Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 12/3/15

SELECTBOARD 12/23/2015 Leave a comment

TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD
DECEMBER 3, 2015

Selectboard Present: Steven Dalessio (Chair); Whitney Aldrich; Peggy Pschirrer

CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Dalessio called this Selectboard meeting to order at 5:10 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 four people present in the audience.
These are unapproved Minutes.

PUBLIC HEARING – Gift of Property:
Mr. Dalessio called this Public Hearing to order at 5:15 PM. He read the following notice as advertised and posted:
“The Select Board of Walpole has called a Public Hearing in accordance RSA 31-95:-e. on December 3. 2015 at 5:15 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the gift of a BBQ Pit and land, Map 22, Lot 5, to be attached to the Town Recreation Area, adjacent to the Walpole Middle School, from Hubbard Farms, 195 Main Street.

All Walpole residents are invited to attend and comment on the proposed acceptance of this gift.”

Mr. Dalessio advised that the Selectboard received a letter from Mark H. Barnes, CEO, Hubbard, LLC confirming that they will gift the Bar-B-Que property located on 195 Main Street in fee simple to the Town of Walpole. The Bar-B-Que pit and 0.333 acres of land surrounding the pit are shown on their attached survey plat. This will be annexed to Map 22, Lot 1. Upon written notice from the Selectboard that the Town will accept this donation, they will have a deed drafted and forwarded to the Selectboard for review prior to final execution.

Mr. Dalessio pointed out that with this gift the Town will have a permanent right-of-way through the Hubbard Farms, LLC property to the Recreation (pool) area.

There were no comments from the Public. Mr. Dalessio closed this Public Hearing at 5:20 PM.

SELECTBOARD MEETING (Continued):
Mr. Aldrich moved to accept this gift of a BBQ Pit and land, Map 22, Lot 5, from Hubbard Farms, LLC. Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

PUBLIC HEARING – Designating Emergency Lanes:
Mr. Dalessio called this Public Hearing to order at 5:30 PM. He read the following notice as advertised and posted.

“The Walpole Selectboard has called a Public Hearing for December 3, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. in accordance with RSA 231:59-A which requires a public hearing prior to designating Emergency Lanes.

The Fire Department of the Town of Walpole has requested the following be designated Emergency Lanes for purposes of safety: Derry Hill Road, Eaton Lane, and the end of Reservoir Road to the Hooper Institute shelter. Access to forested area, the Boy Scout Camp and the Hooper Shelter will allow the Walpole Fire Department and EMS to operate in any emergency situation.

Emergency Lanes so designed shall be maintained by the Highway department to ensure access for fire vehicles and ambulances.

All abutters to Derry Hill Road, Eaton Lane and the end of Reservoir Road are urged to attend to voice opinions and ask any questions concerning the designation of the emergency lanes. Written comments will be accepted in the Selectboard Office prior to the meeting.”

Mr. John Peska and Mr. Lew Shelley, members of the Conservation Commission, were in attendance. Members of the Fire Department were unable to attend as this is their regular training night.

Mr. Dalessio read the one letter received from John and Linda Burrows. They advised that over the years there have been many attempts to stop traffic from proceeding over this Class 6 Town Road (Reservoir Road from the Pratt residence toward Boy Scout Shelter). There are piles of dirt in the middle of the Right-of-Way (R.O.W.), Vehicle parked in such a manner as to block the R.O.W., and Fruit trees planted in the R.O.W. They feel that this problem needs to be addressed along with possible improvement to the Class 6 R.O.W. They are in favor of improving these Class 6 roads for the safety of all. They requested that this be read at the hearing.

