public walkabout to explain the work to be done, and at that time, anyone who uses the trails can suggest alternate plans.  Peter said he walked the cut with Alex two weeks ago with his forest management class and said they did pretty good job.  They went to High Point where Alex suggested thinning and creating an overlook.

Lew was in touch with Rick Brackett of the Conservancy, which is planning to do some logging on the Skofield property.  They are interested to know what the Commission’s plans for logging the Hooper Forest are for timing and how the road landings might be shared.

Lew also mentioned that Rick found trails being leaf blown on that property and the Conservancy doesn’t want trails leaf blown on their properties.  He hopes to be in contact about the trails on that land, as well, and to know more about who has made them and maintains them.

Commission Website: Alicia said Kelli is waiting for pictures and content.  A few commissioners said they have had some difficulty adding comments. Steven suggested a new deadline of the December meeting for comments, pictures, and other information.  Steven said he would start writing a piece about the Trail Subcommittee.  Alicia said other information can be found on Google Drive;  Kelli has access to that. Alicia will invite Kelli to the January meeting, after Kelli has had a chance to see comments.

Other Business 

Trail Subcommittee Report:  Steven, Kara, and Becky cleared the Fanny Mason Trail. France took pictures.  It still needs some clearing near the old shed and parking area on the other side. 

Lew cut the big tree at the Mill Pond.

Wendy said she and Will walked the Rail Trail, and it looks good.  She said the Snowmobile Club has chainsawed two trees and Lew reports they brush hogged the trails last weekend.

Steven said a maintenance plan for next year will be discussed and scheduled at the next subcommittee meeting.

Easement Monitoring:  Alicia said the committee (Alicia, John, Laura, and Peter) met before the regular Commission meeting.  It was decided that 14 properties will be monitored each year using a template that has been created.  Four of the properties need to be monitored with other organizations’ forms;  they will start with those. They discussed hiring an intern to help grab all the information about the property.  They will check with Sarah Downing annually to see if there has been any change to the properties (ownership). If not, they will use existing paperwork as a starting point.  The committee will come up with a scope of work for the intern and advertise it.

Reservoir Dam:  Cheryl stated that it is her understanding they are looking into repairing the dam. The cost difference between repairing the dam and taking it down is not significant and they have secured 100% of the cost.

Other

Laura announced that the Hooper Institute Board needs 3-4 new members.

Cheryl has been asked for information about hiking, biking, and especially climbing trails behind the old Jiffy Mart.  There was a discussion about the many “unofficial” trails that exist and who owns the property.  The only trail the Commission has mapped is the Table Rock Trail.  Lew told Cheryl if she knows someone who wants to know more about climbing in that area, she can refer that person to Lew, who will direct them to the climbers he knows who climb there.

Lew announced that the new Fish and Game officer has moved into town.

The next meeting will be on Monday, December 5, 2022.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jean Kobeski, Recording Secretary

** These minutes are in draft form until approved at the December 5, 2022 meeting.

First Congregational Church of Walpole, UCC

15 Washinghton St.

This Sunday, at 10:00 a.m. we will honor the service and sacrifice of veterans in our annual Veterans Sunday. As in the past, this worship service will be arranged around poems by combat veterans. There will be poems from the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Names of many Walpole veterans, living and deceased will be read at the end of the service, followed by the playing of Taps, honoring veterans who are now deceased. 

Present:  Walpole:  Steve Dalessio, Peggy Pschirrer, Cheryl Mayberry; Alstead:  Joel McCarty, Joseph Levesque, Matthew Saxton; Acworth:  Kathi Bradt; Charlestown:  Jeremy Wood, Nancy Houghton, Bill Rescsanski; Jean Kobeski (Recording Secretary)

Call to Order:  Steve Dalessio called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. This meeting was recorded.  Steve Dalessio welcomed the selectboard members and asked them to introduce themselves.

Approval of Minutes:  Jeremy Wood moved to accept the May 28 and August 5, 2022,minutes as written.  Joel McCarty seconded the motion, and all voted in favor. Motion carried.

Perambulations:  Prior to the meeting, the Charlestown Selectboard asked that perambulations of the town lines, which are by RSA to be done every seven years, be put on the agenda. Mr. Dalessio asked that they lead that discussion.  Jeremy Wood stated they are starting with the Acworth/Unity line, but it is difficult finding the markers. He said the last time the survey was done was in 1797 by the Masons, though the Conservation Commission has done some boundary marking.  Mr. Wood said they will most likely use a surveyor, who has told them the markings left by the Masons are probably the most accurate.

