Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 9/24/15

SELECTBOARD 10/26/2015 Leave a comment

Janet Clough has been out of the office so we got a little behind with the Selectboard Minutes.  Yuu’ll have lots to read as you “Monday Morning Quarterback”! I do thank her for taking time to get us up-to-date. – Lil

TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

September 24, 2015

 

Selectboard Present: Steve Dalessio (Chair), Peggy Pschirrer, Whitney Aldrich (arrived at 7:45pm).

CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Dalessio called this Selectboard meeting to order at 6:00pm 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.

PUBLIC BUSINESS: Dale Woodward, Chairman of the Cemetery Committee requests the use of Cemetery Trust funds for markers.  While there is probably not enough money in interest to stabilize the tombs, he would like to extend the water line in the New Cemetery Section A to spigots in Section C and Section E.  There is no RSA that requires 3 bids, but Mr. Dalessio recommends getting a couple of estimates. Mr. Woodward will return once he has those estimates and the Board will confirm that the appropriate amount is in the Trust funds to cover the expense.

Accounts Payable

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $14,018.63 for checks dated September 25, 2015. Mr. Dalessio seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.

Payroll

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Payroll Register in the Amount of $21,949.72 for payments dated 9/25/15 be approved as submitted. Mr. Dalessio seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Payroll Tax Electronic Funds Transfer 15-39 for W/E 9/19/15 in the amount of $5,082.00 be approved as submitted.  Mr. Dalessio seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Selectboard Minutes of September 17, 2015 be approved as presented. Mr. Dalessio seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor. Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Staff Meeting minutes of September 17, 2015 be approved as presented. Mr. Dalessio seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.  Mrs. Pschirrer moved that the Non-Public Selectboard minutes of September 17, 2015 be approved as presented and that they be sealed. Mr. Dalessio seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor

Old Business

  1. A letter to Mr. Lafayette regarding Notice to cease dumping has been drafted. Pschirrer moved to send this letter to Richard Lafayette re: illegal dumping. Mr. Dalessio seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.
  2. Town Ordinance, procedure and policy manual- Mrs. Pschirrer has been working on the Snow Removal and Ice Control policy. She recommends removing the wording that itemizes specific routes and naming which driver is on which truck which it does now.  These will be left to the discretion of the Road Agent. A policy on Parking during bad weather should be removed from the Snow Removal policy.  This may need to be a separate policy or even an ordinance requiring Town Vote. The Police Department may already have a Parking policy and Mr. Dalessio will check with them to be sure.
  3. Pschirrer moved to approve a letter to Mr. David Zhang of JR Development, LLC. which speaks to the noise factor behind Shaw’s which is unacceptable to the neighborhood when they start work at 3am. Mr. Dalessio seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.
  4. Vacation Rollover requests:
    1. Paul Clark would like to rollover 1 week from anniversary date of October to the summer of 2016
    2. Janet Clough would like to roll 1 week from her 9/9/15 anniversary date to be used before the end of the calendar year
    3. Justin Sanctuary will use one of two rolled weeks before the end of the year and the other in the Spring
    4. Mike Symonds would like to roll 1 week from his 9/6/15 anniversary date to be used before January 1st
    5. Dalessio moved to approve the request for rollovers of vacations. Mrs. Pschirrer seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.
  5. Primex Insurance application is under review by the Selectboard
  6. Hubbard Farms Barbeque Pit and Right of Way: Mr. Dalessio spoke to Hubbard Farms and confirmed that the Town will accept the gift of the Barbeque Pit. The Town will pay for the work to create a permanent Right of Way to the Pool. Hubbard Farms will get back to the Board as they progress through the sale of the property, which they expect to have ready for sale the first quarter of next year.

Committee Reports

The Selectboard acknowledges receipt of the minutes of the Zoning Board dated 9/16/15 and the Planning Board’s September 22nd Workshop. Also received are the Cemetery Trustees minutes.  They have submitted their 2016 budget with a $200 increase which has been forwarded to Rich.

Building Permit

Mrs. Pschirrer moved to approve Building Permit 2015-40 Map & Lot 011-038, 4 Eaton Road; the Beams wish to construct a one story 14×22’ kitchen addition on the same location as their current deck. Mr. Dalessio seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.