Mr. Peska pointed out that the original objective of the sub-committee was to get everybody involved (Fire Police, all emergency responders and public works); know the conditions of those roads and prioritize them. They could look into obtaining Grant monies after they identified the ones that had potential for recreational use. Their original meeting was held on March 26, 2014, and a total of 16 roads was identified by members of that committee. They met again on October 5th, 2015. He understands from the Fire Department and Police Department that there were two roads they were concerned with for public safety purposes, those two roads should be prioritized and research done to find out what needed to be done to have them designated as emergency lanes. Mr. Shelley pointed out that this sub-committee was also to inventory the roads for conservation and recreational uses as well.

Mr. Mark Houghton, Fire Department, came into the meeting. He confirmed that the roads they are concerned with are the Derry Hill Road and Reservoir Road as far as the Hooper shelter. Mr. Houghton said they are also concerned with Eaton Road (from Valley Road to the Boy Scout Camp). He never heard of an “Eaten Road” as it was always known as “Eaton Road”. Mr. Shelley questioned where these roads end; they know where they start. Land owners in the Derry Hill area have complained about not being able to access their properties because of recreational vehicles damaging the road. Mr. Houghton agrees that it is damaged however it was good to Cochrane Lane; past that it was impassable. Mr. Shelley felt if it is considered an emergency lane it will create more access / problems. Mr. Houghton mentioned the difficulty they have when fighting brush fires in that area; there are a lot of woods there. There have been some significant accidents in that region. After these roads have been designed as Emergency Lanes the Town can maintain them. They are not allowed to spend money on Class 6 roads. After looking at the Town map, it was determined that Derry Hill ends at the intersection where French Road comes into it; it starts at Watkins Hill Road.

Mrs. Pschirrer advised that, if approved, a notice will be in the next Clarion advising that these three Class 6 roads have been designed as Emergency Lanes.

There were no other public comments. Mr. Dalessio closed this Public Hearing at 5:55 PM.

REGULAR SELECTBOARD MEETING (Continued):
Mr. Dalessio moved to designate emergency lanes as follows: 1) Derry Hill Road to the intersection of French Road; 2) Eaton Lane; and 3) the end of Hooper Lane to the end of Reservoir at the Hooper shelter. Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

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

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 6:30 PM.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard session #1 of December 3, 2015, be sealed. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $192,399.15 for checks dated December 4, 2015. 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 November 28, 2015, in the amount of $20,563.24 for checks dated December 4, 2015. 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 $4,167.45 for the week ending November 28, 2015. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:
SELECTBOARD MEETING – November 25, 2015: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of November 25, 2015, as submitted. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the Minutes were approved.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Selectboard received and reviewed the following minutes:
Conservation Commission – November 2, 2015; and
North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – November 24, 2015.

BUILDING PERMIT:
MUCHMORE, Sand Hill Road, Map & Lot #012-044-022: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to grant Building Permit #2015-51 for Michael H. Muchmore, to “Construct a 28’ x 24’ 1 story out building / shed”, at 21 Sand Hill Road. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:
Disability Insurance Application: Mr. Aldrich moved that the Chair be authorized to sign the Disability Insurance application. Secondec by Mrs. Pschirrer. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Meeting With Primex: Mrs. Pschirrer reported that they met with Primex on Tuesday. Mr. Aldrich advised that it was a good meeting and informational. Mrs. Pschirrer found it very instructive. She
learned some things that she was not aware of. The Primex representative was specific on his direction; he raised some interesting issues. Mr. Dalessio noted that their message is consistent. Mrs. Pschirrer told the representative that the Selectboard had a lot of training they wanted the employees to do. Mr. Aldrich said he was pleased with the monthly Staff Meetings. They need to appoint a Safety Committee who will meet quarterly; the members need to be rotated. Mr. Dalessio will send out some material for Mr. Aldrich and Mrs. Pschirrer to look at plus a Safety manual. During the January Staff meeting they will discuss this and how they will implement it. It will involve everyone including the Fire Department, Hooper Institute and Library. The Selectboard has work to do on these issues.