Mr. Dalessio said he did a survey when he first got on the board. They carried over the work that was done seven years prior, believing the lines hadn’t changed. Ms.Houghton said there is a discrepancy in Charlestown.  Mr. Wood explained that a gentleman purchased property with uncertain boundaries and wants clarification of his property lines. 

Joel McCarty said he might be able to help by recommending a surveyor, whom he has used in the past. According to Mr. McCarty the surveyor was quick, efficient, and inexpensive because he used a GPS system.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked the name of the surveyor; Mr. McCarty did not readily know his name but will email it. He also suggested that, as a five-town consortium, they could afford to hire someone and make a multi-year project out of this. Mrs. Pschirrer agreed this could be a good idea. The group discussed how rough maps, particularly those used by FEMA, can and have caused problems for towns.   

Fuel Oil, Gas, Shelters, Housing Assistance this Winter:  Matt Saxton introduced the topic of the high price of heating oil and gas this winter. He explained that a postcard was sent to all Alstead addresses giving residents needing assistance with oil and electricity the phone number and website address of SW Community Services. It also states that anyone who wishes to do so may make a tax-deductible donation to a fund for Alstead residents only.  Mr. Saxton said that could add an additional layer of resources for those in need. He said they are very worried about carbon monoxide and house fires this winter.

Mrs. Pschirrer stated the welfare officer in Walpole has already received several calls since September for oil, gas, and apartments.  In Walpole there are no available places to move. Jeremy Wood said their welfare office got a notice stating there would be no housing assistance this winter.  Mrs. Pschirrer said there is state money available for rental assistance, and the welfare officer has referred many people to the state. Mr. Saxton said that the state has said that anyone receiving up to 75% of the median income will qualify for assistance. He also said that SWCS is understaffed. They ask people to leave messages.  They will not run out of money, but processing applications for assistance will be very slow. 

Mrs. Pschirrer asked if anyone has shelters in their towns; none do. Walpole’s closed last year.  Mr. Wood said Charlestown goes to Claremont for temporary housing. Mr.Saxton explained that they lost renters to Keene because, with the price of gas, people could not afford to travel to Keene for a job that paid minimum wage. A discussion continued about subsidized housing and how people pay for it.  They also talked about the need for workforce housing.

FEMA:  Steve Dalessio asked how the towns are doing with their FEMA funding.  Charlestown has received money.  Langdon and Walpole have received some money. Alstead has not. Ms. Bradt said all site visits were done a month ago in Acworth, but they don’t expect money before the end of the year because of the lengthy processing procedures. 

Reservoir Dam:  Joel McCarty ask about the status of the Reservoir Dam.  Steve Dalessio responded that they have been approved for funding.  No formal decision has yet been made, but the dam most likely will be repaired rather than taken out. Ms.Bradt asked about the funding. Mr. Dalessio explained that the state had $15 million for dam repair, $10 million of which was spent on state dams.  That left $5 million for the next level.  Because the Reservoir Dam is designated a high hazard dam, Walpole was approved for roughly $800,000. Mr. Dalessio continued to explain problems with the dam and repairs that need to be made.  He said it will probably be repaired because it would cost roughly the same as removing it, and it has recreational value for the town. 

Other

Vilas Bridge:  Mr. Dalessio reported that engineering work continues to remove the waste line under the Vilas Bridge. A bypass line will be put in.

Brownfields Project:  The Brownfields site is just about finished in Walpole.  Mrs. Pschirrer reported that drainage will be done this fall but paving will wait until spring.  Southwest Region Planning Commission (SWRPC) paid for the testing and helped write the EPA grant. Ransome Consulting has done most of the work. The Walpole Foundation has purchased two double electric charging stations for the parking area.

Selectboard Rules and Procedures:  Kathi Bradt asked if each town has adopted a set of rules and procedures for selectboards.  She was directed to contact each town’s selectboard office for a copy of their documents.

Bridge Repair in Alstead:  Alstead has secured funding to repair two small bridges.  An engineering firm has been secured. The money is administered by the DOT.  Mr. McCarty would be happy to provide the name of the man in charge of the program.

There was a brief discussion about town budgeting and pay increases.

The next 5-town meeting will be held on January 27, 2023, in Langdon.

The meeting adjourned at 5:34.

Respectfully submitted,

Jean Kobeski, Recording Secretary

These minutes are in draft form until approved at the January 27, 2023, meeting.

Today is Election Day. Polls are open from now until 7:00 PM.

Tomorrow phone calls stop and commercials go back to normal.

Drive-by Food Collection

First Congregational Church

 Sat. Nov 12 —.10 am to 12:30

Fall Mt. Food Shelf Thanksgiving baskets