New Business

  1. SWRPC is asking for commitments to purchase the Planning & Land Use Manuals for $10 each. This request has been forwarded to all Boards & Commissions.
  2. Ocean State Job Lot asks for permission to stay open from 9am on Thursday Nov 26 through 11pm Friday Nov 27 as they have done in previous years. Mr. Dalessio moved to approve this request. Pschirrer seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.

Myra Mansouri, ZBA Chair provided updates on several matters:

  1. The variance granted to the Art Gallery for signs that were going to be less than 100 feet apart stated that the sign must be 34’ from the center of the road and 12’ from the Unitarian property line. Therefore the current placement of signs is not in accordance with the variance. Dalessio will draft a letter reminding Ms. Reeves of the conditions as indicated by the Zoning Board of Adjustments.
  2. Dalessio spoke with Ms. Reeves about the closeness of the statue to the sidewalk. She assured him that it would be gone before winter.  It is her intention that there be a revolving display of sculptures but she would be sure that they were in a safe spot.
  3. Regarding junkyards, Ms. Mansouri spoke to Lisa Murphy of SWRPC about potential changes to the Town Junkyard Ordinance (pg 6, Section G, #1, 2, & 3). Also, Attorney Buckley of the NH Municipal Association confirmed that what they have takes precedence and is applicable. The ZBA will work on a warrant for the Town Meeting updating this ordinance. This will be added to the Agenda going forward to keep up with the changes.
  4. Mansouri was not pleased with the Planning Board Workshop minutes as presented. She was encouraged to write a letter expressing her opinion.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:

Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into a Non-Public Selectboard Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (b) Personnel at 6:38pm.  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 6:42 PM.

Recess Selectboard Meeting: Mr. Dalessio moved to recess this Selectboard meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees.  Mrs. Pschirrer seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor at 6:42 PM.

The Regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:48PM.

Mr. Dalessio moved to adjourn this meeting.  Mr. Aldrich seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor at 7:50PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Elaine Heleen, Acting Recording Secretary

St. John’s Church Holiday Fair – 11/21/15

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St. John’s Episcopal Church in Walpole will host its Holiday Fair on Saturday, November 21st 2015 from 9 AM to 2 PM in the Parish Hall on Elm Street.

This year’s fair will include St John’s famous Cookie Walk, featuring dozens of varieties of home baked cookies. The Holly and Ivy table will have wreaths, swags, and centerpiece decorations. The Harvest Home table will offer pies and tarts (perfect for Thanksgiving!), muffins, tea breads, chocolate-covered pretzels, fudge, novelty holiday treats, and delicious jams and pickles made from produce harvested from local gardens. Beautiful ornaments and Christmas decorations will be for sale at the Deck the Halls table. New this year will be a raffle of wares from our talented artisans, including a crib quilt, a handmade nativity set, a set of assorted handmade ornaments, and more. The lunch menu will include hot dogs and chips, chili with tortilla chips, and small salads.

St John’s is located at the corner of Westminster and Elm Streets, opposite Town Hall. Come out and join in the festivities on November 21st!

And while you’re out and about, be sure to visit all the other organizations that are hosting events in town on that day, including:

* The Walpole Congregational Church’s Mistletoe Mart, next to the Walpole Common

* The Orchard School’s Crafts Fair, at the Walpole Town Hall

* The Walpole Village School’s Sugar Plum Shoppe, at the bottom of Westminster Street

* The Walpole Historical Society Museum and Holiday Gift Shop, in the Academy Building on Main Street

Each participating event will hold a door prize raffle. Pick up a door prize flyer at any event, and be sure to enter each raffle!

Zoning Board Meeting Minutes – 10/21/15

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Walpole Zoning Board of Adjustment

Minutes: October 21, 2015

Present: Board Members: Chair Myra Mansouri, Vice Chair Jan Galloway Le Clerc, Clerk Ernie Vose,  Mary Therese Lester, Bob Anderson. Alternates: Stephanie Stoughton. Absent: Alternate Judy Trow.

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

Roll Call: Ms. Mansouri called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m. Since Ms. Lester was going to be a little late, Ms. Mansouri asked Ms. Stoughton to sit in her place.

Minutes: There were three small corrections: the letter “t” was left off the word the, visiting should be visited in paragraph 8 on the second page and Ms. Trow went with Ms. LeClerc to inspect Mr. Tim Graves’ gravel pit. Mr. Vose made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected. Ms. LeClerc seconded the motion and the board voted unanimously.

New business:  Mr. Barry Bellows was before the Board to explain a project to the Board and then see if there was any course of action that could be taken.

He started by explaining where his clients, Mr. Tom Crouse and Kashiyo Enokido, lived – a two-bedroom home with an attached two-car garage at 192 March Hill Road. The home is at the end of a long driveway, across a brook and the slope, brook and configuration of the land prevent them from building a new garage attached to the current building. The new proposed building would be about 70 feet from the current building.

Mr. Belllows’ clients wanted to add a 32 -foot-by-29-foot two-story garage with a studio, guest bedroom with a bathroom, plus a bay for lawn equipment etc. detached from the home for a place for children to stay when they visit. Mr. Bellows showed the map to the Board. He said it would not be a rental for income, it would not be a permanent residence, literally overflow people during the holidays. This is physically the only place this structure could be added.

Ms. Mansouri explained Article 17,  Part P pf the Zoning Ordinance. This article requires a dwelling be put on one common foundation. The ordinance is: “Dwelling: Means a building of common foundation. A one or two family dwelling will share the same foundation per lot.” The ordinance was put in place by the Planning Board because second dwellings were popping up at homes in Walpole, Ms. Mansouri said. They were dwellings with water. That concern led the Planning Board to write an ordinance. It was put on the warrant and voted on by the people.

Ms. Mansouri suggested that they make the current garage into a garage/studio/guest bedroom. The detached garage would be uses for cars. Mr. Bellows said that they would then have to walk 70 feet to the house from the garage, a major inconvenience.

Mr. Bellows asked about a variance using the land as the hardship. Ms. Mansouri said the request would probably be turned down. Mr. Bellows said that the structures are placed so you don’t see an abutter.

Mr. Vose asked about the sewage/septic system. Mr. Bellows said it was designed to take care of the additional bedroom. He continued that the reasoning for the ordinance is the future. While your plan is well intended, if there are two separate buildings, a future owner could use it as a rental apartment or sell it into two lots.

But then those people would be in violation, Mr. Bellows said. But at that point, Mr. Vose said, the Board can’t do anything about it because it was granted by the Zoning Board. He repeated it need the same foundation.

Mr. Bellows asked if there was ever an exception and Ms. Mansouri said “no.” Ms. LeClerc asked why not put the bedroom over the current garage and have the detached garage for the studio and lawn equipment. Mr. Bellows said the attached garage is actually small. It’s for compact cars.

Is there a definition for common foundation.? Mr. Bellows asked. It’s a common foundation, Mr. Vose said.

Cynthia Reeves sculpture/sign: Ms. Reeves came to the meeting to give her side of the sculpture misunderstanding with the Unitarian Church property.

Ms. Reeves said, “that at no point did I refuse the churches’ request to move the sculpture. I think it was in the minutes of the September Zoning Board meeting. I was perturbed by that because I didn’t know you were going to be discussing it (the sculpture) and if I had known, I would have come to the meeting as well. I would do anything possible to make the church feel comfortable with having the gallery being their neighbor.”

Ms. Reeves said it was unfortunate that the owner of sculptures placed them without her knowledge and her specifying to the owner where they ought to go. ”When I saw where they were put, I emailed the church and said they might be over the line and they might want to check.” When it was decided that they were over the property line, it took a while to get the owner to come back. He had to arrange for a crane.

The church is threatening to sue her for the presence of the sculpture and now the sculptor is threatening to sue her because of his expenses.

Ms. Reeves sent a letter to the Zoning Board with copies to the owner of the property, Bruce Carruthers, the Unitarian Church and Selectmen explaining the chain of events. It also included the chain of emails from both the church side and the gallery side.

Mr. Carruthers is still unsure of where the property line is and he has requested that the Unitarian Church provide him with a clear indication of the property line in order to ensure correct compliance with Town Zoning Guidelines. This applies to location of the sign. Ms. Mansouri said church member Mr. Stewart Reed might know where the property line is.

Old Business: Bensonwood. Special Exception: Huntington Realty of Walpole LLC, Bensonwood woodworking Col. Inc. of 6 Black jack Crossing Town Map 12, Lot 4-3. Commercial and Rural/agricultural zone. Bensonwood needs a special exception to build a manufacturing facility (total 52,250) in a Rural/agricultural District. Article VIII, Section C-1 a.

