Keeping the community up to date on community topics
HOLIDAY FAIR TIME IS APPROACHING!
St. John’s Episcopal Church is once again offering certain items by pre-ordering.
The fair on Saturday, November 23, will feature many other items.
If you are interested in purchasing the following:
place your order at orders@stjohnswalpole.org or phone 603-828-7885. Please note that quantities are limited so place your order now. Thank you.
TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD
OCTOBER 31, 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: Wes Vickers
Call to Order: Mr. Dalessio called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:31 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.
Boulders at Primary School: Wes Vickers stated the boulders are in place next to the access road down to Primary School. There will be a gate for the Fire Department and EMS vehicles when they need access to the field. The school’s fence on the other side of the field, next to the Recreation area, is falling. Mr. Vickers said it needs to be removed, and boulders put along that area. The Selectboard told Mr. Vickers that the fence is owned by the school. The Selectboard was agreeable to the fence being removed and boulders added.
Mr. Vickers left the meeting.
PAYROLL
Ms. Vose moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $32,214.11 dated 11/1/2024 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,513.72. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES
Selectboard Meeting – October 24, 2024: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 24, 2024. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the minutes were approved.
Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – October 24, 2024: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of October 24, 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 are sealed.
Public Hearing – October 24, 2024: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Public Hearing of October 24, 2024. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the minutes were approved.
WATER AND SEWER WARRANTS
Walpole Water Fees: Ms. Vose moved to approve the warrant for Walpole Water Fees for $53,814.27. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the warrant was approved.
Walpole Sewer Fees: Ms. Vose moved to approve the warrant for Walpole Sewer Fees totaling $80,000.05. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the warrant was approved.
North Walpole Sewer Fees: Ms. Vose moved to approve the warrant for North Walpole Sewer Fees for $60,848.58. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the warrant was approved.
OLD BUSINESS
Pending Further Action: Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Street Bridges/Culverts, and Houghton Brook Bridge
Reservoir Dam Update: Mr. Dalessio reported that Fuss and O’Neill have agreed to provide regular updates about the Reservoir Dam project as required by DES. These meetings will help the project move forward.
ARPA Funding Grants: Mark Houghton will have all the figures by mid-November for generators and pumps for the three sewer pump stations so that contracts can be prepared and the ARPA Grant funds encumbered. There is an issue at the North Walpole sewer pump station because it is not clear that the Town owns the land under and around the pump station. The generator may have to go on the roof. Steve Grenier will be gathering the necessary information.
High Street Dog Bite: Police Chief Sanctuary will be requested to attend a Selectboard Meeting so that the Board can learn more about what it means when someone files a dog complaint or wishes to press charges. Also, The Selectboard wished to know what can be done if no one reports incidents because of fear of retaliation.
NEW BUSINESS
Cemetery Deed: Mr. Dalessio moved we accept the deed for Lot D-531. Seconded by Ms. Vose. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion passed, and the deed was signed.
Savings Bank of Walpole Proclamation: The Savings Bank of Walpole will celebrate its 150th anniversary on July 2, 2025. There will be proclamation, and SBW will coordinate with the Board.
State Driveway Permit Received: Mrs. Downing will put a copy in the file and will send a copy to the Planning Board for the land being subdivided off Upper Walpole Road/Rt. 123.
NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (c)
Ms. Vose moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (c) at 6:59 PM. Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
The meeting was reconvened at 7:56 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.
TAX RATE: Mrs. Downing reminded the Board that the Town still does not have a tax rate. Ms. Mayberry noted that Fall Mountain Regional School District has an extension to November 1st to file their DOE documents. However, The Town is also waiting for completion of the financial audit and the associated reports. The issue is that there is a $1.8 million payment due to the Cheshire County in mid-December. The payment must be made on the due date. Mr. Dalessio commented that without property tax income, this could be an issue. The Town may need to take a tax anticipatory note or TAN.
Adjournment: Ms. Mayberry declared the meeting adjourned at 8:06 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the November 6, 2024 Selectboard meeting.)
An update on the Scouting for Food Drive from Deb Pawelczyk:
On Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, Cub Scout Pack 299 and Boy Scout Troop 299 held their Scouting for Food Drive. We collected for the annual Scouting for Food Drive a total of 375 pieces of people food and pet food. We also collected $1,788.00 at the following locations: Walpole Post Office, Walpole Recycling Center, Tractor Supply and Shaw’s. Thank you to everyone who donated on this day.
This Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, we will be at the same locations collecting non-perishable food items and monetary donations. Pet food is also greatly appreciated. All food and monetary donations go directly to the Fall Mountain Food Shelf. Donations in 2023 included over 800 items of food and $3,200 in cash. Our goal is to meet or exceed our amounts from last year. Every little bit helps.
