Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 5/28/25

SELECTBOARD 06/06/2025 Leave a comment

Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Meeting of the Selectboard

May 28, 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: Peggy Pschirrer & Greta Drager

CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Dalessio called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

Hooper Trustees

Ms. Vose moved to enter into the Hooper Trustees meeting at 6:30 PM.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:20 PM.  Ms. Drager and Mrs. Pschirrer left during the Hooper Trustees meeting.

Payroll

Ms. Vose moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $33,002.37 dated 5/30/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,841.23.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved. 

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Selectboard Meeting – May 22, 2025: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of May 22, 2025. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – May 22, 2025: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of May 22, 2025.  The minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved, and the minutes are sealed.

Committee Reports

Ms. Vose brought to the chair’s attention the following committee reports:

• Conservation Commission Meeting – May 5, 2025 

• Library Trustees Meeting – May 13, 2025 

Mr. Dalessio acknowledged these minutes.

Old Business

Route 12 Paving Project in North Walpole: The Preconstruction Meeting will be held June 5th at NH DOT District 4 Building in Swanzey at 9:30 AM.  All the appropriate Walpole people have been notified.  The paving of Route 12 has already started in Winchester per Ms. Mayberry.

Fuss & O’Neill Meeting: Mr. Dalessio will call an in-person meeting with Fuss & O’Neill in a week or so.  They do not provide reports every two weeks as agreed.

New Business

Waiver of Municipal Liability for Private Highway for Map and Lot # 003-056-000: Map and Lot # 003-056-000 is located on the Class VI portion of Merriam Road.  Ms. Mayberry moved to accept and sign the Waiver of Municipal Liability already signed by the landowner.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose, and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved, and the waiver was signed and notarized.

Repairs on the Solar Energy System at the Recycling Building: Ms. Vose reported that the replacement inverter for the solar energy system on the pole barn at the Recycling Center arrived and is being installed.

The Selectboard discussed the topic of Town committees. They do not have the authority to make financial decisions or sign contracts.  Only the Selectboard can negotiate and make these decisions.

2024 Total Equalized Valuation Notice: With utility and railroad parcels, Walpole’s total valuation is $824,193,874.  Mr. Dalessio acknowledged receipt of the 2024 Total Equalized Valuation Notice from the NH Department of Revenue Administration (DRA).

Showcase at North Walpole School: The second grade will have a showcase on their study of the Early American West at the North Walpole School on Friday, 5/30/2025 at 9:30 AM.

Non-Public Business RSA 91-A:3 II (b)(c)

Ms. Vose moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (b)(c) at 7:53 PM.  Ms. Mayberry seconded. With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.The meeting was reconvened at 8:20 PM.

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.

The next meeting will be Wednesday, June 4th at 6:30 PM.

Adjournment: Mr. Dalessio declared the meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the June 4, 2025 Selectboard meeting.)

Quilt Expert Kathy Metelica Cray at the Library – 6/12/25

EVENTS 06/04/2025 1 Comment
Please join us as a quilt expert Kathy Metelica Cray presents a talk on "The Women Below and Behind the Quilts" about antique quilts and the stories of the women who made them. Thursday, June 12th at 5:00 pm at the Main Library.

Selectboard Meeting Agenda – 6/4/25

SELECTBOARD 06/04/2025 Leave a comment

TOWN OF WALPOLE

SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA 

June 4, 2025

Starting at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING

HOOPER TRUSTEES NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (b)

HOOPER TRUSTEES PUBLIC BUSINESS

  • Hooper Institute Renovation Update
  • Meeting with Hooper Institute Board Chair

HOOPER TRUSTEES MINUTES

  • Hooper Trustees Meeting – May 28, 2025
  • Hooper Non-Public Session – May 28, 2025

SELECTBOARD MEETING

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

  • Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $94,050.64 for checks issued 6/09/2025

PAYROLL

  • Payroll Register totaling $36,320.68 dated 6/06/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,028.44

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

  • Selectboard Meeting – May 28, 2025
  • Selectboard Non-Public Session – May 28, 2025

