The Walpolean

The Walpole Historical Society and Walpole Town Library will cosponsor an event at the Town Hall on Thursday evening, May 2 at 7:00 PM. Long time Walpole resident Bill Ranauro has recently published a book entitled Frontier Elegance: The Early Architecture of Walpole, New Hampshire 1750-1850.  Bill will discuss and visually present on the subject of Walpole’s outstanding collection of eighteenth– and early nineteenth–century historic architecture.  This event is free and refreshments will be available. Bill’s book will be available and he will be signing his book prior to and after the presentation.

Hooper Trustees Present:    Steven Dalessio (Chair); Peggy Pschirrer; Cheryl Mayberry

 

CALL TO ORDER:  Mr. Dalessio called this Hooper Trustees meeting to order at 8:10 PM.

 

HOOER TRUSTEES MINUTES:

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING – April 11, 2019:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Hooper Trustees meeting of April 11, 2019, as submitted.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Minutes were approved.

 

JOINT MEETING OF THE HOOPER TRUSTEES AND HOOPER INSTITUTE BOARD – April 15, 2019:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the Minutes of the Joint Meeting of the Hooper Trustees and Hooper Institute Board of April 15, 2019, as submitted.  Ms. Mayberry seconded but amended the Minutes as follows: page 2, under “Review and Finalize the Job Descriptions”, line 25, change “for a while” to “for one year”. With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Minutes and amendment were approved.

 

HOOPER BUSINESS:

March 2019 Reimbursement to the Town of Walpole from the Hooper Educational Trust:  Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the transfer of funds from the Hooper Educational Trust to the Town of Walpole in the amount of $4,467.38 for the month of March 2019.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to adjourn this Hooper Trustees meeting.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the meeting adjourned at 8:22 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

 

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

 

CALL TO ORDER:  Mr. Dalessio called this meeting of the Selectboard to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.  He advised this meeting is being recorded and asked anyone wishing to speak to identify themselves for the record.  There were four members of the public in attendance.

 

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION #1:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard Session #1 pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel and (c) Reputations.  Ms. Mayberry seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

 

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:40 PM.

 

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session #1 of April 18, 2019, be sealed.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the amount of $605,344.22 for checks issued April 19, 2019.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

The above amount includes a monthly payment of $563,787.00 to the Fall Mountain Regional School District.

 

PAYROLL:

Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Payroll Check Register for the week ending April 13, 2019, in the amount of $73,506.56 for checks issued April 19, 2019, and the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes in the amount of $22,070.01.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

 

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MINUTES – April 11, 2019:  Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of April 11, 2019, as submitted.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Minutes were approved.

 

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – April 11, 2019: Ms. Mayberry moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of April 11, 2019, as submitted.  These Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Minutes were approved.

 

PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING SPECIAL TOWN MEETING TO CORRECT A PROCEDURAL DEFECT – April 16, 2019:  There was a consensus of the Selectboard to table these minutes until the next regular meeting. 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed Minutes of the following meetings:

 

EXCAVATION INTENTS:

MAP and LOT #014-013-000:  Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Notice of Intent to Excavate sand for Map and Lot #014-013-000, off Brewery Road, for Cold River Materials.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

 

MAP and LOT #015-011-000:  Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Notice of Intent to Excavate stone products for Map and Lot #015-011-000, off Brewery Road/Route 123, for Cold River Materials.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Appointment Letter of Interest for Conservation Commission:  Ms. Mayberry moved to re-appoint Mrs. Alicia Flammia for a three year term on the Walpole Conservation Commission.  Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mrs. Pschirrer and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved

 

Water and Sewer Surplus Transfer to PDIP:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of an email from Mr. Rich Kreissle, Finance Director, regarding the transfer of Water and Sewerbalances from the General Fund to the Water/Sewer sub-account in NHPDIP.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the transfer of the Water and Sewer balances from the General Fund to the Water/Sewer sub-account in NHPDIP.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

 

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION #2:

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel and (c) Reputations.  Ms. Mayberry seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved at i7:55 PM.

 

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 8:10 PM.

 

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session #2 of April 18, 2019, be sealed.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberrry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

 

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:  

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to recess this Selectboard meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mrs. Pschirrer, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.

 

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 8:22 PM.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT:

Mr. Dalessio moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

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

 

Staff Present:Sarah Downing (Manager of Administration); Richard Kreissle (Manager of Finance);  Audit.