Police Request From The Town of Alstead: Police Chief Paquette spoke to Mr. Joel McCarthy, Selectman in the Town of Alstead. It was agreed that Walpole will assist but it will be on a case-by-case basis. Chief Paquette will not commit to anything consistent; it will be an extended courtesy. This can now be taken off the weekly agenda.

Walpole’s Oldest Citizen: The Selectboard announced that Mrs. Agnes Ciccalone is the Town of Walpole’s oldest citizen. Mrs. Clough will be asked to contact her to congratulate her and to see if she prefers to have the Selectboard present the cane to her at her home or would she prefer coming into the office on a Thursday evening for the presentation. It was agreed to present Mrs. Ciccalone with a framed certificate but the Boston Cane will be kept in a case in the Town Hall. There will be a plaque in the Town Hall with the recipients’ names on it.

Letter To The Cheshire County Commissioners: Mr. Dalessio talked to Chief Paquette about scaling down his information; simplify it, so the letter can be sent to the Cheshire County Commissioners.

Town Ordinance, Procedure and Policy Manual: The Selectboard continue to work on this project.

NEW BUSINESS:
Deputy Warden Appointment Form: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Appointment of William Crawford as the Deputy Forest Fire Warden. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Forest Fire Warden Bill: Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the NH Forest Fire Report / Bill in the amount of $870.00. Mr. Houghton, Warden, has issued 290 Fire Permits at $3.00/each. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. With all in favor, the motion was approved.

2016 Budget: Mr. Kreissle had provided worksheets on the 2015 budget as of November 30, 2015. The Selectboard reviewed the proposed 2016 Budget. Their goal is to keep the bottom line at no more than a 4% increase yet enable the Department Heads to have what is necessary to operate plus to do needed maintenance to buildings, roads, etc. Roof repairs are needed for the Library, Pool Building, and Police Department building. The Selectboard will meet again with several Department Heads to go over their proposed budgets. They discussed options to achieve their goal. What is the best way to use their funds. They will continue to work out the details. Mrs. Pschirrer wanted it noted that the word “special” has been misspelled in the budget consistently therefore it needs to be corrected; it is not “specal”.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD MEETING #2:
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 vote with all in favor, the motion was approved at 7:04 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:36 PM.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session #2 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 7:49 PM.

ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Pschirrer. With all in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

Friendly Friday – 1/22/16

EVENTS 12/23/2015 Leave a comment
The December 11 Friendly Friday was a great success! Eleven families donated enough regular size toiletries to fill a big basket for the Fall Mountain Food Shelf. We also made over sixty “Blessing Bags” with travel-size toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, conditioner and lotion donated by church members, families, Bowman Dental and Holiday Inn Express in Keene. Twenty kids in attendance, age three to twelve, decorated slips of paper expressing blessing to go in each of the bags. Rev. Craig and his family delivered all the items the next day to Mary Lou Huffling at the Food Shelf. In addition to this gift of service, everyone enjoyed a delicious pot luck meal, games, songs and hearing about the Christmas story.
The next Friendly Friday will be January 22 at 1st Congregational Church. Once again Rev. Craig and his family invite families of all kinds to join in another fun evening. To honor Rev. Martin Luther King’s legacy and promote love of neighbor, we’ll give another gift of service in addition to our usual food, fellowship and fun. This time the aim is to provide a project that allows Friendly Friday kids and families help other kids. Connect with the Friendly Fridays FaceBook page for more details as the project comes together: https://www.facebook.com/Friendly-Fridays-499176670243665/.
As always, we invite families to bring a side or main dish to share. Church will provide drinks and dessert. Other upcoming dates are February 26 and March 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m. For further questions about Friendly Fridays, check out the FaceBook page or contact the church: 756-4075, walpolechurch@yahoo.com.

