From Julie Rios at the Walpole Town Library:
Hooper Institute Grand Reopening – 10/18/25
From Greta Drager, the new executive director of the Hooper Institute:
Planning Board Meeting Minutes – 8/12/25
Walpole Planning Board Minutes
August 12, 2025
Town Hall
7 pm
Roll Call: Board Present: Chair Jeff Miller, Clerk Jason Perron, Jeff Harrington, Joanna Andros, Trevor MacLachlan, Steve Dalessio, Select Board Representative. Alternate: Bill Carmody. Absent: Board member Dennis Marcom, alternate Travis Adams.
These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the September 9th meeting for corrections.
Call to Order: Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7 pm. He asked Mr. Carmody to fill in for the absent Board member. Mr. Carmody agreed.
Minutes: Review of the July 2025 minutes. Ms. Andros made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Mr. Harrington and the motion carried.
Old Business
Public Hearing: Lot Line Adjustment: Robin Sanctuary property on 5 Hooper and 00 Old Keene Road, Tax Map 8, Lots 8 and sub 2 in the rural agricultural district. Annex to Tax Map 8, Lot 8-15-1 owned by Alexander T. Allan and Allison M Hastings-Allan. Total after adjustment is 7.65 acres,
Mr. Miller held up a plat for the public to see. It showed the parcel of land that is being sold and being annexed by an abutter. He said he had a call from an abutter and he told her that the people were purchasing the property because they wanted more land. Ms. Sanctuary repeated that statement. With no questions from the public, Mr. Miller closed the public hearing at 7:05. Mr. Perron made a motion to approve the site plan as presented. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Signage at Blue Seal: Free-standing sign for Blue Seal, 334 Main Street, Tax Map 12, Lot 59-3, Commercial District, near Route 12. Presenter Justin Parker of Classic Signs Inc. LLC in Amherst, NH.
Mr. Parker proposes a free-standing sign of 31 square feet.
Mr. Parker said this sign is 31 square feet and since the zoning ordinance states the maximum is 32 square feet., the sign is in compliance. Mr. Perron made a motion to approve the sign as presented. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion carried.
New Business
Signage: Sign for Rancho Viejo, a Mexican restaurant in the Walpole Village Store. Ms. Pschirrer, president of the Board of Directors of The Walpole Foundation, the owners of the property at 10 Westminster Street, said there will be one sign on the east side of the building.
The dimensions are 20-inches-by-78 inches and it is single sided. Ms. Pschirrer added that the restaurant had had all the proper inspections. The selectmen have approved of the request to sell liquor but they are waiting on the state’s license. As soon as they get the license they plan to open. Opening Monday is hopeful but not certain. All the tiles are from Mexico and the décor is quite colorful.
According to Tom Murray, the sign on the building, which says Walpole Village Store, is a registered landmark.
Mr. Perron made a motion to approve the sign as presented. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Site Plan: Andrew Pollock, 40 Main Street, Tax Map 21, Lot 13, Commercial District. Mr. Pollock is increasing the number of apartments from 3 to 4 therefore he needs to get a site plan approval. He was requesting a Public Hearing in September.
Mr. Pollock explained his renovation of the apartment building. He cannot get a building permit until he has site plan approval but Mr. Miller said he was allowed to work on roofing and windows until he gets site plan approval.
Mr. Perron made a motion to hold a Public Hearing for a site plan for Mr. Pollock in September. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Trailers, Mobile Homes, Recreational Vehicles
Also, briefly discussed were the use of these types of vehicles for permanent use. The Board recognized that these types of vehicles are more prominent in the summer and fall as there is need for housing for seasonal workers and that residents are hosting family and friends.
Adjournment
Mr. Perron made a motion to adjourn at 7:40 pm. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Marilou Blaine,
Recording Secretary
September 2025 Clarion Closing Date – 8/22/25
From Ray Boas:
Time again, summer almost done, folks shifting in thought to the school year, BUT also time again to send your submissions for the next CLARION — inputs are due for the September issue by 5 pm Walpole Time, a week from now, Friday 22 August. The files will go to the printer Sunday evening, 24 August – so do not miss out. Make sure to visit the CLARION website for contact information, and article and advertising submission details.