The auditors conducted their field work in four days from Monday, April 6 to Thursday, the 11th.  Instead of the usual four individuals they were only able to field three due to scheduling conflicts.  As mentioned in an e-mail during that week, accounts payable (A/P) and payroll (P/R) passed without any findings of potential control deficiencies.  There was a slight issue with the cash and other minor issues but they were resolved.  Mr. Dalessio asked if there were any questions on Walker Road.  Mr. Kreissle replied the questions were forwarded on to Mrs. Flammia and Mr. Peska of the Conservation Commission. There were no major concerns.  Mr. Dalessio pointed that audits are a lot of work.  The auditors audit credit cards statements which they do separately from A/P.  Thank you for everyone’s efforts to make sure that purchase orders (PO’s) and account numbers are listed on PO’s and that all the time sheets have a.m./p.m. and supervisor’s signatures on them.  We all have a presence in the audit.  He is hopeful that next year’s audit, the auditors will scale down their testing of A/P and P/R.  They only asked for 1 water/sewer invoice from Jodi Daigle because of the success in auditing this area in 2017.  There were no concerns with the Town Clerk’s area.  The audit manager, Jennifer Dorr, and he spoke about implementing some subtle changes to the processing of data to tweak the accounting system.  Moving forward, there is on-going work on the cash account due to the GF being compromised back in July.  This was expected.  There are also some minor loose ends due to their being only so many hours in a day when they were on site. Many, many thanks to all of you for your patience, understanding and willingness to implement the changes that were recommended in years past to bring us to this point.  We’re all in this together!

 

Walpole Library:  Mrs. Justine Fafara, Director, brought the drawings in various sizes to this meeting.  She displayed and explained the architect’s drawing of the inside of the Library after the expansion/ renovations are completed.  It will include an office for Mrs. Fafara, a stack room, a staff room, a children’s room and a community room.  In addition, other areas will be moved around.  Mrs. Pschirrer pointed out that an exciting thing is the stack room that will have moveable stacks.  It will be the first public library in the State to actually have moveable stacks.  Mrs. Fafara said they were a great idea because that room will be handicapped accessible and it will increase their capacity.  They are only outfitting one-half the room at this time. The future plan is to do the other half.  Cost was a factor; $60,000 to do half the room.  The outside of the building will not look any different from the road. The only difference will be the roof line.  They raised $452,000 in just under a year.  There were some big donors.  Construction will start May 15th.  On May 31st they hope to have many volunteers help with the move to the Town Hall where they anticipate opening on Monday, June 3rd.  The banana boxes at the Recycling Center will be put to good use.  The intent is to be back in the Library in November.  Mr. Dalessio stated it is an exciting time for the Library and the Town.        

 

Recycling Center:  Mr. Ben Hoy, Recycling Center Director, reported they are doing a lot of exciting things at the Recycling Center.      

Mr. Dalessio mentioned it is great that Mr. Hoy is reaching out into the community as there is a lot of interest in Town on being “Green”.  The community garden, is a wonderful project.  

Revenues:  Mr. Kreissle had provided a monthly report on Revenues for the Recycling Center dated April 17, 2019.  He also did a comparison between the first quarter last year and the first quarter this year. They are doing well.  Ms. Mayberry asked if these figures included the wood that was sold.  Mr. Kreissle will check.  Mr. Hoy noted they did ship cardboard but are not getting as much for it when it has glue added.  He has to keep space available.  He will not be here for Green Up Day on May 4th, but everybody is lined up.  Old corrugated cardboard (OCC)is going out at a favorable rate; Mr. G’s provides most of it.  Mr. Dalessio said it is exciting to see new ideas from the Recycling Center.

 

Walpole Recreation Department:  Mr. Justin Cassarino, Recreation Department Director, submitted the following report dated April 18, 2019.

Mommy and Me Movie Night:

Spring Soccer/Basketball Clinic:

Tennis Courts:

Men’s Summer Basketball League:

Pool:

Basketball Court:

Company is going to donate the tar;

Company is going to remove all of the old material at no cost.

Mr. Dalessio advised they are doing very well.  Mrs. Fafara mentioned the Library has a movie license.  Mr. Cassarino will look into getting one for the Recreation Department.

 

Town Clerk – Tax Collector:  Mrs. Sandra Smith submitted the following report dated April 18, 2019:

Collected $83,051.18 as Town Clerk; this includes motor vehicle Registrations, dog licenses of $584.50, boat registrations of $174.68 (people appreciate having this option), agent fees of $1,389.00 and title fees of $170.00, etc.  This all goes into the General Fund.

 

Since the last staff meeting, they have been audited.  They registered 5,112 motor vehicles and the auditors only pulled one receipt to check on.  They always balance, so now she can store most of 2018 records in the basement, making room for the new tax bills in May.