Zoning Board Meeting Minutes – 12/16/15

ZONING BOARD 12/23/2015 Leave a comment

In her email, Marilou Blaine said that the matrix will be published with boxes for the next meeting.  Let’s hope the format shows here as well. If not, one can check the posting on the bulletin board in the Town Hall. – Lil

Walpole Zoning Board of Adjustment

Minutes: December 16, 2015

 

Present: Board Members: Chair Myra Mansouri Vice-Chair Jan Galloway Le Clerc. Alternates: Judy Trow and Stephanie Stoughton..

Absent:, Members Ernie Vose and Mary Therese Lester..

Recording: Marilou Blaine. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the January 2016 meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions.

Roll Call: Ms. Mansouri called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Two board members were absent so both alternates took their places.

Minutes: Ms. Trow made a motion to approve the minutes with one typo – the spelling of Ms. Mansouri‘s name. Ms. LeClerc seconded the motion and the board approved the minutes.

Workshop: Ms. Mansouri said she was really pleased with how the workshop went. Ms. LeClerc made a motion to accept the workshop minutes as written, Ms. Stoughton seconded the motion and the board passed the motion unanimously.

After countless suggestions and rewording and discussion about some zoning ordinances by Board members, Ms. LeClerc came up with Draft II:

 

                                                            What District

 

                                                            Does project conform

                                                                   to zoning

 

                                                Yes                                                       No

 

                                                                                                Go to ZBA

 Go to PB                                                                                Fill out application

 for Site Plan

 Review

 

                                                Variance                     Special Exception                   Go to PB                                                                     Hearing                            Needed                               Set Hearing                                                                                                                                            Get recommendation

                                                                                                                       

 

                                              Granted                                                                             ZBA Hearing

                                                                     

                                                                                                                               Granted

Ms. Mansouri said that there are several things to be revisited next year regarding the Zoning Ordinances:

B&Bs

Junkyards

She will check to see if these changes have to be on a warrant. They are simply numbers and rules which             correspond to state requirements, so maybe may be changed without writing a petition.

Other topics: Hitchcock Road is now Alstead Center Road.

Lighting rules saying lights must be downlit and shut off at a specific time.

Page 9 special exception which tells readers to loop back to another article.

Any written changes would have to be approved by the Planning Board.

 

Whipple Hill gravel pit: Mr. Vose sent an email saying that Whipple Hill gravel pit owner Gary Patch let him know that gravel had been taken out of the pit as he promised when the pit was inspected this fall. Mr. Vose wrote, “ I drove up there and they had indeed taken some gravel out of the pit.  They had smoothed out the banking after taking the gravel.  They left tracks of the truck and the loader which was the only way I could be sure that they had taken any gravel at all. He kept his word !”

 

Tom Hanna letter: There was no discussion.

 

Petition: It was noted by Mr. Anderson that the RSA in the petition is RSA 149-M: 24 not 124. Ms. Mansouri asked the secretary to check with Ms. Janet Clough or Selectman Steve Dalessio on when changes to the petition can be made. The request for a Public Hearing regarding the petition will be at the regular Planning Board meeting January 12, 2016 and the Public Hearing will be held January 26, 2016. Mr. Anderson asked if there were more signatures. The secretary said there were.

 

Executive Session: The Board went into executive session after a motion was made by Ms. Stoughton, seconded by Ms. Trow and approved by the Board at 8:10 p.m. The Board came out of executive session at 8:40 p.m. A motion was made by Ms. LeClerc to accept the minutes of the executive session on November 18 as written. The motion was seconded by Ms. Trow and approved by the Board.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m

 

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

Secretary

 

Zoning Board Workshop

ZONING BOARD 12/23/2015 Leave a comment

Regretfully, the format of the matrix does not work here as well as it should but some extra concentration makes it work. – Lil

Walpole Zoning Board of Adjustments Workshop

Walpole Town Hall

Minutes: December 10, 2015

 

Present: ZBA Board members: Chair Myra Mansouri, Jan Galloway Le Clerc Vice-Chair, Ernie Vose, Clerk, Bob Anderson,  Alternates Judy Trow and Stephanie Stoughton and Bob Miller, Vice-Chair of the Planning Board.

Recording: Marilou Blaine Recording Secretary. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the December 15, 2015, meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions

The meeting started at about 7 p.m. and the purpose was to make it clear to future applicants on the path or steps needed to be followed for a special exception. All districts allow special exceptions if special conditions are met. The idea is to make the path easy and understandable.

Judy Trow suggested a matrix and everybody agreed it was a great idea so the task seemed how to do it in the least amount of words: This is Draft No. 1.

 

Step 1                                     Step 2                                                         Step 3

What district                          Does my project                                If yes, proceed to the PB

are you in?                            conform to district

requirements?

 

 

Step 4

If no, go to the ZBA

to determine what is needed-

Variance or Special Exception

Fill out an application and

set up a Public Hearing date

 

Step 5                                           Step 6                                                 Step 7

Variance is given                             Variance                                Special Exception – Fill out

after Public Hearing                                    Go to PB for                          Application. Set Public Hearing

Go to PB if project                            for Site Plan Review           date. Go to PB – request Public

requires it                                                                                          Hearing. Have PB Hearing.

Get recommendation from PB.

Step 8

Return to ZBA

for a decision

on the Special Exception

This matrix will be looked at and tweaked by both the Zoning and Planning Boards to make sure it follows the correct steps and is easy to understand.

There were certain parts of the Zoning Ordinances that might need clarification. One is on page 7 in the Zoning Ordinances and it was requested that the Board revisit this at its next regular meeting.

Other items that will be revisited in 2016 are:

Regulations on B&Bs.

Junkyards

These need to be updated to meet state requirements.

Another matter is the naming of Hitchcock Road  and instead of having some reference to look at another article in the Zoning Ordinance, printout the ordinance where it is referred to.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine.

 

Online Walpole Clarion Available

EVENTS 12/23/2015 Leave a comment

The January 2016 issue of THE WALPOLE CLARION went to press Monday, December 21, and has been posted on-line on –http://thewalpoleclarion.com

Simply visit THE WALPOLE CLARION website, and click on the link to open the PDF of the full issue. The Calendar is a separate link from the “Past Issue” page.

Better yet, click on the link on the right side under “Follow this blog” and you will automatically get an email when the next issues are posted.

Walpole Players Fundraiser Winner is…

EVENTS 12/23/2015 Leave a comment

Had hoped my name would be here but instead, I want to congratulate Shirley Byczkowski. – Lil

The Walpole Players fundraiser for the Fall Mountain Food Shelf and Our-Place Drop-In Center concluded on December 12th with $2211 raised for those two organizations. The “$250 Shopping Spree” (donated by an anonymous donor) was won by Shirley Byczkowski.

The fundraiser was initiated this year when the players were unable to stage A CHRISTMAS CAROL for an eighth time, following its seven-year run due to the fact that not enough actors and actresses arrived to audition. “But we did not want our local foodshelves to suffer from the lack of donations that we always raised for them from our production,” co-directors Tara Sad and Ray Boas stated. So the idea for a $250 shopping spree incentive was hatched.  Based on the donation amount, the donors received one or more entries for the drawing.

Even though the fundraiser is over, you can still donate to the foodshelves.  As one of the Charity Collectors said to Scrooge in A CHRISTMAS CAROL, “(Christmas) is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.”  Your tax-deductible donations to help feed our less fortunate neighbors may be mailed to: The Fall Mountain Food Shelf, PO Box 191, Alstead, NH 03602; or, Our Place Drop-In Center, PO Box 852, Bellows Falls, VT 05101.

Thank you again to all of our generous donors.  And Merry Christmas to all.

Bad News at the Library

Uncategorized 12/23/2015 Leave a comment

I’m sure everyone joins me in hoping that this gets taken care of quickly.  We’ll all miss Justine and the entire staff and volunteers! – Lil

 

Attention Library Patrons! We are so sorry for the inconvenience but the library will be closed until further notice. As you know, we were supposed to get a new floor in the children’s room this week. We’ve discovered asbestos tile underneath the carpet and will be closed until it is taken care of. We will be working as quickly as possible to get the library back open and operating, but the safety of our patrons and staff comes first. Please do not worry about returning materials; all late fines that occur during our closing will be waived when we open again. Thank you for your patience during this time and enjoy the holidays with friends and family!

Conservation Committee Meeting Minutes – 12/7/15

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Minutes for the regular meeting of the
Walpole Conservation Commission
Monday, December 7, 2015

Present: Gary Speed, Tom Beaudry, John Peska, Sharyn Tullar (alt.), Kelli Wilson, Myra Mansouri (alt.), and Duncan Watson

Not Present: John Peska, Peter Palmiotto (alt.), Lewis Shelley, Alicia Flammia, Whit Aldrich (SelectBoard representative)

Mr. Beaudry, chair, called the meeting to order at 7:31 PM.

Non-Public session:
As Mr. Watson arrived after the meeting was called to order, Ms. Mansouri was seated to provide quorum.

Minutes
Mr. Speed moved to accept the minutes for the November 2, 2015 meeting as presented. Ms. Wilson seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.

Treasury/Budget Report
As of October 31, 2015, the balance in the Conservation account is: $53,179.59 and in the Forestry account: $10,346.87.

Correspondence
Environmental News
Town and City

New Business
Peter Palmiotto is resigning as Walpole representative for the SW Regional Planning Commission. They have quarterly meetings. This will be brought up again next month.

Old Business
NH Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting was attended by Ms. Tullar. The Conservation 101 class was so much in demand that there were 2 sessions offered. The Wildlife Action Plan is now 10 years old and a workshop was presented to bring everyone up to date.
The Conservation Commission Handbook was last purchased in August 2004. Mr. Beaudry will look into ordering some current books.
No activity yet in the Water Co. Forest.
A letter was sent to Terry Knowles. She seems to be in favor of putting on the Conservation Easement prior to the sale of the Hooper.
There was a Public Hearing on December 3, 2015 on Emergency Lanes designation for Derry Hill Road and Eaton Road. The SelectBoard voted to make both of these Emergency Access roads and will be maintained by the Town.
The Class 6 Roads priority list will be finalized and submitted to the SelectBoard.
Cheshire County Conservation District Meeting was attended by Mr. Beaudry and Ms. Tullar. The Keynote Speaker, John Magee was an excellent speaker. One of the things he discussed was a survey of culverts under roads in other parts of the state and then ranked by most prohibitive to least prohibitive. Mr. Beaudry is wondering if anyone might be interested in doing the same for Walpole culverts.
Ms. Tullar was wondering if work should be done to clear Mad Brook in Academy Ravine. Mr. Speed mentioned that this might be good for an Eagle Scout project.
Mr. Speed has taken care of the beaver at the causeway at Mill Pond. The one at East St in North Walpole is still there.

The next meeting will be Monday, January 4, 2016.
Mr. Peska moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:01pm. Mr. Watson seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine Heleen, Recording Secretary
NOTE: These are unapproved minutes with corrections to be found in the minutes of the next meeting.

Labyrinth at Hastings House – 12/27-12/29/15

EVENTS 12/23/2015 Leave a comment
My apologies to Antonia Andreoli and all the others who are responsible for this event.  Due to faulty electronics I didn’t get the announcement in for the earlier dates. – Lil
Once again, the second floor of Hastings House will be an oasis of calm in this busy time.  A labyrinth of evergreens and lights is laid on the floor, and visitors are invited to walk the labyrinth in the candlelit ballroom.  Gentle music fills the otherwise silent space.
Two changes this year:

The labyrinth will be open for six nights this year, and for the first time AFTER Christmas as well as before! And all donations will be given to the Fall Mt. Food Shelf.
Days and hours:
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Dec 20-22 and Dec 27 – 29.  The labyrinth will be open from 5 until 7 pm.
contact Antonia Andreoli, azandreoli@gmail.com, for more info.

Planning Board Meeting Minutes – 12/8/15

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Walpole Planning Board

 Walpole Town Hall

December 8, 2015 Minutes

7 p.m.

 

Presiding: Jeffrey Miller (Chair), Robert Miller (Vice-Chair), James Aldrich, (Secretary), Steve Dalessio (Selectboard Representative), Dennis Marcom, Jason Perron.

Alternates: Ed Potter, Jeff White.

Absent: Kelley Hicks, member.

Recording: Marilou Blaine. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the January 2016  meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions.

Call to Order: Mr. J. Miller called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.

Roll Call: One board member was absent so Mr. Miller asked Alternate Ed Potter to sit in her place.

Minutes: Mr. Marcom made a motion to accept the minutes as written. The motion was seconded and the board approved the motion.

            Old Business:Hearing for a Site Plan Review – (continued from October meeting)   Ruggiero Processing Facility, LLC, 32  Industrial Park Road, Map 1, Lot 10-1, Zoning   District Industrial – wishes to add another 2,500 square-foot pole barn, new access road,  trailer for employee break room and a scale near the entrance to the property.  Joe   Ruggiero owner, Rob Hitchcock of SVE Associates, Tom Hanna, lawyer.

Mr. J. Miller continued the meeting from October and said that the Public Hearing review period had been completed. He said the applicant asked that all proceedings be continued pending some clarifications from Superior Court. At the last meeting there was some talk about the Planning Board getting local counsel. The Planning Board decided that they were pretty clear on the issues so that we didn’t think we needed clarification, Mr. Miller said.

Ms. Pauline Barnes said she was here when the Planning Board voted 6 to zero to get counsel. At what point did the Planning Board rescind that vote? she asked.

Mr. Eric Merklein asked that the Planning Board chair to recuse himself from the matter since he wasn’t at the meeting in October when the Planning Board voted to seek counsel. The abutters have made a good case for their problems, Mr. Merklein said. He then mentioned a letter from Mr. Ruggiero‘s attorney, Mr. Tom Hanna, and the letter said Mr. Hanna had been waiting to meet with the Planning Board’s counsel but the Board had decided not to seek an attorney’s advice.

At this point Mr. J. Miller interrupted Mr. Merklein saying that the Public Hearing had been closed and that the discussion was not open for comments from the public. This is for the Board to discuss and make a decision, Mr. J. Miller said.

Mr. J. Miller then asked if members of the Board agreed with him that the Board knew what the issues were and that they could make a decision without counsel.

 Mr. Marcom disagreed with Mr. J. Miller. He said that the Planning Board had made a motion to seek counsel and he felt that what was voted should have been done.

As for Mr. Ruggiero‘s application that was for construction debris. Mr. Marcom continued that the Zoning Board granted the Special Exceptions with certain conditions, one being that there should be no changes unless Mr. Ruggiero go back to the Board for permission.  He did not do that but he made changes anyway. This speaks to trust, Mr. Marcom said. Mr. Ruggiero was doing both construction debris and MSW.

Mr. Ed Potter agreed with Mr. J. Miller and said he thought they should continue and wait to see what happened. He made a motion to continue with the application. It was seconded by Mr. Aldrich but was voted down 7-0 by the Board.

Mr. Dalessio said that there wasn’t a motion to reconsider the October vote. He also said the Ruggiero application was incomplete.

Mr. Aldrich agreed that the application was incomplete and added that the matter should have gone back to the Zoning Board.

Mr. R. Miller said that on Monday he had spoken with a Mr. Kordell Johnson of the N.H. Municipal Association with respect to the Ruggiero proposal. Mr. Johnson said he had heard a little of the background. Mr. Johnson said that he couldn’t predict how a court would rule on this case but DES, the Department of Environmental Services, does not preempt town rules and regulations. He was going to send a letter stating that but it had not arrived as of today.

Mr. R. Miller continued that he had six reasons for disapproval. They were:

  1. It is the wrong site for the proposed commercial business as it is located in an Industrial District and this business does not meet Walpole zoning requirements for the Industrial District.
  2. Pollution from noise, odor and possible rodents and the welfare of neighbors could very well be at risk.
  3. It is very likely that property values could be adversely impacted, not only affecting the businesses in this industrially zoned area but there are several homes that abut this proposed commercial venture that will most likely adversely impact the well being of the homeowners and their families.
  4. Walpole has an award-winning recycling center that is able to process all of Walpole’s MSW.
  5. No where in the Town’s Master Plan is it indicated that Walpole should become the processing center of MSW for southern New Hampshire, southern Vermont and northern Massachusetts.
  6. The Town of Walpole has spoken, “we do not need nor want this operation in our town.”

A motion was made to deny the applicant’s site plan request by Mr. Aldrich. It was seconded by  Mr. R. Miller and passed unanimously 7-0 by the Board.

New Business: Subdivision – William and Elizabeth Silverstein of 70 Reservoir Road would like to request a Public Hearing for a Subdivision of the property. Map 10, Lot 33, Rural/Agricultural District.

Mr. William Silverstein said that he and his wife had recently purchased property on Reservoir Road and he wanted to subdivide it. It had been subdivided once before in December  of 2019 and then the two parcels of land were put back together in a voluntary merger on May 2012. The subdivision would divide the property into two lots: one Lot 33 with 1.43 acres of land and 320 feet of road frontage; and another Lot 33-3 would be 1.53 acres with 277 feet of road frontage.

Mr. J. Miller asked if someone would make a motion to have a Public Hearing on the subdivision next month. A board member said “so moved,” Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously by the Board.

Hubbard Farms LLC, 195 Main Street,  Public Hearing for a Subdivision, Map 22, Lot 5. There will be three subdivisions of the 13.7 acre property – 8 acres for the office building, 0.3 acres for the barbecue pit, which will be donated to the town, and  5.54 acres for the two          outbuildings used for storage and maintenance.

Mr. Chip O’Brien said he was representing Hubbard Farm and the subdivision in question was at the Office Site at 195 Main Street. He said the right of way to the recreation center was well marked on this map and it is 20 feet wide. The barbecue will be annexed to the Recreation Center and given to the town.

Mr. Dalessio said the Selectboard has voted and had a Public Hearing on that matter and agreed to annex it and officially accepted it.

Mr. J. Miller asked if would be a separate lot. Mr. Dalessio responded it would be merged with the Recreation Center property. The Public Hearing was closed at 7:25 p.m.

Mr. Aldrich made a motion that the Board accept the subdivision as presented. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously by the Board.

Old Dominion submitted a plan for  lighting for its facility in the Industrial Park, which was one of the requirements for approval of their Site Plan. Mr. Frank Anderson said that the lighting is supposed to be LED lighting and down lit but it appears that something went wrong with one or more of the lights. Mr. Anderson’s property on Black Jack Crossing abuts Old Dominion and the light is coming through the woods into his yard.

Mr. Dan Nash and Mr. Marc Messier, who represented Old Dominion at the Public Hearing, will be advised of the problem.

Also, there needs to be a letter from the fire department that those conditions made at the time of their hearing have been taken care of and installed. They were mainly about having Knox boxes at a couple of locations.

Northcott Mylar: Scott and Judith Northcott submitted a subdivision plan on Valley Road, which the Planning Board approved this Spring but it was not a legal subdivision because a road went through a portion of the property in the the subdivision. Mr. Dalessio said that the Selectboard sorted out the issue and the mylar now had the correct subdivision. Mr. J. Miller and Mr. R. Miller signed it.

The meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm..

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine