Planning Board Meeting Minutes – 2/11/25

PLANNING BOARD 02/17/2025 Leave a comment

Walpole Planning Board Minutes

February 11, 2025

Town Hall

7 pm

Roll Call: Present: Board members Chair Jeff Miller, Vice-Chair Dennis Marcom, Clerk Jason Perron, Jeff Harrington, Joanna Andros, Trevor MacLachlan, Select Board Representative Steve Dalessio, alternate Bill Carmody. Absent: Travis Adams.

Call to Order: Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7pm.

Minutes: Tonight’s minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed for corrections at the regular March meeting. 

January 2025 minutes: Ms. Andros added a period at the end of etc., corrected one typo and added the word “out” to the word “with” on page 3, paragraph 2. Mr. Miller made a motion to approve the amended minutes, Mr. Marcom seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Old Business:

Public Hearing No. 1. Subdivision, one lot into two lots.

Fieldstone Land Consultants propose a two-lot subdivision of property owned by George P. Achille Jr., Revocable Trust in Peterborough. Tax Map 12, Lot 59, 334 Main Street. Adequate road frontage is on Main Street and Route 123. There are also requests for a waiver and a utility easement on the remaining property. Contacts are Jim Axton and John E. Noonan.

Mr. Noonan said that the property, owned by George P. Achilles, Jr. Rev. Trust, is at the corner of Main Street and Upper Walpole Road and will be divided into two parcels. The parcel with the garden center will be 4 acres in the commercial district. The remaining property, 45.97 acres in the rural/ag district, will remain undeveloped. Also proposed is a utility and access easement in the driveway going into the garden center. The easement will also be for the property adjoining the driveway in the rural/ag district and includes the two houses on Main Street south of the driveway.

In an email, abutter Dave Edkins said he was unaware there was a waterline there and suggested that a formal easement with him and his neighbor would be appropriate. Mr. Miller suggested that Mr. Noonan get in contact with the town’s Water and Sewer Department and talk to Mark Houghton about the easement.  Mr. Noonan said he would do that. Mr. Miller closed the public hearing at 7:07 pm. Mr. Marcom made a motion to approve the subdivision as presented. Mr. Perron seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Public Hearing No. 2:

Old Hewitt Barn Properties LLC, owned by Douglas and Laura Palmer, 308 Main St., Tax Map 24, Lot 13, commercial district. they, propose a new 8.400 square-foot warehouse on property in back of their current storage facility. This warehouse is also for storage. 

Mrs. Laura Palmer handed out copies of the checklist to the board. Mr. Douglas Palmer said the square-footage of the warehouse has been changed to 8,000 square-feet. Mrs. Palmer said the lot at 308 Main Street is 1.49 acres and 64,904 square feet. The existing building is single-story, 8,000 square feet and 18-feet tall. Mr. Miller asked if the abutters nearest the proposed building had been contacted about the additional warehouse. Mr. Palmer said that he had talked with  both couples. Mr. MacLachlan asked about lighting. Mr. Palmer said lighting on the existing building is one dark-sky compliant light over each entry, one on the south side, one on the east side. Lighting on the proposed new building would also be dark-sky compliant with one light over each entry door, one on the northeast loading dock corner and one on the south end. A small sign on the existing building is located on the southeast corner. No additional signage is proposed.

The proposed new building will utilize the exiting driveway with minimal changes to the layout within the property. There are eight parking spaces for the existing building. An additional six parking spaces will be south of the proposed building. There will be one loading dock on the northwest corner of the proposed building. Mr. Miller closed the public hearing at 7:15 pm. Mr. Marcom made a motion to approve the additional building as presented. Mr. Perron seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

New Business:

Site Plan: Bevin Mitchell, 32 Wentworth Road, Walpole, Town Tax Map 19, Lot 72, proposed a four-bedroom, four-bath Bed & Breakfast on the 6-acre parcel.

