The Walpolean

by WalpolePlayers

Ticket sales are in full swing, so get yours now! You don’t want to miss this holiday classic, performed live right here in Walpole!

The Walpole Players are excited to be returning to the Helen Miller Theater in the Walpole Town Hall with a live holiday performance of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play by Joe Landry. This well-loved holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast, with a small ensemble of actors playing dozens of characters as the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds until one fateful Christmas Eve.

There will be two performances: Friday, Dec. 17, and Saturday, Dec. 18, both at 7:00 PM, with doors opening at 6:15. The audience will be seated in dinner theater style and should bring their own food and drink. Seating is limited, with six persons to a table and a total of ten tables each night, so make your plans now to attend! Why not get the whole family or a group of friends together and reserve an entire table just for your group?

Tickets can be purchased and table reservations made at Galloway Real Estate at 47 Main Street in Walpole. Tickets are $15 each ($10 under age 12). Please email WalpolePlayers@gmail.com or call (603) 756-2535, for more information or to make reservations over the phone.

For the safety of our audience members, actors, and our community at large, everyone in attendance will be required to wear a mask upon entering the building. Once you are seated at your table, you may remove your mask, but your mask must be worn if you leave your seat at any time for any reason. We also request that audience members be fully vaccinated. We will not be requiring proof of vaccination status, but we will be checking temperatures at the door. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4°F or higher will be asked to leave, and a full refund will be given

HOLIDAY COOKIES by PRE-ORDER

Our famous variety of homemade cookies from the folks at St. John’s Church are available this year by ordering our prepackaged boxes.

Whether to be enjoyed by you or given as a hostess gift, we hope you will partake of our holiday fundraiser. Thank you.

1. The Adult Box with a wide variety of more delicate cookies for $12 per 1 lb. box.

2. The Kids/Hefty eaters Box with a smaller variety of more “familiar” cookies for $10 per 1 lb. box.

E. Plum pudding at $12. (ONLY 4 LEFT)!!

Place your order online at orders@stjohnswalpole.org.

Order by Saturday, December 11th

Pickup on Saturday morning, December 18th from 9-12

St. John’s (Elm and Westminster St.)

Cash or Check

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

Staff Present:                Sarah Downing (Manager of Administration); Richard Kreissle (Administrator of Finance); Justin Sanctuary (Chief Police Department); Michael Rau (Road Agent/Highway Department); Ben Hoy (Recycling Director); Kraig Harlow (Recreation Director); Helen Dalbeck (Hooper Institute Executive Director); Jane Malmberg (Library Director); Meghan Hansson (Town Clerk/Tax Collector); Regina Borden (Recording Secretary)

CALL TO ORDER:  Ms. Mayberry called this Staff Meeting to order at 5:00 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.  This meeting was being recorded.

Walpole Town Library: Mrs. Malmberg, Library Director, submitted this November 2021 Report:

Outreach:

The blanket squares are coming in fast and furious – they have 58 so far.

Their North Walpole Open House was a success – they had 24 visitors, many of whom had not been in the branch since they reopened.  Many thanks to Susan Johnson, Deb Kelsey, Julie Rios and Peggy Pschirrer for their donations of time, banners, balloons and food.

They are once again a location for the Walpole Giving Tree.  Unfortunately, they are out of tags at this time, but folks can come in to leave a donation if they wish.

Programming:  Their November author talk with Bill Ranauro is this Thursday night at 6 pm.

Coming up in December is their Saturday book club, on December 11 at 9 am.  They will be reading books with a Jane Austen theme – Sense and Sensibility, as well as two modern retellings of that title by Joanne Trollope and Sonali Dev.  They will meet once a month with a different theme each time and a choice of 3-4 titles to read.

On December 10^th, they will be hosting an afternoon concert of Celtic Holiday Music with musician Jeff Snow at 4 pm.

Staff Development:  5 out of 7 of their staff have completed the online harassment training.  She anticipates that the other two will finish soon.

Building/Grounds:   They have ordered a replacement streetlamp for the front of the main library.  Tim Lester (board member) will coordinate with Houghton’s to have it installed once it arrives at the library.

They have been having issues with their front door – the spring in the handle appears not to be working making it very difficult to keep the door latched.  Brad Nash contacted Countryside who came out and took photos of the lock.  They are researching a replacement that is in keeping with the character of the current lock.  They might eventually have to replace the door with new safety requirements. 

They have been working with Barry Bellows to get an estimate for repair to their chimney which has been leaking into the office.

They were having trouble with water seeping into the book return in North Walpole.  They moved the return to the other side of the door where is it sitting on asphalt, not ground.  So far, so good.

Board of Trustees:   They currently have two open positions on the board:  Shirley Capron resigned after more than 50 years of dedicated service, and Jeanne Ramey moved out of state.  They have one candidate who is definitely interested in joining and another who is considering from North Walpole.

Friends’ Book Sale:  The book sale was a big success.  They made over $6,500 before expenses.  Many thanks to the Friends and their team of volunteers.

The Monthly Library Statistics – Bridge Memorial Library and the Monthly Library Statistics – North Walpole Library for October 2020 and October 2021 are available in the Selectboard Office.    

Hooper Institute:  Mrs. Helen Dalbeck, Executive Director, submitted this November 17, 2021, report.

School Programs and School Gardens:  They are really busy teaching in the schools and putting the gardens to bed for the winter.  The late fall harvest of carrots has been really fun at the North Walpole School and spinach, kale, arugula are sprouting and growing once again in the high tunnel.  She participated in a day-long event with the 6^th grade when they hosted “Natures Classroom” at the Middle School.

Outreach and Marketing:  November Clarion plus many Facebook posts, school newsletter, wreath making posters.

Facility and Land:  The building interior was inspected on 10/28.  She is thinking ahead to closing the building mid-December.  It takes some planning on her part as the Hooper Institute is her office and workspace.

Administration:  They are looking for new board members.  The HI Board has approved the budget for 2022 and the next step is to meet with the Hooper Trustees in December.

Special Events, Programs, Friends:  Wreath-making Dec 3 and Dec 4.  This year she could have as many as 20 wreath makers!  Twelve signed up.  Sign up soon if you wish to make one.

Development/Fundraising:  They have begun to plan for “The Year of the Hooper Institute” in 2022.

Police Department:  Police Chief Justin Sanctuary had submitted their Police Stats from October 16, 2021 through November 15, 2021.  At this meeting he handed out a new graph.  From their regular monthly stats report they took one piece of it and broke out the “Crimes Against A Person”.  Total number is 54.  This gives people a better understanding of the types of calls they receive.  The format is also different.  A question was on Welfare Checks.  Chief Sanctuary replied it is usually someone calling as they are concerned with the welfare of someone else.  They will go out to check on the house, apartment or car.  A lot are home checks when a neighbor might see mail piling up, etc.  They took back about 40 pounds of narcotics recently; usually they take back about 100 pounds a year.  They could end up doing a graph like this for each of the lines.  Mr. Dalessio asked if there is anything they could do pro-actively to reduce these numbers.  Chief Sanctuary noted this is all reactionary.  They cannot reduce this sort of thing.  Mr. Hoy mentioned getting reports of dumping in various parts of the town.  Mrs. Pschirrer had a complaint through the Conservation Commission about the dumping of trash near French Road.  They probably know where it is coming from but now some trash is going over to forest land that is under Conservation Commission observation.  She will send Chief Sanctuary some pictures.  Chief Sanctuary said they can try following-up on who is responsible.  Ms. Mayberry pointed out that they can put up a few signs about not dumping trash.   

Finance Office:  Mr. Richard Kreissle, Administrator of Finance, provided the following report dated November 18, 2021.

Tax Rate:  He has been working very intensely with their auditors to assist them in completing the audit so they can upload one remaining form to the Department of Revenue’s (DRA) portal.  In the seven years he has worked for the Town it never was this late.  Once accomplished, a preliminary rate is established and submitted to the board.  The board decides how much to allow for abatements in the coming year and how much of the unassigned fund balance to use.  These decisions are passed along to the DRA who finalizes the rate.  When they receive the final rate, the tax warrant can be executed and bills sent out.

Tax Anticipation Note (TAN):  Because of the lateness of the tax rate and the effects on their cash reserves resulting from repairs due to this summer’s flooding, the taking out of a tax anticipation note (TAN) is a possibility.  A TAN is a short-term note.  If they need to take out a TAN, they should be able to pay it back no later than January 31, 2022.  Ms. Mayberry noted it has taken six-plus months for the Town to get their audit.

Budget:  The meeting with department managers is set for Friday, December 10^th.  In addition to discussing their operating budget, discussion will be had about any individual warrant articles they wish to have.

Walpole Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s Office:  Mrs. Meghan Hansson submitted the following report dated November 16, 2021.

• Since the September meeting, Town Clerk collected about $77,042, out of which Walpole receives $57,154.  This involved 333 vehicle registrations.
• Over $10,000 worth of tax payments have arrived against a tax warrant that doesn’t exist.  Normally, this would have been deposited and applied to the property owner’s balance once the warrant came out.  Due to questions regarding pre-payment of taxes, the money (checks) is sitting in her office.
• Renovation began last week (attached were pictures) with removal of everything in the back half of the office.  The old carpets were ripped up in a day, and the first coat of paint was applied.  New flooring was applied, and the heavy safe was moved to a new location.  Also, the new window countertop was inserted on Saturday.  Due to a delay in the arrival of the cabinets that go under the countertops, the front of the office will not be completed until probably a couple of weeks from now.
• They are prepared to import the warrant as soon as it becomes available, print bills, and then mail them out to the property owners.

Walpole Recycling Center:  Mr. Ben Hoy, Recycling Director, submitted their November 2021 report.

Mr. Hoy was voted into the NRRA Northeast Resource Recovery Association Board of Trustees at the annual meeting for members last week.

The NRRA helps communities throughout New England find the best possible recycling solutions for each town, and brings communities together to get the best possible return on their town’s investment in recyclables.

The Walpole trash bag order is in progress from Boxes and Bags Unlimited in Lewiston, Maine.  They are hoping to receive the shipment in early December.  They shipped $10,000 in Walpole bags to Shaws this week, and have just enough bags remaining to get them through the next bag order.

They are digging out the boxes of bags that have been sitting for a long time in their overseas storage trailer, and finding that the boxes are getting some moisture damage from the temperature changes and poor ventilation within the trailer.

They are considering storing the Town of Walpole yellow bags across the street in their locked storage shed to free up room for more recyclable product on site at Walpole recycling, and prevent damage to their bag boxes going forward.

Tom Donovan has completed training in welding course through Keene Community Education at Filtrine, and is excited to begin needed welding projects at the recycling center.

He has been alerted to several major trash deposits around Walpole, from couches dumped on Old Drewsville Road to tires and trash rolled down the hill on Halls Crossing Road.  He is conducting a cleanup of Whitcomb Road on Wednesday, November 24^th at 8am starting at the recycling center.

Walpole Highway Department:  Mr. Mike Rau, Road Agent/Highway Department, submitted their November 2021 report.

• Elm Street:  Finally paved, and shouldering is scheduled to be complete this week.  The road will not be lined this year. 
• Summer Floods:  Repairs and the new culvert on Cold River Road that washed out is close to completion.  Crews have been working on paving in washouts on several roads before the asphalt plant closes for the season.  All other flood damage from this past summer will need to be put on hold until spring.  They have submitted all paperwork for the next step in receiving funding from FEMA and are still waiting to hear back from them to continue the lengthy process.
• Leaf Clean Up:  With most of the leaves down now, they will be out doing leaf clean up on town properties.
• Grading:  Dirt roads in town will be graded one last time for the year.
• Equipment:  Trucks and equipment have been getting prepped for winter use.  This includes winter tire change over, on spots, plow hook-ups, etc.  They want to be ready to go when winter does arrive.

Walpole Recreation:  Mr. Kraig Harlow, Recreation Director, submitted the following November 18, 2021, report.

Pool:

• Walpole Recreation just purchased a 10 ft. by 20 ft. shed from LaValley’s for $6,094 from the revolving fund to store recreation equipment.

Winter Basketball:

• They have roughly 50 children signed up for basketball from grades PK-6^th grade.
• The program generated about $1,350 through registration and signups.
• They currently have a one PK team, two 1^st grade teams, two 2^nd grade teams, two girls ¾ teams, two boys ¾ teams, and one girls 5/6 team.
• Games will be held on Saturday mornings at Walpole Elementary School from 10 am – 3 pm and at North Walpole School from 10 am – 3 pm.

• Practices will be held at North Walpole School for one hour between 5–6 pm and 6-7 pm.
• They have Diamond Pizza, McGill Woodworking, Houghton, and Craig Vickers Insurance sponsoring teams this season.

Hockey Rink:

• Walpole Recreation just purchased an EZ Ice Rink for Westminster St. Field for $4,311 from the revolving fund.  The rink is 30 ft x 60 ft and they can purchase additional rink walls to increase its size if it becomes heavily used.  Ms. Mayberry suggested he consider having broom hockey.

Mrs. Pschirrer reported that members of St. John’s Church discussed that they would like to participate in some way.  The church will be open so the bathrooms can be used.  They could have hot chocolate and other snacks providing they are kept informed of the open hours for the Ice Rink.    

Community Events:

• Currently, they do not have any community events scheduled until after January 2022.

Selectboard Office:  Mrs. Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, submitted their November 18, 2021, report.

Human Resources:

Many departments are working with their staff to complete the online Harassment Awareness Training module.  The deadline for completing the training is December 31, 2021.  Primex training certificates are to be sent to the Selectboard Office after the training module is completed.  For employees that do not have work or personal email addresses, there is a workaround to allow an employee to register using a faux email address.

Yearly Open Enrollment and coverage notice forms from Health Trust have been distributed.  If an employee wishes to change their coverage due to family changes or to move insurance to a spouse’s plan, a new enrollment form needs to be completed and sent to the Selectboard Office by December 17, 2021.

Health Insurance costs to the Town will be decreasing by 8.1% for 2022.  Rich Kreissle is working on the cost breakouts which will be announced in year-end benefit info packet to employees.  The packet will be distributed in December.  The Town is also expecting a Return of Surplus check which will also help lower healthcare costs for the Town and employees.

BCBS Anti-Trust Settlement:  A class action suit was brought against Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS).  The Town has completed an application to be part of the settlement.  Employees received a mailing from BCBS to apply.  To receive a payment, one must have filed a claim by November 5, 2021.  Per the settlement website, “The Final Approval Hearing has been held.  The Settlement is pending Court order.” 

Year-end Holidays:  The upcoming holidays or paid days off for benefitted employees include Thanksgiving, the Friday after Thanksgiving, December 24 (Christmas) and December 31^st (New Year’s Day).  When a holiday falls on a weekend, the holiday then moves to either the prior Friday or the following Monday.

Assessing:

Fall Tax Warrant:  Once the final tax rate is set, the fall tax warrant will be created and signed by the Selectboard as soon as possible.  The Tax Collector sets the final payment date based on when the tax bills can be posted in the mail.

Abatement, Veterans’ Tax Credit, Elderly Tax Credit and Solar System Exemption application forms can be accepted after the fall tax bills have posted in the mail.

Selectboard Meeting:  Mrs. Pschirrer announced that the Selectboard will be meeting next Wednesday, November 24^th at 8:30 AM because Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday.  They will be meeting a day early.

ADJOURNMENT:

Ms. Mayberry reminded the Department Managers that the Selectboard will be meeting with each of them individually on December 10^th, 2021.  This is to go over their proposed 2022 Budget and go over their “Wish List” for items for the Warrant.  She wished everybody has a “Happy Thanksgiving Day”.  This meeting was adjourned at 5:52 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

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

CALL TO ORDER:  Ms. Mayberry called this Selectboard meeting to order at 6:34 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.  Also present was Mrs. Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Mrs. Regina Borden, Recording Secretary.  There were seven members of the public in attendance.  Ms. Celeste Aumand, a Commissioner of the Village of North Walpole; two members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Mrs. Jan Leclerc and Mrs. Myra Mansouri and two members of the Old Home Days Committee, Mrs. Sable Westover and Ms. Kelley Hicks.  This meeting was being recorded.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

