Walpole Players Board Meeting
Monday, September 30, 2024 at 5:30 pm
On the Stage of the Helen Miller Theater in the Town Hall
Open to the public—Come Play with Us!
Change is Hard, but Inevitable!
As most of you know, I have sold my house in Walpole and moved to Covenant Living of Keene. While I have the ability to continue as administrator of The Walpolean, I feel it’s best for its future, and for me, to pass the reins to a Walpole resident and younger person. My goal was to assure that the community doesn’t lose what I have hoped was a helpful asset started over a decade ago by Chuck Bingaman. Luckily, I was successful in finding a very capable person exactly like I was looking for.
So – If you don’t know Kelli Wilson, let me introduce you. (She has talents beyond being my fun and able partner on Saturdays at the Walpole Town Library.)
A native of Keene, NH, Kelli has lived in Walpole since 2009 with her husband Damian and their two children. She has previously served our community as a two-term member of the Walpole Conservation Commission, and as a volunteer and board member for the Walpole Historical Society. She works part-time at the Walpole Town Library, in addition to her “day job” as an editor at Connell Communications, Inc. (publishers of Taste for Life and Remedies magazines). She has many years of experience working with WordPress software, including maintaining her own blog on the platform since 2011.
In my years of working beside her at the library desk, I have found her to be extremely capable on the computer. She refuses to let a technology issue get the better of her. She’ll probably be able to take pdf files and post them on The Walpolean. Even after 11 years as the administrator, that’s a trick I never mastered.
You can now send your posts to Kelli at thewalpolean@gmail.com and, like me, Kelli will do her best to post them ASAP. For the next month or so (until you get used to the change) you can send them there or to me at ltdecoste@comcast.net. We don’t want information to get lost in the “transfer”!
Please utilize Kelli’s skills and do your part in “Keeping the Community Up-to-date” by sharing your events and news. Kelli will be counting on your help just as I did.
Zoning Board Meeting Minutes – 9/18/24
Roll Call: Board members present: Chair Tom Murray, Clerk Pauline Barnes, Shane O’Keefe. Alternates: Myra Mansouri and Don Sellarole. Absent: Board members Vice-Chair Dave Edkins and Tom Winmill.
Also at the meeting were Walpole residents Justin Carter and Annie Ewaskio.
Call to Order: Mr. Murray called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. Mr. Murray asked alternates Ms. Mansouri and Mr. Sellarole to fill in for the two absent board members. They agreed.
Minutes: Meeting minutes of August 2023. Mr. Murray made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Ms. Barnes seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Joint Meeting date: Mr. Murray reminded the board of the upcoming joint meeting with the Planning Board and Executive Director Todd Horner of Southwest Region Planning Commission and Planner Carol Ogilvie next week, Tuesday, September 24, at 7pm. He said the discussion is going to stick solely on the documents sent by Ms. Ogilvie titled Table of Permitted Uses and the Draft of Potential Zoning Amendments for March 2025. There will be no discussion about drafting a zoning amendment for short-term rentals. Mr. Murray said the roles of the Planning Board, Select Board and Zoning Board are all going to change. We are going to have new duties, new roles.
Discussion of “N.H. Supreme Court Throws a Curveball in Short-term Rental Zoning Regulations,” an article in “Town and City,” a magazine published by the NH Municipal Association. The author of the article was Stephen Buckley, legal Services Counsel for the Association. July/August 2024.
Ms. Barnes read aloud a section from this article. Mr. Buckley wrote “Because` of the decision in Hoekstra, municipalities will have to carefully examine what other provisions in their zoning ordinances, intended as restrictions on use, might be interpreted instead to create permitted uses.”
Ms. Barnes said she would bring this up at the joint meeting not for the purpose of writing an amendment but to gauge if there are any “pitfalls” in our current zoning ordinances that could be immediately addressed.
Ms. Mansouri said you cannot change or add anything. Ms. Barnes said we have a permissive zoning ordinance which means if it’s not specifically addressed in the document, it is not allowed. But. the NH Supreme Court focused lately on “Additional Requirements” to determine permitted uses and if it’s worth checking into. Mr. O’Keefe said for once he agreed with her.
Inquiry about DADUs
Justin Carter lives at 64 Carpenter Hill in the rural/ag district. He said Zoning Coordinator Ernie Vose suggested he come to tonight’s meeting. His parents are now elderly and need some assistance. He is trying to determine whether he should add to the current house or consider adding a separate living space such as a Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit. His problem, he said, is that “the minimum lot size for a DADU in the Rural/Ag Zoning District is 80,000 square feet” and his property is much smaller than that. He’s trying to decide whether or not to add to the original home or somehow create a DADU by simply adding a roof connection.
The Board suggested he go back and discuss it again with Mr. Vose to help him finalize a decision. He also has the option of applying for a variance.
Gravel Pit Inspections
RSA 155-E states that all gravel pits shall be inspected yearly. The following board members will inspect the last three gravel pits in Walpole:
Tim Graves Gravel pit
Wentworth Road
Shane O’Keefe and Tom Murray
Cold River Materials
Myra Mansouri and Pauline Barnes
Hodgkins Gravel pit
Old Drewsville Road
Don Sellarole and maybe Tom Winmilll
Participants received Inspections sheets. They are due at the October 2024 meeting.
Short-term rentals
Annie Ewaskio said she came to the meeting because the topic of short-term rentals was on the agenda. Ms. Ewaskio grew up in Walpole. She returned a couple of years ago after living in New York City for several years because of the squeeze on housing. That increased the cost of rentals. She said a large part of that happened because companies such as Airbnb controlled a large number of apartments for rent as short-term rentals. She feared that could happened in Walpole.
While the board said it understood her concern short-term rental matters are now under the purview of the Planning Board and they are intending to look at the topic in 2025. Ms. Barnes suggested she attend a Planning Board meeting on the second Tuesday of the month but Ms. Ewaskio has classes on Tuesday evenings. Ms. Barnes then suggested that she write a letter expressing her experiences in New York and her fears that the same thing could happen in Walpole.
Adjournment
Mr. O’Keefe made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Mansouri seconded the motion and the motion carried. The time was 7:58 pm.
These minutes are unapproved and will reviewed at the October meeting for corrections.
Respectfully submitted,
Marilou Blaine
WPB Secretary
Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 9/12/24
Selectboard Present: Cheryl Mayberry, Chair; Steven Dalessio and Carolyn Vose
Staff Present: Jodi Daigle, Administrative Assistant, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
Guests Present: Pastor Justin Barney of River Valley Church
Call to Order: Ms. Mayberry called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.
This item was moved to the top of the agenda to accommodate our guest.
River Valley Church, Pastor Justin Barney – He wanted to introduce himself and say he is looking forward to being a part of Walpole. He and his family are moving from Keene to Walpole on Monday. This church is a church plant from Elm City Church in Keene. Pastor Barney is expecting 50 – 70 members including children. They have renovated the basement of the church into classrooms.
Pastor Justin Barney left the meeting.
Accounts Payable
Ms. Vose moved to approve Accounts Payable totaling $128,481.43 dated 9/13/2024. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. This included a $38,084.65 payment to EE Houghton Co. and $38,938.92 to NH Retirement System.
Payroll
Ms. Vose moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $33,440.23 dated 9/13/2024 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,900.15. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
Selectboard Meeting and Non-Public Selectboard Session – September 4, 2024: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of September 4, 2024 and the Non-Public Selectboard Session of September 4, 2024. The Non-Public minutes are to remain sealed. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved, and the Non-Public minutes remain sealed.
2024-30, Map and Lot# 012-056-000: Ms. Vose moved to approve Building Permit #2024-30 for Map and Lot # 012-056-000 to construct a new Dunkin Donuts building. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
Old Business
Pending Further Action: Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Street Bridges/Culverts, Houghton Brook Bridge, Reservoir Dam, ARPA grants, and the bridge at Main and Elm
Mr. Dalessio reported they are working on the bridge at Main and Elm. The concrete must be added gradually. Therefore, the project is taking time.
September 19th Public Informational Meeting: The meeting starts at 5:30 pm in the Town Hall. Ms. Vose will take the lead. Mr. Dalessio will review the new Police building, and Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose will review the Walpole School Withdrawal Study Committee results.
EV Charging Station Break-Even Analysis: This item is tabled until next week.
New Business
Cheshire County EMS Invite: The Board was invited to the inaugural swearing in for the Cheshire County EMS. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 14th at 1:00 pm. All the Board members have other commitments. Mrs. Downing will write a letter stating our appreciation for the invitation, but that the Selectboard was unable to attend.
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 6:55PM. Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.
The meeting was reconvened at 8:14 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 8:14 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
Blessing of the Animals – 10/6/24
THE BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
Sunday, October 6th from 3-4 PM
Walpole Town Common
Bring your pets for a group, then individual blessing, by the pastors of St. John’s (Father Fred Chisolm) and the Walpole UCC (Rev. Richard Malmberg). Blessings for departed pets will also be offered. This is a joyous annual event for folks and pets of all ages.
In thanks for the gift of our animal friends, we will be raising money for Heifer International (a global nonprofit that provides animals and agricultural training to promote sustainable development). Treats for human children will be provided.
Join the celebration!
Book Sale Donations
There’s still time to donate to the Book Sale! The Friends will be open for a few more Wednesdays so hurry on over!
The Walpolean 
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