The Walpolean

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

CALL TO ORDER:  Mr. Steven Dalessio called this Walpole Selectboard meeting via Zoom to order at 6:30 PM.  He advised that Mrs. Peggy Pschirrer, Chair, was unable to attend this meeting.  Ms. Cheryl Mayberry, the other Selectboard member, is present.  The Selectboard members are in two separate locations.  Also attending this meeting is Mrs. Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, in the Walpole Town Hall and Mrs. Regina Borden, Recording Secretary, by telephone at a separate location.  This meeting was being recorded by the Town.

Public comments are to be emailed to Mrs. Downing at the Walpole Town Hall or by calling 703-756-3672.  She will display the agenda.  That will be followed by documents as they are being discussed.

Mr. Dalessio called for a voice roll call of the Selectboard present: Cheryl Mayberry was present and Steven Dalessio was present. This meeting will be in accordance with Virtual Meetings, Emergency Order #12, which has been effective since March 2020.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $17,956.64 for checks issued March 12, 2021.  This includes a payment in the amount of $3,476 to the Town of Chesterfield for Outside Agency Details.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mr. Dalessio asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

PAYROLL:  

Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Payroll Check Register for the week ending March 6, 2021, in the amount of $30,025.98 for checks dated March 12, 2021, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $5,843.28.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mr. Dalessio asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.  

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MINUTES – March 4, 2021: Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of March 4, 2021, as submitted. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. Mr. Dalessio asked if there were any questions or comments. There were none. On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION MINUTES – March 4, 2021:  Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of March 4, 2021, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.   Mr. Dalessio asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Minutes were approved.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the following Committee report:• Conservation Commission Meeting – March 1, 2021.

BUILDING PERMITS:

Permit #2004-59 RENEWAL, MAP and LOT #009-023-000: Ms. Mayberry moved to grant Building Permit No. 2004-59 RENEWAL, for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #009-023-000 toconstruct a “1.5 Story Barn and Seasonal Camp”. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. Mr. Dalessio asked if there were any questions or comments. There were none. On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Permit #2021-09, MAP and LOT #008-095-004:  Ms. Mayberry moved to grant Building Permit No. 2021-09, for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #008-095-004 to build a “32’ x 24’ Garage/Storage Building”.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mr. Dalessio asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio, the motion was approved.

Permit #2021-10, MAP and LOT #021-036-000:  Ms. Mayberry moved to grant Building Permit No. 2021-10, for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #021-036-000 to add “23’ x 16.5’ Roof Mount Solar Panels to Garage”.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mr. Dalessio asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio, motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

Property Survey for 34 Elm Street – Town Hall:  Mr. Dalessio reported that they want to get this project started for the Water and Sewer Departments. Therefore. they need to identify where the property lines are before the Elm Street project begins.

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Purchase Order in the amount of $2,000 for DiBernardo Associates to have the property survey at 34 Elm Street / Town Hall.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mr. Dalessio asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

North Walpole Library Lease:  Mr. Dalessio advised the North Walpole Library Lease will be ready for review at the next meeting.  Ms. Mayberry met with the North Walpole Village Commissioners again and explained that the Selectboard was asking them to pay for the installation of electrical outlets. They had agreed to do this.  They were looking for clarification as to what the impact would be for extended hours such as for heat, electricity, etc.  That was the primary reason for requesting a one year lease.  They want to assess what their costs would be and then do another lease for the following year.  Mr. Dalessio felt they could have a multi-year lease where the Commissioners could look at the costs at the end of every year.  Ms. Mayberry explained they do not want to have the Library move out at the end of a year but do have these concerns including maintenance costs.  Ms. Mayberry will send a note to Mrs. Amy Howard.  

Public Hearings for Summer Projects: Mr. Dalessio feels Public Hearings for Summer Projects is a good idea. The downtown will be dug-up between the Brownfields Project and Elm Street Project. Ms. Mayberry likes the suggestion that they might delay the Brownfields Project for a short period of time. Mr. Dalessio mentioned the Memorial Day Celebration is cancelled. There will probably be a wreath ceremony. In 2022, the Boy Scouts might take this over. The American Legion will probably be shutting down soon. Mr. Dalessio relayed this information to Mr. Mark Houghton as he would like to start the Elm Street Project in May. There will be a Public Meeting so everybody will know what is going to happen. There will be digging in the Common. They would like to use the south end of the Common for their staging area and keep the equipment there. He requested this be an agenda item for the next meeting so a vote can be taken. Another agenda item will be discussion on the granite curbing as they need to come to some conclusion. Ms. Mayberry noted Mr. Boas and the other neighbors need to decide if they are willing to pay for both the granite curbing and installation.

