Keeping the community up to date on community topics
From Deb Pawelczyk:
Walpole Cub Scout Pack 299 would like to say “Thank You” to everyone who helped make our Bake Sales at the plays a huge success. Also a big Thank You to the Walpole Players for thinking of us to do this. If anyone is doing an event and they would like some concession done Cub Scout Pack 299 may be able to help. If interested please contact Deb Pawelczyk at 603-445-5475.
There will be no Wiggle Time today, December 16th, at the Walpole Town Library.
TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD
DECEMBER 4, 2024
Selectboard Present: Cheryl Mayberry, Chair; Steven Dalessio and Carolyn Vose
Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
Guests Present: Peggy Pschirrer, John McCollister, Devin Gallagher, Brendan Hayes, Dennis Wright, Kim Surles, Shane Lake, Terri Lake, Ben Northcott, Josette Britton, Griffin Dussault, Jennifer Marquay and Akbar Ashoury.
CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Mayberry called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.
OPENING SEALED BIDS FOR TAX DEEDED PROPERTIES
The bids for the tax-deeded properties were opened. The winning bids were:
Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Wright, Ms. Surles, Mr. Lake, Mrs. Lake, Mr. Northcott, Mrs. Britton, Mr. Dussault, Ms. Marquay and Mr. Ashoury left the meeting.
HOOPER TRUSTREES
Ms. Vose moved to enter into the Hooper Trustees meeting at 6:57 PM. Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
The meeting was reconvened at 7:26 PM. Mrs. Pschirrer left the meeting.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Ms. Vose moved to approve the Accounts Payable Check Register totaling $321,832.91 dated 12/06/2024 including $174,687.50 payment to Daniels Construction for the emergency repair of the Elm and Main Street bridge. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
PAYROLL
Ms. Vose moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $39,530.07 dated 12/06/2024 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $8,484.69. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES
Public Meeting for School Withdrawal Study Committee Findings – November 20, 2024: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Public meeting for the School Withdrawal Study Committee Findings of November 20, 2024. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the minutes were approved.
Selectboard Meeting – November 21, 2024: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of November 21, 2024. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the minutes were approved.
Non-Public Selectboard Session – November 21, 2024: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of November 21, 2024. The minutes will remain sealed. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the minutes were approved, and the minutes are sealed.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Ms. Vose brought to the chair’s attention the following committee reports:
Ms. Mayberry acknowledged these minutes.
BUILDING PERMIT
2024-37, Map and Lot# 010-020-000: Ms. Vose moved to approve Building Permit #2024-37 for Map and Lot # 010-020-000 to pour a 19’ 10” x 10’ 2” Alaskan slab foundation for a future greenhouse. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
OLD BUSINESS
ARPA Grant – Water and Sewer: Mr. Dalessio explained that the pending contract will replace the generator at Prospect Hill water reservoir. The current generator is too small for the water system. Once the new generator in installed, the old generator will be used at the Town Hall for backup power. In addition, generators will be purchased for the 3 sewer pump stations. Mr. Dalessio said that the contract will be reviewed by the Selectboard on Dec. 13th during the departmental budget meetings. The total cost may be slightly over the ARPA grant, in which case the Water and Sewer Reserve will be used for the remainder. The wording of the contract is that the project will be completed after all materials are available because of the backlog in generator orders.
Pending Projects: Mr. Dalessio reported that the School Street drainage project is ready for a wetlands permit. The Houghton Brook Bridge needs to be looked at soon. Future projects will probably not involve Fuss & O’Neill because of their workload. Both projects are going to be expensive, and it will be hard to find funding. Mill Pond Dam is also on the pending list. Mrs. Downing will put all three projects on the agenda for next week.
Walpole Players Letter: As follow-up to the discussion with the Players on November 21st, Mr. Dalessio moved to sign the letter to the Walpole Players. Ms. Vose seconded. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was accepted, and the letter was signed.
Ruggerio Processing Facility – Waive Fine Letter: As a result of discussions with representatives of Ruggerio on November 21, 2024, Mr. Dalessio moved the Board sign the letter waiving the fine, which should have been applied to the previous owner. Ms. Vose seconded the motion. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor the motion passed, and the letter was signed.
FMRSD Letter: Steve Varone, the Town Treasurer, prepared a letter to FMRSD about the very late submission of the MS-25 form which impacts all five towns in the School District. Mr. Dalessio moved to sign the letter. Ms. Vose seconded. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion passed, and the letter was signed. Mrs. Downing will scan the signed letter and send it to the School District’s Superintendent and Business Administrator. After discussion, the Selectboards requested a copy of the letter be emailed to other the other four towns in FMRSD.
NEW BUSINESS
Winter Parking Ban: The North Walpole Commissioners Office sent an email inquiring about enforcement of the parking ban this winter. Ms. Mayberry will talk to Police Chief Sanctuary about enforcing the ban. Mrs. Downing will put a notice in Clarion and the Walpolean reminding people the ban is in effect.
Cheshire Country Proposed 2025 Budget: The total budget is $74,992,938, which is slightly less than last year. Proposed taxes for the municipalities are $31,118,488 which is an increase of 6.96% over the 2024 budget.
January 2, 2025 Selectboard Meeting: The first week each month the Selectboard typically meets on Wednesday, but that will be January 1st which is a holiday. Ms. Mayberry requested this item be added to next week’s agenda for follow-up.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no other business, Ms. Mayberry declared the meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the December 12, 2024 Selectboard meeting.)
Walpole Seniors’ Potluck Lunch – Monday, Dec. 16:
High Noon at the Congregational Church
Bring a dish and chat with friends!
ALL shows of the Walpole Players 2024 Holiday Fundraiser of “A Christmas Story, The Musical” are SOLD OUT. You cannot buy tickets at the door!
Please text (no calls) Jenny Plante at 603-313-9319 if you bought tickets and are not coming, if you would like to be put on the waitlist or if you have any questions.
Congratulations to the ACS Cast & Crew on a wonderful opening night!
WALPOLE UNITARIAN CHURCH
HOLIDAY FOOD SALE
Saturday, December 14th between 9 and 11:30 a.m.
In Front of Walpole Post Office
We will have our popular boxed holiday cookies ready for gift giving. There will also be holiday breads and desserts, along with savory items such as quiches, casseroles, lasagnas, etc. These items will be ready to take home and serve, or kept in the freezer until later. All of our offerings are homemade and there are always unexpected surprises that arrive at our table the day of the sale! Come early to get the best choices!
Walpole Planning Board Minutes
December 10, 2024
Town Hall
7 pm
Roll Call: Present: Board members Chair Jeff Miller, Vice-Chair Dennis Marcom, Clerk Jason Perron, Jeff Harrington, Joanna Andros, Select Board Representative Steve Dalessio. Alternate Travis Adams. Absent board member Trevor MacLachlan and alternate Bill Carmody.
Call to order: Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7 pm. He asked Mr. Adams to fill in for the absent board member. Mr. Adams agreed.
Minutes: Review minutes of the November 2024 meeting and workshop minutes. Mr. Marcom made two corrections on the regular November meeting minutes. On page 1 he changed if to is in the sixth paragraph and on page 2, last paragraph, the middle lot of the Dunkin subdivision is Lot 2. Mr. Perron made a motion to approve the amended minutes. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS:
Continuation of:
Public Hearing No. 2: Subdivision for Dunkin property at 418 Main Street. One lot into four lots.
Town Map 12, Lot 56, Lot 1 56-1 will be 1.73 acres, Lot 2 will be 2.9 acres, Lot 3 will be 2.04 acres, Lot 4 will be 2.62 acres. Commercial District.
Mr. Jason Hill of TF Moran presented the subdivision of 8-plus acres on the quadrant at the corner of Main Street and Upper Walpole Road in the commercial district. There will be four lots. Lot 1 will be for a Dunkin coffee shop, Lot 2 will be a baseball field. Lot 3 is the site of the future police station and lot 4 abuts the Savings Bank of Walpole, owner to be determined. Lot 1 has access from Upper Walpole Road as well as Route 12. Lots 2 and 3 have a shared access from Upper Walpole Road and Lot 4 has access from Upper Walpole Road. The site has public water and sewer.
There being no questions from the board or the public, Mr. Miller closed the hearing at 7:05 pm. Mr. Perron made a motion to accept the subdivision as presented. Mr. Marcom seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Public Hearing No. 3: The Walpole Foundation: Construction of a new preschool, 75 Westminster St. Tax Map 20, Lot, 11, Residential B District.
Erin Lambert of Wilcox & Barton in Concord presented the proposal for The Walpole Foundation.
The new school will be 5,294 square feet. There will be five egress points on three sides of the building. There will be 48 parking spaces, two of them ADA accessible. The driveway will be one-way with a bus drop-off area at the front of the building, which faces south. There is an enclosed playground off to the west side of the building. The plans are to plant 11 trees – some shade tress, some ornamental trees – and some perennials. The poles with lighting will only illuminate the property and will be downcast so neighbors and wildlife are not affected.
This is not a day care operation. It is a school with an educational program that is in session during the regular school year. It is not currently in session during the summer months. There are approximately 30 students currently enrolled, not counting the students who come for after-school care. There is a community room in the new building and it has a kitchen designed for community use. Capacity is for 40 students. Not all students attend every day. Some students are on a two or three day a week schedule. The present school will remain in operation during construction of the new school. There are currently two classrooms but a third classroom will be added to the new building. This room will be used for infants, six weeks to about 2 or 2 1/2. That classroom can accommodate 6 to 8 children.
The school will be served by municipal water and sewer. The building will be fully sprinkled. Underground electric service will be provided from a pole near the driveway entrance. The building will be heated by propane.
Construction is planned to begin in the spring of 2025 with estimated completion by the summer of 2026. When the new school is up and running, Wilcox & Barton are in charge of demolishing the old school building.
When all of the questions of both the board and the public had been answered, Mr. Miller closed the hearing at 7:30 pm.
Mr. Harrington made a motion to approve the project as present. Mr. Dalessio seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Public Hearing for Approval of Proposed Revised Zoning Amendments. There are eight amendments.
Mr. Miller explained that earlier this year the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Todd Horner, Executive Director of Southwest Region Planning Commission, and Carol Ogilvie, a senior planner with the organization met several times to discuss the zoning ordinance to clarify and improve organization of the document. The result was this document with eight amendments.
Mr. Miller said there was good cooperation between both boards. Two major changes are that the Planning Board will now resume yearly inspection of the town’s three remaining gravel pits and take over signage, which actually is part of the site plan process. The Select Board will handle permits for temporary use of a mobile homes or trailers and building in the timberland district.
Powers of the ZBA were defined:
Definitions will all be in one place and alphabetized.
Mr. Perron made a motion to have the Planning Board recommend this article, which will be placed on the March warrant. The motion carried unanimously
Public Hearing for a zoning amendment drafted by the Planning Board.
Mr. Miller said this zoning amendment was discussed at the November meeting and has been slightly tweaked. But the intent remains the same as the original draft.
It will be placed on the town warrant. It excludes formula businesses in the commercial district, Section 6, of Downtown Walpole Village, Article VI. Formula businesses include retail sales and restaurants that regulate by contractual or other arrangements certain standardized features that include uniforms, logos, interior or exterior design, array of services or merchandise, menus, ingredients and food preparation.
Mr. Marcom made a motion to have the Planning Board recommend this zoning amendment, which will be placed on the March warrant. The motion carried unanimously.
Update
Mr. Miller attended a meeting in Temple last week. It was a Citizen Planning Conference arranged by SWRPC and attended by a variety of officials from several towns in the Monadnock Region. There were about 20 people at the conference, he said. He said it was a very constructive meeting with a discussion on a lot of issues. Another meeting is planned for March. He plans to attend and hopes a couple of board members will go with him.
Mr. Miller also mentioned that the group that was at the November meeting who wanted to construct three buildings on the lot south of Dollar General had registered a plat at the Registry of Deeds without any approval from the town. Town counsel is looking into this matter.
Public Hearing for a Petition Article
Mr. Harrington made a motion to hold a public hearing in January 2025 on a petition to be placed on the March warrant that would amend the article about shops, restaurants and other retail building not exceeding 40,000 square feet to not allow drive-up window service. Mr. Perron seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Adjournment
Mr. Perron made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion carried.
It was 8:15 pm.
These are unapproved minutes that will be reviewed for corrections at the January 2025 meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Marilou Blaine
Secretary
Next meeting: January 14, 2025.
TOWN OF WALPOLE
SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA
December 12, 2024
Starting at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall
SELECTBOARD MEETING
PAYROLL
SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES
COMMITTEE REPORTS
TIMBER INTENTS
BUILDING PERMITS
OLD BUSINESS
Pending Further Actions: Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Steets Bridges/Culverts, Houghton Brook Bridge, ARPA Grants – Sewer System, Reservoir Dam
NEW BUSINESS
NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (c)
H A P P Y T R A I L S !
Wednesday, 12/11/24, at 7 pm
Walpole Town Hall
Do you enjoy the outdoors? Are you interested in trails? If so, please join the Walpole Trail Committee for a fun and informative evening featuring the trails of Walpole and the volunteers who maintain them. The public is invited to come to Town Hall on Wednesday, December 11, at 7 pm for a presentation followed by refreshments and mingling. All ages welcome.
— Learn about Walpole’s Trails
>Scenic photo tour
>Trail maps
>Winter Trail Challenge
— See the impact of trail work volunteers
>Trail improvement photos
>Rail trail upgrade story
>Volunteer sign-up
— Party with Trail Committee members
>Refreshments & conversation
>Questions & suggestions
>Free raffle with great prizes
Questions? Contact Wendy Grossman, Walpole Trail Committee Chair, at walpoletrailhelpers@gmail.com.
TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
DECEMBER 2, 2024
Members Present: Nicole Adams, Alicia Flammia, Wendy Grossman, France Menk, Peter Palmiotto, John Peska (Presiding), Lewis Shelley
Alternates Present: Tom Beaudry, Paul Happ
Selectboard Present: Steve Dalessio, Cheryl Mayberry
Members Absent:
Visitors Present: John McCollister
Call to Order: John called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall.
Seating of Alternates: No Alternates were needed as everyone was there.
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Peter moved to accept the November 4, 2024 minutes as written. Lew seconded and all voted in favor. The minutes were approved.
The Conservation Committee needs to go back to the old way of doing minutes to ensure public transparency as required by RSA 91A.1a. The Recording Secretary will create the minutes and email them to all members. Anyone can send proposed changes to John and Peter, the co-chairs. They will determine what changes are necessary and let the Recording Secretary know what needs to be changed before the draft is sent to the Selectboard Office and the Walpolean. If they are unsure, it will be discussed at the next meeting prior to approving the minutes. Minutes should include general discussion, decisions, context if something is postponed, and tasks. Names will be used only as necessary. Minutes will be general but contain enough facts to be informative.
The Conservation Commission’s Google Drive ownership will be transferred to John, Peter, and the Recording Secretary. The Trail Committee Google Drive will also be transferred to the trail committee chair Wendy. Also to be compliant with RSA 91A the Trail Committee will need to have a quorum of in person attendees at meetings.
PUBLIC BUSINESS
Report from Co-Chair: no report
Financial Report:
Correspondence: Monadnock Conservancy newsletter
NEW BUSINESS
2025 Budget: Budget requests are due immediately as the Selectboard will be working on the 2025 budget next week. The budget needs to include brush hogging the rail trail and the website domain and hosting. John and Peter will take care of this.
Barry Conservation Camp: A financially needy student is being selected. The schedule is now months earlier than in the past.
OLD BUSINESS
Rest Areas – Shelters, Cleanup: At the workday, the crumbling steps were taken up and the slope smoothed. The Highway Department will be asked to dispose of the timbers. Both rest areas on Route 12 are now ready for roofing the shelters and for the timber harvest. The roofing will be done this winter.
Fanny Mason Harvesting – Update: We have an agreement for the timber harvest on the east side of Route 12 and are working on a contract. After a discussion, it was decided to see if the contract could be extended to include the red pine on the west side of Route 12. The harvest will be in 2025.
Gateway and Hooper Invasives: Peter checked the Gateway for invasives – there is still plenty of Japanese barberry and other invasives. The company that did the initial treatment also confirmed the presence of the invasive and have provided an estimate to conduct another treatment next summer expanding the strip around the fields at the $2,500 quoted price or they will do work on a time and materials basis. Peter will try to get a maximum cost for the time and materials option.
Property Monitoring: Monadnock Conservancy approached Wendy about two issues identified during the June monitoring: the washed-out snowmobile trail near Halls Crossing in Great Brook Town Forest, and the snowmobile bridge that collapsed and is now in Bertin Town Forest in the stream. The concern is that for Town Forests where the Monadnock Conservancy holds easements, the Conservation Commission is responsible for complying with easement terms and must notify the Monadnock Conservancy at least thirty days in advance of certain work. . Lew and Tom will do a site visit to Great Brook Town Forest. A GPS map of the snowmobile trails needs to be made so it can be overlaid with a map of conservation land to make it clear where snowmobile trails are on town-owned conservation lands.
OTHER BUSINESS
Dam: The hydraulics and hydrology report on the Reservoir Dam is available in the Selectboard Office and that project is coming along. Mark Houghton and John will try to get a wetlands permit for Knapp Cranberry Bog Dam for the work needed. The Mill Pond Dam will be next.
Hooper Institute Board Update: They have worked the invasives treatment into their 2025 budget but would like advice from the Conservation Commission as they go forward on this project. The Hooper Institute will work directly with those doing the invasives treatment. Helen Dalbeck is retiring next September. The renovations are about to start.
Trail Committee: The Fall rail trail maintenance day had thirteen people and focused on the culverts and ditches to ensure good drainage in the winter and spring ahead. The Happy Trails Party will be December 11th at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall. It will have a short presentation, food and fun including a raffle of outdoor gear. All are invited.
Guest Introduction: John McCollister moved here from Nebraska in May. He attended to learn about the Conservation Commission and the work it does. Town meetings are open to the public.
Adjournment: Peter moved to adjourn, and Alicia seconded. John declared the meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the January 6, 2025 Conservation Commission meeting.)
The Walpolean 
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