The Walpolean

Meet the Candidates Night

March 6th at 7 p.m. at the Walpole Town Hall

Candidates for Town of Walpole and Fall Mountain Regional School District elected positions have been invited to make short presentations, followed by an audience Q&A.

Light Refreshments will be served.

Sponsored by Walpole Community Grange #125

A note from Sarah Downing:

The 2017 Town Report is available online at the Town’s website – www.walpolenh.us

Printed copies will be available later in the week at the Town Hall, Galloway Real Estate, Jakes Market and Deli, Walpole Library, Drewsville General Store, 5 Star Beverage and Discount Food Warehouse (DFW).

There’s one typo I found in the paper proof that will be fixed for the final printed copy. I’ll give you a hint. It’s on page 33 of the prepress version.

Present: Board Members: Chair Myra Mansouri, Vice-Chair Jan Galloway Leclerc, Judy Trow, Tom Murray. Alternates: Pauline Barnes, Ernie Vose.

Recording: Marilou Blaine. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the March 2018 meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions.

Roll Call: Ms. Mansouri called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. There were only four board members present so she asked Ms. Barnes to fill in.

Minutes:  Minutes of December 2017. January meeting canceled because of snow. Corrections: Ms. Barnes said on page one, last paragraph, there was an “s” with an extra blank after the word need. Ms. Trow mentioned a typo on page two. Ms. Trow made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Ms. Barnes seconded the motion and the motion carried.

New Business:

Kim Mastrianni – president of the Walpole Co-op, formally known as  Great River Consumer Cooperative Society, Inc. – said the organization wants to covert a chicken coop, previously used by Hubbard, on Bensonwood property in the rural/ag zone for a store for the Co-op. Request for a Special Exception, Map 12 Lot 4-2, building 18.

Ms. Mastrianni said the Co-op now has 750 members and wishes to convert the existing building that was used by Hubbard, No. 18, into a Co-op store. The layout is great and the building is what they were looking for, she said. The only issue is that it is not on the commercial property where the Co-op was going to build a new building. It is in the rural/ag zone. So the group is looking for a Special Exception to convert it to commercial. The parking lot for the store would be in the adjoining lot, across from the store on Lot 4-3.

Mr. Vose asked, “What is the difference between the two lots? It shows different names for owners.” One is owned by Karlson Realty, the other Huntington Realty. Both lots, 4-2 and 4-3, are owned by Bensonwood Woodworking. The names represent different holding companies, Ms. Mastrianni said.

Originally the Co-op had an agreement with Monadnock Development Corp. and Bensonwood to build a new building in the front part of Lot 4-2, which is zoned commercial. But when this building in the rural/ag zone became a possibility and Hubbard vacated it, the organization looked at it and decided:

1. It was an already existing building.

2. The organization would not have to build something new.

3. It has a good footprint.

How far is the building from the property line? Ms. Mansouri asked. Ms. Trow pointed out that Criterion 5 says it is in excess of 20 feet from the lot boundary.

Has this been to the planning board? Mr. Vose asked. Ms. Mastrianni said, “Not yet.” She is getting the plans done to bring to the Planning Board next month for a recommendation and start the process for a site plan review.

Ms. Barnes remarked that under criterion 5 – g it says the existing building is 4,680 square feet and the store plans for space are between 4,000 and 6,000 square feet. “Why the difference?” she asked. Ms. Mastrianni said that the Co-op’s market study said that anything between 4,000 and 6,000 square feet was viable for being able to be supported by the community as well as a broad spectrum of product lines.

Ms. Barnes then asked if that she planned to expand the building? Ms. Mastrianni answered that the only thing they were looking at right now was to have an overhang that would have seasonal merchandise,  such as fresh plants, that would be marketed outside, and a patio seating area at one end. She added that the entry way might be pushed out to make it easier to access the building.

Mr. Vose said if you push out that access, it might put the building within 20 feet of the boundary. Ms. Mastrianni said, “It might put us within 20 feet of the parking so we might have to return to the ZBA and have that discussion. We would have to figure out if we have the 20 or, if not, we are back here asking for something. But we are not asking for that now because we do not have the design.”

How about a parking lot on another property? Mr. Vose asked. Ms. Mastrianni replied a parking lot would be created on Lot 4-3 in back of where the Hungry Diner is.

How much parking are you going to allot? Ms. Mansouri asked. Ms. Mastrianni answered she didn’t have that figure because she didn’t have the calculations based on the capacity of the building. She needed to find out what would be recommended for a building of that size. “We would be looking at those figures depending on town requirements,” she said.

Ms. Mastrianni said her plans were to go to the Planning Board for a recommendation and she was asking the ZBA for the Public Hearing for a Special Exception for next month. After meeting with the Planning Board she would come back to the Zoning Board.

Ms. Leclerc asked if the application includes asking for parking on that lot. Ms. Mastrianni said it refers to the parking and it’s a rough drawing on the map. She doesn’t have the space numbers yet.

Mr. Murray asked if the parking lot isn’t under the purview of the Planning Board. Ms. Leclerc said yes but she needed permission for the parking lot in a commercial zone from the Zoning Board.

The Co-op application should say a Special Exception for a building on one lot, Lot 4-2, and parking lot on another lot, Lot  4-3.

Ms. Trow made a motion to accept the application as presented and to have a Public Hearing in March for a Special Exception. The motion was seconded by Ms. Leclerc and the motion carried.

Mr. Vose said he wanted to make Ms. Mastrianni aware of runoff water regulations – that she might need something like a retention pond and that she should look into it.

Barlo signs for Mascoma Savings Bank – Craig Moore represented Barlo Signs of Hudson, NH. Mr. Moore explained that Mascoma Bank had changed its logo and that his company was changing signs for the bank throughout the New England area. Mr. Moore was here before and the Barlo company received approval in July 2017 for Mascoma Savings Bank to have  a 12 square-foot back-lit illuminated sign to be placed on the peak of the drive-thru behind the entrance to the bank.  But with the new logo, all the signs would be changed slightly.

Two signs affixed to the building would be removed – one facing Jake’s Variety gas station and the other on the opposite side of the building near the back. All the other remaining signs would be using the same spaces as before.

There is one sign above the entrance and one on the canopy of the drive-thru as well as two aluminum ground signs. The entrance and drive-thru canopy signs will have the multi-colored logo with the letters below, which are black and illuminate gray during the night. There is a ground sign with the bank’s name and updated logo and a similar parking sign with a new logo. Both are the same size as before, not illuminated, and the only change is the logo. The logo and size of the sign on the drive-thru canopy has changed. The previous canopy sign was 12 square feet and is now 15. 44 square feet.

Ms. Mansouri said that the sign is larger than the one you received approval for last summer. And that sign was larger than what the ordinance mandates. That’s why you had a Public Hearing. To get an even larger sign, Mr. Moore would have to come back for another Public Hearing. Her suggestion was that the sign remain at 12 square feet. Mr. Moore said he could agree to that.

Ms. Mansouri said she recalled when Mr. Moore was here last time, he said the lighted signs could be dimmed. Mr. Moore said that was still an option. The lights would be on a dimmer and if it were still too bright, someone could approach the bank and ask the bank to dim it even more. Mr. Moore said it would dim automatically at a set time. Ms. Mansouri suggested 8 pm.

Ms. Mansouri said she lived down the street from the bank and there were apartments all around the bank and these people could see the sign.

“How many lumens?” Ms. Barnes asked. She couldn’t figure out from the information given how many  lumens it would be.

Mr. Moore had a calculator and estimated it at 96 total lumens. Moore added that the light is diffused. He referenced the Irving sign, around the corner, which is white and, he said, creates a big white glow. The only thing that light is passing through in that sign is a layer of white lexan. On the Mascoma sign, there is actually white lexan with a black film on top of it so it’s going to be grayed out. The letters are lit and the logo is lit with various colors but there is also a film on top of the colors.

Ms. Barnes asked if it were going to flash. Mr. Moore said, “No, no flash, no flickering.” The remote dimmer is on a timer. It dims at a particular hour and then wakes back up.

Would it be brighter during the day? Ms. Barnes asked. Mr. Moore explained it would probably not be lit during the day but it could be stated in as a clause of approval. The contrast would be better during the day if the lights were shut off.

The sign over the entrance would be less lumens because it is smaller. In fact, it is smaller than the one previously proposed. The original sign for the entrance was 8.16 square feet; the new sign will be 7.76 square feet. It is 62.08 lumens. Ms. Barnes remarked that she’d love a lecture on lumens some day.

Ms. Leclerc said the lumens for the Irving sign was 6,000 plus so 96 is a lot less. Mr. Moore explained that if you looked at LED light directly it would be very bright. But it goes through a layer of lexan, which is 3/8 of an inch thick and also a layer of film. The light is less bright depending on the color of the light it is shining through. Light comes through yellow very bright.

Moore requested a copy of the minutes. He agreed to:

1. The canopy sign will remain at 12 square feet.

2. The illuminated signs will not be lit during the day.

3,.  The illuminated signs would be dimmed at 8 pm. It was decided that if they were too bright the Board could request the light be dimmed even more.

4. After the signs are up, pictures of the signs will be submitted to the Zoning Board and placed in its file.

A motion was made and seconded to approve all the new signs with the new logo. The motion carried.

Signage: FairPoint is becoming Consolidated Communications – new signage – same size, same place.

Mr. Stan Obachowski submitted a proposed sign to replace the existing FairPoint sign on Westminster St. It will be in the same place and says Consolidated Communications. It is 1 foot 3 inches high, 3 inches in width and 2 inches deep. It will be made of aluminum with a face material of vinyl. It will not be illuminated.

The Board approved the new signage and asked that the company take a photograph of the sign and drop it off at the Town Hall. The photo should be addressed to the secretary of the Zoning Board.

Questions about Setbacks –Mr. Robert Meier of Charlestown wants to build an 8-foot-by12-foot addition to a home at 79 Main Street, owned by Steve and Patricia Smith. Mr. Meier wanted to know the side setback and the road setback rule. The building is in the Commercial District.

The ordinance states that in the Commercial District yard requirements are no building shall be erected closer than 65 feet to the center line of all public right of ways or 20 feet to any side or rear property line.

The addition was 62 feet to the white line of the road or edge of the road, so it would be more than 65 from the center. The side setback was well in excess of 20 feet. So Mr. Meier was told he didn’t need a setback variance and could go to the Selectboard for a building permit.

Handouts:

Master Plan.

Logs of 2016 and 2017 – Month by month listing of what hearings, decisions made on meeting dates in those years

DADU guide for towns – this was to notify the Board that the Municipal Association sent out a multi-page document for towns to follow under the new DADU guideline. The document will be in the basement conference room.

The Keene Sentinel article on clarifying Zoning Board votes – this article is about a recent decision by the Keene Zoning Board when it had a 2-1 vote on a couple seeking a Variance for a residential rehabilitation center in the former Prospect Place building. They wanted to increase the number of beds from 17 to 26 in the medium density district.

Planning and zoning conference – April 28 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Concord. Information: Call 271-2155 or contact danielle.craver@osi.nh.gov

Ms. Trow made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Barnes seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

Secretary

REPORT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD
Gabriel St. Pierre, School Board Chairperson

Whereas the citizens of Acworth, Alstead, Charlestown, Langdon and Walpole conceived in their hearts
and in their minds that the education of their young people would be greatly enhanced by a cooperative
effort on their part;
And whereas by the construction of the Fall Mountain Regional High School and other facilities, and by
the creation and adoption of Articles of Agreement the concept has become fact:
So therefore, let the Fall Mountain Regional School District be dedicated to the pursuit of the principles of
sound education, let it not be afraid to seek improvement, let it not be deterred from what is right and
proper for its student body;
And furthermore let the student body be dedicated to the acceptance of these principles and in so doing
increase its capabilities to perform the tasks which lie ahead.

This is the founding statement of our district. It is displayed in the lobby of Fall Mountain Regional High
School as a reminder of our original tenets of 1964. This annual report will reference excerpts from an older one, to an earlier generation of educators and their governing boards.

The 1893 New Hampshire Annual Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction opens a window into the history of education in our state. Many concerns raised in that year are similar to issues we face today.

This 19th century record includes extracts of School Reports from boards of education around the state.
From Lempster:
“The world is moving forward every year, and the only way to keep our place in the march of its progress
is to use all of the improvements in the methods of instruction, and furnish our schools with those things
which will interest and instruct the young.”

Fall Mountain School District is in the beginning stages of a middle school Chromebook initiative, and the
fourth year of a 1:1 laptop model at FMRHS. This program puts a powerful computer in the hands of each student to blend today’s learning with the technological baseline for future careers. These tools allow the classroom to grow beyond the limits of time and space when put to work under the care of a great teacher, and our district is full of great teachers.

From Alstead’s S. A. Mitchell, Geo. A. Mayo, C.H. Cooke:
“It is well known that larger schools offer many advantages. Better teachers can be secured, greater unity
of method and purpose attained, and increased interest on the part of the pupils assured. On the other
hand, there is a natural reluctance to having the old school-house vacated and our children taken to more
distant ones. To adjust these conflicting interests is often the most difficult problem the school board has
to solve.”

Now in 2018, Warrant Article #3 offers district voters a Yea or Nay to form a committee to explore options and present a plan to the entire district for the consolidation of our individual town’s middle schools. Please consider joining and working with this committee to present viable options for the educational needs of all our junior high students.

Walpole’s 1893 report from Lucius Wellington, James H. Brown, Henry E. Putnam:
“There is no more difficult problem that the school board is called upon to solve…than how to successfully graft the town system of schools to the old district accommodations. In this connection we refer you to the treasurer’s report, which allows $244 as the sum paid during the year for conveying scholars to and from school….This is always a delicate matter for the school board to handle, and seldom can they arrange it satisfactorily either to themselves or to parents. If the town system is to continue as at present we recommend to the serious consideration of the district whether it would not be wiser to abandon the makeshift policy that we have been obliged to pursue in the past, and re-locate some of the houses in the sparsely settled parts of the town; thereby avoiding in great measure the cost of conveyance.”

Decisions on where to invest limited funds and allocating our combined resources is still a delicate matter
for this school board. The Administration of your Fall Mountain District is dedicated to a comprehensive
educational investment for each member of its student body.

As recognized by our region’s political leaders in Concord and Montpelier, the cost of education is growing at a faster pace than many communities are comfortable paying. The state of New Hampshire is decreasing its financial aid to school districts, while increasing the unfunded mandates deemed necessary for an adequate education. Locally, effort has been made to evaluate, innovate, and renovate how education is delivered. Through the ongoing initiatives of Competency Based Assessment and Universal Design for Learning, the capital invested is expected to grow with the increased capacity of both student and teacher alike. This district is dedicated to the principles of sound education. It is not afraid to seek improvement.

This past year we have prospered in many ways thanks to teachers, parents, and our community. Alstead
Primary became a model school through the New Hampshire School Improvement Grant program.
Walpole students debuted in the Science Olympiad by winning regionals and going on to perform at the
national competition in Ohio. Place based learning has developed in Charlestown through collaboration
with the Wellborn Institute. Extended Learning Opportunities at Fall Mountain bring students closer to
their work through apprenticeship and practical training. Our Wildcat Battalion, one of the finest programs
available to any student in our region, ranks in the 98th percentile nationally in the JROTC program.
FMRHS offers Career and Technical Education courses which prepare students with industry recognized
credentials for life readiness. FM students are enrolled at the Cheshire Career Center in Keene as well as
River Valley Technical Center in Springfield.

Our district is proud to be the school of choice for students who choose to take advantage of our district and the programs it has to offer by tuitioning in from outside our five towns.

In our 51st year of cooperation as a school district, the impact of Fall Mountain’s education is ever
expanding, reaching around the world and to all heights of success. Thank you to all the teachers and staff, the continuing support from parents, grandparents, and all those who advocate for our children, and the support from our local businesses.

In closing, I wish to acknowledge the contributions of two educators who served our district well, which the profession mourned the passing of this past year. Dianne Hicks, former teacher and principal, and Betty Snide, teacher and reading specialist. These icons of their profession put forth an extraordinary passion to the field of education. Their efforts planted and nourished the seeds of learning in young people, which grow in perpetuity.

Respectfully submitted,
Gabriel St. Pierre, School Board Chairperson

The following Warrant will be voted on on March 13, 2018 along with the town warrant. Voters will also be voting for School Board Representatives. Candidates are listed here:

At-Large (One Seat-3 Year Term)

Michael Herrington

Jamie Teague

Walpole (One Seat-3 Year Term)

William Stahl

District Moderator (One Seat-1 Year Term)

Leroy Watson

State of New Hampshire Warrant for the Annual Meeting Fall Mountain Regional School District

Article 1 – Shall the Fall Mountain Regional School District raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $30,292,413? Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $30,292,413, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Fall Mountain Regional School District or by law; or the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only. (Majority vote required.) The Fall Mountain School Board does not recommend this article.

Information on Warrant #1: This article funds the operating budget for the 2018-2019 school year, but does not include appropriations for any other article. The Finance Committee and Administration has developed a fiscally responsible budget that meets the needs of the District and maintains the programs currently in place. This leadership team in developing the proposed budget made a number of tough decisions.

The projected tax impact for the updated budget amount (as presently built) is as follows:

TOWN

2017/2018 Combined School Tax Rate

2018/2019 Estimated School Tax Rate

Increase/ (Decrease)

Estimated Change on a Property Assessed at $100,000

Acworth

$14.01

$13.68

($0.33)

($33.31)

Alstead

$17.09

$18.04

$0.95

$95.00

Charlestown

$24.80

$25.93

$1.13

$113.43

Langdon

$21.85

$20.82

($1.03)

($102.87)

Walpole

$14.94

$14.54

($0.40)

($40.26)

A complete line-by-line general budget breakdown report can be found on the district’s website at http://www.sau60.org and in the Annual Report booklet.

Article 2 – Shall the Fall Mountain Regional School District vote to approve the cost items included in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Fall Mountain Regional School Board and the Fall Mountain Teachers’ Association, which calls for the following increases in wages and benefits at the current staffing levels:

Year Estimated Increase

2018-19 $ 182,045, 2019-20 $ 194,779, 2020-21 $ 199,335

and further to raise and appropriate the sum of $182,045 for the 2018-19 fiscal year, such sum representing the additional costs attributable to the increase in wages and benefits required by the new agreement over those that would be paid at current staffing levels in accordance with the most recent collective bargaining agreement? (Note: Health and Dental care premium increases are included in the main budget proposal The Fall Mountain School Board recommends this article.

Information on Warrant #2: This article would fund a three-year labor contract between the school board and the teacher’s association. This agreement funds an average wage increase of 2.1% for all members of the association plus related benefits costs and concessions on other contracted costs for a total budget impact of $182,045 in Fiscal Year 2018-19.

The projected tax impact for this article is as follows and this amount is in addition to the tax ramifications stated in Article 1:

Article 3 – Shall the Fall Mountain Regional School District vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $0 for the 2018-19 fiscal year to form a middle school research committee to explore a plan to build a Fall Mountain Regional Middle School? The committee will research the benefits and drawbacks, both educationally and financially, of a regional middle school and report their findings to the school board not later than November 19, 2018. The Fall Mountain School Board recommends this article.

Information on Warrant #3: The Fall Mountain Regional School District Capital Improvements Plan, which was recently adopted by the School Board, includes the construction of a new regional middle school for the District. This committee will research the benefits and drawbacks of moving forward with this project. The funding will allow them to consult with educators and architects to look and the educational benefits of a regional middle school as well as develop a few simple conceptual drawings of what a building might look like. They will be able to look at building costs and operational savings and report all of this to the board.

The projected tax impact for this article is as follows and this amount is in addition to the tax ramifications stated in Article 1:

Article 4 – Shall the Acworth voters vote to appropriate $7,800 to replace an exterior door and recarpet the hallway at the Acworth Center School, with said funds to come from the Acworth Elementary Capital Reserve Fund? The Fall Mountain School Board recommends this article.

Information on Warrant #4: This article will fund the capital projects included in the District Capital Improvements Plan for the Acworth Center School in the amount of $7,800 from the Acworth Elementary Capital Reserve Fund. This is a tax neutral article utilizing capital reserves and will not increase the tax rates. The June 30, 2017 balance of the Acworth Elementary Capital Reserve Fund was $12,676.67. Note: Per

Town

Projected Tax Rate Increases

Acworth

$0.12

Alstead

$0.17

Charlestown

$0.29

Langdon

$0.17

Walpole

$0.12

Town

Projected Tax Rate Increases

Acworth

$0.00

Alstead

$0.00

Charlestown

$0.00

Langdon

$0.00

Walpole

$0.00

Article 18 of the District’s Articles of Agreement, the cost of such expenditure will be apportioned exclusively to the residents of Acworth and the warrant article will be passed or defeated on the basis of votes tallied in the Town of Acworth.

Article 5 – Shall the Alstead voters vote to appropriate $103,265 to abate asbestos, restore ceilings and floors after asbestos abatement, repoint the chimney and replace the roof on the outback at Vilas Middle School, with said funds to come from the Alstead Elementary Capital Reserve Fund? The Fall Mountain School Board recommends this article.

Information on Warrant #5: This article will fund the capital projects included in the District Capital Improvements Plan for the Vilas Middle School in the amount of $103,265 from the Alstead Elementary Capital Reserve Fund. This is a tax neutral article utilizing capital reserves and will not increase the tax rates. The June 30, 2017 balance of the Alstead Elementary Capital Reserve Fund was $170,645.41. Note: Per Article 18 of the District’s Articles of Agreement, the cost of such expenditure will be apportioned exclusively to the residents of Alstead and the warrant article will be passed or defeated on the basis of votes tallied in the Town of Alstead.

Article 6 – Shall the Charlestown voters vote to appropriate $166,500 to convert the boiler to propane and remove the buried oil tanks at the Charlestown Middle School, Replace the roof on the multi-purpose room, complete phase 1 of an asbestos abatement project and replace the catch basin at the Charlestown Primary School, and replace classroom flooring at the North Charlestown School with said funds to come from the Charlestown Elementary Capital Reserve Fund? The Fall Mountain School Board recommends this article.

Information on Warrant #6: This article will fund the capital projects included in the District Capital Improvements Plan for Charlestown area schools with funding from the Charlestown Elementary Capital Reserve Fund. This is a tax neutral article utilizing capital reserves and will not increase the tax rates. The November 30, 2017 balance of the Charlestown Elementary Capital Reserve Fund was $171,496.12. Note: Per Article 18 of the District’s Articles of Agreement, the cost of such expenditure will be apportioned exclusively to the residents of Charlestown and the warrant article will be passed or defeated on the basis of votes tallied in the Town of Charlestown.

Article 7 – Shall the Langdon voters vote to appropriate $10,100 to remove asbestos and repair the floor at the Sarah Porter School with said funds to come from the Langdon Elementary Capital Reserve Fund? The Fall Mountain School Board recommends this article.

Information on Warrant #7: This article will fund the capital projects included in the District Capital Improvements Plan for Sarah Porter School with funding from the Langdon Elementary Capital Reserve Fund. This is a tax neutral article utilizing capital reserves and will not increase the tax rates. The June 30, 2017 balance of Langdon Elementary Capital Reserve Fund was $15,956.87. Note: Per Article 18 of the District’s Articles of Agreement, the cost of such expenditure will be apportioned exclusively to the residents of Langdon and the warrant article will be passed or defeated on the basis of votes tallied in the Town of Langdon.

Article 8 – Shall the Walpole voters vote to appropriate $135,700 to replace lockers and classroom doors at Walpole elementary School, replace the roof on the Walpole Primary School, and replace the roof of the North Walpole School gym, with said funds to come from the Walpole Elementary Capital Reserve Fund? The Fall Mountain School Board recommends this article.

Information on Warrant #8: This article will fund the capital projects included in the District Capital Improvements Plan for the Walpole Schools with funding from the Walpole Elementary Capital Reserve Fund. This is a tax neutral article utilizing capital reserves and will not increase the tax rates. The June 30, 2017 balance of the Walpole Elementary Capital Reserve Fund was $204,834.01 Note: Per Article 18 of the District’s Articles of Agreement, the cost of such expenditure will be apportioned exclusively to the residents of Walpole and the warrant article will be passed or defeated on the basis of votes tallied in the Town of Walpole.

Article 9 – Shall the District vote to appropriate $99,800 to update restrooms for ADA compliance – phase 1, asbestos abatement and ceiling & floor replacements at the Fall Mountain Regional High School, with said funds to come from the High School Capital Reserve Fund? The Fall Mountain School Board recommends this article.

Information on Warrant #9: This article will fund the capital projects listed from the Fall Mountain Regional High School Capital Reserve Fund. This is a tax neutral article utilizing capital reserves and will not increase the tax rates. The November 30, 2017 balance of the Fall Mountain Regional High School Capital Reserve Fund was $291,903.85.

Article 10 – Shall the District vote to appropriate up to $500,000 in the district’s capital reserve funds with the breakdown as follows: 3.60% up to $18,000 to be added to the Acworth Capital Reserve Fund; 7.79% up to $38,950 to be added to the Alstead Capital Reserve Fund; 17.92% up to $89,600 to be added to the Charlestown Capital Reserve Fund; 3.36% up to $16,800 to be added to the Langdon Capital Reserve Fund; 17.33% up to $86,650 to be added to the Walpole Capital Reserve Fund and 50% for up to $250,000 to be placed in the High School Capital Reserve Fund, with said funds to come solely from any year-end unassigned general fund balance? These funds are to be held by Trustees of Trust Funds in the respective towns and no withdrawals shall be made without consent of the voters. The Fall Mountain School Board recommends this article.

Information on Warrant #10: This article adds funds to the capital reserve funds created for this purpose and will fund for future capital needs for all District building. The amounts included in this warrant article will support future projects included in the Fall Mountain Regional School District Capital Improvements Plan adopted by the School Board and will only be transferred if there is an available fund balance at the end of the fiscal year.

Members Present:

Alicia Flammia (Chair), Jackie Kensen, Lew Shelley, Kelli Wilson, Laura Hayes

Alternates Present:

Elaine Heleen, Gary Speed

Members Absent

John Peska (Vice Chair), Myra Mansouri, Peter Palmiotto, Duncan Watson

Others Present:

Cheryl Mayberry (Selectboard Representative), Steven Dumont (Recording Secretary), Joe & Barbara Jackson (Guests)

Call to Order: Alicia Flammia, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.

Seating of Alternates: As a quorum of regular members was present, no seating of Alternates was required.

Review and approve minutes – January 8, 2018. Corrections; Bryon Fletcher’s name was misspelled on page 1. Jackie made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Kelli seconded. With all in favor, the minutes were accepted as corrected.

Public Business:

1. Treasury: besides about $200, all the forestry and conservation account money is in the PDIP account. Copies of Trust Fund and bank statements were given to Steven for filing.

2. Correspondence:

a. An email was sent to the WCC asking for support to an anti-wildlife-trafficking bill.

b. The WCC received a copy of a letter from the Selectboard thanking William Callahan for his land donation. Alicia to follow up with Mr. Callahan about getting the property surveyed.

c. Received a letter from the Society for the Protection of NH Forests reminding the WCC that they are expecting monitoring reports for conservation easements, due 1/15/18 (Jackie has completed them and sent in).

d. Received a notice about the budget hearing on Thursday Feb 8th at the Walpole Town Hall.

e. Received a note that the WCC needs to contact the NH DES to change the address for Alicia.

f. Received a notice from the NH DES about upcoming Aquatic Resource Mitigation fund workshops.

g. Received a letter from Peter Rhodes noting that he just sent the final stumpage payment from the Watershed Town Forest to the Selectman’s office, in the amount of $765.90. He also enclosed a final invoice for his services, and noted that the new town forester should get in touch with him to transfer the large volume of maps and materials that he has.

New Business:

1. Joe and Barbara Jackson were in attendance. They own 22 acres with forest and open space, abutting the Neerie property. They are considering conservation possibilities and came to the WCC looking for more information. Lew recommended that they talk with the Monadnock Conservancy, as they hold the easement on the Neerie property. They may be interested in taking this on.

2. Appointments: John Peska, Kelli Wilson and Myra Mansouri are all up for reappointment. All would like to stay on the WCC. They need to submit a letter of interest to the town. Cheryl recommends that Alicia write to the selectboard and let them know that she approves their reappointment.

3. Garland Lumber Invoice: WCC received a notice from the tax office that there is an outstanding invoice to Garland Lumber in the amount of $6,618.52. Alicia to follow up.

Old Business:

1. Reservoir Dam: John not in attendance, Alicia has not heard back with an update.

2. Antioch University Internship: Laura has committed to doing the internship. The $2,000 stipend has been previously approved. Alicia needs to work out administrative details with Sarah Downing. Laura would like to do some work from home, and not have this be part of an official Antioch internship. Laura asked for $100 to cover the student licensing fee for the software. Jackie made a motion that the WCC fund the $100 fee. Lew seconded. With all in favor, the motion was passed. Lew would like trails info included in the easements. Laura will get started.

3. Fannie Mason Feasibility Study: Lew will walk forest and get started in late March /early April, and will bill for his services on completion.

4. Long View Forest Walk: WCC is waiting for a new date from Long View.

5. Bill Callahan Land Donation: Alicia will update WCC when she hears back on survey proposals.

6. Town Conservation Maps: Laura & Peter are working on the draft. Laura passed around her laptop with the progress so far.

Other Business:

1. Alicia would like to have a WCC outing day in the spring.

2. Trail volunteers: Lew would like to have a day in mid April for trail work, maintenance etc. Date TBD.

3. Gary Speed mentioned that a resident is having trouble with the Cold River and erosion. The WCC may be hearing from her.

4. Steven mentioned that the Charlestown Conservation Commission got copies of all Intent to Cuts, keeping them in the loop on where forestry operations are being done. This was included in their correspondence. Alicia to ask for copies from the selectboard.

5. Steven mentioned that he is interested in becoming an alternate as well as the Recording Secretary. Cheryl will look into this.

Adjournment: At 8:37 PM Jackie made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Kelli seconded. Meeting adjourned.

Next Meeting: Monday, March 5, 2018 at 7:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted; Steven Dumont, Recording Secretary

Note: These are unapproved minutes. Corrections, if any, will be found in the minutes of March 5, 2018

The picture spoke for itself but here is the text to go,with it! – Lil

WESTMORELAND, N.H. – Learn about resources available to retiring and beginning farmers at the upcoming workshop Navigating Your Farm’s Future: The Basics of Farm Transfer Planning. This event is for farmers who are transitioning out of farming and those wanting to enter the business or acquire farmland.

Hosted by the Monadnock Conservancy, Land For Good, and the Cheshire County Conservation District, this workshop will be held at Stuart & John’s Sugar House Restaurant, 31 Route 63, Westmoreland, N.H., on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (snow date: March 21). The event is free, but registration is required. The workshop includes a full pancake breakfast for lunch.

Participants will learn the basics of planning a farm transfer, including financial and legal considerations, resources for finding a new farmer or securing land, and conservation options for farms. An attorney experienced with estate planning will be available to answer legal questions.

Reserve your spot by March 16 by registering online at https://tinyurl.com/y7h8cjae or by contacting Stacy Cibula at 603-357-0600, ext. 106, or Stacy@MonadnockConservancy.org.

The Monadnock Conservancy, founded in 1989, is the only land trust dedicated exclusively to the 35 towns in the Monadnock region of southwestern New Hampshire. Its mission is to work with communities and landowners to conserve the natural resources, wild and working lands, rural character and scenic beauty of the region. Based in Keene, N.H., the Conservancy is an accredited organization that has protected over 20,000 acres of forest, farmland, shoreline, wetlands, wildlife habitat and recreation trails in the region. For more information, visit http://www.MonadnockConservancy.org or call 603-357-0600.

The Cheshire County Conservation District promotes the conservation and responsible use of our natural and agricultural resources for the people of Cheshire County by providing technical, financial, and educational assistance. Our goal is to encourage the stewardship of healthy soils, productive ecologically sound farms, diverse wildlife, productive sustai