Pending Further Actions: Tax Deeded Property Sale

Reservoir Dam Repairs:  Mr. Dalessio advised they should have a report next week from Fuss & O’Neill.  The Department of Environmental Services (DES) has all the information they need to make a determination.  

Houghton Brook Bridge: Mr. Dalessio reported there will be a Pre-Permit Meeting in two weeks.  They will be getting that ready to go. It is moving along but still looks like a 2022 year project.    

NEW BUSINESS:

Spencer’s Place Expanded Outside Seating:   Mr. Dalessio believes the outside seating will not be expanded but rather located in the same space as last year.  They want to get rid of the hay bales and replace them with a temporary split rail fence.  They do not need an Open Container Permit because the Selectboard had said it would remain in effect until the Emergency Orders changed.  He would like to know that the property owner has agreed to the outdoor dining area.  Mr. Dalessio pointed out the Selectboard needs to talk about if this will become permanent seasonal arrangement after the Emergency Order is lifted.  They need to address outside dining in the Town of Walpole because it might be continued after the COVID-19 Pandemic has ended.  Guidelines will need to be met.     

Staff Meeting for March 18, 2021:  Mr. Dalessio would prefer to move the Staff Meeting out a week until March 25, 2021.   Next week they can establish the new Selectboard Chair and all the Liaison positions.  Ms. Mayberry agreed to postpone the Staff Meeting for one week.       

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into a Non-Public SelectboardSession pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio, the motion was approved at 6:51 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:38 PM.

Ms. Mayberry moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of March 11, 2021, will be sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mr. Dalessio asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, motion was approved.

ADJOURNMENT:

Ms. Mayberry moved to adjourn this Selectboard meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 7:42 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

COVID by the Numbers, and Other Information—March 21 Edition

The roller coaster continues.

Statewide the numbers are up. The seven-day average of reported cases per 100,000 went from 17.1 last week to 21.0. Active reported cases went from 2,190 up to 2,377. Hospitalizations went from 71 to 72. Statewide deaths went from 15 last week to up to 18 this week. We crossed the 80,000 mark for total number of statewide reported cases yesterday.

In Cheshire County, the numbers are mixed. Our seven-day average went from 17.5 up to 19.9, with an infection rate that went down just a tad to 0.87. Currently active reported cases went down considerably, from 147 last week down to 118 this week. Cheshire County has had a total of 2,994 reported cases of COVID to date; as of tomorrow, the county will probably cross the 3,000 mark. There were 2 new hospitalizations, and we lost 3 more of our citizens this week. Both of those numbers are up from 0 last week.

The number of active cases in Walpole has held steady at 1-4.  New cases went from 2 last week to just 1 this week.  That one new case was today; let’s hope it is not a signal of things to come.

Phase 2-b registration starts Monday, March 22.  Phase 2-b includes all adults aged 50 or older.  Go to the NH DHHS COVID web site,  https://www.nh.gov/covid19/ , and click on Vaccine Registration.

NH Emergency Rental Assistance Program:  If  you know of anyone having difficulty with rent or utility payments, This program may help.  Here is the information:

Please help us get the word out about this important federal/state rent and utility assistance program for people who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

·     If you are a community partner with questions, please contact Lynn Greenleaf Lippitt at llippitt@nhhfa.org

·     If you have a client or customer who needs assistance, please refer them to CAPNH.org or 2-1-1. 

Please share and post our flyer where feasible. Thank you!

Apply for assistance through a Community Action Partnership (CAP) agency. The CAP agency will assist with the application process. The application can be completed online, or a paper application can be requested or downloaded (in English and Spanish). 

WHAT THE PROGRAM COVERS

·     Past-due and future rent payments

·     Utilities, such as electricity, home heating, costs, water, sewer, trash

·     Other housing-related costs such as internet and relocation expenses associated directly or indirectly with COVID-19

·     Relocation expenses including rental application fees, utility hook-up fees, and security deposits

·     You may qualify for utility assistance even if you do not receive or need rental assistance

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

·     At least one person in your household has qualified for unemployment benefits, had their income reduced, had significant costs, or had other financial hardship due to COVID-19.