 

She executed her 2018 Tax Lien on April 2nd. On April 3rd or 4th, 2021 they can deed properties if not paid in full.  April 25th is her Deed Day for 2016 Tax Liens.  She only has five properties left on her list.  Hopefully, most will pay.  The uncollected for property taxes is $393,251.29 which is a very small amount.  It will continue to trickle in slowly.   

 

Hooper Institute:  Mrs. Becky Whippie provided the following report.

Eloise Clark continues to work with 6th graders on the Connecticut River unit.  She is working on Ornithology with the 5th graders.  They harvested at least a large bag of spinach in the High Tunnel that was given to the school kitchen. 

Becky Whippie is doing pollinators unit at the Primary School. She is helping with planning.  They are also planting seeds in cups to take home, planting classroom seeds for school garden areas and to encourage the pollinators.  The seeds are also forbird nests and birds as a make–and–take for the Pre-K and kindergarten.  In the third grade they are working on amphibiansand doing spring tree buds detections.  In the second grade they are still working on farming; they are fascinated with chickens and how eggs are made, etc.  In the fourth grade they have field trips lined up:  1) to McGill’s Sugarhouse; and 2) to Woodelland Daughters Sawmill and Forest Products.  Fifteen year old planters will be replaced at the North Walpole School with the help of volunteers.    

 

The Hooper Institute is close to advertising for a full-time director/educator position as Mrs. Eloise Clark is getting ready to retire.  A Search Committee is in place.  Mr. Dalessio pointed out it is an exciting time for the Hooper Institute.  Mrs. Clark has been with the Hooper for 42 years.  There will be a celebration on Sunday, June 23rd from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the Hooper Institute.  Mr. Dalessio explained Eloise Clark was a part-time position but they are trying to make it a full-time position. It is a positive step in moving forward.  Back in 1989 Mr. Dalessio said there were advertisements for the Hooper; 1) was for microscopes; and 2) Star-gazing.  There were activities back then.  

 

Police Department:  Lt. Justin Sanctuary provided the following report.  It is now vacation time so they might be a little short-handed periodically  On April 27th they will have “Take Back Drugs” Day.    This is usually done twice a year.  Mr. Dalessio mentioned there are pouches where you can put your drugs in, put a cup of water in it and stir, it deactivates the drug and then it can be tossed.  He suggested that Lt. Sanctuary reach out to Mr. Leroy Watson.  The pouches might be a good thing to give out.  Lt. Sanctuary said Alstead will be having a Blood Drive on May 15th.  The Walpole Police Department will be hosting a second Cheshire County Chiefs of Police get-together on May 28th in the Walpole Town Hall.  It is business as usual.  They have seen an increase in cocaine.  A lot of training has been done.  They just finished 8 hours of training with the Fire Department.

 

Public Safety Comparison:

Emergency – 28Administration – 84Citizen Assists – 23

Motor Vehicle Calls:

Accidents – 5MV Stops – 123Traffic Safety – 73

Criminal Investigations:

Drugs/Alcohol – 17Crimes Against Persons – 46   Crimes Against Property – 16.  

 

Total Monthly Calls for Service:  March 16, 2019 through April 15, 2019 – 369.

 

Highway Department:  Mr. Mike Rau, Highway Department Supervisor, made the following report for the dates of March 22, 2019 to April 17, 2019:  They cannot start digging quite yet.  Winter sand came in; they now have a big pile.  He figured out what roads would be on the “Wish List”. Their repair list is quite high so they will have to hold back on some things to stay within budget.  Asphalt proposals came in.  Mitchells was the lowest bid.  They met all the criteria so the Town can go with them.  Unfortunately prices have gone up over last year.  Mitchells was still lowest by $4-to-$5/ton. He met with the milling crew.  Walpole had never done milling before.  It will be done on the road in North Walpole near the school where there are water issues so nothing can be put on top of what is already there.  The company will come in and mill off what they have to, shim it and then pave it; it should look like it was.  They are just taking off some tar.  It will make the road last a little longer.            

 

Selectboard Office:  Mrs. Sarah Downing submitted the following report dated April 18, 2019.

Assessing Update:

Water and Sewer:

Emergency Plan Updates/Reviews:

Town Hall Facilities:

 

Broadband Committee:  Mrs. Pschirrer reported there is a new Broadband Committee that will meet for the first time on May 1stin the Town Hall.  Lots of other towns are already writing applications for grants.  Chesterfield has worked out a contract with Consolidated Communications, who now is the owner of the former FairPoint.  Consolidated is very interested in increasing rural broadband access.  They are eager to work in this area.  The Committee does not yet have a Chair but they will nominate one at their first meeting.  Southwest Regional Planning Commission has done a great deal of work in this area.  They have a survey Walpole will use.  Mr. Paul Looney and Mrs. Pschirrer are attending a meeting at SWRPC to obtain more information.  Broadband will help us attract families who wish to work from home because we have very poor internet access once you leave the center of Town.  It is to replace all the old wires with new fiberoptic cable.

 

Mr. Dalessio noted that Ms. Mayberry is on the Board of Directors at SWRPC.  He sits on the Economic Advisory Committee.  Mrs. Pschirrer is involved in the BrownsfieldsCommittee.  They go out beyond Walpole to represent our Town at these different levels.  Mrs. Pschirrer and he had the opportunity to sit in on a legislative meeting in Keene which was interesting.  It was informative yet discouraging at the same time because there is a lot of cost-shifting going on.  The State is shifting costs down to the local communities.  The State is giving us options such as add on $5.00 to car registrations, add $2.00 to anybody who rents rooms, etc.  Rooms and Meals Tax was supposed to be 40% back to the towns but that was only done once by the State.  The other activity in Town is lots of solar activity.  It is a concern of some residents in Town and the Planning Board; for example, we will lose farm land.  Ms. Mayberry mentioned cost sharing – the State is saying this is what we will give you so you have to come up with the balance.  She is also on the SWRPC Transportation Committee.  Now that there is a push for electric cars; what do you do a nbout the lost gas tax?  That is the reason they are talking about adding costs onto car registrations.  We need to pay attention to these things as the State pushes burdens onto the taxpayers.  Mrs. Pschirrer added that with electric vehicles, they will expect the towns to put in charging stations in their parking lots.  Mr. Dalessio summarized there are lots of things going on so they keep their eyes on many issues that will affect the town.  He extended good luck to the team with all their projects!              

 

ADJOURNMENT:  Mr. Dalessio declared this meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

 

 

The library will be moving to the second floor of the Town Hall while the revocation is underway.. While the move may not be the same scope as the renovation, it is a big undertaking. They are needing a lot of help to get this done.

► The Renovation Project is beginning.  How can you help? 

Here’s the schedule:

April 29-May 11 – Check out as many books as you can and keep them at your house until at least June 3 when we are officially at the Town Hall. This seems fairly painless – you get a large supply of books for summer reading and the volunteers don’t have to move them!

May 13-May 25 – Help us pack books.  Sign up for an hour time slot (or 2 or 3) by calling the library or stopping by.

May 31, 8 am to 1 pm – Help us move!  Sign up at the library or by calling to help with a pickup truck, van and/or muscle! So one suggested a “fire brigade” line stretching from the library to the Town Hall but trucks and strong backs seem more reliable.

June 3 – We’ll be open on the second floor of Town Hall during our normal business hours!

Will we be closed at all during this process? Only May 31 and June 1 so we can move to the Town Hall and set up.

Thanks in advance for your help.

It is time again, and the May issue, with its twenty-four pages, is now on-line. By clicking on the link below you can take a look, and also share with out of town friends by providing them the link. 

Rally ‘Round the Flag: the American Civil War Through Folksong

at the Walpole Town Hall

The Hardtacks, a musical duo, will present Rally ‘Round the Flag: the American Civil WarThrough Folksong at a Walpole Historical Society event on Friday, April 26, in the Walpole Town Hall at 7 pm.

Woody Pringle and Marek Bennett present an overview of the American Civil War through the lens of period music. Audience members participate and sing along as the presenters explore lyrics, documents, and visual images. Through camp songs, parlor music, hymns, battlefield rallying cries, and fiddle tunes, Pringle and Bennett examine the folksong as a means to enact living history, share perspectives and influence public perceptions of events. Showcasing numerous instruments, the presenters challenge participants to find new connections between song, art, and politics in American history. 

This event is funded courtesy of the New Hampshire Humanities Council and is free and open to all.  Refreshments will be available.  

 

Present: Chair Jan Galloway Leclerc, Vice-Chair Myra Mansouri, Clerk Judy Trow, Tom Murray. Alternate: Bob Anderson. Absent: Pauline Barnes and alternate Don Sellarole.

 

Recording: Marilou Blaine. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the May 2019 meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions. 

 

Meeting Opened: Ms. Leclerc called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. 

 

Roll Call: Alternate Anderson was asked to fill Ms. Barnes place on the Board.

