The Walpolean

Clarion Deadline again? I find it so hard to imagine how time goes by so quickly when I have nothing to do! – Lil

FEBRUARY 2021 CLARION — CLOSING DATE — JANUARY 22

by Ray Boas

TIME AGAIN, and work has begun on the February 2021 issue of THE WALPOLE CLARION. Closing date is in just a tad over a week from today – Friday – 22 January.

Still with a scarcity of happenings, both past and future, to cover on our pages I still have been able to bring you 20 full pages of hopefully interesting and balanced reading. Remember I mail 2,o00 copies to homes and businesses, 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

And please, Wear Your Mask, Practice Social Distancing, and Wash Your Hands.
Thank you, yours, RAY BOAS, Publisher

TOWN OF WALPOLE

SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA

January 14, 2021

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

SELECTBOARD MEETING

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

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE• Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $131,077.65 for checks issued 1/15/21

PAYROLL• Payroll Register totaling $26,684.41 dated 1/15/21 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $5,206.96

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES• Selectboard Minutes – January 7, 2021• Non-Public Selectboard Session Minutes January 7, 2021

COMMITTEE REPORTS• North Walpole Village Commissions Meeting – December 15, 2020• North Walpole Village Commissions Meeting – December 22, 2020• North Walpole Village Commissions Meeting – December 29, 2020

SUPPLEMENTAL TAX WARRANT• Map and Lot# 012-013-004

PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS• Map and Lot# 005-059-000• Map and Lot# 030-007-000

VETERANS TAX CREDIT• Map and Lot# 017-021-000

BUILDING PERMIT• Map and Lot# 008-088-002

DEMOLITION PERMIT• Map and Lot# 008-068-000

OLD BUSINESS• 2020 Warrant Articles• FMRSD Deliberative Session

Pending Further Actions

Town Street Lights, Tax Deeded Property Sale, Houghton Brook Bridge Repair, Reservoir Dam Repairs, Emergency Generators

NEW BUSINESS• Cemetery Deed D591• Cemetery Deed D592• January Staff Meeting

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

I have heard that there are meals available for school kids that aren’t being picked up. It would seem like a good idea to remind parents that they are available and here is how you can pick them up. If you need help getting them picked up, please let me know and I am willing to bet I can help you out! – Lil

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Five Towns, One Vision.

To: ​Fall Mountain Families, Staff and Community

From: ​Lori Landry, Superintendent

Date: ​January 11, 2021

Re:​ FMRSD Update  

On November 18, the School Board voted to approve moving to a fully remote learning environment through January 15 using the Decision Making Matrix from the NH Department of Health and Human Services.  This matrix takes into consideration the level of community of transmission against the level of school impact and provides guidance to determine which learning model should be implemented. 

Tonight, the School Board met and discussed the continuing rise in transmission rates of COVID-19 within our counties and communities.  After discussion and public input, the School Board voted to continue with the remote model of instruction through February 1 and to reassess the situation at the end of January.       

We will continue to monitor transmission rates and the level of school impact daily and communicate information as necessary.  

Additional Resources

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Dashboard

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Considerations for Transitioning Between School Instructional Models Based on Level of Community COVID-19 Transmission and Impact on Local Schools (September 1, 2020)

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And another update, and a correction.

Lucy  

COVID by the Numbers-January 9 Edition

Correction and Update

First, the correction:

A constituent brought to my attention a line in my last update that was incorrect and had the potential to be misleading. 

In my last update, I referred to the vaccine as still being an experimental treatment.  That statement was incorrect, and I should have chosen my words more carefully.  

I used it because the vaccines are being used under an Emergency Use Authorization, pending full FDA approval.  However, having checked with medical experts, they do NOT consider the vaccines to be experimental at this point, and I should not have used that word.  

I very much regret if this has in any way made anyone more reluctant to get a vaccine which has been tested extensively and which has been found to be both safe and effective.  I am certainly going to get vaccinated myself, just as soon as we get to phase 2-a.

My thanks to the constituent who brought the matter to my attention, so this correction could be made, and my apologies to all.

Now, the update:

My last post was data from January 7.  Last night, the report of January 8 brought the news of 7 more cases here in Walpole.  We now have a new high of 25 currently active cases in town, more than any other town in Cheshire County.  Only the City of Keene, with 66 currently active cases, has more.  The total number of cases in Walpole over the course of the pandemic now stands at 61.

Yesterday, Cheshire County was the only county in New Hampshire that did not have a slight decrease in the number of cases per 100,000 population.  Our increase was only slight, and we are still lower in that respect than most other counties, but we are still going in the wrong direction.

The state as a whole crossed the 50,000 mark yesterday, with 50,152total cases reported and 19 new deaths.  On a more positive note, hospitalizations, which had hit a high of 335 on January 2, are now down to 297.

Wear your mask, keep your distance, wash your hands.  Please be especially careful during our own local spike in cases.

~Representative Lucy Weber

603-499-0282

lwmcv@comcast.net

Office Assistant Job Opening

Walpole Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s Office

The Town of Walpole is accepting applications for a full-time, temporary Office Assistant for the Town Clerk’s Office. This position will potentially become the permanent position of Deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector.