This is the zoning ordinance for Bed and Breakfast establishments:

“Bed and Breakfast establishment for the accommodation of paying, overnight guests, may be maintained as home occupations in all zoning districts provided that the number of rooms for rent in any one establishment shall not number more than four and further provided that breakfast shall be the only meal and that only for bona fide overnight guests. The conversion of a single-family residence or other buildings to a “bed and breakfast” shall require Site Plan approval by the Planning Board. Off-street parking for one car per rented room plus space for owner parking shall be provided.”

Mrs. Mitchell said that she would be converting most of her 1770 house on Wentworth Road to a bed & breakfast. There will be four bedrooms and four baths and she will be serving only breakfast. She mentioned in her application that 5 acres of the property will be for garden/walking paths for her guests.

Mr. Miller asked Mrs. Mitchell about the parking and she said she had plenty of room to accommodate the parking. She also said that she was planning on talking to Mark Houghton about putting in a sprinkler system. Mr. Perron made a motion to hold a public hearing for the proposed bed and breakfast in March. Mr. Marcom second the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Site Plan: Shane Podmore proposes a doggie day care and kennel at 561 Main Street. Tax Map 12, Lot 19-1, commercial district.

Mr. Podmore proposes a kennel and fenced in area at 0- for dogs. The property is 1 acre with a 1,296 square-foot home. The backyard has a 130-by-40-foot fenced-in area. Mr. Podmore plans to add a 24-by-54 square-foot building with 16 runs, which would provide pet sitting options for up to 20 dogs. Ms. Andros asked what will happen with the dogs’ poop. He said it will be collected, bagged and disposed of appropriately. Mr. Podmore needs a license and inspection from the state.

Mr. Podmore doesn’t own the property as yet but will know by week’s end if he intends to buy it.  A public hearing will be held on the matter in March as requested by a motion made by Mr. Marcom, seconded by Mr. Perron and unanimously approved by the entire board. If the purchase had not been made by the March meeting date, Mr. Podmore’s agent, the owner of the house, will write a letter to the Planning Board that the closing date on the property hasn’t been made yet but will be purchased at a specific date.

Town counsel letter

Mr. Miller shared with the board information from Jeremy Hockensmith about the condo lots near Dollar General. The lots have one owner.

Adjournment

At 7:38 Mr. Perron made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Marcom seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

There will be no workshop this month. 

The next meeting is March 11, 2025 at 7 pm. The meeting will be on the second floor because voting will be taking place on the first floor.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

Secretary

March 2025 Clarion Closing Date – 2/22/25

Uncategorized 02/15/2025 Leave a comment

Reminder from Ray Boas:

Your one week plus a day warning since the closing date comes on Saturday next. I have already spent time this week working on your March issue of the CLARION which historically contains information on Town Meeting in March. Your submissions will be due by 5 PM (Walpole time) Saturday, February 22, a week and a day from now. 

You have heard me say, and again I will say, your early submissions are appreciated as I start developing the layout well beforehand. If you have some “news” send it along. In addition, I like to have on-hand material of interest that is not time-sensitive to fill space to round out a pleasing issue. So, if you would “like to be in print” and have something to write and share (images as well), send along for possible inclusion space permitting. Please do remember, it is the advertisers in each issue that make this community publication possible, so please support and thank them.

If you have any questions, or interest in placing an advertisement, reaching over 1900 Walpole, North Walpole and Drewsville addresses, I welcome your inquiries, so please do get in touch with me. Advertising information and contact information is on the CLARION website.

Thank you, RAY BOAS, Publisher

Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 2/4/25

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TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

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 and Kaian Richards-Wilkes, Recreation Director

CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Mayberry called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS RSA 91-A:3 II (a)

Ms. Vose moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a) at 6:30 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:15 PM.

Mr. Dalessio moved that the Non-Public Session Minutes be sealed. Seconded by Ms. Vose. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Mr. Richards-Wilkes left during the Non-Public Session.  Mrs. Pschirrer arrived for the Hooper Trustees meeting.

HOOPER TRUSTEES

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into the Hooper Trustees meeting at 7:15 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms.  Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:47 PM.