 

Minutes: There was one minor change – page two, third paragraph from the bottom. Mr. Murray asked that the wording be changed to “Then she asked for comments from the Board.” Ms. Trow made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Ms. Mansouri seconded the motion and the motion was approved by the Board. 

 

New Business:

Barlo signs: Large, back-lit sign for NH liquor store. Andy Davis, the director of Real Estate for the NH Liquor Commission, attended the meeting to discuss the proposed sign.

 

Mr. Davis has been with the Commission for 11 years. There are 78 stores in New Hampshire, he said. While the Liquor Commission is a state agency, it is also a retail operation. “We are a Fortune 500 Company,” Davis said. When he started to work with the Commission, gross sales were 450 million dollars. Last year, they were 720 million and 165 million went to the General Fund. The Liquor Commission’s goal is to get to 1 billion.

 

Obviously, the growth that we’ve have had in 10 years is impressive. Part of the growth, Mr. Davis said, is because the Liquor Commission branded itself. “We are not quite to the point that when you see the golden arches, you know who we are. That’s what we’re trying to do. It’s not just signage, but signage is a big part of it. Letting people know who you are, where you are.” 

 

About a year and half ago, the Commission decided to update signage and the Legislature granted a 1 million dollar appropriation. This is being done in phases. So now Walpole is on the radar. The sign is different than what is there but in his mind, the signage there now is old and tired. It also periodically gets knocked down because of the snow sliding off the roof.

 

Mr. Davis brought a magazine put out by the Liquor Commission titled “Celebrate NH” and this month the magazine had a feature about the Walpole Store. There are six employees at the store, two full time and four part time. Jim O’Brien of North Walpole is the manager and he has been manager there for two decades. In fact, during its total existence the store has had only four managers and all have been from North Walpole. Mr. O’Brien says in the article, “It’s like Cheers – everybody knows your name.”

 

The first liquor store in Walpole was in 1947 and it was located in North Walpole. Mr. O’Brien talks about people who come from out of state and 60 percent of our business is from out of state, Davis said.

Mr. O’Brien also praises his employees who are trustworthy and reliable and have helped make the store’s reputation and even the town’s reputation as one of the best stores. There are people who come from out of state that won’t go to any other store, O’Brien says in the article. 

 

Getting back to the sign, Mr. Davis said the sign is LED and dark sky compliant, the light shines down. It is on a timer and comes on at dark and goes off one hour after the store closes. There is also a sign under the canopy. The new sign goes up to the roof line to get away from the condition of the snow always sliding into the sign. Now, with the new sign, the snow will slide under the sign. That old sign also doesn’t have the new logo. The old sign is 10 feet by 5 feet. The logo is 3.7 inches wide. So the total new sign is 20 feet by 3 feet.

 

Ms Mansouri said the only problem is the size of the sign. She thought it was overbearing. Mr. Anderson said he has tried to quantify what people want to do with their signs and he feels that those who have been willing to cut back on the size have still had an effective sign. He mentioned one sign as an example – the sign for the Hubbard Ball Field. The Hubbard family is a much loved family in this town. Their proposed sign was much larger than our zoning ordinance permits. But they actually cut the size of the sign down to our zoning recommendations. The town doesn’t have a brand but we have a feeling in the town.

 

Ms. Leclerc said the Shaw sign on one side of the liquor store and the Ocean State sign on the other side are both much larger than our zoning regulations permit. She believes that Shaw’s came for a variance, but doesn’t remember if Ocean State did also. It could also have gone back to when it was Ames. Mr. Davis said and ”that is part of the reason that we are asking for a larger sign. We noticed the abutters are bigger.” 

 

Ms. Trow said, “Everyone knows where the liquor store is.”

 

Mr. Davis said, “I cover the whole state and came to this meeting – you mention names. For about 32 years, I would perform out here on this bandstand with the American Legion Band. When we had a break, we came in here, the Town Hall, and would get a hot dog and popcorn and a drink. For two years of my life in college, I worked for Hubbard Farms. I knew Leslie Hubbard, I knew Went Hubbard and I had the opportunity to meet Frank Purdue at the Hatchery. ….

 

“I will take your comments back to Concord and I would not do anything to Walpole that would be offensive. But at the same time I think the sign is tasteful. It gets our brand across. I ‘ll try to get it down about 25 percent. We don’t really need your approval, but I don’t really like that statute. I want to be a good neighbor. I talked to your chair and she said you can do anything you want. I don’t want that to be the message. I don’t want this to be the legacy. I would be glad to go back to the marketing people and say pare it down a bit, say to 75 percent.”

 

All the Board members said they liked the sign. They just suggested making all the letters smaller. 

 

Mr. Davis said he’s replaced the signs of 32 stores and all the new stores automatically get the new sign.

 

Mr. Davis thanked the Board for letting him come. He said the Liquor Commission is one of the major  economic engines for the state and they have a lot of competition from neighboring states.

 

Possible Variance – Leon F. Jones, Wentworth Road, wants to put up a storage facility, a Quonset Hut. His setbacks from abutting properties are OK, but he may not be 65 feet from center of the road. However, there is a class VI Road in back. He has some questions about what to do.

Mr. Jones did not come to the meeting. 

 

Possible Variance – Jennifer Turney – Owners are Jorge and Denise Ramires: Building at 9 Prospect Hill Road, addition, setback, distance from center of the road. 

 

This was resolved that the setbacks were within the regulations and the owners received a building permit from the town.

 

Old Business:

Review form for Zoning Board for Special Exception in a Commercial District. One correction was made on page one at the bottom of the page – owners changed to owner. This was the final look at this form. 

 

At 8 pm Ms. Trow made a motion to go into executive session. Ms. Mansouri seconded the motion and it was approved by the rest of the Board. At 8:20 pm Ms. Trow made a motion to come out of executive session and seal the minutes. Mr. Mansouri seconded the motion and the Board approved the motion.

 

A motion was made to adjourn. Mr. Anderson seconded the motion and it was approved by the rest of the Board.

 

 

Handouts:

Wellhead District Maps

Liquor Store sign pictures

 

cc: ZBA, WPB, North Walpole Commissioners, Walpolean, www.walpolenh.us

Posted: Inside Town Offices, on the bulletin board outside the Post Office

 

Next meeting Wednesday,  May 15, 2019

 

                  

Presiding Members: Jeffrey Miller, James Aldrich, Dennis Marcom, Jason Perron, Jeff Harrington, Steve Dalessio (Selectboard Representative). Alternates: Jeff Colley, Joanna Andros. Jeff White came in a few minutes late.

 

Recording: Marilou Blaine. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the May 2019 meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions. 

 

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

 

Roll Call: Mr. White was absent so Ms. Andros was asked and agreed to take his place on the Board. He came in about five minutes later to take his place on the Board.

 

Minutes: March meeting and March workshop minutes: Mr. Marcom made a motion to approve the regular meeting minutes and workshop minutes as written. Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and the motion carried.

 

New Business:

Election of Officers. Mr. Aldrich made a motion to elect Mr. Miller chair, Mr. Marcom vice-chair and Mr. Aldrich secretary – clerk. The motion was seconded. Mr. Miller asked if there were any other nominations. There being none, a vote was called for the slate of officers and approved by the Board.

 

Hubbard Farms: Replacing a chicken house at Pomeroy Farm.

 

Ms. Diane Miller represented Hubbard Farms. She passed out a diagram of the farm that included six chicken houses, a farm residence, an office, a R&D building and a building for manure storage. She explained that the Pomeroy Farm is at the end of North Main Street and the entrance is across from the cemetery.    

 

Ms. Miller said that the company already had a demolition permit from the Town to demolish chicken house No. 26 and No. 22 and said they are already down. Concrete slabs remains. She continued that the company that bought Hubbard Farms in 2018 looked at the roof of chicken house No. 22. It was going to take more than $100,000 to repair the roof. The company decided to build a new building using the same 42-foot-by-100-foot footprint. However, it could possibly be wider at a couple of points, Ms. Miller said. She needs a ventilation specialist to come in and look at how the air flow is in the chicken house in the summer. So it the building may require a small addition to the south and north. It would be closest to the manure house on the north side and Pomeroy Farm Lane on the south side.

 

Ms. Miller didn’t know how much space on either side that would take. It could by 3 feet, 5 feet or 10 feet. She has to wait until the ventilation specialist gets back to her. It could be no feet but it could be up to 10 feet on either side, she said. There would be no chickens in that space and no worker. The space would be screened for the purpose of filtering dust and insects from coming through into the chicken house. 

 

Mr. Marcom asked if it would have a roof over it. Ms. Miller said it would have a roof over it.

The foundation will remain the same but the building may be wider on the sides. Building would begin in July.

 

Basically, we are going to build a building that looks very similar to the one that’s there. Ms. Miller said. They may have to add the air ventilation systems on either side. Based on that information, she asked if Hubbard Farms would need a site plan review.

Mr. Dalessio asked if there were any new regulations that are based on buildings for chickens. She said she didn’t know of any new regulations except that there is a regulation of 45 pounds per square foot on the ceiling. Also, from a welfare issue, there has to be enough water and space, she said. 

 

Mr. Miller asked what did the Board think. Mr. Marcom said, “I don’t see any need for a site plan review.” Mr. Miller asked if anyone is in agreement. There being no Board member who didn’t disagree, Mr. Miller said the plan didn’t need a site plan review. 

 

Old Business:

Public Hearing: Avanru Development Group LTD, Lot Line Adjustment – Map 12, Lots 13 and 13-3, commercial district.

 

Surveyor Joe DiBernardo represented Avanru, which has three lots off of Route 12 near Tractor Supply

– the two mentioned in the Lot Line Adjustment and the third is Abenaki Springs. He explained that the configuration of these two lots would change. Lot 13 would shrink to 1.05 acres with 150.01 feet of frontage and Lot 13-3 would increase to 7.35 acres with 247.37 feet of frontage. In addition, there are a couple of easements, one on each lot, both of which would benefit Lot 13-3. 

 

Mr. Marcom had a map and said he didn’t understand what Mr. DiBernardo was referencing. Mr. Marcom  asked if anything had changed. Mr. DiBernardo said nothing has changed and that the tax map was incorrect. He explained where the current line was and explained where the new line would be and that it would wrap around the pumping station, which is part of the frontage for this lot.

 

He explained the 20-foot strip that grabs frontage Route 12 for Lot 13-3. The tax map doesn’t show frontage on Route 12. Mr. Miller interjected saying it’s a legal lot. There are no requirements for depth or width.

 

In addition, there’s an existing sewer line that runs out to the apartments and there’s an easement that goes over that, Mr. DiBernardo said. The sewer easement was required by the town when the apartments were built, Mr. Jack Franks said. 

 

Mr. Miller said he knew that and asked if there were any other questions. Being none, he closed the Public Hearing. Mr. Perron made a motion to accept the application as presented. Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and the motion carried.

 

Avanru/Fieldstone Civil Engineering: Final information to complete work requirements. This is regarding Map 12, Lot 13 and the conditions the Board in August 2018 put on that lot for approval of an amended Site Plan, Retail Store, Commercial District. 

 

The conditions were:

A new permit from AoT

A sprinkler plan signed off by the Walpole Fire Department

A final design of the building

A final sewage connection planning – catch basin placement

A time frame of one year in which construction must start and construction would be defined as the foundation started. If there is no construction/foundation, he must submit new site plan.

 

Mr. Franks and Mr. Chad Brannon from Fieldstone Civil Engineering presented. A package was presented with three complete sets of design drawings of the building, an approval letter from AoT, a letter from Mark Houghton agreeing with the architect, Mr. Kevin L. Paton, that a sprinkler system was not required because of the size of the building and the drawings with sewage connection plans.

Mr. Brannon said he was there to address all the conditions of approval in August 2018. He mentioned all of the above items that were submitted.

 

Mr. Dalessio said the building permit is in regard to a previous building and Mr. Franks would need to get one for this building. He asked if Mr. Franks had a potential tenant. Mr. Franks said he had three potential tenants but he was couldn’t say who they were because he signed a nondisclosure agreement. Mr. Miller asked what his time-frame for building was. Mr. Franks said within the next 30 days. 

 

Mr. Dalessio asked how much greens space. Mr. Brannon said 32 percent. The next question was why the new driveway? Mr. Jacks said the access point off of Route 12 would be conducive for the business that may go on that lot and when discussed with DOT they found that the line of sight and the fact that they had re-striped the road that it was better there than to put a slip lane in there. It also wouldn’t require any lights.

 

Mr. Dalessio noted that the paper work for the driveway permit had the wrong side of the road. Mr Brannon and Mr. Franks said knew about the error and that it would be corrected.

 

Mr. Franks said he is also hoping that he will have a new tenant for the property in back and said it will be a huge benefit for our community. 

 

Brannon said the design on Map 13 is not going to change. They added a 100-square-foot vestibule on the front. Because of that the ADA ramp was moved a few feet west and a sidewalk around the west side of the building was added. He said this plan has a less impervious cover.

 

Mr. Dalessio said the entrance is really dark. Mr. Jacks said the photo metrics has been updated. He has had some discussion with Liberty Utilities about a street light and if it’s a suggestion from the Board, he would go ahead and ask them. Mr. Miller said that is a suggestion.  

 

Mr. Aldrich asked which way was the building facing. Mr. Brannon said south. Mr. Aldrich asked if you drive in from Red Barn Lane you’re looking at the back of the building. Mr. Brannon agreed.

 

Mr. Dalessio made a motion to approve the amended site plan as presented at the meeting. Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and the motion carried.