COMMITTEE REPORTS

  • Trail Committee Meeting – May 14, 2025
  • Safety Committee Meeting – May 29, 2025

ABATEMENTS

  • Map and Lot# 012-056-002
  • Map and Lot# 012-056-004
  • Map and Lot# 012-058-000

WARRANTS

  • Supplemental Tax Warrant for Map and Lot# 012-056-002

EXCAVATION INTENT

  • Map and Lot# 012-073-000

OLD BUSINESS

Pending Further Actions: Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Streets Bridges/Culverts, School and Union Street Drainage, Reservoir Dam, and Houghton Brook Bridge

  • Special Use Permit (SUP) for Rail Trail
  • Recycling Center Solar System Repair Update
  • Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
  • Rt. 12 Repaving Project in North Walpole Update
  • CPCNH Meeting and Rate Update Notice

NEW BUSINESS

  • Mascoma Bank Account
  • Walpole Players Banner on the Town Hall
  • Recreation Revolving Fund Request
  • Police Cruiser Capital Reserve Request
  • Drinking Water Sustainability ARPA Grant Reimbursement

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II

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

Zoning Board Meeting Minutes – 5/21/25

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Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Town Hall

7 pm.

These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the June 18, 2025 meeting for corrections.

Roll Call:  Board members present: Chair Tom Murray, Vice-Chair Pauline Barnes, Clerk Dave Edkins, Shane O’Keefe and Bill Sommers. Alternate Don Sellarole. Absent Myra Mansouri.

Call to Order: Mr. Murray called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm. A full board was present.

Minutes: Mr. Murray made one correction. He mentioned that the caveat about the minutes not being approved was not at the beginning of the April minutes. Ms. Barnes made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Mr. O’Keefe seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Walpole Zoning Ordinances: The Board received copies of the updated zoning ordinances booklet recently reorganized by Southwest Region Planning Commission. This update reflects the recent changes voted on by townspeople at the March warrant vote. After members have had a chance to look over the booklet, they’ll come back next month with their comments. A quick look showed that all the definitions were in alphabetical order. 

Conway in the news again: Ms. Barnes said Conway, NH was in the news again. The NH Superior Court recently made a decision about a bakery that had a mural painted over the top of its sign. The mural had pictures of pastries in it. The bakery was said to be in violation of the sign ordinance, however the high court found in favor of the bakery owner.

Gravel Pit Inspections: Mr. Murray said that later this year he will go over the gravel pit inspection process with the Planning Board. Inspections are required once a year and this is done usually in the fall. The Zoning Board has been doing this for years but legally it’s under the purview of the Planning Board. There are three gravel pits in Walpole that are still operating – Cold River Materials on Brewery Road, Tim Graves gravel pit at the end of Wentworth Road and the former Hodgkins gravel pit on Old Drewsville Road now owned by Josh Perry Trucking. 

It was suggested by Mr. Sellarole that he may want to get an expert to help him because it can be complicated. Mr. Edkins suggested a geologist who lives in Charlestown. Someone else suggested an engineer from a company that is hired to do this from a nearby town such as Westmoreland. He will also cover reclamation or closing of gravel pits and add what happens to those inspections: letter to gravel pit owners including a copy of the inspection report. Regulations on gravel pit are RSA 155:E.

Mr. O’Keefe briefly brought up development of regional impact. He referenced RSA 36:56, Section I. “A local land use board as defined in RSA 672:7, upon receipt of an application for development, shall review it promptly and determine whether or not the development, if approved, reasonably could be construed as having the potential for regional impact. Doubt concerning region impact shall be resolved in a determination that the development has potential regional impact.”

Spring conference: Ms. Barnes said she virtually attended a webinar on Saturday, May 10 put on by the New Hampshire Office of Planning and Development Spring Conference. This is what she gleaned from the conference in the afternoon question and answer session.

Recusing oneself:

  • The refusal of a Board member to recuse him/herself when there is a perceived conflict. When that happens, you can be 100 percent sure that there will be an appeal.

There was a lot to say about variances:

  • The applicant must answer all of the five questions. Otherwise the application is incomplete.