Candidates should have excellent customer service skills, proficient personal computer skills including experience using MSOffice, e-file management, and be able to create and respond to e-mail communications; knowledge and use of business telephone etiquette; general office procedures; be organized and complete tasks in a timely manner, have business level math skills and data entry experience, ability to be courteous with the public and be a good listener.

A High School diploma or GED required with advanced education in a business disciplineand/or business-related experience desired. Applicant must be a resident of the Town of Walpole.

COVID by the Numbers Midweek Update, January 7 Edition

and

When Can I Get Vaccinated?

First, the numbers update.  Cheshire County has had 56 new cases in the last week.  17 of those cases appear to have been in Walpole.  We currently have our all-time high of 18 currently active cases.  Yesterday, January 6, the state recorded a record 24 deaths in one day.  Tomorrow, or the next day, the state of New Hampshire will reach the milestone of 50,000 total cases since  start of the pandemic.  COVID is not only out there, it is right here.  Be careful out there.  You know the drill:  WYM, KYD, WYH, and keep well.

Second, vaccines.  I had a request today for information about NH’s vaccine timetable.  The best graphic I have seen is to be found here:

Click to access covid19-vaccine-allocation-plan-summary.pdf

Currently, we are part way through Phase 1-a, with the first recipients starting to receive their second shot.  Be sure to check in with your Primary Care Provider to find out if your health issues permit you to jump the line.  The timeline may vary with how may doses of vaccine are allocated to NH.  Fun fact for today: Members of the clergy are first responders.

NH is not considering a vaccine mandate, and strongly recommends that employers not mandate the vaccine either.  This is still an experimental treatment.

Here is some guidance for schools, businesses, and employers/employees: 

Click to access covid-19-%20vaccine-faq-schools-employers.pdf

Finally, here is the NH DHHS Page with ALL the information.  I find it highly technical, confusing, and …sometimes conflicting, but you may find just what you need.

https://www.nh.gov/covid19/resources-guidance/vaccination-planning.htm

I hope this is helpful.

Lucy

~Representative Lucy Weber

603-499-0282

Lwmcv@comcast.net

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

CALL TO ORDER:  Mrs. Pschirrer, Chair of the Walpole Selectboard, called this meeting, via Zoom, to order at 5:30 PM.  She announced that Ms. Cheryl Mayberry and Mr. Steven Dalessio, the other two Selectboard members are also present.  The Selectboard members are in three separate locations.  Mrs. Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, is in the Walpole Town Hall, and Mrs. Regina Borden, Recording Secretary, is by telephone at a separate location.  This Zoom meeting is being recorded remotely by FACT-TV.  It is available for viewing on the internet.

Public comments are to be emailed to Mrs. Downing at the Walpole Town Hall or by calling 603-756-3672.  She will display the agenda.  That will be followed by documents as they are being discussed.

Mrs. Pschirrer called for a voice roll call vote of the Selectboard present:  Cheryl Mayberry was present; Steven Dalessio was present and Peggy Pschirrer was present.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel and (c) Reputations.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 6:35 PM.

Ms. Mayberry moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of December 29, 2020, will be sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

There was no Accounts Payable Check Register this week due to the short holiday week.

PAYROLL:

Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Payroll Check Register for the week ending December 26, 2020, in the amount of $30,336.25 for checks dated January 1, 2021 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $6,087.58.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MINUTES – December 23, 2020:  Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of December 23, 2020, as submitted.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – December 23, 2020:  Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of December 23, 2020, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Minutes were approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

Pending Further Actions:

Town Street Lights, Tax Deeded Property Sale, Houghton Brook Bridge Repair, Reservoir Dam Repairs, Emergency Generators:  These agenda items will remain on the Pending Further Actions list.

NEW BUSINESS:

Police Department Resignation:  Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the resignation of Police Chief Michael Paquette effective March 31, 2021.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

2021 Draft Warrant Articles:  Mrs. Pschirrer had drafted the first 2021 Warrant Articles for review.  Some need figures added in.  She did not include the Dog Ordinance.  An article for the newly elected Town Clerk’s salary plus an article to split the Town Clerk and Tax Collector’s positions also has to be added.  Mr. Dalessio noted this brings them below the figures in the existing budget.

Next Selectboard Meeting:  The next regular Selectboard meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 7, 2021, at 6:30 PM.  

Mrs. Pschirrer wished everyone a safe and healthy Happy New Year.   

ADJOURNMENT:

Ms. Mayberry moved to adjourn this Selectboard meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 6:48 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

Starting at 6:30 PM via Zoom and live-streamed on Fact-TV

SELECTBOARD MEETING

SNOW REMOVAL AND DAMAGE TO PRIVATE PROPERTY• Re: snow stakes and lawn damage

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE• Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $850,089.96 for checks issued 1/08/2021

PAYROLL• Payroll Register totaling $35,473.09 dated 12/11/2020 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $8,012.77

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES• Selectboard Minutes – December 29, 2020• Non-Public Selectboard Session – December 29, 2020

OLD BUSINESS• 2021 Annual Budget Public Meeting

Pending Further Actions

Town Street Lights, Tax Deeded Property Sale, Houghton Brook Bridge Repair, Reservoir Dam Repairs, Emergency Generators

NEW BUSINESS• Municipal Resources Professional Services Agreement• Cemetery Deed D571• Cemetery Deed D572• Cemetery Deed D573• 2020 Town Report Cover Ideas• Thank You Card

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**