TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD
MARCH 10, 2016
Selectboard Present: Steven Dalessio (Chair); Whitney Aldrich; Peggy Pschirrer
CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Dalessio called this Selectboard meeting to order at 6:00 PM in the Walpole Town Hall. He advised that this meeting is being recorded and asked anyone wishing to speak to identify themselves for the record. There were three people in attendance.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register in the amount of $48,667.05 for checks dated March 11, 2016. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve payment of the invoice from True North Networks, LLC in the amount of $11,460.09. This includes $1,000.00 for the monthly service maintenance. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve payment of the invoice from Affordable Moving Company in the amount of $555.00. It is for moving furniture from the Town Hall to the Hooper Mansion. This should be paid from the Hooper Trust Maintenance fund. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
PAYROLL:
Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Payroll voucher for the week ending March 5, 2016, in the amount of $20,001.52 for checks dated March 11, 2016. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,278.04 for the week ending March 5, 2016. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:
SELECTBOARD MEETING – March 3, 2016: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of March 3, 2016, as submitted. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the Minutes were approved.
NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – March 3, 2016: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard session of March 3, 2016, as submitted. These Minutes will remain sealed. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the Minutes were approved.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Selectboard received and reviewed Minutes of the following meetings:
- Conservation Commission – March 7, 2016;
- North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – February 17, 2016;
- North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – February 23, 2016;
- North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – March 1, 2016;
- Walpole Planning Board – March 8, 2016.
With reference to the Walpole Planning Board meeting minutes, Mr. Dalessio pointed out that Ms. Kelli Hicks resigned and the WPB will recommend an appointment next month. The WPB will pursue trying to get some grant money for re-writing the Master Plan, etc. They are consulting with the Southwest Regional Planning Commission for advice on this.
ABATEMENTS AND REFUNDS:
Property Tax Abatements:
MILLER, 51 Ramsay Hill Road, Map & Lot #008-084-000: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the recommendation of Avitar Associates to reduce the assessment by $15,000.00 on this property and to approve the Notice of Property Tax Abatement Refund in the amount of $365.50 for Christopher C. Miller. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
McMAHON, 58 Adams Lane, Map & Lot #003-001-000: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to accept the recommendation of Avitar Associates to deny this request for a Property Tax Abatement for Mary McMahon. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
McALLISTER, 250 Meetinghouse Road, Map & Lot #008-049-000: Mr. Aldrich moved to accept the recommendation of Avitar Associates to reduce the assessment by $6,200.00 on the McAllister property and to approve the Notice of Property Tax Abatement Refund in the amount of $149.22. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
OLD BUSINESS:
NH Department of Labor Audit and Inspection Report: Mr. Dalessio noted that Mrs. Clough will be asked to be sure that everything on the list is completed in the office for this inspection on April 5th. Mr. Houghton is aware of the fact that this needs to be done.
Town Ordinance, Procedure and Policy Manual: The Selectboard continue to work on this project.
NEW BUSINESS:
Conservation Commission Secretary Appointment: Mrs. Elaine Heleen resigned as the Conservation Commission Secretary. The Selectboard supports the appointment of Ms. Regina Borden as the new secretary.
Appointments: A list of Town Board/Committee vacancies will be posted.
True North Statement of Work: Mr. Dalessio reported that on Election Day there was some trouble with the network. The President of True North came in and recommended a replacement rotor that drives the network; it would cost between $626.00-and-$751.00. They also recommending changing the wireless access point; it would cost between $951.00-and-$1,076.00.
Mrs. Pschirrer moved to authorize Mr. Steve Dalessio, as Chairman, to sign the purchase orders for the up-dated equipment as recommended by the company to keep the computers and server working properly. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Office Closing – March 22, 2016: The Selectboard announced that the office will be closed on Tuesday, March 22nd. The meter readings will be done for the water and sewer and bills will be processed. Several company representatives will be present to be sure that all the data is transferred properly and there are no problems with the equipment. This will be a six month billing but the goal is to go to quarterly billing.
Gazebo Repairs: Mrs. Clough had sent out an email about the scope of work that needs to be done on the Gazebo. The Selectboard would prefer to have all the work done at once rather than piece-meal therefore they will get a quote on the entirety and then make a decision on how much they want to do at this time. A fund was set up by the donor for maintenance.
Town Hall Building: Mrs. Pschirrer reported that yesterday there was a strong smell of propane in the building. She checked the stove and everything seemed okay. A call was made to Mr. Houghton and it was determined the tank was low. There was discussion about the fact that there is just one 50-gallon tank which will not go far when the kitchen stove is being used. Consideration will be given to adding a surcharge onto rental agreements when the kitchen will be used. Should there be two 50-gallon tanks. In the future if a renter of the building forgets to turn the stove/oven off they will not get their deposit back. Mrs. Pschirrer will review the rental agreement and make recommendations for proposed revisions.
Highway Department: Mrs. Pschirrer advised that Mr. Rau, Road Agent, has the following streets on his 2016 Paving Schedule: The Commissioners in North Walpole asked him to make one change and he is willing to do that. In North Walpole – Birch Street, Brady Street, Oak Street and Cray Street. In Walpole – North Street, Kingsbury Street, Meetinghouse Road and Wilson Street. Pleasant Street will be included; it will be torn-up and replaced. He has been talking with Ms. Cheryl Mayberry, Commissioner, in North Walpole who is also on the Transportation Committee at Southwest Regional Planning Commission, about Route 12 and traffic/stop lights. Mr. Rau will work with Mr. Mark Houghton to coordinate the work on Pleasant Street. Some of that sidewalk will be replaced as asphalt.
Alstead Center Road was posted and will probably continue to be year-round because of the bump near the stream; it might cave in. Mr. Rau has a plan for repairing the culvert but has to follow-up on it. Mr. Dalessio noted that a lot of local farmers use that road but there is not a lot of public traffic.
NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:
Mr. Aldrich moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel. Mrs. Pschirrer seconded the motion and, on a roll call with all in favor, the motion was approved at 6:50 PM.
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:18 PM.
Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of March 10, 2016, will be sealed. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:
Mr. Aldrich moved to recess this Selectboard meeting. The Selectboard will enter into a Hooper Trustees meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:39 PM.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Department Head Meetings: Mrs. Pschirrer wanted the Department Heads to be reminded that there will be a meeting in the Town Hall on March 23rd at 8:30 AM to review the Personnel Manual.
Mr. Dalessio pointed out that the Department Heads are supposed to meet at the E.E. Houghton building on March 15th at 10:00 AM for the webinar on Safety Committees.
Selectboard Meetings: There was a consensus of the Selectboard to change the meeting time from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM for their regular Thursday meetings starting March 17th.
The Selectboard will continue to schedule their monthly Staff meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 5:00 PM.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer. With all in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 7:49 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary
The Walpolean 
Recent Comments