Thank you to everyone who helps support this great drive.
Walpole Planning Board Agenda
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
7 pm
Town Hall
Roll Call: Appointment of alternates if needed.
Call to order:
Minutes: Review minutes of the October 2024 meeting and October Joint Meeting minutes.
Old Business:
Public Hearing No. 1. Elm and Pleasant LLC propose a Lot Line Adjustment for property at the corner of Pleasant and Elm Streets, Town Map 20, Lot 32 and Town Map 22, Lot 3 in the Residential B District. After the boundary line adjustment the lot with the apartment will be 1.3 acres and the field will be 18 acres, a change of 7 acres. Road frontage on Pleasant Street is 236.93 feet. Although not marked on the plat, road frontage on Main Street for Lot 2 is more than on Pleasant Street.
Public Hearing No. 2. John McKee Pratt Revocable Trust proposes a subdivision on Reservoir Road, rural/ag district, Tax Map 11, Lot No. 1 will now be 26.07 acres with 268.75 feet of road frontage. It is currently a horse farm. The adjacent area to this lot is an Agricultural Easement for the benefit of Lot 1. This lot is 2.20 acres. The second lot, Tax Map 11, Lot No. 1-2, will be 15.44 acres with 200 feet of road frontage.
Public Hearing No. 3. The Planning Board has drafted a zoning amendment to be placed on the town warrant that 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 may include uniforms, logos, interior or exterior design, array of services or merchandise, menus, ingredients and food preparation.
New Business:
Subdivision for Dunkin property at 418 Main Street. Four lots. Request for public hearing.
Chad E. Branon, Commercial Development on property next to Dollar General.
Fieldstone
Walpole Foundation: Community Room
Workshop: Tuesday, Joint meeting November 26 at 7 pm.
Next meeting: December 10, 2024.
TOWN OF WALPOLE
SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA
November 6, 2024
Starting at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall
SELECTBOARD MEETING
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
• Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $135,027.92 for checks issued 11/08/2024 PAYROLL
• Payroll Register totaling $31,447.57 dated 11/08/2024 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,332.34. SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES
• Selectboard Meeting – October 31, 2024
• Selectboard Non-Public Session – October 31, 2024
COMMITTEE REPORTS
• Library Trustees Meeting Minutes – October 8, 2024
• Joint Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting – October 22, 2024
BUILDING PERMITS
• 2024-36, Map and Lot# 011-001-001
OLD BUSINESS
Pending Further Actions: Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Steets Bridges/Culverts, Houghton Brook Bridge, ARPA Funding Grants
• Town Properties and CPCNH
• Police Station Land Purchase Deposit
• Reservoir Dam Update
• Petition Warrant Article
NEW BUSINESS
• Facility Agreement for North Walpole Polling Area
• Payroll Service
• Thanksgiving Feast Invitation
NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (c)
HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING
HOOPER TRUSTEES MINUTES
• Hooper Trustees Meeting – October 17, 2024
HOOPER TRUSTEES PUBLIC BUSINESS
• Hooper Institute Building Renovation
HOOPER TRUSTEES NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (b)
Walpole Seniors’ monthly potluck lunch will take place at 12:00 noon, Monday, November 18, at the Walpole Congregational Church. All are welcome. Bring a dish and conversation to share!
HCS will present a program on availabilities for Aging at Home and as-needed Hospice care.
Start Time: 7:00 PM (Delayed)
Change Due to meeting conflict with Hooper Institute Board Meeting
This meeting will be in the Selectboard Office
November 1st was the date to remove all your pots, flowers, or decorations from the Walpole Cemeteries. Please make time to pick up your remembrances.
The Cemetery Trustees thank you for taking care of this.
Dale Woodward
Cemetery Trustee, Chair
“Great Decisions” Meets next Monday, November 11
“Pandemic Preparedness”
“Great Decisions” will meet again on Monday, November 11, at 6:00 p.m. in the Walpole Town Library. Our topic for discussion is Pandemic Preparedness. The risk of a global epidemic has not diminished since the Covid-19 pandemic, so what have we learned and what can be done to prepare as a nation and as a member of the international community? What is the objective of the Global Pandemic Treaty, and what are the roadblocks to an agreement?
The relevant reading from the Foreign Policy Association is “Pandemic Preparedness: Ending the Deadly Cycle of Panic and Neglect,” by Carolyn Reynolds. For a copy of this article and/or the meeting’s Zoom link, please contact Library Director Jane Malmberg at jmalmberg@walpoletownlibrary.org
TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD
OCTOBER 24, 2024
Selectboard Present: Cheryl Mayberry, Chair; Steven Dalessio and Carolyn Vose
Staff Present: Jodi Daigle, Administrative Assistant, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
Call to Order: Ms. Mayberry called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:37 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.
UNANTICIPATED FUNDS DONATION
Following the Public Hearing, Mr. Dalessio moved that the Town of Walpole accept the donation from Pleasant Valley Association Hockey in the amount of $17,995.51 to be used for:
Seconded by Ms. Vose. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion passed, and the Town is grateful for the generous donation. It will be used to ensure all children in Walpole can participate in sports programs.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Ms. Vose moved to approve the Accounts Payable Check Register totaling $112,364.99 dated 10/25/2024 including $47,345.35 payment to HealthTrust. 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 $32,047.22 dated 10/25/2024 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6519.69. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES
Selectboard Meeting – October 17, 2024: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 17, 2024. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the minutes were approved.
Non-Public Selectboard Session – October 17, 2024: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of October 17, 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 sealed.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Ms. Vose brought to the chair’s attention the following committee reports:
Ms. Mayberry acknowledged these minutes.
OLD BUSINESS
Pending Further Action: Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Street Bridges/Culverts, Houghton Brook Bridge, Reservoir Dam, and ARPA Funding Grants
USDA Grant and ARPA Grant: Mr. Dalessio is meeting with The Fire Department and USDA and all the associated attorneys tomorrow at 10:00 AM, to create a process for management of the flow of grant funds for the new fire station. After the meeting, Mr. Dalessio will meet with Mr. Houghton on the ARPA Funding Grants.
Letter to NHDOT District 4: The First Congregational Church has requested a sign at the junction of Route 12 and South Street. Mr. Dalessio moved that the Selectboard endorse the request for a Congregational Church sign at the corner of Route 12 and South Street and that they sign the letter to recommend the sign to the NHDOT District 4. Seconded by Ms. Vose. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved, and the letter was signed.
In-Person Staff Meeting (11/21/2024): Ms. Mayberry contacted Dr. Gerri King, author of The DUH! Book of Management and Supervision about speaking at the Staff Meeting. Dr. King is booked at the time of the meeting but could be scheduled for a future meeting. The November 21st meeting will be used to discuss how budget preparation is going, and especially what warrant articles and future projects they are planning in their departments.
Mr. Hoy is certain Recycling does not need a truck. They are no longer doing pick-ups, and they rent a truck when one is needed to minimize costs. A truck for Recycling could be added by the Selectboard later in the budget process if appropriate.
NEW BUSINESS
Encumbrance of Funds Request: Funds from Warrant Article #3 in the amount of $200,000 are to be used to purchase land for the new Police Station. When the Warrant Article was written it was not specified that the funds would not lapse so they need to be encumbered. Mr. Dalessio moved to encumber the $200,000 (purchase order # 242497) for the purchase of the land for the new Police station while the parties finalize the sales agreement. In addition the encumbrance request was changed to specify Mr. Dalessio as the Chair of the Committee and contact. Seconded by Ms. Vose. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the encumbrance was approved for $200,000 and signed.
Invitation to Bid Flyer and Packet: By consensus, the Selectboard is good with the $5,000 deposit required for each bid. The amount is the same as in the past. Some editing is needed before publishing the flyer – see marked up sample.
Assessing Agreement: It is time to renew our assessing agreement with Avitar. After reviewing 1-year and 3-year rates, Mr. Dalessio moved that we sign up for another 1-year agreement with Avitar to continue as our assessor. Seconded by Ms. Vose. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion passed, and the contract was signed. We should seek other assessors next year.
Donation at the Reuse Center: As more valuable items are being donated to the Reuse Center, the question is being asked if receipts can be given. By consensus, a letter/form needs to be created with a description of the donation that is prepared by the Reuse Center, and a place where the donor can enter the value of the item. The Reuse Center does not determine the value of the item.
Public Notices from the Planning Board: The Plannning Board will have a hearing for lot line adjustment and subdivision of two properties. In both cases the Town is an abutter. One is at Elm Street and Pleasant Street – the Town owns property along Mad Brook. The other is on Reservoir Road abutting a Town Forest. By consensus, the Town is not concerned by either.
However, the Board is concerned about the sloppy notices (one doesn’t describe the initial lot, and in the other the lot size is an acre larger after the transaction) that contain errors and are not even on Town letterhead. Mr. Dalessio will address the accuracy, proofing and lack of Town letterhead with the Chair of the Planning Board.
NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS RSA 91-A:3 II (c)
Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (c) at 7:23 PM. Ms. Vose seconded. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
The meeting was reconvened at 8:25 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.
Adjournment: Ms. Mayberry declared the meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the October 31, 2024 Selectboard meeting.)
The Walpolean 
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