Bensonwood had received a Special Exception in 2008 for an industrial use in the rural agricultural zone for their parcel on Route 12, formerly the Huntington Farm. Because of the economy, the company did not go ahead with the plan.

This new application was accepted as complete. The differences in this project were that the plant would be built in one phase and the location has changed because of the demise of a hickory tree. So as not to harm the tree, the other building was built at another location. Mr. Randall Walter said this building is more efficient. It is one building, although there is a line separating the halves so that the two parts are closed off from one another because of types of production. By building code, only a certain amount of square feet square feet of production space is allowed before new space is needed.

It would be one industrial, commercial building under one roof. The indoor facility would employ approximately 20 employees to make wall, floor and roof panels for the homes they sell. The building will be sprinkled. The depression to the right of the building is a storm water management system for runoff.

The reason why this place is an opportune manufacturing site is that it has 3 phase power, town water and a sewer line. These things take a tremendous amount of space at the facility at Blackjack Crossing, which will still be retained. There will be no noxious or injurious odors. The company prides itself on keeping its employees safe and looking out for their welfare.

The building is organized so deliveries will be in back, use of fork lifts will be on the left side of property and neighbors will be shielded from noise. There is a small section for office space.

The traffic study is the same as before and it is expected there will be 10 to 15 trucks per day. The project has DOT approval. Since the answers to the required questions were identical to the 2008 application, Ms. Lester said that will be waived since they were approved before.

A recommendation is need from the Planning Board, Ms. Mansouri said. If you get a Special Exception, it will be dependent on the Planning Board approving the Site Plan and recommending that to the Zoning Board.

Mr. Walter said, “We expected the Planning Board to vote when we presented the Site Plan. For some reason the chairman did not call for a vote. I believe it was procedural error.”

There is usually discussion of some special exception questions but since the answers were identical to the 2008 hearing Ms. Lester said she thought it fruitless since they were approved before.

The Public Hearing was closed.  Mr. Vose made a motion to approve the Special Exception pending the Planning Board’s decision. Ms. LeClerc seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.

Gravel Pits: Board members turned in their reports. Mr. Anderson had photographs of the Hodgkins pit that showed that Mr. Hodgkins had remedied the concerns that the Board Member who inspected the report cited last year. Mr. Anderson said Mr. Hodgkins leveled off the area that had too steep a grade, put up the signs required and put up something to protect runoff from going into a nearby brook.

Mr. Vose said the Whipple Hill owner is planning on taking something out of the pit later this year. He will check on that.

Mr. Anderson questioned if the land that Mr. Hodgkins sold to Ruggiero has to be reclaimed. No one was sure but the new gravel pit regulations will be checked.

Letter to Selectboard: The secretary sent a letter to the Selectboard that said people were complaining about the dumping of washing machines and dryers on a particular property on County Road.

Ms. Mansouri read the letter to the Lafayettes from the Selectboard about the old washers, dryers and metal waste that have been discarded on the property in violation of ZBA Article IV, G Junk Yard and Dumps. The Lafayettes have 30 days to respond, which Ms. Mansouri thought was about November 2nd or 3rd. She will check with the Selectboard about a response letter.

Letter to Planning Board: Ms. Mansouri wrote a letter responding to the Planning Board concerning the minutes from the Planning Board workshop in September. She personally was offended by the minutes and offended for members of the Board, which gives so much of their time. The letter is being revised and will be presented to the Planning Board at its next workshop meeting.

Executive Session: The Board went into executive session to read the minutes of the previous executive session and the letter from Town Attorney Mr. Hockensmith. Motions were made, seconded and passed to keep the minutes and letter sealed.

The board came out of executive session 45  minutes later and  closed the meeting at 9:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

Secretary

Another Busy Weekend – 10/23-25/15

Uncategorized 10/23/2015 Leave a comment

And this is only what I know about!  – Book Sale at Walpole Middle School, Rummage Sale at First Congregational Church, Spooktacula at Walpole Village School, and Bat Houses Workshop.  Can you think of more to add? – Lil

Growing Local – 11/14/15

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The Monadnock Conservancy, as part of the MFCC Feast on This! Film Festival, will host a community screening of Growing Local in Walpole, NH on Saturday, November 14 at 7 pm. The screening is part of a weeklong event that educates our community about the diverse issues affecting our national, regional, and local food and agricultural systems. Films were chosen that will spark conversation and action around building stronger local, regional, and sustainable food systems.

The critically acclaimed documentary, Growing Local, directed by Bridget Besaw of Seedlight Pictures, examines the challenges of creating a sustainable local food system through the eyes of three diverse Maine food producers.  The film will be screened at the Hastings Memorial House, 14 Union Street in Walpole, at 7 pm.  Parking is available on Union and Main Streets.  NOTE: the film will be shown on the second floor which is only accessible by stairs. The screening will be immediately followed by a moderated panel discussion featuring local farmers.

“We’re excited to be working with enthusiastic and thoughtful community organizations like the Monadnock Conservancy who are raising awareness of the challenges facing local farmers,” said Roe-Ann Tasoulas, Director of the Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition, the organization that is co-producing the Feast on This! Film Festival with the Monadnock Food Co-op.

Film attendees are also encouraged to bring nonperishable food donations to be distributed to area food pantries.

For more information, please contact Stacy Gambrel at (603) 357-0600, ext. 106 or stacy@monadnockconservancy.org

For information and updates on the Feast on This! Film Festival, visit the event page, http://www.facebook.com/2015FeastonThis!

ABOUT THE FILM

The film features three vignettes of diverse Maine farms and food producers, including an organic dairy farm owned by a father-son team, an artisanal butcher using innovative methods to market local meat, and a young farm couple’s efforts to create a thriving community food hub. www.growinglocalfilms.org

ABOUT THE MONADNOCK CONSERVANCY

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, NH, the Conservancy is an accredited organization that has protected 18,000 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.

Friendly Friday – 11/20/15

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Friendly Friday — Please Note Change of Location!
November 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
in the Walpole Primary School Community Room
Rev. Craig and his family invite Walpole area families of all kinds to join us monthly for an evening of games, food and fellowship. Take a night off from cooking a full dinner and kick back with your kids and other families. Bring a favorite side dish or main dish to share. We’ll provide drinks and dessert.
On November 20, we’ll meet down at the “Little School” (Walpole Primary) due to Mistletoe Mart at the church. That night, Rev. Craig will teach about Advent and every family will make their own Advent wreath to use at home when the season starts Sunday, November 29.
Additional Friendly Fridays will be on December 11 and January 22 at the church.
For more information about Friendly Friday, please call or email the church: 756-4075, walpolechurch@yahoo.com.

Future Fiction Discussion Group Starting 11/7/15

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What defines Science Fiction in the 21st Century? If you have ideas we’d love to hear them! Join us at the library for a “Future Fiction” Discussion Group. Reading a pre-selected book will not be required, but rather we will focus on books, films, art, blogs and other internet sites that you have discovered and loved… or hated. If Science Fiction reflections your ambitions, dreams or even fears for the world to come, join us the first Saturday of the month at 1pm starting November 7th.

Another Reason to Attend the Book Sale – 10/24/15

Uncategorized 10/21/2015 Leave a comment
If you need a reason beyond supporting your local Friends of the Library and thus, the library itself, here is another. – Lil
Sally McGaffigan says that the gift shop from Walpole Historical Society will have a table at the Book Sale on Saturday. They will be there from 9-2 Lots of great gift items locally crafted as well as candles, napkins, Christmas and Holiday cards, ornaments and books. We also have tote bags and note cards. Hope everyone will stop by and shop for the upcoming holidays.

Ice Hockey Starts

Uncategorized 10/19/2015 Leave a comment

Must be that time of year again. It sure feels like it and this is confirmation. – Lil

Saxtons River Senior Hockey
IS LOOKING FOR EXPERIENCED PLAYERS
Friday Nights 8-10 PM
November – March
Saxtons River VT
Michael Choukas Ice Arena, Vermont Academy
CONTACT SAXTONSRIVERHOCKEY@GMAIL.COM

Library Book Sale – 10/23/25/15

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I remember a friend telling me that she gets her supply of winter reading books at this sale and then donates them back the following year! – Lil

It’s this weekend!  October 23-25 at Walpole Middle School

Friday night from 6:00-7:30 is Preview Night which requires a $20 donation and the Sale starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday through 2:00 PM.  It will also be open from 11:00 – 2:00 on Sunday.

For more information, Call 603-756-9806

This event is sponsored by The Friends of the Walpole Town Library.