North Walpole Village Commissioner, Celeste Aumand:  Ms. Aumand took a walk around the North Walpole upper development as there were drainage problems around Hillcrest Road after they had the rain last Friday.  On Mountain View one yard was completely flooded.  On the other side of Hillcrest, it was full of water.  She suggested putting in a culvert to try to solve that problem.  There is no drainage at all up on the hill.  Ms. Mayberry asked if she was suggesting a dry well.  The other problem is that Mrs. Sophie Aumand who lives on Kilburn Street had called the Highway Department to tell them the culvert the Town had put in about fifteen years ago was collapsing.  They did a drive by but never stopped and said anything to her. Now she thinks they do not care; this is a concern of Ms. Celeste Aumand.  There are drainage problems on both sides of Hillcrest, and she would like to have that taken care of.  Ms. Mayberry noted it is all on the hill.  The Selectboard has talked about storm-water drainage issues, but they need some professional consultation.  On the southern side of Hillcrest, it runs down by Gary McCormick’s and onto Main Street.  The drainage there has been going on for a long time.  She is not that familiar with the other side of Hillcrest.  They can ask the Highway Department to look at the area.  They are still trying to find someone who is qualified and will help the Town address other drainage issues to make good decisions and improvements. If Ms. Celeste Aumand can identify the date Mrs. Sophie Aumand called the Highway Department that would be helpful so they could do a follow-up.  Mr. Dalessio advised that they need to bring in a consultant/engineering firm to look at that whole area.  Drainage should have been taken care of when the development started on the hill. Having the Highway Department put in another culvert or dry well is not going to solve the problem.  He does not know how much money or time it will take.  Ms. Aumand would not like to see it go on for two-to-three years.  Mr. Dalessio said unfortunately it might take at least that long; maybe a Warrant in 2023.  Ms. Mayberry felt they should at least look at the problem on Kilburn Street. 

Ms. Aumand said there is a serious problem with speeding vehicles especially from the School to Taylor Street.  As soon as she gets the plate numbers it will go to the police.  There are a lot of little kids in the neighborhood.  People walk the hill.  Ms. Mayberry said they can ask the police to check into that and increase patrols.  Mr. Dalessio felt if she could identify a specific time, it would be helpful for the police.           

Maplewood Circle Complaint:  Mrs. Leclerc was looking at their meeting minutes from 2008 when the Day Care application was being heard.  In looking at that she discovered a typographical error in the ordinance that has to do with parking in the commercial area.  She explained the discrepancy.  Parking is supposed to have a section of its own in the ordinance.  It became “Number 3” in the special exceptions in the current ordinance.  It applies to everyone, not only special exceptions.  Mrs. Leclerc displayed the error.  At the time it did not require a special exception or variance.  Mr. Dalessio pointed out that when they were establishing the day care that is the ordinance that should have been used.  He would never consider what she is referring to as a typo.  Mrs. Leclerc said it is wrong and was put there by mistake.

Mrs. Pschirrer quoted the meeting minutes, Mrs.  Robinson stated that six cars would fit in the driveway. The people stated there would not be a parking issue.  When this became an issue about two years ago during the winter there was land adjacent to the day care center that was supposed to be a parking area for all employees.  The only time she inspected it the lot was plowed and there were cars in that lot.  Mr. Dalessio drove by and there were three cars in the lot and another three cars were parked off the road.  It looks like they have enough room for their employees. He had Police Chief Sanctuary look at the area and he also felt the parking looked fine.  The school bus also goes down that road.  The neighbor across the road has concerns because she has problems backing out of her driveway especially when children are being dropped off and picked-up.  There was a consensus of the Selectboard to write a letter to the owner of the day care inviting her to attend a meeting either on Wednesday, November 24^th at 8:30 AM or Thursday, December 2^nd, at 6:30 PM.  Mr. Dalessio mentioned there are now two dumpsters on the property.  All dumpsters in the Town are supposed to be enclosed.          

Old Home Days Committee:  Mrs. Sable Westover and Ms. Kelley Hicks are members of the Old Home Days Committee and are present seeking to confirm dates and funding.  They handed in a notice advising that the dates of the event are June 22^nd to June 26^th, 2022.  1) Heather Ferland is sending a letter to Mr. Rich Kreissle requesting that the appropriate funds in the amount of $2,500 be distributed to the Old Home Day Committee for the purpose of paying expenses related to the festivities for the year 2022.  Mrs. Pschirrer advised there is $2,500 in the current 2021 budget.  An additional $2,500 will be put in the proposed 2022 Budget.  They will receive this payment after the Budget is approved by the voters in March 2022.  They also submitted a list as follows:  2) to lift the open alcohol container law on Friday, June 24^th from 5pm-11pm in the area of the parking lot of the Savings Bank of Walpole and along Westminster Street from Jakes to the Phone Building.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted they should request that this area be closed during this specified time on Friday, June 24^th.  3) The Town Highway Department provide and service daily trash cans along the Common and Westminster Street from Friday 6/24 until the end of Sunday 6/26.  4) Requesting the help of the Walpole Police Department/Fire Department with parade control and no parking signs for around the Common, Middle Street and part of Main in front of Burdick’s for Saturday, June 25^th.  5) Heather Ferland and Vicki Hurlburt have an upcoming site meeting with the Walpole Fire Department and Atlas Fireworks to discuss possible new location of Fireworks Display on Friday, June 24^th.  Ms. Mayberry asked that they have good communications with the Selectboard and Town Departments on what they need and their arrangements.  She will talk to Mr. Hoy about the trash bags, etc.   

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Selectboard approve the list of requests to include the lifting of the open alcohol container law on Friday, June 24, 2022, from 5pm-11pm and the closing of the streets from the parking lot of the Savings Bank of Walpole and along Westminster Street from Jakes to the Phone Building on Friday, June 24^th, 2022.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.   

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $843,775.36 for checks issued November 19, 2021.  This includes a monthly payment of $607,559.42 to the Fall Mountain Regional School District.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Mrs. Pschirrer advised the Selectboard had previously signed Purchase Orders for the following:  1) Pelow & Sons Paving in the amount of $84,852.35 for Elm Street Paving; 2) Fuzzy Brothers, LLC in the amount of $19,300.00 for Elm Street Construction; 3) Fuzzy Brothers in the amount of $79,540.00 for the Cold River Road Wash-out; and 4) Ferguson Waterworks in the amount of $16,430.00 for the Cold River Road Culvert.

PAYROLL:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Payroll Check Register for the week ending November 13, 2021, in the amount of $29,899.26 for checks dated November 19, 2021, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $5,868.10, Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES – November 10, 2021:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Public Hearing of November 10, 2021, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Minutes were approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES – November 10, 2021:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of November 10, 2021, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the Minutes was approved.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION SELECTBOARD MINUTES – November 10, 2021:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Session Selectboard Minutes of November 10, 2021, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  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:

• Planning Board Meeting – November 9, 2021;
• Library Trustees Meeting – November 9, 2021;
• Cemetery Trustees Meeting – November 10, 2021.

OLD BUSINESS:

Bureau of Trails Letter Re: Snowmobile Use of Class VI Roads:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the letter to the Bureau of Trails regarding their approval to allow all licensed snowmobiles the use of Class VI roads within the Town of Walpole.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Public Hearing to Accept ARPA Funds:  The Town received $55,000-plus of ARPA Funds coming from the County.  It went into the General Fund.  Mr. Dalessio advised it can only be used for the same items as the previous funds.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked that this money be put into PDIP.  A Public Hearing was scheduled for Thursday, December 2^nd, 2021, to accept the funds.

Pending Further Actions:

Vilas Bridge, Generators, Three Phase Power for Industrial Park Drive and Bensonwood, Tree Plan for Common

Houghton Brook Bridge:  Mr. Dalessio reported they are waiting for a permit package from Fuss & O’Neill.

Reservoir Dam:  Mr. Dalessio advised there will be a meeting on Monday, November 22^nd, 2021,

at 6:00 PM.

School Street and Union Street:  Mr. Dalessio reported Fuss & O’Neill are working on a quote to do School Street and Union Street.  They are still working on trying to find somebody to come in and help us on the pending projects.  Municipal Resources might have someone, but it was not confirmed.

Tree Plan for Common:  This will be kept on the Pending Further Actions list. However, it does not appear it will be done until next year. 

NEW BUSINESS:

2021 Tax Rate Status:  Mr.  Kreissle is waiting for the MS-535 to be received from the auditors, Vachon and Clukay, as it needs to be forwarded to the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) before a tax rate will be set.  Jennifer of Vachon and Clukay was going to expedite it.  Since it was not received today Ms. Mayberry will call Vachon and Clukay tomorrow to stress the urgency of receiving this form.

Wooden Chairs in Town Hall:  Mrs. Downing mentioned that a few sets of the wooden chairs are across from the Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s Office.  There might be ten (10) sets in the Town Hall basement.  They are classic chairs.  She asked if the Selectboard would like to dispose of them and, if so, how would they like to proceed.  Pastor Malmberg indicated to Mr. Brad Nash that he would like a few for the parsonage.  Mr. Nash will take those over to the parsonage.  The Selectboard discussed selling the rest of them.  Ms. Mayberry will do some research for a price.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel, (c) Reputations, and (d) Acquisition, Sale or Lease of Real or Personal Property.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved at 7:45 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 8:17 PM.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of November 18, 2021, will be sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  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.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 8:18 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

Starting at 8:30 AM in the Town Halls

PHONE CALL WITH EXECUTIVE COUNSELOR CINDE WARMINGTON

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

PAYROLL• Payroll Register totaling $28,483.10 dated 11/26/21 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $5,588.34

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES• Selectboard Meeting Minutes – November 18, 2021• Non-Public Session Selectboard Minutes – November 18, 2021• Staff Meeting Minutes – November 18, 2021

COMMITTEE REPORTS• North Walpole Village District Commissioners’ Meeting – October 19, 2021• North Walpole Village District Commissioners’ Meeting – October 26, 2021• North Walpole Village District Commissioners’ Meeting – November 2, 2021• Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting Minutes – November 17, 2021

OLD BUSINESS• 2021 Preliminary Tax Rate• Reservoir Dam Meeting Update

Pending Further Actions

Vilas Bridge, Houghton Brook Bridge, Generators, Three Phase Power for Industrial Park Drive and Bensonwood, Tree Plan for Common, Wooden Chairs in Town Hall

NEW BUSINESS• Memo re: Drainage Deficiencies on South Street

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

There have a been a couple of requests for the address again so here it is:

Fall Mountain Food Shelf

122 NH Rte 12A

PO BOX 191

Alstead, NH 03602

Where does your power come from?

Walpole committee explores Community Power option.

The Walpole Community Power Committee (WCPC) looks to explore the opportunity provided by a NH state law that allows municipalities to become electricity suppliers, negotiating lower electricity rates and clean, sustainable energy on behalf of their communities.

A member of a similar committee in Lebanon NH, Meghan Butts, described the approach in this way – “Think of it as a buying club for electricity.” And in its simplest form, that’s all it is, though it will also offer other opportunities to those wishing to take advantage of them. In addition to providing electricity rates that are lower or competitive with the default rate offered by Liberty Utilities, it will also:

• Provide an energy portfolio that can, at your choosing, prioritize the use of renewable resources, eventually emphasize locally-generated power to the maximum extent technically and economically feasible.
• Create a Reserve Fund to finance projects and programs that, long term, assist residents and businesses in becoming carbon-free and animate local economic activity concerning energy production and conservation.
• Provide training education, guidance, and support to residents and businesses regarding means of generating sustainable forms of energy and methods of conservation of energy such as weatherization and insulation

Our committee will be holding a 2^nd informational town meeting about this in mid-December. Stay tuned for this event, and join us in Town Hall to learn more.

By year-end, the Walpole committee will prepare a Warrant Article for a town meeting to vote on adopting a ‘Community Power Aggregation Plan. This plan will be presented to the Select Board for approval and on the ballot at Town Meeting.

Some background:

Throughout our region, the electric utility industry was restructured in the 1990s to separate the business of generating electric power from the regulated monopoly functions of transmitting and distributing electricity. It’s now a competitive market, and household electric customers can select competitive suppliers that purchase electricity generation from the wholesale market to match the customer’s need. Typically, the larger the need, the lower the rates that become available.

NH law (RSA-53E) was passed in October of 2019. It enabled towns to ‘aggregate retail electric customers, as necessary, to provide such customers access to competitive markets for supplies of electricity and related energy services.’ This law is the basis for Walpole and other NH towns moving forward to explore these opportunities.

Dennis Marcom, for the Walpole Community Power Committee

Present: Board Members Chair Jan Galloway-Leclerc, Vice-Chair Myra Mansouri, Clerk Tom Murray came in about two minutes after Ms. Leclerc called the meeting to order, Ernie Vose, Pauline Barnes. Alternates Don Sellarole, Judy Trow and Dave Edkins. 

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

Roll Call: Ms. Leclerc called the meeting to order at 7 pm. Board member Mr. Murray was absent so she asked Alternate Trow to take his place on the board. While members were reading the minutes Mr. Murray arrived and Ms. Trow stepped down.

Minutes: Corrections and additions of the October 2021 minutes: Ms. Barnes asked that it be noted in the minutes on page 3 that her statement “Mr. Graves had a whole pile of asphalt near the pit” was an observation, not a critique. On page 4 Ms. Barnes said that the word attended should be attend and the word followed should be follow and on page 3 she suggested deleting the word “This”, which started a sentence in the third paragraph from the bottom. On the same page, paragraph 5, Mr. Murray said the beginning of the sentence should read “This is a concern of the state if…”. On page one, Ms. Leclerc asked that the ages of the two boys be changed to 10. Mr. Murray made a motion to accept the amended October 2021 minutes. Ms. Mansouri seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Signage for storage units owned by Red Barn Lane LLC, Map 12, Lot 13-3, commercial district.

A site plan for the 5 buildings of storage units totaling 37,450 square feet was recently approved by the Walpole Planning Board. Mr. Jim Phippard represented John Pappas of Swanzey, the owner of Walpole Store-It. Mr. Phippard brought along a picture of a 25-square-foot sign, slightly below the 32 square feet permitted in the sign ordinance in a commercial district, that would be placed on the western boundary. It is free-standing sign with lighting from below. It would be placed 60 feet from Red Barn Lane. Mr. Phippard said additional signage will be placed on the building such as identifying its letter and noting such things as the entrance to the buildings or keeping the door closed. These signs are 18-inches-by-24-inches.

Mr. Vose asked how far the sign would be from Route 12. Mr. Phippard said several hundred feet. Ms. Mansouri asked when the storage units would be open. Mr. Phippard pointed out on the site plan a place where there would be a key pad at the entrance to the units and said it would be open 24 hours a day. Mr. Vose said that that was typical of this type of business. Mr. Murray asked if there would be a “coming soon” temporary sign. Mr. Phippard didn’t think so but if it was decided later that a “coming soon” sign was a good idea, he would come back to the zoning board because it would be a temporary sign. Mr. Phippard said there would be a construction sign, which is allowed. Mr. Vose made a motion to approve the sign as presented. Mr. Murray seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

Update on article on ZBA for the Clarion.

 Ms. Barnes and Ms. Mansouri volunteered to write an article or articles describing what the zoning board does and why. Ms. Barnes said there was a delay in their meeting because of a health issue. Their first meeting was on Tuesday. Ms. Mansouri said they decided to start with how and when the zoning ordinances came to be written, in other words, zoning ordinances history. Ms. Mansouri remembered that there were two or three years in a row that the idea of having zoning ordinances was presented on the warrant and it took that long to get a “yes” vote. The year it passed was 1968. She also said that since the holidays were coming up, the article wouldn’t be ready until after the new year so it would be early next year, maybe January. Ms. Barnes said they would take it in small sections, probably explaining a variance, a special exception and signage since those are the three most frequent items that come before the board.

Mr. Edkins recommended that it was important to include the word “adjustment” because that is the proper terminology and the word adjustment explains what the board does. He said it is sometimes called Zoning Board of Appeals.

Ms. Leclerc also wanted the article to include that the Walpole Zoning Ordinances are permissive, meaning that if something is not mentioned in the ordinances it’s not permitted.

Ms. Barnes suggested that board members think of a catchy title for the articles and let Myra or her know about it.

Changes and addition to variance application.

Ms. Barnes noted at the October meeting that Sue Fillion in the September minutes made her realize that the language in our variance application is different than the language in the RSA. In the criteria section, No. 2 in the RSA says a variance “will not be contrary to the public interest.” But the Walpole variance application says “granting the variance would be of benefit to the public interest.” Since this has a different meaning, shouldn’t the application be changed to conform to the RSA? Ms. Barnes asked. Ms. Leclerc said our paper work should be the same as the state’s and the rest of the board agreed.

So on page 1, it was agreed that the board could change “Granting the variance would be of benefit to the public interest” to “Granting the variance will not be contrary to the public interest” on the application. Also on page 4, second paragraph from the bottom “Deliver three completed applications” was added to the paragraph. The secretary needs one application to put with the applicant’s permanent file and the Town Offices also need to keep a copy of the application. The secretary will make the changes to the variance application.

Gravel pit inspection form.

 Ms. Trow submitted the inspection form for the Graves gravel pit. Ms. Barnes and Ms. Trow inspected the pit on October 14, 2021. There were no concerns at the Graves gravel pit, Ms. Trow said. The secretary will write a letter to Mr. Graves confirming that the Graves gravel pit has had its yearly inspection according to RSA  55:E and include a copy of the inspection form.

Discussion of minutes of February 20, 2008 and parking at 11 Maplewood Circle Day Care Facility.

Chair Jan Leclerc was contacted by the Manager of Administration, Sarah Downing, about a complaint from a homeowner who lives next to a day care facility in Maplewood Circle. The homeowner complained that parents who had children at the day care facility were parking in her driveway and blocking her driveway. Ms. Leclerc wanted the board to look back at the original minutes to see what had happened at the meeting that discussed having a day care facility at that location. Ms. Leclerc wasn’t sure why the owners of the day care facility were at the meeting in 2008 since they didn’t require any appeals.

The meeting was not a public hearing, it was an informational meeting, said Ms. Mansouri, who was chair of the zoning board at that time. It was determined that the day care facility was in the commercial district. All the land along Main Street and 250 feet back from that road is considered to be in the commercial district. While the day care facility is on Maplewood Circle, a residential B neighborhood, the property for the day care facility is 175 feet from Main Street, so technically it’s in the commercial district. Day care facilities are a permitted use in commercial districts so it didn’t need a variance or special exception.

Mr. Murray disagreed about the zoning district. He said he had checked the town zoning maps and the tax card said that the day care facility was actually in the Residential B zoning District. In fact he went out to the front hall, retrieved the folder for the property and brought it into the meeting to show the rest of the board. The tax card did say Residential B, but the rest of the board said it was a mistake made by Avitar. The day care facility is in the commercial district.

After considerable discussion it was determined that the zoning board did not have the authority to deal with this matter and it was the Select Board that should deal with this complaint. Ms. Leclerc will attend the next Select Board meeting to discuss the matter.

Adjournment:

Mr. Vose made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Mansouri seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

cc: ZBA, WPB, Town Offices, The Walpolean

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

Next meeting is Wednesday, December 15, 2021.

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

CALL TO ORDER:  Ms. Mayberry called this Selectboard Public Hearing to “Request Comment Regarding Snowmobile Use of All Class VI Roads” to order at 6:00 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.  This Public Hearing is being recorded.  There were 30-plus members of the public in the audience.  

Ms. Mayberry read the notice that was duly published and posted:

TOWN OF WALPOLE, NH

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

November 10, 2021, at 6:00 PM

To Request Comment Regarding Snowmobile

Use of All Class VI Roads

You are hereby notified that the Walpole Selectboard will hold a public hearing Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at 6:00 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

The public hearing is to discuss whether all licensed snowmobiles may use all Class VI roads within the Town of Walpole.

The Selectboard Meeting will follow the public hearing.

Ms. Mayberry reported that back in 2006 the Hooper Hill Hoppers were granted permission to use Class 6 roads within the Town of Walpole.  They were the only ones listed for that.  You have to be affiliated with a club to register your snowmobile.  The law changed back in 2019.  They do believe it is still in effect for Walpole but there is the recommendation to hold this Public Hearing to reaffirm that permission and to extend it to snowmobiler users for those properly registered and who have an affiliation with a snowmobile club. 

There are a lot of people attending so they will start out limiting their speaking time to three (3) minutes.  She would like to start with those who are opposed to the use of Class VI roads within the Town of Walpole for snowmobile use.  Please state your name, where you live and who you are representing.

Attorney Gary Kinyon, an attorney in Keene, is representing Jody and Barbara Spivey who live on Whipple Hill Road.  He is here not to oppose the designation of all Class VI roads to snowmobile use but tonight he is here to ask the Selectboard to exercise their discretion and to consider not granting snowmobile use over the portion of Whipple Hill Road where the Spiveys live.  The Selectboard has the discretion under the statutes as to the use of snowmobiles on some Class VI roads or portions of them.  The basis of his request, on behalf of the Spiveys, is best illustrated by the sketch he displayed.  They are the only house on Whipple Hill Road on the Class VI portion. When they built their house six-or-seven years ago, they knew that portion of Whipple Hill Road was a Class VI road.  They knew they would have to maintain that portion of the road as their own access to their house.  Over the years there had been very little snowmobile use on their section of the road.  Their road is accessed by snowmobiles via Pelsue Road which is also a Class VI road with no homes on it.  Beyond this road there is another Class VI road with no residences on it.  As you go down toward Rapids Road, one can connect to the snowmobile trails that have been there for many years.  There are no residents on them, and they are not maintained by the Town.  The Spiveys portion of Whipple Hill Road is the only one that could be affected by the Selectboard’s decision.  Snowmobiles would present an additional cost to the Spiveys in terms of road maintenance.  Since you cannot get over their portion of the Class VI road via a Class VI road with any residences on it, it is is an access to area roads that snowmobiles could not legally access.  Attorney Kinyon explained the surrounding roads including Class V roads that snowmobilers cannot use.  They ask the Selectboard to take into account that the Spiveys are the only residents on that portion of Whipple Hill Road, and they maintain that road at their expense so they could get to and from the Town road and maintain it for emergency vehicle access.  That is the basis of their request. 

Mr. Dalessio asked how else would the snowmobile club be able to access the trails?  Attorney Kinyon replied that the network of trails that the Hooper Hill Hoppers have maintained for many years is all down in the area toward Wentworth Road and the roads heading toward Westmoreland.  The Hooper Hill Hoppers have not accessed the trails he indicated on the sketch.   

Shane O’Keefe, 5 Adams Lane:  Mr. O’Keefe advised that on Pelsue Road there is a home.  There is no vehicle access but if they choose to do so they could.  There are also two other properties that could have access if they chose to do so.  He is not opposed to snowmobiles on Whipple Hill Road.  It is supposed to be maintained at a 20-feet width at all times of the year, but it is not. 

Shirley Gorton, 26 Gold Smith Tavern Road:  Mrs. Gorton said they have permission to go on a field that goes down to Pelsue Road, they cross over to County Road and Whipple Hill Road.  They have a neighbor who uses the same route.  They have been snowmobiling down that road for twenty-five (25) roads or more.  They are using Whipple Hill Road and there are some properties that they are able to access in that area.  They cross County Road to get to Pelsue Road and then Whipple Hill Road.

Marcia Galloway, 467 Watkins Hill Road:  Mrs. Galloway reported that the Pelsue Road has been an access road for the Hooper Hill Hoppers for many years.  Snowmobilers go down Carpenter Hill Road and cross County Road.  The trail groomer used to go up Whipple Hill Road, turn around just below where Pelsue Road comes in.  They cannot do that now because there is a granite post beside the trail on the Class VI road; it may be on Mr. Spiveys property, but it looks close to the Town’s right-of-way.  They have been trying to get equipment down there because they have two bridges to maintain, and those gates have not helped.  Ms. Mayberry noted the gates were removed.                          

Lew Shelley, 25 Scovill Road:  Mr. Shelley supports the use of Whipple Hill and Pelsue Roads.  He is concerned with using the word “all” Class VI roads in perpetuity.  He feels they should leave some roads open for snowmobile use.  He supports the use of snowmobiles on all Class VI roads, but he is concerned with the term “all”.  Ms. Mayberry asked if he had specific roads that he does not feel will be appropriate.  Does he have a list he can give to the Selectboard?  Mr. Shelley does.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted he is probably the only person in Town who knows all the class VI roads.  Is he thinking of the emergency roads?  Mr. Shelley replied “no”, but some roads have been washed-out and are damaged.  Some cannot be groomed by a groomer.  He would just like to leave a door open to making some changes in the future. 

Larry Leclerc, 721 County Road:  Mr. Leclerc advised the family has other land on Rapids Road, etc.  He believes all Class VI roads should be accessible to snowmobiles.  We cannot leave out one or two.  A new owner might not like snowmobiles, and we will have this same problem all over again.  We should have some consideration when there is a problem.  All Class VI roads should be accessible by snowmobiles because even if they are badly washed-out when there is enough snow somebody could use the Class VI road to access their trail system.  They have a lot of volunteers, and they do bridge work.  They keep them open for emergency vehicles, walkers and cross-country skiers.  They should be accessible to everybody. 

On Class VI roads they should put in something to allow posting them during mud season from maybe the beginning of March to the first of June.  He has a list of towns that shut down these roads during mud season.  We need to preserve what we have. 

Richard Francis, 257 Ramsay Hill Road:  Ramsay Hill Road becomes a Class VI road about a mile away from his house.  It connects with Reservoir Road.  One of the great things about living in this area is the opportunity to use and enjoy the environment which means they can enjoy other people’s land if it is not posted for walking or other uses.  We should not limit the use of those lands or the Class VI roads.

Larry Britton, 311 Watkins Hill Road:  Mr. Britton asked if there is a permanent residence on a Class VI road does it change the classification to a Class V road.  Mrs. Pschirrer replied “no”.  Mr. Britton asked if there is any other place in the Town of Walpole that there is a house on the end of a Class VI road.  Mr. Dalessio knows of a couple. Mrs. Pschirrer advised a property owner has to get special permission to build on a Class VI road.  It remains a Class VI road unless it is taken to Town Meeting for a vote on the change.  There is something attached to the Deed on Whipple Hill Road that states it is a Class VI road and they have to maintain that as a Class VI road.

Peter Dexter, 604 County Road:  It is easy to have one person or a small group of people right now to make adjustments for them and not look toward the future.  There is a lot of land that is not accessible in any other way, or it could be land locked.  One day those properties might be sold and someone else will want to build on them.  They would sign the waivers.  If we change the rules and the access now, it limits those people for the future.

Shane O’Keefe:  Mr. O’Keefe had a question on the wording.  Did it state in perpetuity?  Ms. Mayberry replied it does not.  They meant if you grant the access until you change the access.  Mr. O’Keefe advised there are a lot of towns that have a policy for Class VI roads.  He recommends they create one and he will be happy to help with that.  Mrs. Pschirrer noted that in their records from 2004 they discovered a Resolution on Class VI and private roads.  Maybe they need to revisit that so everybody can see it.  Ms. Mayberry felt they can look at what Mr. O’Keefe has to make sure they considered everything. 

Bernard Perry, County Road:  Mr. Perry asked if this discussion was only for snowmobiles and not gates and bars.   Ms. Mayberry said this is has nothing to do with gates and bars.  This is specifically to allow snowmobile use on Class VI roads.  It is allowable to have gates and bars on Class VI roads, but they cannot be locked.  We are working on this first.

Ms. Mayberry asked if there were any other comments.  There were none.  She thanked everyone for coming as they gave the Selectboard a lot of things to consider as they do appreciate them.  The Public Hearing was closed at 6:28 PM.                            

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary