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 12th, 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
The Walpolean 
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