Mrs. Pschirrer left during the Hooper Trustees meeting.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Ms. Vose moved to approve the Accounts Payable Check Register totaling $31,066.30 dated 2/10/2025 including $7,975.00 payment to All Service Office Machines.  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 $34,827.11 dated 2/7/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,194.58.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

Selectboard Meeting – January 30, 2025: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of January 30, 2025. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the minutes were approved.

Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – January 30, 2025:  Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of January 30, 2025.  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.

VETERANS’ TAX CREDIT:

Map and Lot # 022-015-000: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Veterans’ Property Tax Credit for Map and Lot # 022-015-000.  The applicant served over 90 days of active duty during a time of conflict and was honorably discharged.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

ELDERLY EXEMPTION:

Map and Lot # 022-015-000: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Elderly Tax Exemption for Map and Lot # 022-015-000.  The applicant met the income and asset limitations.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS

Petition Warrant Article: Ms. Mayberry stated that a petition warrant article was submitted today but fewer than twenty-five registered Walpole voters signed the petition. The petition article could not be accepted by the Selectboard because according to the RSA, there are not enough signers.  Mrs. Downing will write a letter to the petitioner to let her know why the article cannot be included in the warrant.

2025 Warrant Articles: Ms. Mayberry read each article, starting with Article 5, with a Selectboard vote following the reading of each article. The articles and votes for each were as follows: 

Article Number & DescriptionSelectboard Votes to RecommendSelectboard Votes not to RecommendSelectboard Abstains
5. Town Budget300
6. Request to Withdraw from FMRSD300
7.  Approve Funding/Building New Police Station300
8. Police Building Capital Reserve Fund300
9. Municipal Building Capital Reserve Fund300
10. Purchase a 6-Wheel Truck for the Highway Department300
11. Highway Capital Reserve Fund300
12. New Vehicle Walpole Police Department300
13. Police Department Capital Reserve Fund300
14. Town-wide Assessment Capital Reserve Fund300

The Selectboard signed the last page of the Warrant and the True and Attest Form.

2024 Selectboard Report for the Town Report: By consensus, the Selectboard is satisfied with their report, and it is ready for the Town Report.

Police Building Public Meeting: The public meeting for the Police Building is scheduled for Monday, February 10, 2025, at 6:30 PM. Mrs. Downing will post the meeting on the website and will sign everyone in.

Burnt Highway Truck: Primex, the Town’s insurance company that will cover the loss of the burnt truck, is working with two companies. NEFCO is investigating the cause of the fire, and the second will determine the value of the truck.  

Mr. Dalessio reported that the Highway Department is struggling with equipment this year. Of the six 6-wheel dump trucks, two are operational, three are waiting for service, and one just burned up on the way back from being serviced. All four of the 1-ton trucks are operational although some need repairs.  Two of the trucks are 2011 models and the rest more recent.

Mr. Dalessio noted that to overcome the shortage of equipment and staff, one highway employee comes in early to load the trucks with sand and salt before the others arrive.

NEW BUSINESS

Drewsville Common Use Request: A STEAM educational group would like to use the Drewsville Common for an “Astronomy Night”.  The Pastor at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, who used to teach science, will be running the event. Mr. Brummel uses the Common and opens the Church for the restrooms and as a warming place.  By consensus, the Selectboard approves the use of the Drewsville Common.

Curriculum Change at FMRSD: “Great Minds” program is moving to “Arts and Letters”.  This is a vendor upgrade to a program available at FMRSD. The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the letter.  Mr. Dalessio will discuss it further with the school. 

Walpole Fire District Meeting: The annual meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 20th at 7:00 PM. The Selectboard plans to attend, so the Selectboard meeting will be moved to Wednesday March 19th. 

ADJOURNMENT: Ms. Mayberry declared the meeting adjourned at 8:53 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretar789y

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the February 13, 2025 Selectboard meeting.)