 

Joe DiBernardo – Correction to Nerrie Lot Line Adjustment map that was approved last month – Mr. Joe DiBernardo said their was a drafting problem. The lots are the same size but when they went to set the pins, the stone wall was actually in a different place. 

 

Mr. Miller said that he originally thought maybe some of the acreage had changed. So he call Jeremy Hockensmith, Town Counsel, and asked if this was an administrative thing or not. If there is a change in acreage you have to go back and have a new Public Hearing to have a clean deed, Mr. Hockensmith said. But this was showing the stone wall in the wrong place.

 

The stone wall will become the new property line. A new plan shows the wall as is and the pin. Mr. DiBernardo has written to the Cheshire County Registry of Deeds to see if they’ll accept the amended plan. If the Registry of Deeds accepts the amended plan, then the Board does nothing. If it doesn’t, the applicant has to have another Public Hearing. 

 

Certification 676 allows this. He will submit a new Mylar and there will be a note on the Mylar about what happened. He will let the secretary know what happens. 

 

Catherine Harris and Mark Smith – professional offices and a home at 6 Ames Plaza, Map 12, Lot 55-21, Commercial District.

 

Ms. Harris owns Wealth Management & CPAs LLC, located on Route 5 in Westminster Station, Vt. It is a small professional office that serves Vermont and New Hampshire clients equally. The primary service include investments, taxation, CPA services, bookkeeping/payroll and business consulting. It has been operating for nearly six years. There are 4 personnel including Ms. Harris and sometimes an intern or a seasonal person.  

 

The couple have a purchase agreement for the 6 Ames Lane property. Their goal is to build a mixed-use building (residential/commercial mix) on the land that would serve as both the new location of CHS Wealth Management and Catherine and Mark’s personal residence. The property would have two driveways. A business driveway with 10 parking spaces and one handicapped space would have vehicles entering from Ames Lane and another driveway entering from Dearborn Circle for their personal use. The building, a modern farmhouse style, would be a two-story building not to exceed 3100 square feet, excluding basement, two car garage and porch. 

 

Ms. Harris believes there is a deed restriction on the property that will need a variance. Board member, Mr. White, lives on Dearborn Circle. He said the deed restriction and covenant on these properties expired for each home at different times. “That’s why we got it rezoned,” he said. There were a lot of things you couldn’t do – put up a clothes line, have a fence, etc. The deed restrictions are gone. So you do not have to get a variance. The two driveways do not connect. There are more problems from the lights in the Plaza, White said.

 

They do need a site plan. Water and sewer are already available and plenty of green space. 

Mr. Dalessio suggested they talk to Mark Houghton, Water and Sewer Director, to make sure they know where the water and sewer lines run. 

 

They will have need to get a driveway permit. The couple will be back next month to get an application and request a Public Hearing for a Site Plan Review.

 

Bill Carmody renovations. Mr. Carmody said he owned a home at the end of Pleasant Street and was doing renovations. He will be changing windows in the front and changing the size of the entry to 8-feet-by-10-feet for a mud room. He was told he had to come before the Planning Board. Mr. Miller said he did not need to come to the Planning Board for those renovations to the house, he just needed a building permit.

 

Community Solar Project at 310 Main Street – Chris Welcome and Chad Whitaker of Solar Clean Generation in Londonderry will be here to talk about the project at 310 Main Street and answer questions next month. Mr. Welcome canceled on Wednesday afternoon.

 

Todd Stewart of Solar Power Financial plans a solar array at capped landfill site. The terrain of northern portion is too steep but considering going for a 1 MW facility and power line may be big enough to handle that. The  Select Board is handling this matter. 

 

Patricia Rodrigues – Ms. Rodrigues wrote a four-page letter for a motion to reconsider the outcome of the Timothy Graves and Gretchen Fowler subdivision, decided last month. Mr. Miller said the Board has already ruled on the subdivision and if Ms. Rodrigues wanted to go further with her reconsideration, her recourse was to go to Superior Court. She then asked about the Rules of Procedure. Mr. Miller said they are being updated and when finalized, she would get a copy. Her letter will be attached to the minutes and placed in the file.

 

Mr. Dalessio asked the gentleman who was with Ms. Rodrigues, John Corduff, if he was taping the meeting. Mr. Corduff said yes. Mr. Dalessio said he wanted that noted in the minutes. 

 

April Workshop – Tuesday, April 23, 7 pm. Finalize the solar plans for residential and non residential districts. Also the Board needs to decide where the new plans should go in the site plan.  

Mr. Aldrich made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dennis seconded the motion and it passed. 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

WPB Secretary