The Walpolean

TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

MARCH 21, 2013

Selectboard Present:     Whitney Aldrich (Chair); Jamie Teague; (Absent: Chas Street)

These are unapproved Minutes.

 CALL TO ORDER:  Ms. Borden called this Selectboard meeting to order at 7:46 PM in the Walpole Town Hall with two people present in the audience.  Prior to this meeting the Selectboard attended the Walpole Fire District meeting.

ELECTION OF 2013 CHAIRPERSON:  Mr. Aldrich nominated Mrs. Teague as the Chairperson for 2013.  Mrs. Teague moved to nominate Mr. Aldrich as the Chairperson but Mr. Aldrich declined.  Mr. Aldrich moved to cease nominations and that the secretary cast one vote for Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, Mrs. Teague was elected the 2013 Chairperson.  Mrs. Teague accepted the nomination but asked Mr. Aldrich to Chair this meeting.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

BEN NORTHCOTT:  Mr. Northcott has some concerns about the road postings this year.  He pointed out that almost all the roads in Walpole are posted but there are two roads that are not posted now – Brewery Road and Industrial Drive.  Copies of State Statutes 231:191 Maximum Weight Limits and 266:17 Weighing of Vehicles were reviewed.  He advised that there are no scales within ten miles of Walpole.  Mr. Northcott requested that if the postings remain that they can request an amount for a Bond so they can haul on Valley Road.  The Town has to figure out an amount.  The Selectboard will ask Jim Terrell to attend the next Selectboard meeting to discuss the valid points raised.  Mr. Northcott noted that last fall he asked if they would be entitled to a refund for a percentage of the registration because they cannot run their trucks during this period when the roads are posted.  Trucks that are not restricted pay the same amount for registrations that he does.  The Selectboard will take this under consideration.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $36,666.62.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register for a reissued check No. 058611 that had a stale date.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

PAYROLL:

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending March 16, 2013, for checks dated March 22, 2013, for gross wages in the amount of $17,217.68.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,003.46.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – March 14, 2013:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of March 14, 2013, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of March 14, 2013, as printed.  The Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the following committee reports:

• Walpole Recreation Committee – February 17, 2013; and
• Walpole Recreation Committee – March 17, 2013.

ABATEMENT – WATER:

APPLEWOOD REALTY TRUST, School Street, Map and Lot #021-004-000:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Refund for Water in the amount of $2,305.00 for Applewood Realty Trust.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

INTENT TO CUT WOOD OR TIMBER:

HARDWICK, Church Street, Map & Lot # 027-005-000:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber, No. 12-461-22-T, for H.H. Investments, LLC.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

NH HIGHWAY SAFETY GRANT:  Mrs. Teague moved to authorize Mr. Aldrich to sign the Highway Safety Project application.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

CONWAY OFFICE CONTRACT:   Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the contract to purchase two copiers (one for the upstairs office and one for the downstairs office) from Conway Office Products, LLC that includes a Maintenance Agreement.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

PROCLAMATION REQUEST:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the “Proclamation for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children National Missing Children’s Day on May 25, 2013”.  This is a continuing effort to prevent the abduction and sexual exploitation of children.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

PERSONNEL REQUESTS – TRAINING:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Mrs. Clough’s request to attend an “Office Professionals” training class on April 17, 2013 and a “Benefits Administrator Workshop” on April 25, 2013.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

TOWN EMPLOYEE RATE FORMS:  Mrs. Teague moved to sign the Town Employee Rate Increase forms for 2013.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

LIEN DISCHARGE:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve and sign the Lien Discharge for sewer usage.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

TRANSPORTATION – SOUTHWEST REGION PLANNING COMMISSION:  Mr. J.B. Mack, Senior Planner at the SWRPC, and Cheryl Mayberry, North Walpole Commissioner and the Town’s representative to the Transportation Committee at SWRPC, will attend the Selectboard’s meeting on April 11^th at 6:00 PM to address two highway projects that the Selectboard discussed with Ms. Mayberry at a previous meeting.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mrs. Teague moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.  The time was 9:13 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

____________________________

Whitney R. Aldrich, Chair

____________________________

Jamie J. Teague

___________________________

Chas G. Street

(Note:  These are unapproved Minutes.  Corrections, if necessary, will be found in the Minutes of the March 28, 2013, Selectboard meeting.)

Did you miss the world premier last month at the Bellows Falls Opera House of UPSTAGED created by Walpole resident Gail Golec and filmed by Jacob Stradling and edited by Alex Stradling? Requested by many, a second showing will be held at the Walpole Town Hall, Walpole, NH, on Wednesday, May 22nd. Doors will open at 7 PM and the film will begin at 7:20. Admission is FREE.

The story follows the exploits of a failed theater actor/director/producer from NYC (Harold Howard-Hartwell) who, after his last show flops, decides to leave the city behind and settle in a small farming town in New Hampshire. His ultimate plan is to make the town over into an artists’ colony, garnering him the fame and respect he so desperately desires. But first he needs to get the town on board with his plan. To that end, he decides he needs to produce a play, casting the townspeople to show them that theater can be a great experience. Here in his new town, Harold believes he will finally be a big fish in a small pond, however he soon learns that the pond is more like a fish bowl and he realizes as auditions for the play get underway, he is unprepared to deal with the variety of personalities in this small town.

UPSTAGED was filmed over the course of 10 months, using locations in Walpole (town hall), Acworth (Acworth Store) and Saxton River, VT (Pleasant Valley Brewery) and starring local actors from the Walpole Players (Mike Wright, Sarah Manning, Ray Boas, Fran Kemp, Carolyn Norback, Tara Sad, Jean Kobeski, Kathy Reilly, John Luther, Jim Baucom, Tom Winmill, Peter Eisenstadter, Jordan Mitchell-Love, Seth Lauritsen, Gwen Edson and Gail Golec).
For more information call 603 756-4545 or 603 756-3790.

The TASTING ROOM and GIFT SHOP at WALPOLE MTN. VIEW WINERY at BARNETT HILL VINEYARD are reopening this Friday, May 24, 5-7 pm.

They’ll be open every weekend – Fridays 5-7, Saturdays 12-6, and Sundays 1-6. In November and December the hours will be shortened, so check their website (www.bhvineyard.com) once the cooler weather arrives.

For the Memorial Day Weekend Holiday that is coming up, they’ll also be open Monday, 5/27, 1-5:00 pm.

The season will open with tastings of 24 fine grape wines that are 100% estate grown in their Barnett Hill Vineyard. The selection includes reds, whites, blushes, and blends with sweetness levels from the driest dry through late harvest dessert sweet!

Visit their gift shop with beautiful and delicious locally-made and wine-related products, as well as a selection of NH/VT cheeses to enjoy during your tastings. The spectacular mountain vistas and vineyard views are enjoyed by townsfolk and tourists alike. Whether it’s the first time you’ll be trying wine, or have traveled the world tasting wines, the experience is worth the four-mile trip up the hill from downtown Walpole.

They do accept reservations for private tastings and event rental opportunities.

Features FMRHS Artists in May/June: Tyler Brown, RoseAlaina Leone, and Allura Lincoln

The Walpole Artisans are proud to announce their second annual Student Show, featuring Fall Mountain Regional High School art students in May/June at their Cooperative Gallery on 52 Main Street in Walpole. Three students have been selected for their artwork which will be on display from May 19th-June 15th. There will be an Artist Reception on Wednesday, May 22nd, 5:30-7 pm. Please visit the gallery, meet the artists and discuss their work and inspiration, while enjoying hors d’oeuvres!

Tyler Brown is a FMRHS senior from Acworth, who has always enjoyed art classes. “I just simply enjoy making art that derives directly from my imagination. I’ve also always had an eye for detail (in things besides art as well), so that contributes to my style as an artist.” He plans to attend college at the Universal Technical Institute in Norwood, MA, in the fall.

RoseAlaina Leone, a senior from Walpole, was exposed to photography at an early age with parents interested in photography. She has grown to appreciate the medium which has become an enjoyable hobby for her. “I really enjoy capturing spontaneous moments with my pictures; a happy moment between friends, the funny face of a child, or a small moment of beauty in the natural world. A camera is a way to preserve moments and memories, and I try my best to do them justice.” She plans to attend college in the fall, majoring in anthropology or psychology, but plans to keep up her photography as well.

Allura Lincoln, a senior from Alstead, loves to make art for the joy of it. She enjoys blending things and warping a point of view. “When I’m creating a piece of work outside of a class setting, I usually work straight through until it’s done. I get very absorbed in what I’m doing. When I’m taking pictures, I usually like to capture the essence of a person or the area. I get very excited about it.” Allura plans on attending MassArt in the fall, majoring in photography.

We invite you to the Walpole Artisans Cooperative to support our local youth talent this month including the Artist Reception on May 22nd. If you can’t make the reception, we look forward to your visit another time during the month-long exhibition.

The Cooperative now offers a wide variety of products showcasing a talented group of local artists who specialize in many different mediums. A variety of artwork is available including paintings, photography, prints, handmade cards, decorative and functional woodworking, ceramics, blown glass, jewelry, dolls, metal sculpture, and more!

The Walpole Artisans Cooperative is now open from Monday 11am-2:30pm; Tuesday –Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 11am-4pm. New Members will be accepted through a juried process. Interested artisans should contact the Cooperative at (603) 756-3020 or stop in during business hours, to pick up an application. We are located at 52 Main Street, Walpole, NH.

Carolyn Norback in “Tourists Accommodated” was a deaf old aunt who dropped in some irrelevant but localized and humorous lines from time to time.  In case you missed the play, no need to miss all the fun.

Aunt Jane:   Bill Perron is a-taking his winter underwear off this week.  I heard Dutchie say she was going to have to wash them just this one week more before summer and she was glad of it.

Aunt Jane:   Cows are out again, I see. Bob Graves’ fences are queer, always let their cows out.

Aunt Jane:   They say Paul Tole has bought himself a new car, but I don’t believe a word of it.  The old one wa’n’t  more than five years old.

Aunt Jane:   Well, Joel and Emmeline say they’re goin’ to get married and Tommy Murray is a-doing the catering – and high time, too.

Aunt Jane:   Farmstead Farms is a-selling strawberry preserves to city people and a-asking thirty cents a jar – a nawful price, I call it.

Aunt Jane:   Well, what do you think? That red cow of Sheldon Sawyer’s is sick again.

Aunt Jane:   Well, Malnotti’s calf got out again last night and this time he run out on the railroad bridge and got all four legs through the ties. Linda Edkin saw him just in the nick of time and telephoned down to the Depot to hold the morning train till they could get him out.

Aunt Jane:   Sandy Smith was just a-tellin” her daughter that Janet Clough had a post card from that fellow that was here selling books last week, and he said……….

The Real Twist Soft Serve Ice Cream stand in Walpole, NH will hold its first Classic Car Cruise Night of the season, weather permitting, on Sunday, May 19th, from 5 till dark. Here’s a chance for the whole family to enjoy a Sunday evening looking at old and antique cars, while enjoying a soft serve ice cream or frozen yogurt. . There will be live music by Doc Vinnie Dibernardo (vet on-call duties permitting). Anyone who brings his classic car to show will get a free regular sized sundae. Everyone visiting can get free jimmies, diptop or flavorburst with any cup or cone. Make sure to enter the drawing for gift certificates to the Real Twist or Real to Reel!

 The Real Twist is located next to Real to Reel Video at the North Meadow Plaza in Walpole. It is open noon – 9:00 PM, seven days a week. Enjoy your ice cream outside, in the lovely garden, or under the porch.

Future 2013 Season Cruise Nights are scheduled for June 16^th, July 14^th, August 11^th , and September 1^st . See you there!