Your early submissions help as I start developing the layout well before the closing date. If you have some “news” send it along. I also like to have on-hand material of interest that is not time-sensitive to fill space to round out a pleasing issue. So, if you would “like to be in print” and have something to write and share (images as well), send along for possible inclusion space permitting. Please do remember, it is the advertisers in each issue that make this community publication possible, so please support and thank them.
If you have any questions, or interest in placing an advertisement, reaching over 1900 Walpole, North Walpole and Drewsville addresses, I welcome your inquiries, so please do get in touch with me. Advertising information and contact information is on the CLARION website.
Thank you, RAY BOAS, Publisher
Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 8/6/25
Town of Walpole, New Hampshire
Meeting of the Selectboard
August 6, 2025
Selectboard Present: Steven Dalessio, Chair; Carolyn Vose and Cheryl Mayberry
Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
Guests Present: Kyle Houghton, Mike Nachajski, and Brad Nash, Maintenance Tech
CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Dalessio called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.
The following item was moved to the top of the agenda to accommodate guests who wish to speak to it.
Town Hall Air Conditioning System Proposal
Mr. Houghton and Mr. Nachajski of E.E. Houghton presented the proposal for air conditioner/heat pumps in the Town Hall offices, kitchen, hall and bathrooms for a cost of $87,500.00. They recommend a City Multiline from Mitsubishi which has multiple zones and thermostat settings. The system does heat and cooling at the same time, to allow everyone to be comfortable. It can use heat from a too warm area to heat another area where extra heat is needed. Mr. Nachajski explained that if the Town do not choose this system, it will take three compressors to cover the same part of the building. There are rebates available. The amount the Town can expect is being calculated. The amounts should be available in about a week. The recommendation is to disconnect the existing boiler from this area but still have it available for the rest of the building. The proposed system would be the most efficient option for the most frequently used areas. Mr. Dalessio commented that because of the cost, this system must go to Town Meeting for approval. There were additional questions such as what is the cost impact if the system is sized for a couple more offices. Mr. Dalessio requested a service contract quote. There was a question about whether a generator could run this system. The Town is waiting for a quote to install a generator at the Town Hall.
Mr. Houghton, Mr. Nachajski, and Mr. Nash left the meeting.
Accounts Payable
Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Accounts Payable Check Register totaling $150,782.45, dated 8/11/2025 including $86,860.90 payment to the Village of Bellows Falls for the second quarter sewer usage and bond. Ms. Vose seconded. With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Accounts Payable was approved.
Payroll
Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $36,136.05 dated 8/8/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,906.84. Ms. Vose seconded. With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, Payroll was approved.
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
Selectboard Meeting – July 31, 2025: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of July 31, 2025. Ms. Vose seconded. With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Selectboard minutes were approved.
Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – July 31, 2025: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of July 31, 2025. The minutes will remain sealed. Ms. Vose seconded. With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Non-Public minutes were approved, and they remain sealed.
Old Business
Reservoir Dam: There is a request from the Conservation Commission and new information from Fuss and O’Neill. Fuss and O’Neill have prepared a new design that should be available this week to avoid having a cement spillway. Mr. Dalessio stated the estimate to remove the dam is $400,000 – 580,000 plus treatment of contamination or living organisms and removal of accumulated silt. The current grants would not be applicable to removing the dam. Other grants are available to remove a dam. The work must be completed in about a year for the ARPA grant. John Peska and Peter Palmiotto will be asked to attend the Selectboard meeting next week to discuss the topic.
Property Tax Collections Summary Report: Mrs. Daigle has defined the letter meanings for each type of warrant as requested last week. That clarified the report.
New Business
Library Repairs Purchase Order and Invoice: Ms. Vose moved to approve and sign Purchase Order # 619057 for $6,000.00 for pointing the left and right sides of the front of the building, repairing the crack on the side of the ramp, and repairing the piers on the porch. Ms. Mayberry seconded. With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the purchase order was approved and signed.
Conservation Commission Topics: Ms. Vose said that the Conservation Commission is ready to plant the next batch of trees for the Common on October 19th. The Tree Committee will determine what is needed in Drewsville and North Walpole. Ms. Mayberry will check with the Commissioners to see what North Walpole might like for trees.
Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Update: Revised maps are available for review and comment. The next step is to schedule a public meeting. After that the official maps will be released.
NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS RSA 91-A:3 II (b) (c)
Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (b)(c) at 7:32 PM. Ms. Vose seconded. With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.
The meeting was reconvened at 8:21PM.
Ms. Vose moved that the Non-Public Session Minutes be sealed. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.
Hooper Trustees
Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into the Hooper Trustees meeting at 8:25 PM. Ms. Vose seconded. With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.
The meeting was reconvened at 8:47 PM.
ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Dalessio declared the meeting adjourned at 8:47 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the August 14, 2025 Selectboard meeting.)
Walking Tour of Walpole – 8/16/25
A SPECIAL EVENT EVERY SATURDAY
Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 10:30 am
Walking Tour of Walpole – Meet at 10:30 am on the sidewalk in front of the museum to join Bill Ranauro, local author, on an architectural tour of the village.
The Walpole Historical Society will be open every Saturday through October 18th, from noon to 3:00 pm and will feature a special presentation each Saturday at 12:30 pm.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Selectboard Meeting Agenda – 8/14/25
TOWN OF WALPOLE
SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA
August 14, 2025
Starting at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall
SELECTBOARD MEETING
RESERVOIR DAM
NORTH WALPOLE PARK TREES
PAYROLL
- Payroll Register totaling $35,946.07 dated 8/15/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,842.78
SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES
- Selectboard Meeting – August 6, 2025
- Selectboard Non-Public Session – August 6, 2025
- Amendment to July 31, 2025 Selectboard Minutes
COMMITTEE REPORTS
- Conservation Commission Meeting – August 4, 2025
BUILDING PERMITS
- 2025-19, Map and Lot# 008-053-000
- 2025-20, Map and Lot# 005-034-000
OLD BUSINESS
Pending Further Actions: Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Streets Bridges/Culverts, School and Union Street Drainage
- ARPA Grant Disbursement Forms for Reservoir Dam
- Groundwater Management Permit for former Central Plating Site
NEW BUSINESS
- HealthTrust Updated Transmittal
- Inspection of Toxic Air Pollutants
NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (b)
**Any recording, audio or visual, and/or other devices must be declared at the beginning of the meeting**
Reminder: Cub Scout Mum Sale
From Debbie Pawelczyk:
The Walpole Cub Scout Pack 299 will soon start taking orders for their Mum Fall Fundraiser. All proceeds from this fundraiser pay for scout activities and registrations.
This year the sale is starting August 4, and going thru September 8, unless we sell out before then. This is a very popular fundraiser and we have a limited number of mums available. Please place your order early to guarantee you can get what you want. We sold out last year.
Mums are between 15 to 18 inches across, and planted in 9.5 inch pots. Colors available are red, white, yellow, and orange-bronze. We are selling them for $20 each. The mums come from a grower in Bowdoin, Maine.
Mums will be available for pick-up on Sunday, September 21, on the Walpole Town Common between 9:00 and 10:00 am. You can place an order by finding a Cub Scout from Pack 299, or you can call Debbie Pawelczyk 603-445-5475.
Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes – 8/4/25
Town of Walpole, New Hampshire
Conservation Commission
AUGUST 4, 2025
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the September 8, 2025 Conservation Commission meeting.)
Members Present: Nicole Adams, Wendy Grossman, Paul Happ, France Menk, Peter Palmiotto (Cochair & Presiding), John Peska (Cochair), Lewis Shelley, Carolyn Vose (Selectboard Rep)
Alternates Present: Tom Beaudry, Hale Morrell
Members Absent:
Visitors Present: Lesley Johnson, NHACC Board President
CALL TO ORDER: Peter called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm in the Town Hall.
SEATING OF ALTERNATES: All members were present, so no Alternates were seated.
Review and Approval of Minutes
There were a few amendments:
- Under Rail Trail Brush Hog, “They were very accommodating, and they did a great job” should read, “Mike Hubbard of Connecticut Valley Yard Works was very accommodating and did a great job.”
- The second paragraph in that same heading should read, “If the Town goes forward with the State’s new Trail Maintenance Agreement and Annual Work Plan, it will replace the annual Special Use Permit for brush hogging and other work on the Rail Trail.
- Under Old Home Days Summary: The raffle tickets were not counted, so it should read, “The winner of the snowshoes was thrilled to get them.”
Lew moved to accept the July 7, 2025 minutes as amended. John seconded and all voted in favor. The minutes were approved.
Public Business
Financial Report:
- Conservation $283,725.69
- Forestry $52,740.23
We also received a consolidated expenses report for year-to-date. It looks like the cost of roofing the shelters at the Route 12 rest areas was recorded to the Conservation Commission budget when it should have been a Fanny Mason expense. John to follow up with Rich Kreissle.
Correspondence: There is a letter to Tree Committee from Jennifer Burr. The Marcia Galloway Fund for Conservation Commission was established by Marcia’s will. The funds will be paid every December. Expected amounts are not yet known.
New Business
Lesley Johnson, NHACC Board, President 2023 – 2025: NHACC is looking to engage and involve all conservation members. They send a monthly newsletter and updates, and they have a listserv for discussions. Sue is to send the roster to Lesley so everyone on the Commission will receive the communications.
This September they are starting a wetlands program and a new mapping program using better technology. All interested members are encouraged to register for the Zoom sessions and the program in Concord. There are also seven YouTube videos from a previous wetlands course (see their website for a link). There will be a class on trail maintenance with AMC. There will also be a program in Concord on Advocacy.
There is a grant for a large land management program to encourage collaboration across political boundaries – perhaps Walpole, Surry and Alstead could join and do the shared conserved property. They had a grant for interns in 2025. The interns will be presenting a summary in December.
NHACC started a strategic plan in 2020. There is a survey that will go out to determine what the local Conservation Commissions need from NHACC. Currently they have 1.3 people, but they hope to support local conservation with collaboration, outreach, and increased capacity. They hope to have the new strategic plan complete by year-end.
The annual potluck dinner will be October 16th at Whitcomb Hall in Swanzey. The topic will be Road Agents and Conservation.
Tree Committee Update: The next tree planting will be October 19th. This year they are planting: (4) ornamental cherries around the memorial, a maple on the northwest corner of the Common, and (2) poplar in gaps on the west side of the Common to minimize the trimming needed for the power lines. They will call Dig Safe before the planting. Pete is currently talking to nurseries. The next step is to look at what is needed in Drewsville & North Walpole.
Old Business
Gateway Management – Invasives Control: They will post trails ahead of time with the treatment dates.
Route 12 Rest Areas: The state brush hogged the rest areas last week. John will determine if the mowing and brush hogging contract for Mike Hubbard needs to be adjusted.
Trail Committee
Updates: A lot of overgrowth was removed at Fanny Mason, the west side of Mill Pond (thanks to the Walpole Walkers), and the east side of Mill Pond. Some paving with stones was also done on the east side of Mill Pond. They will be working on ditches on the Rail Trail south of Halls Crossing to make it drier. The second Rail Trail brush hogging is expected to be later this month. A crew will pick up all the sticks in preparation for the brush hogging. There is now a new bench on the River Ramble trail at the Gateway with river views.
Other Business and Updates
Dam: Paul made a motion that the Conservation Commission advise the Selectboard to reconsider work on Reservoir Dam and instead consider removing the dam. The decision will need to be based on fiscal analysis. France seconded. With all members in favor the motion passed unanimously.
Hooper Institute Board: The Board meets tomorrow.
Website: France moved the Commission reimburse Kelli Wilson $235.70 for the costs of hosting the Conservation website. It will be billed to the consulting line. John seconded. The motion carried.
Agenda: Paul moved that the agenda be sent to the Walpolean when it is sent to the Commission each month. France seconded. The motion passed.
Agenda for the Next Meeting – September 8, 2025
- Lew and Nicole will not be at the September meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: Peter declared the meeting adjourned at 8:26 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
Reminder: Summer Hiking Challenge
From France Menk:
The Walpolean 
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