Hardship is often the hardest part of application to answer. Here’s some help:

  • Figure out what the underlying purpose of the restriction is about.
  • Is that purpose affected by a request?
  • Focus on the merits of the proposition.
  • What is the purpose behind the zoning restriction for which the variance is being requested. Is the purpose furthered when you apply the restriction to this particular property? If so, then there may not be a hardship.
  • Be tolerant on matters of procedure and focus instead on the merits of the proposition.

Equitable Waivers:

  • The lecturers themselves couldn’t agree on some questions about equitable waivers, underscoring how complicated they are. An equitable waiver does not confer protected status.  Once granted, it does not create a non-conforming use. Ms. Barnes wondered if the Board had ever dealt with an equitable waiver, leading to a discussion about them.  No member could recall having done so.     

Adjournment

Mr. O’Keefe made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Edkins seconded the motion and the motion carried. The time was 8 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

Recording Secretary

Reminder: Walpole Summer Trail Challenge

Uncategorized 06/04/2025 Leave a comment

June 2025 Clarion Now Online

Uncategorized 05/30/2025 Leave a comment

From Ray Boas:

The OLD HOME DAYS June issue will be at the post offices early on the 30th for delivery to you shortly – Twenty pages for you packed with details on Old Home Days, including a center two page schedule and details of activities June 25-29. You will want to save this issue for your planning to have fun to enjoy the festivities and celebrations.

So, click on this link for the issue or the front cover below. Stay safe and well, yours– RAY BOAS, Publisher.

Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 5/22/25

SELECTBOARD 05/30/2025 Leave a comment

Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Meeting of the Selectboard

May 22, 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: Adrian Basora and Peggy Pschirrer

CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Dalessio called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:32 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

The following item was moved to the top of the agenda to accommodate guests who wished to speak to it.

River Valley Seniors at Home (RVSAH): RVSAH thanked the Town for the annual donation.  Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Basora explained the new initiative. There are currently 771 seniors in Walpole, about two-thirds are living alone.  They have a new project to create a database that will help the Fire District and EMS respond to calls.  There will be refrigerator magnets with emergency contacts and medical issues plus more extensive data in a database for first responders.  They will be working with community organizations and the churches and request two advocates from each organization to help gather data and create the database.  They will start at Old Home Days. 

Two additional issues for seniors are filling out forms and keeping up with bills.  There is a service in NH that when the State sends a form or bill to a senior, they can send a copy to a registered advocate.  However, the word needs to get out, so people know about the service.

Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Basora left the meeting.

Accounts Payable

Ms. Vose moved to approve the Accounts Payable Check Register totaling $280,202.65 dated May 27, 2025.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.  

Payroll

Ms. Vose moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $31,550.29 dated 5/23/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,001.80.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Selectboard Meeting – May 14, 2025: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of May 14, 2025.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Committee Reports

Ms. Mayberry brought to the chair’s attention the following committee reports:

  • Police Building Committee Minutes May 12, 2025
  • Walpole Planning Board Minutes May 13, 2025

Mr. Dalessio acknowledged these minutes.

Property Tax Warrant

Spring Property Tax Warrant: Ms. Vose moved to approve the property tax warrant for $6,954,220.00 with payment due July 1, 2025.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the property tax warrant was approved.

Building Demolition Permits

2025-16, Map and Lot# 002-008-000: Ms.  Vose moved to approve Building Permit #2025-16 for Map and Lot # 002-008-000 to demolish a 40’ x 12’ lean-to between chicken coops. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the permit was approved.

2025-17, Map and Lot# 014-005-000: Ms. Vose moved to approve Building Permit #2025-17 for Map and Lot # 014-005-000 to demolish the house and barn. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the permit was approved.

Old Business

Pool Pavilion Contract: Bensonwood submitted the contract for the Shade Structure at the Town Pool.  Ms. Vose moved to have the Chair sign the contract dated May 13, 2025 for Bensonwood to build a shade structure at the Town Pool for $21,700.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved, and Mr. Dalessio signed the contract.

New Business

Consultant Selection Justification Form for ARPA Grant: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Consultant Selection Justification Form for ARPA and for Mr. Dalessio, the Chair, to sign the form.  Seconded by Ms. Vose.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Drinking Water Sustainability Grant Reimbursement Form: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Drinking Water Sustainability Grant Disbursement Form, and for Mr. Dalessio to sign the form. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved, and Mr. Dalessio signed the form.

Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the invoices from Weston and Sampson.  Seconded by Ms. Vose.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved, and the invoice was signed.

Police Building Capital Reserve Fund: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve and sign the letter to the Trustees of Trust Funds requesting them to issue a check to Walpole for $5,425.10 for reimbursement of the expenditures for the Police Station.  Seconded by Ms. Vose.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

Eagle Scouts: Two of the Walpole Scouts will become Eagle Scouts on Sunday.  There will be a Court of Honor and Pig Roast at Hogue Base.

  • Ms. Vose moved to sign the certificate and congratulate Bennett Hook on his accomplishment.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved, and the certificate was signed.
  • Ms. Vose moved to sign the certificate and congratulate David Northcott on his accomplishment.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved, and the certificate was signed.

The Town of Walpole congratulates the two new Eagle Scouts. The Town is proud of the scouts’ accomplishments.

Non-Public Business RSA 91-A:3 II (a, b, c, e)

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a, b, c, e) at 7:21 PM.  Ms. Vose seconded. With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 8:04 PM.

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.

The Selectboard will meet next week on Wednesday, May 28th at 6:30 PM.

ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Dalessio declared the meeting adjourned at 8:04 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the May 28, 2025 Selectboard meeting.)

Selectboard Meeting Agenda – 5/28/25

SELECTBOARD 05/28/2025 Leave a comment

TOWN OF WALPOLE

SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA 

May 28, 2025

Starting at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING

HOOPER TRUSTEES PUBLIC BUSINESS

  • Greta Drager – New Hooper Executive Director
  • Hooper Institute Renovation Update
  • Hooper Maintenance Trust – Petition to the Court Update
  • Countryside Lock and Alarm Contract

HOOPER TRUSTEES NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (b)

HOOPER TRUSTEES MINUTES

  • Hooper Trustees Meeting – May 1, 2025
  • Hooper Non-Public Session – May 1, 2025
  • Hooper Trustees Meeting – May 14, 2025

SELECTBOARD MEETING

PAYROLL

  • Payroll Register totaling $33,002.37 dated 5/30/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,841.23

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

  • Selectboard Meeting – May 22, 2025
  • Selectboard Non-Public Session – May 22, 2025

COMMITTEE REPORTS

  • Conservation Commission Meeting – May 5, 2025
  • Library Trustees Meeting – May 13, 2025

OLD BUSINESS

Pending Further Actions: Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Streets Bridges/Culverts, School and Union Street Drainage, Reservoir Dam, and Houghton Brook Bridge

  • Rt. 12 Repaving Project in North Walpole

NEW BUSINESS

  • Waiver of Municipal Liability for Private Driveway
  • Repairing Solar Energy System at Recycling Building
  • 2024 Total Equalized Valuation Notice
  • Showcase at North Walpole School

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

Walpole Trail Committee Summer Hiking Challenge – Starts 6/1/25

Uncategorized 05/26/2025 Leave a comment
Walpole Trail Committee Summer Hiking Challenge from 12:01 am June 1 - 11: 59 pm September 30. Hike any trail and class 6 road in Walpole, keep track of dates and mileage for each hike. Email iam@france-menk.com for log sheets and answers.

Rummage Sale at First Congregational Church – 5/31/25

EVENTS 05/24/2025 Leave a comment

RUMMAGE/FOOD/WHITE ELEPHANT SALE

Saturday, May 31 

9 am to 1 pm

$5/bag sale starts at noon

First Congregational Church (on the Common), Walpole, NH

We will accept items of clean, gently used clothing and tag sale items (no cords, please, and no furniture or shoes) on Tuesday, May 27, Wednesday, May 28,  and Thursday, May 29 from 10 am to 6 pm

For more information, call 603-756-4866.