Budget Hearing Notice – 2/13/25

SELECTBOARD 02/13/2025 Leave a comment

*NOTICE*

On Thurs., February 13, 2025

The Walpole Selectboard will be holding the annual

Budget Hearing at 5:30 PM

at the Walpole Town Hall

1st Floor, Main Meeting Room

The Selectboard Meeting is to follow in the Selectboard Office

Have questions? Contact the Selectboard Office at 603-756-3672

or e-mail sdowning@walpolenh.us for assistance.

Selectboard Meeting Agenda – 2/13/25

SELECTBOARD 02/13/2025 Leave a comment

TOWN OF WALPOLE

SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA 

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Starting at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall

SELECTBOARD MEETING

OLD AND NEW BUSINESS

  • Walpole Schools
  • Solar System Refund Federal Tax Forms

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING

HOOPER TRUSTEES PUBLIC BUSINESS

  • Gravata Lift Change Order Proposal
  • Northeast Air Sealing Estimate
  • Search Committee Update
  • FY 25 Draw from Hooper Education Trust
  • January 2025 Reimbursement to the Town of Walpole from the Hooper Education Fund
  • January 2025 Reimbursement to the Town of Walpole from the Hooper Maintenance Fund
  • Appointment Notices

HOOPER TRUSTEES MINUTES

  • Hooper Trustees Meeting – February 4, 2025
  • Hooper Trustees Non-Public Session – February 4, 2025

HOOPER TRUSTEES NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (a)

SELECTBOARD MEETING (Continued)

PAYROLL

  • Payroll Register totaling $35,431.30 dated 2/14/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,540.34.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

  • Selectboard Meeting – February 4, 2025
  • Selectboard Non-Public Session – February 4, 2025

COMMITTEE REPORTS

  • Conservation Commission Meeting – February 3, 2025

VETERANS CREDIT

  • Map and Lot# 012-055-016 

OLD BUSINESS

Pending Further Actions: Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Streets Bridges/Culverts, School and Union Street Drainage, Houghton Brook Bridge, and Reservoir Dam

  • 2025 Warrant Articles
  • Total Loss of Highway Dump Truck
  • 2023 Financial Audit and FEMA Grant

NEW BUSINESS

  • Reservoir Dam ARPA Grant Funding Reimbursement Form
  • Reimbursement Request to the Trustees of Trust Funds

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (a)

**Any recording, audio or visual, and/or other devices must be declared at the beginning of the meeting**

Walpole Schools Newsletter – February 2025

Uncategorized 02/11/2025 Leave a comment

Click the link below to download the latest newsletter from the Walpole schools.

WAA February 2025 NewsletterDownload

Walpole Junior Players Presents “Happily Never After” – 2/12/25

EVENTS 02/11/2025 Leave a comment
The Walpole Junior Players will present "Happily Never After" on February 12, 2025 at 6:00 pm in the Helen Miller Theatre at the Walpole Town Hall. Tickets can be bought at the door: $10 for adults; $5 for children and seniors. This is not a school sponsored event.

Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes – 2/3/25

CONSERVATION COMMISSION 02/10/2025 Leave a comment

TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

Members Present:  Nicole Adams, Wendy Grossman, France Menk, Peter Palmiotto (Co-Chair), John Peska (Co-Chair, Presiding), Lewis Shelley

Alternates Present:  Tom Beaudry, Paul Happ

Members Absent:  Alicia Flammia,

Visitors Present:  John McCollister 

CALL TO ORDER: John called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall. 

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Peter moved to accept the January 6, 2025 minutes as written. Lew seconded and all voted in favor. The motion carried. 

PUBLIC BUSINESS

Financial Report: 

  • Conservation $242,206.76
  • Forestry $51,812.70
  • Mason Forest Expendable $516,984.35
  • Mason Forest Nonexpendable $22,962.00

Correspondence:

  • Notification was received from the state that they plan to replace a culvert at the top of Prospect Hill.  The work is planned for this spring or summer.
  • An Antioch grad student is available to do a bird study/count in an area that was last managed two to ten years ago, and he would work with the Town Forester.  Peter will invite the Antioch student and Alex Barrett, Town Forester, to the March meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Webpage: Currently the town website goes directly to the Conservation website when Conservation Commission is clicked.  Other organizations and departments have a page with useful details.  Each group was given the opportunity to create a page when the site was being set up.  It was decided that France will work with Sarah Downing to get trained and create a Conservation Commission webpage for the Town website that will link to the Conservation Commission’s website.

OLD BUSINESS

Route 12 Rest Areas – Shelters, Cleanup:  Both shelters have new roofs that look great.  Although not in the initial quote, some of the pine boards needed to be replaced.  A deposit was made so the remaining amount due is $7,728.60. Lew moved that we accept the invoice and pay it.  France seconded and all voted in favor.  The motion carried.

 Additional cleanup is needed, e.g. any timber that needs replacing, painting, power washing, etc.  The work will be planned at the March meeting and the work session will be in April.

Fanny Mason Harvesting – Update: The contract will be presented to the Commission in the spring.  Peter will ask Alex for an update at the March meeting.

Gateway & Hooper Invasives: An update is needed in March.  Nicole will check with the Hooper Board to see if they have concerns.

Property Monitoring: In December all the sites that needed monitoring were visited and the reports were filed.  

There was a discussion of where records are kept, the issue being very full files.  Wendy and Peter will sort out the files and have it done by the end of the month.  Monitoring reports need to also be filed in the property folders and there is some information in the property folders that Conservation needs.  Wendy will work with Sarah on new processes after Town Meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS

Reservoir Dam: Steve and John attended an online meeting with DES, the Army Corp of Engineering, and Fuss and O’Neill. The goal is to avoid mitigation while fixing the dam – Steve will work with Fuss & O’Neill.  Walpole also needs to split the project into two parts.  The first will be the culvert and spillway to protect the Town, and the second will be the slope of the dam.

The ARPA funds will be used to put generators on the pump houses.  The generator from the cistern on Prospect Hill will be moved to Town Hall.

Hooper Institute Board Update: The renovation is ongoing, and they are looking for Helen’s successor.  There will be a pause in the construction for summer camps and renovations should be finished in the fall. 

Trail Committee:  It was a good meeting on January 9th with three new people.  The focus was planning for this year.  There was a discussion about whether trails should be publicized online.  It was suggested that this should be a decision of more than just the Trail Committee because of the impact on the whole area.

 Nicole said she has a lighter load this time of year and offered to work on the permit for the Rail Trail maintenance.  She would work on getting a permit for more than just this year.

AGENDA FOR MEETING ON MARCH 3, 2025

  • Alex – Updates on harvest, invasives
  • Peter – Antioch student
  • Annual  Goals – including tree planting
  • Old Home Days – what does the Conservation Commission want to do?  In the past we had the game warden once; Gary Speed another time

MEMBER RENEWALS:  Alicia, France and Peter need to renew their membership on the Commission.  Send a brief letter to Sarah Downing to start the process.

ADJOURNMENT: John declared the meeting adjourned at 8:14 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note:  These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the March 3, 2025 Conservation Commission meeting.)

Cancelled: Congregational Church Potluck – 2/8/25

Uncategorized 02/05/2025 Leave a comment

The Community Potluck Dinner scheduled for this Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the First Congregational Church of Walpole, has been cancelled. The next dinner will be on March 8, 2025 at 5:30 pm.

Cabin Fever Radio Follies – 3/15/25

EVENTS, Uncategorized 02/05/2025 Leave a comment

It’s almost Cabin Fever time again and by know you know the cure!

It’s the Walpole Players’ annual production of Radio Follies! Bring an indoor picnic, see what neighbors are coming out of hibernation, and return to the golden age of radio. Old time radio shows, songs, conviviality and plenty of laughs.

Presented in the Helen Miller Theater on Saturday, March 15, 2025; doors open at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available at Mascoma Bank and maybe at the door. Reserve a table for you and your friends!

Any questions, please send an email to WalpolePlayers@gmail.com