·     Certain income requirements must be met.

·     You do not need to be receiving unemployment benefits payments.

·     The CAP agency will assist in identifying information needed.

·     Eligible households may qualify for assistance for past-due and future rent and utility payments for a period not to exceed 15 months.

Please keep on taking good care of yourselves, and each other.  Don’t let down your guard.  Be careful out there.

Wear your mask, even when keeping your distance, keep your distance-even when wearing a mask, wash your hands, and keep well.  

~Representative Lucy Weber

603-499-0282

Lwmcv@comcast.net

Christopher Evatt, the organist at St. John’s Church and teacher at Keene State, will be doing a solo piano recital this Sunday, afternoon, March 21st at 3PM. It will be live-streamed at: https://www.keene.edu/arts/redfern/stream/music/. (In-person attendance will be restricted to people in the college community.)

It’s a program of lesser-known music by Jewish pianist-composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Christopher is a wonderful musician; he promises an enjoyable performance. He hopes to resume concerts in Walpole when we can gather again.

SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA

March 18, 2021

Starting at 6:30 PM via Zoom and may be live-streamed on FACT-TV

SELECTBOARD MEETING

CALL TO ORDER

ELECTION OF CHAIR

OPENING OF SELECTBOARD BUSINESS MEETING

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE• Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $115,776.70 for checks issued 3/19/21

PAYROLL• Payroll Register totaling $31,113.49 dated 3/19/21 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $5,610.17

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES• Selectboard Minutes – March 11, 2021• Non-Public Selectboard Session Minutes – March 11, 2021

COMMITTEE REPORTS• North Walpole Village District Commissioners’ Meeting – March 2, 2021• Planning Board Meeting – March 9, 2021

WARRANTS• Recommittal Warrant for 2020• Recommittal Warrant for 2020 Tax Liens• Recommittal Warrant for 2019 Tax Liens• Recommittal Warrant for 2018 Tax Liens

ABATEMENTS• Map and Lot# 012-019-002

BUILDING PERMITS• 2020-10 RENEWAL, Map and Lot# 018-018-000• 2021-11, Map and Lot# 008-088-002

OLD BUSINESS

• Granite Curbing on Elm Street

• South End of Common as Staging Area

• North Walpole Library Lease

• Town Hall Exterior Painting Purchase Order

• Second Floor Ceiling of Town Hall Restoration Purchase Order

• Reservoir Dam Repairs

Pending Further Actions• Tax Deeded Property Sale, Houghton Brook Bridge

NEW BUSINESS

• Selectboard Liaison Assignments

• TrueNorth Quote for Selectboard Office Internet

• NHRS Certification Forms

• Mill Pond Dam Inspection

• Community Power

• Great Hydro River Steward Presentation

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING

HOOPER TRUSTEES MINUTES• Hooper Trustees Meeting – February 18, 2020

HOOPER BUSINESS• Feb. 2021 Reimbursement Request to the Hooper Trust Fund• Feb. 2021 Reimbursement Request to the Hooper Maintenance Fund

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

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

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

Holy Week and Easter Schedule for First Congregational Church, UCC Walpole, NH.

Maundy Thursday Worship Service of Holy Communion and Tenebrae on Zoom (link below),  April 1, 7pm

Good Friday Prayer Vigil 6am – 6pm – participants will pray in 1/2 hour increments, at home or in the sanctuary.

EASTER PIE & BAKE SALE: Saturday, April 3rd at 9:00 a.m.in front of the Walpole Post Office, Sponsored by The First Congregational Church Finance Committee.

Easter Sunrise Service at Hooper Golf Club, 7th tee, 6:30am (Please mask and observe social distancing)

Easter Communion Service 10amon Zoom (link as below) 

Bible Study every Wednesday at 4pm, led by Pastor Richard Malmberg on Zoom

Join First Congregational Church of Walpole Worship and Study on Zoom using the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87236977806?pwd=YkxyK2FwY1oyTCt5cXYzREZwL1lxdz09

Yes the Walpole Pub is planning to reopen!!! New Management, new name but SAME GREAT VIBE you remember.

Searching for a Co-Creator/ believer to lead the back of the house at the Bellows Walpole Inn. Ideal candidates are passionate about good food and understand that having fun while working hard makes it worthwhile. If you’re a talented, dedicated and driven chef, cook, or foodie I want to talk to you. I will run the front of the house and together we will craft our own work culture that allows for creative ideas and honest and open feedback.

Let’s create something amazing!

If this opportunity sounds like something you would love to learn more about let me know…. Email Kelley Hicks at Kell7604@gmail or call 603-283-8940.

Now that nice weather is upon us, get outside and join the class of 2022 and 2023 in our 1st Running With the Fall Mountain Wildcats Virtual 5k fundraiser between April 24th and May 8th. You can walk, run, hike, or bike. All proceeds will be used towards class expenses and prom. You can register at any time by going the link below or going to our Facebook page called “Running With the Fall Mountain Wildcats”. When you register, you will be mailed a t shirt, a race bib, and a finishing medal. You can also post pictures of you and your friends and / or family on our Facebook page as they are having fun while participating in the 5k. Let us know if you have any questions.

https://www.goneforarun.com/virtual-race-running-with-the-wildcats-5k-2021/rwc-0001.html?cgid=gfar-30381&fbclid=IwAR12ytUs5vPCzp2LFp6zJ34quDtem7k4_oc5PHSeaN_ajvbv0BTz3MAppfY

APRIL CLARION CLOSING DATE — Tuesday, 23 MARCH

by Ray Boas

NO FOOLIN’

Yes, TIME AGAIN, and my work began on the April 2021 issue of THE WALPOLE CLARION over a week ago. Closing date is in just a tad over a week from today – Tuesday – 23 March. That way the files get to the printer in time for me to have the final product to the post office before the first of April and then into your hands.

Still not much going on, both past and future, to cover on our pages, but I already have some “good reads” in for this issue. Remember I mail 2,o00 copies to homes and businesses in our community, as well as being on-line, so if you have something to share with the community – a news happening, a past happening, an item of interest – please send it along. And, new advertisers are always welcome. Many of my advertisers have been with me for years – their ads work, and they are supporting the CLARION as a community project.

So, here is your deadline warning, and if you have any questions, do email me – rayboas@comcast.net

COVID by the Numbers—March 14 Edition

Writing this column is always something of a roller coaster.  On Saturday, there were only 7 new cases of COVID in Cheshire County, the first time in single digits in a long time.  Whew! We must be turning the corner.  Not so fast…on Sunday, Cheshire County had 24 new cases…DARN!  In some respects, we seem to be making no progress at all, or even losing a little ground, but overall, we are making slow progress.

Last week the state as a whole did quite well.  You  may remember that statewide, the seven-day average of reported cases per 100,000 went down from 21.1 to 16.1.  This week, it’s back up a little, to 17.1.  Still, the longer term trend is in the right direction.

Over the same two week period, active cases have gone from 2,532 down to 2,062, and now stand at 2,190.  Hospitalizations have gone from 89 to 88 to 71 this week.  We lost 16 citizens statewide two weeks ago; last week the number was 14; this week the number was 15.   As of this writing, 78,615 cases of COVID have been confirmed in the state.

In Cheshire County, our seven day average of reported cases per 100,000 is better. The county went from an average of 23.1 cases per 100,000 two weeks ago, then up to an average of 24.8 last week. This week, we are down to 17.5. The infection rate for

Roll Call: All Planning Board members and other participants are in separate locations. This meeting is being recorded. Present: Chair Jeff Miller, Vice-Chair Dennis Marcom, Clerk Jason Perron, Zoom Host Jeff Harrington, Jeff Colley and Select Board Representative Steve Dalessio. Board member Joanna Andros was a few minutes late coming into the meeting.

Also present at the meeting were applicant Jay Landry, surveyor of the project, Joe DiBernardo, civil engineer, Erin Barrow, abutters and neighbors Cynthia Reeves, Todd Nielsen, Beth Colley and Teese Gohl and Bronia and Mark Jenson.

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

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

Minutes: Mr. Marcom said he didn’t have any changes or suggestions. Mr. Miller said the minutes have been approved and seconded. All those in favor say aye. All Board members present said aye.

Old Business:

Public Hearing continued from January meeting.

Subdivision: Jay Landry two lots into four lots, Map 17, Lots 5 and 5-1, land between Old Keene Rd. and Wentworth Rd., Residential A. Mr. Joe DiBernardo was the surveyor on the project and presenter for Mr. Landry. He said all lots have the required 200 feet road frontage and 40,000 square feet in the  Residential A district. 

The new lots would be:

​ Lot 5.1 – 2.19 acres with 200 feet road frontage on Wentworth Road; 

​ Lot 5-2 – 1.67 acres with 200 feet road frontage on Wentworth Road; 

​ Lot 5-3 – 1.15 acres with 200 feet road frontage on Wentworth Road;

​ and 5-4 – 6.22 acres with 203.61 feet road frontage on Old Keene Road and Wentworth Road.​ ​48.5 feet road frontage on Wentworth Road.

Discussion of the subdivision project was divided into four different presentations: Mr. Landry spoke about his history and his plans for property. Mr. DiBernardo spoke on the topography of the land. Erin Darrow, a civil engineer working for Right Angle Engineering, PLLC  gave a presentation on Stormwater Management and Well Capacity. Mr. Landry also weighed in on well capacity. Throughout their presentations, abutters and neighbors asked questions and made comments on the project. There were 12 pages of documents and diagrams, of which several were referenced on the Zoom screen. 

Mr. Jay Landry introduced himself and gave the Board and guests a little information about his background and intentions. Mr. Landry is a native of New Hampshire. He was born in Berlin, paid his way through UNH and landed in Keene on his first job. After being in Keene 20 years, he moved to Walpole. He choose Walpole because it was in between Keene and Lebanon where he now works for Fujifilm. He lived at 18 Prospect Hill and took over a property that was a work in progress. The prior owners did some of the heavy stuff and fixed the foundation and roof. He continued to work on the property and fix it up in period-appropriate ways as it was an old farm house. During his time in Walpole, he walked around the Wentworth Road — Hooper Road loop. On one walk he noticed an old for sale sign on the property that he now owns. During his time in Walpole, he grew to love the town and appreciated the people and businesses and “grew some roots here.” He sold his property and purchased the lots. He knew it would be a while before he actually got to building on the lots and he knew he was going to do some “house surfing” for a while. His brother lives in Tilton, made him an offer to stay there and that’s where he’s been for the last few years. He was still spending a lot of time in Keene, he said, so I was popping into Walpole on occasion. He still works in Lebanon, but with Covid, he’s mainly working out of the Keene office.  

Once, if the subdivision is approved, he plans to keep two lots: one lot, 5-4, for himself and his partner, Andrea, and the other lot for Andrea’s parents. The lot for him and Andrea would be less that 2,000 square feet and the other one about 1,600 square feet. He wants a quality home, not exquisite, but a place where “we can age in place.” The home would be environmentally friendly and sustainable. He plans to use local people to do the work and he made several contacts when he was working on the farm house on Prospect Hill.  

The other part of the subdivision is that he expects to sell lots 5-1 and 5-2. He will choose buyers very carefully and make sure they have the same interests. He plans on having deeded restrictions along the lines that Erin Darrow will explain. It would be in our interest to have neighbors that consider preserving the land and keeping the land as is. He doesn’t have unlimited funds so that’s why he’s selling those lots. Also, he recognizes that if he did retain those lots, it would require a lot of maintenance. Their plans are fluid so suggestions are welcome. At the December meeting he heard about the concerns of his neighbors regarding water runoff, water supply, use of pesticides and generally harming the neighborhood and question what we’re going to do. And there was a lot of discussion about “how do we know that Mr. Landry won’t harm the neighborhood.” Well, Mr. Landry said, “I want to be part of that neighborhood.”

Joe DiBernardo spoke on topography.

He used a system called Earth Model scanners that scans the ground to show the topography of the ground. He labeled two flat spots on top and bottom of the map where Wentworth  and Old Keene roads are. He pointed out a stone wall between the Jenson and Landry properties. Then he pointed to a hump that runs down the south side of the Landry property about where two massive trenches meet. One starts at Wentworth Rd and connects to another trench that runs northwest and picks up water from the wetlands and channels to another drainage area. This is where water flows toward the northwest and catches swales and taking it from the Hugh Shaw and Jenson properties and shedding water towards the Reeves property. All the water is not solely off of the Landry property. You can see Hugh Shaw’s field. There’s a lot going on here. Some of the water come from road, some from these channels that might have been built for drainage, some from other properties. 

Some questions: Board members and neighbors asked: Point out the Reeves area where the streams are. In the first meeting Ms. Reeves spoke of a dug well on a border to Landry, where it is close to the property line. Point out the tree-lined wooded area between Reeves and Landry on northern boundary that goes down to Old Keene Road. Where is Reeves stream in her southeastern corner of the property. One swale would go near that corner. Point to the wetlands, which were in the northeastern portion of Landry property. What about the trenches? One comes down from both sides of property and meet further down where it begins to slope toward Old Keene Road. It’s near the wetlands?

Todd Nielsen said if you cut down all those trees it will exasperate the problem and the land there will erode. If all those trees are going to go, there will be a lot more water runoff.

That’s where Erin Darrow came in and presented a proposed drainage plan. Darrow is a licensed professional civil engineer and a certified erosion control and sediment specialist. She referenced a contour map. She said she was studying how the development of two single-family homes could impact the stormwater situation. The houses could be built anywhere on these two lots. Looking at the related infrastructure and two additional homes, her focus was on how you can attenuate and mitigate the situation so there is no increase in water. 

Right now, there is water coming off Wentworth Road and it starts in a sheet flow for 200 feet. Her proposal was to implement a bio retention and lower impact structure to provide a long-term means to convey runoff and focus around this swale and where the water comes from. She suggested diverting the runoff to a bio-filtration swale into a filtration basin. The swale is 20 feet wide and the bio filtration basin is 40 feet in diameter. Once installed, it will sustain itself. It helps slow water down and mitigate any increase. It allows water to sit there and recharge the area. This is not a pond. It is an underground system that mediates water flow. It is low maintenance and will eventually be pretty with wild flowers etc. 

Ms. Darrow said in her written presentation that “the intent of the design is to mimic existing drainage patterns. Infiltration swales, along with bio infiltration basins (i.e., raingardens) are proposed to be installed along the northeastern sides of proposed lot 5-1, 5-2, 5-3. Lot 5-4 will have an infiltration swale running along the vicinity of the existing drainage path, with a larger bio-infiltration basin on the northwest corner of the property. 

“The intent of this approach is to implement a low-maintenance stormwater management infrastructure that will help mitigate runoff in the long-term. It does appear that water comes off of Wentworth Road at this time at rates that will not change as a result of this subdivision. However, what this design does mitigate are the potential changes for runoff off-site when the lots are developed.

“Changes to the north and east of this property, particularly off of Wentworth Road, in recent years, appear to have resulted in increase in drainage flows across properties proposed to be subdivided. The changes in drainage as a result of building the new single-family house and the associated infrastructure will be relatively minor and will be attenuated by the proposed infiltration swales and raingardens. Again, flows from off-site sources come through the subject’s properties and in turn, to adjacent properties down gradient.”

Ms. Darrow also spoke of using non-woven jute mats that slow down water at a 3 to 1 ratio. They are sometimes made of coconut cord and eventually biodegrade and have a long-term impact. 

Ms. Reeves said any building in this area is going to exacerbate the problem. We are looking at a whole bracket of homes. She understands that there is water from other offsite sources, not just Mr. Landry, but this is going to make it worse.

Mr. Nielsen again spoke about cutting trees and the problem of erosion when cut. There are a lot of homes being impacted so it means it’s a town problem, he said. That’s two properties that have virgin timber. This area is rather “hoity toity”, he said. He mentioned several neighbors that have lots sizes of many more acres than the smaller lots that Mr. Landry has divided.

Ms. Darrow said there is already a problem and there is no perfect answer. Mr. Landry is complying with the town ordinance and looking for a way to minimize the impact. There will be a change. Mr. DiBernardo added that we don’t know how many trees are going to be removed and there shouldn’t be an insinuation that every tree on the lot will be cut. Mr. Neilsen add that there is no ordinance preventing someone taking down every tree on a lot. Ms. Darrow said that most people building houses also want to have privacy. 

Regarding Old Keene Road, Mrs. Colley asked said about where the trees are. Is there a slope there that causes water to pour onto the road? The two converging trenches are slightly above that. Could a swale be installed there? Mrs. Colley asked. Ms. Darrow pointed out that the wetland area is next to the trees and there are lots of Department of Environmental Services regulating wetlands. If they started digging around the lower area it could cause problems that aren’t there now. But the area  above that might have a swale. Ms. Darrow said that maybe they could do a bioswale, just a basin, that would be inexpensive and help between the two drainage area. It would be relatively ease, she said. 

Mr. Gohl asked about the springs on the Reeves property and how they would coexist with swales.  The springs furnish water that runs to a cistern in the basement of the house. The water is used for general household use but there is also a drilled well and that water is used for drinking and cooking. Ms. Darrow said it should have minimal if any impact. The volume is going offsite. However, there is no radial requirement for putting the swale further away. It is compliant. There is no 75 foot radius requirement as there is for a septic system and a well. The raingarden is 20 feet from her property line. It should have a permanent protective measure around the spring such as an easement.  

Mr. Marcom asked what would happen if there were a heavy rainfall. Ms. Darrow said the swales and raingardens will help dissipate and reduce channelization but if it’s a 500-year rainfall, there would be problems everywhere. 

Water Capacity

A Goggle Earth Map showed Wentworth and Old Keene Roads with pins on the map that point out houses on both roads, mostly Wentworth Road. The pinpoints were addresses of homes along the roads and the amount of gallons of water per minute at those address. For example, the house at 101 Wentworth Road to 12 gallons of water a minute; the house at 144 – 11 gallons a minute; house at 178 Wentworth – 6 gallons a minute. Generally, houses further up the hill got less gallons a minute than the once closer to the village. Ms. Darrow said that DES and the NH Water Board recommended the rate be 5 gallons of water per minute for a private well.

Ms. Reeves remembered the previous summer when Walpole experienced a drought. She said that homeowners are already having a problem worrying if that could happen again. But with added building going on in this area, it would exacerbate the problem, she said. At the last meeting Ms. Reeves remembers it was discussed that the town of Walpole  had a problem with having enough water. And she heard of a home on Wentworth that ran out of water completely. 

Regarding that home, Mr. Landry said he looked into that situation. That homeowner had a dug well and capacity of that well was already an issue. That homeowner was already in the process of getting a drilled well.

Mr. Marcom said he spoke to Mark Houghton, head of the water department, and Mr. Houghton said that the problem with getting water to people on Wentworth Road and Old Keene Road was not that there was not enough water. The reservoir has plenty of water. The problem is elevation. The water would need to be pumped up to the homes on those roads and that would require that a cost-prohibitive pumping station be installed. Mr. Dalessio agreed and added that that was the information he too had from Mr. Houghton.

Mr. Nielsen questioned the copy of the Goggle map. He thought 101 Wentworth Road looked too far north. He also asked why this information and references was not provided before this meeting. Other also wanted copies of the information that was presented at the meeting. Actually, the secretary just received the information Tuesday morning by email and sent it immediately to Board members.

The Board has 90 days to makes a decision on a site plan since it was first presented at the December 2020 meeting. It was decided that it would be hard to make a decision that night because of the new information. Mr. Miller checked with Mr. Landry who said he was okay with letting people digest the information they had received tonight. It was suggested that everyone at the meeting receive copies of the documents that were presented and also copies would be placed with the application that was in the Town Offices. Mr. Landry said he felt that the information presented at the meeting addressed their concerns. So it was decided that a final decision would be made at an April meeting.

It was also decided that certain information should be included on the plat, deed and building plan regarding restrictions on the property on stormwater management and sediment and erosion control in order to mitigate problems. Ms. Darrow it should be very specific regarding sediment and erosion control and runoff and it should get into details. She also recommended it be done by a certified professional and that it be technical enough so that a person 10 years down the road could not circumvent the intentions of the restrictions.

New Business: 

Site Plan: Change of Use. Larry and Paula Burdick, 8 Huntington Lane, commercial district. Change from a chiropractor’s office to retail sales of chocolate. No one came to the meeting on this matter. Mr. Miller said he called a couple of times and left a message with the Burdick’s daughter, who said she and her father were going on a trip for the next three weeks. Mr. Miller suggested that a public hearing for the April meeting be scheduled on the matter and if the application were complete, a public hearing could be held at that time. The footprint of the building is not changing, but the renovations would probably over $10,000 and there would be more traffic and parking concerns. Mr. Marcom made a motion to hold a public hearing on a change of use at the former chiropractor’s office to be changed to a retail building. The motion was seconded and the motion carried.

Adjournment: A motion was made, seconded and approved to adjourn the meeting.

Workshop: No workshop this month.

Next meeting April 13, 2021.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

WPB Secretary