Tag Archives: Meeting Minutes

Police Station Building Committee Meeting Minutes – 8/10/26

Police Building Committee, Police Dept 08/17/2026 Leave a comment

POLICE STATION BUILDING COMMITTEE

Meeting Minutes

August 10, 2026

Steve Dalessio called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm in the Selectboard Office. Present were Andrew Dey, Cheri Watson, Trevor MacLachlan, Jay Punt, Chief Justin Sanctuary and Peggy Pschirrer.

The Committee reviewed the final floor plan of the proposed new Police Station.  All agree that if the building were to be built tomorrow, they would be happy with results.  

Both Trevor MacLachlan and Andrew Dey reviewed the detailed cost estimates.  The Committee discussed potential cuts to the proposed budget.  Granite curbing will be limited to the front of the building. Cost of siding will be reviewed.

Mr. Dalessio reminded the Committee of the public informational meeting to be held Saturday, August 15 at 10 am in Town Hall.  The Special Meeting is scheduled for August 17, 2026, at 7:00 pm in Town Hall.  Jack Wozmak, Town Moderator, will conduct the meeting as he does every Town Meeting.  The only agenda is whether the Town will vote to accept a three-million-dollar bond for construction of the new station.  Voters will register as they do at any Town Meeting.  Bond issues require a 3/5 vote to pass – or 60% of the voters present and voting.  The Committee will meet briefly at the end of the Special Meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm.

Police Station Bond Information Meeting Minutes – 8/15/26

Police Building Committee, Police Dept 08/17/2026 Leave a comment

[Editor’s Note: The Selectboard has requested a Special Town Meeting that will be held tonight, August 17, 2026 at 7:00 pm in Town Hall, for the purpose of approving a Municipal bond of $3,000,000 to build the new police station. Walpole residents are encouraged to attend.]

Town of Walpole, New Hampshire Information Meeting

New Police Station Bond

AUGUST 15, 2026

Selectboard Present: Steven Dalessio, Chair; Carolyn Vose and Cheryl Mayberry

Staff Present: Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Public Present: Sign in Sheet Attached to Official Minutes in Selectboard Office

Call to Order: Ms. Vose called the Information Meeting to order at10:04 AM in the Walpole Town Hall. This is a discussion in preparation for the Special Town Meeting Monday evening, August 17th at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall.

Why do we need a new police station? For the protection of our officers, to provide an adequate work environment, and for efficiency. The discussion bounced around a lot, so rather than chronological minutes, the questions are grouped by topic.

The Building: The Committee has worked on the design of the building for three years. When first presented to the voters, it was larger and would have cost $7,000,000 to build. The Town felt that was too much space and too expensive, so it was back to the drawing board and the frills were removed.

  • The Charlestown Police Station, built in 2010, has a much smaller footprint. What does it not include that we need? They have two stories, but they have less holding space and fewer Sallie ports. When both stories are considered, the Walpole plan is just slightly bigger.
  • Will the Juvenile holding be separate from adults? Yes, there are three one-person cells, one of which can be totally separate from the others, including solid walls and a pull-down shade (similar to what schools have for classroom security).
  • How are we going to prevent vehicles from driving into the building? Although not shown in the rendering, there will be granite boulders between the parking and the building.
  • What is the maximum size of the force that the building is designed for? It is designed to accommodate up to ten officers. We currently have six. It is expected that the building will be adequate for fifty years. There is also space to the north to enlarge the building if needed.

The Police Department: The Department consists of Police Chief Justin Sanctuary and five other officers.

  • How many arrests are there? We have about 100 – 180 arrests per year. However, there are about 400 calls per month. Because currently the only way to detain someone is to handcuff them to the wall, the three holding cells will provide better options for the officers and they will not have to do as much on the side of the road. The holding cells are a much better option.
  • How do we get to see the monthly Police stats? The Police Department prepares the statistics monthly and they are sent to the Walpolean and Clarion, but that doesn’t mean they are published. Moving forward, they will be published on the Police page on the Town website (WalpoleNH.us) – that way the Town can ensure this information is published.
  • Why is the Walpole Police Department so much larger than surrounding towns?
  • If the population is greater than 3,000, the Town is required to have a Police Department. Walpole is the only Town around that has managed to be fully staffed for the last two years. Alstead is now down to one officer, other towns such as Westmoreland and Chesterfield depend on the State Troopers for policing, but the Troopers are also overloaded, and they need to prioritize which calls to respond to, often when the situation has escalated to an emergency.
    • Because of our location, we are easily accessible from Interstate 91 via the two bridges in Walpole, and there is a lot of traffic between Claremont and Keene. All of this means more police calls and more patrols.
    • Our Police handle personal disputes. People don’t talk to each other and work things out, so the Police handle the resolution. This is better than not having issues resolved as in other towns.
  • Why does Walpole respond to calls in other NH towns and in Bellows Falls? Walpole is a member of Mutual Aid (both Fire and Police). When there is an emergency Walpole will respond if requested. The Towns with no Police Department can’t return the favor. However, it works very well with Bellows Falls – Walpole is there about 6 times a week and they help us about 6 times a week, especially when there is no one on duty in Walpole. We do not have enough Officers to cover 24 x 7, and they help us while our officers get to the emergency from their homes.
  • Why do the officers take their cars home, especially when they live outside Walpole – that’s a big expense? We do not have full-time coverage, so when there is an emergency, the officers respond directly from home to the scene. That saves a lot of time over driving their own cars to the police station to get their cruisers to go to the scene.
  • Statistics say that when there are more cops, there is more crime. Actually, the crime is there either way, but it is not being addressed or reported unless there are police officers.

Funding the Construction of a New Police Station: There seems to be a consensus that the current Police Station is not adequate, but there is concern about how a new station will be paid for, and how much it will cost taxpayers.

  • How much will the new Police Station cost and how will it be paid for? The estimate is that the Station will cost about $5,200,000 – the previous estimate is 18 months old. An additional professional estimate is being prepared. At the same time value engineering is starting so the Committee will know which items add the least value. For example, granite curbs all the way around might be replaced by concrete.
  • Walpole has already been approved for a $2,058,000 Federal grant. On Monday night there will be a vote on whether to get a 20-year $3,000,000 bond to build the Police Station. If the bond is accepted, a Police Station will be built on Upper Walpole Road. In addition, checks are arriving almost daily in response to the fundraising request.
  • If the bond is approved, how much will it cost taxpayers? The interest rate on the bond will be released in January. It is likely it will be 3-4% as the current rate is 3.84%. It will be a fixed rate bond, which means the annual expense will decline as it is paid off. If our rate is 3.84%, the impact on taxes would be $0.35 per $1,000 assessed (about $88 on a $250,000 assessed home) in the first year and decline for the remaining years.
  • Someone could build a house that size for $1,000,000, so why is it so much more expensive to build a police station? There are special codes for public buildings, and a police station has additional costs like a separate HVAC system for the area where drugs are processed, walls must be bullet proof, and it will have ballistic glass.
  • Are there special requirements for the grant? The Federal government requires that competitive wages be paid and that we “Buy America – Build America” (i.e. use American made products”), which increases the cost.
  • How can construction costs be controlled? There will be an escalation clause in the contract, and there will be a competitive bid process to build the Police Station.

The Process to Get a New Police Station: The next step is the Special Town Meeting on Monday, 8/17/2026 at 7:00 at Town Hall.

  • What is next? The next step is to attend and vote on Monday.
  • How does the Special Town Meeting work? Just like the Annual Saturday Town Meeting.
  • Can we vote on paper ballots? Typically, the Moderator would call for a voice vote. If there is any question what the outcome is, the Moderator will call for paper Yes/No ballots. Also, if the Moderator is presented with a request signed by five (5) registered voters before the vote, there will be no voice vote, and it would move directly to paper ballots.
  • What if the vote is to approve the bond? The Committee will continue its work finalizing the design details and put the Police Station out for bid. The Selectboard will obtain the Bond.
  • What if the vote fails on Monday? The vote will be back on the ballot in March, but the cost of construction is expected to be higher due to inflation and other factors.

Adjournment: Ms. Vose declared the meeting adjourned at 11:10 AM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the August 20, 2026 Selectboard meeting.)

Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 7/30/26

SELECTBOARD 08/10/2026 Leave a comment

Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Meeting of the Selectboard

July 30, 2026

Selectboard Present: Carolyn Vose, Chair, Cheryl Mayberry, and Steven Dalessio

Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Guests Present: Patrick Kiniry and  Joe DiBernardo, North Walpole Commissioners; and Rose Bolio, North Walpole Village Clerk

Call to Order: Ms. Vose called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

The Non-Public Session was moved to the top of the agenda to accommodate guests.

Non-Public Business RSA 91-A:3 II (b)(c)(e)

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (b)(c)(e) at 6:32 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:40 PM.

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

Mr. Kiniry, Mr. DiBernardo and Ms. Bolio left during the non-public session.

Accounts Payable

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Purchase Order #498248 for $200,184.42 for Arlington Paving Company for summer paving.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Purchase Order #295560 for $500.00 for Hockensmith & Dowd, PC for legal research on the Hooper Institute.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Accounts Payable Check Register totaling $507,029.62 dated 8/4/2026. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and  Ms. Vose in favor, the Accounts Payable was approved. 

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve an ACH request for the Village of Bellows Falls for $89,394.19 for wastewater usage and the sewer bond.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve an ACH request for Health Trust for $49,512.46 for employee health insurance.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Payroll

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $39,538.28 dated 7/31/2026 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,140.99.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, Payroll was approved. 

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Water and Sewer Utility Meeting – July 22, 2026: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Water and Sewer Utility meeting of July 22, 2026. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the minutes were approved.

Selectboard Meeting – July 23, 2026: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of July 23, 2026. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Selectboard minutes were approved.

Non-Public Session Minutes – July 23, 2026: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Session of the Selectboard meeting of July 23, 2026.  The minutes will remain sealed.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Non-Public Session minutes were approved.

Committee Reports

Mr. Dalessio brought to the Board’s attention the following committee reports:

  • Trustees of the Trust Funds Meeting– April 29, 2026 
  • Trustees of the Trust Funds Meeting – July 22, 2026 
  • Trail Committee Meeting – June 2026 
  • Trail Committee Meeting – July 8, 2026 

Ms. Vose acknowledged these minutes.

Water and SEWER WARRANTS

Walpole Water Fees: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the warrant for Walpole Water Fees for $50,806.56. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Walpole Sewer Fees: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the warrant for Walpole Sewer Fees totaling $78,758.36.   Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

North Walpole Sewer Fees: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the warrant for North Walpole Sewer Fees for $60,503.17.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Building and Demolition Permits

2026-27, Map and Lot# 017-008-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Building Permit #2026-27 for Map and Lot # 017-008-000 to construct a 36’ x 30’ attached garage and 16’ x 16’ screened porch. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Old Business

Reservoir Dam Grant Disbursements: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the Reservoir Dam Grant Disbursement for $10,403.48 and for Mr. Dalessio to sign the form. And also, to approve the Reservoir Dam Geant Disbursement for $23,930.26 and for Mr. Dalessio to sign the form.  These are the final two payments on this project.  Ms. Vose seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio and in favor, the motion was approved, and the forms were signed.

New Business

Primex Return of Surplus: Primex will return a surplus of $4,711.00 from the 2025 liability and Workers’ Compensation coverage.  Ms. Wight has requested a refund check.  Ms. Vose acknowledged that Primex is returning the premium overpayment.

Adjournment: Ms. Vose declared the meeting adjourned at 7:53 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the August 6, 2026 Selectboard meeting.)

Water and Sewer Meeting Minutes – 7/22/26

Uncategorized 08/01/2026 Leave a comment

Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Water and Sewer Meeting

July 22, 2026

Selectboard Present: Carolyn Vose, Chair, Cheryl Mayberry, and Steven Dalessio

Staff Present: Mark Houghton, Jodi Daigle, Jenna Rzasa of Tata and Howard, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Call to Order: Ms. Vose called the Water and Sewer meeting to order at 5:00 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

Review of Current Open Projects – Mark Houghton

Wells: The rehab of the River Well planned for 2026 could have started last week, but it was postponed until later.  Given the boil water order now in effect, it is good the well is not down for repairs.  The well will be cleaned and rebuilt. 

Sewer Pump Stations: The ARPA Grant was used for new generators for each of the pump stations and the Watkins Hill well.  The old generator from Watkins Hill, which was too small, has been installed at Town Hall so there is now emergency power. It is not large enough to run the air conditioners.

Other Active Infrastructure Projects: 

Mr. Houghton reported that two pumps are out of service and waiting for seals. It is about six months wait for the parts delivery. The pumps are old and need to be replaced so that the system can be more reliable, but they are expensive.

The meters need to be updated to the new meters which can send readings via cellular.  It will eliminate meter reading eventually when everyone is switched.  Again, the new meters will be phased in because of funding limitations.

Today water tested straight from Watkins Hill well tested positive for E. coli. But, once the water was treated, it tested negatively.  However, any positive test means there must be a boil water order until the water tests negative twice.  This well is very near the stream which is all black from the recent heavy rains.  Mr. Houghton noted that this is only the second time in the history of Walpole water that there has been a boil water order.  The other time was 2005, right after the flooding.

This led to a discussion of funds available for infrastructure.  Ms. Mayberry needs to review and sort out the Water and Sewer finances because there are some numbers that look strange in the historical data.  Finance reports were provided for the meeting.  Mr. Houghton also requested quarterly reports going forward.

Ms. Rzasa reviewed the presentation she did a year ago for water recommending rate increases.  The increases are needed if the water-sewer department is applying for grants for future work, to start planning for future infrastructure needs, and to be consistent with state water rate recommendations.

Mr. Houghton asked if Ms. Rzasa is available to prepare a comparable report for sewer.  Part of the work would be negotiating with Bellows Falls to set sewer rates that will work for both systems.  Ms. Rzasa will create an estimate and get back to Mr. Houghton.

New Water Rates

Mr. Dalessio moved to change the residential base rates (for the first 500 cubic feet per quarter) to:

Service size (inches)Charge ($/quarter)
¾ inch$40.00
1 inch$82.50
1 ½ inch$200.00
2 inch$350.00
Water usage over 500 cubic feet per quarter will be billed at $0.08 per cubic feet.

Ms. Mayberry seconded the motion.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor the motion passed.

Mr. Dalessio moved to change the commercial base rates (for the first 500 cubic feet per quarter) to:

Service size (inches)Charge ($/quarter)
¾ inch$55.00
1 inch$110.00
1 ½ inch$200.00
2 inch$350.00
3 inch$400.00
Water usage over 500 cubic feet per quarter will be billed at $0.11 per cubic feet.

Ms. Mayberry seconded the motion.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor the motion passed.

Action Items

  • Ms. Rzasa will prepare an estimate to do an analysis similar to the water project but for sewer.  This will include negotiating with Bellows Falls.
  • The new water rates will be applied to the third quarter of 2026 bills.  The bills for the second quarter are currently being printed.
  • Ms. Mayberry will review the financial records for the infrastructure for Water and Sewer and let Mr. Houghton know how much is currently available.
  • Ms. Mayberry will have Finance start preparing quarterly reports for Mr. Houghton.
  • Mr. Houghton wants to be sure that calculations for affordability include both water and sewer when sewer rate increases are calculated.
  • Once Ms. Rzasa has recommendations for sewer rates, the group will reconvene and determine new sewer rates.

Adjournment: Ms. Vose declared the meeting adjourned at 6:34 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the July 30, 2026 Selectboard meeting.)

Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 7/23/26

SELECTBOARD 07/31/2026 Leave a comment

Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Meeting of the Selectboard

July 23, 2026

Selectboard Present: Carolyn Vose, Chair, Cheryl Mayberry, and Steven Dalessio

Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Guests Present: Tara Sad

Call to Order: Ms. Vose called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

The River Valley Seniors at Home was moved to the top of the agenda to accommodate a guest who wished to speak about the topic.

River Valley Seniors at Home

Ms. Sad said The River Valley Seniors at Home (RVSAH) had a “Welcome to Walpole Festival” four years ago. They are considering hosting it again this year. A date in October will be confirmed with the Board of Directors and scheduled with the Selectboard Office. The start and end times have yet to be determined.  There will be a band, games, pies, and fall decorations.  All non-profits will be invited.  Ms. Sad would like to invite the Police Dept., Walpole Fire and EMS, and Hooper Institute to participate.  RVSAH would need the use of the gazebo, electricity, tables, chairs, trash cans and trash removal.  At this point, Ms. Sad is seeking approval to move forward and to invite the Town organizations.  By consensus, the Selectboard thinks they should move forward with their plans.

In the fall, River Valley Seniors at Home (RVSAH) will host a focus group in Town Hall to ask what seniors need that they are not getting.  The focus groups will also be held in the surrounding towns with the goal of helping RVSAH understand and address the unmet needs.

Ms. Sad left the meeting.

Accounts Payable

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Overpayment/Refund voucher totaling $1.00 to Fall Mountain Regional School District because they sent a check for the wrong amount. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor. the voucher was approved. 

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the ACH payment request totaling $50,830.87 related to the Fanny Mason Timber Harvest. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the ACH was approved. 

Ms. Vose noted that when the 2026 budget was developed, it was assumed that Meals on Wheels from the Bellow Falls Senior Center would continue to feed North Walpole residents.  That did not happen because of federal/state fund restrictions. Instead, Fall Mountain Food Shelf and Friendly Meals deliver meals to North Walpole residents.  The question was raised whether the budgeted amount should still be donated to Bellow Falls Senior Center.  By consensus, the Board agreed to send the $3,000 check to the Bellow Falls Senior Center as approved in the 2026 budget.

Payroll

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $40,404.19 dated 7/24/2026 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,437.28.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Payroll was approved. 

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Selectboard Meeting – July 15, 2026: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of July 15, 2026.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Selectboard minutes were approved.

Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – July 15, 2026: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of July 15, 2026.  The minutes will remain sealed.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Non-Public minutes were approved.

Committee Reports

Mr. Dalessio brought to the chair’s attention the following committee reports:

  • Supervisors of the Checklist Meeting– July 8, 2026
  • Police Station Building Committee Meeting – July 13, 2026
  • Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting – July 15, 2026

Ms. Vose acknowledged these minutes.

Property Tax Refunds

Map and Lot # 011-049-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Tax Refund for Map and Lot # 011-049-000 and a refund of $95.00 because of overpayment of the spring tax bill.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Map and Lot 008-022-001: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Tax Refund for Map and Lot 008-022-001 and a refund of $3,789.00 because of overpayment of the spring tax bill.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Map and Lot # 020-028-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Tax Refund for Map and Lot # 020-028-000 and a refund of $3,821.00 because of overpayment of the spring tax bill.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Map and Lot # 028-141-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Tax Refund for Map and Lot # 028-141-000 and a refund of $540.00 because of overpayment of the spring tax bill.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Map and Lot # 009-023-003: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Tax Refund for Map and Lot # 009-023-003 and a refund of $152.00 because of overpayment of the spring tax bill.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Timber Intents

Map and Lot # 004-027-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Timber Intent for Map and Lot # 004-027-000, off Rt. 12.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Map and Lots # 003-084-000, 003-084-002, 003-084-003, and 003-084-004: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Timber Intent for Map and Lots # 003-084-000, 003-084-002, 003-084-003, and 003-084-004, off Scovill Road.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Map and Lot # 009-012-002: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Timber Intent for Map and Lot # 009-012-002, off March Hill Road.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Building Permit

2026-25, Map and Lot# 012-050-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Building Permit #2026-25 for Map and Lot # 012-050-000 to construct an 8’ x 40’ covered porch/deck. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Old Business

High Street Culvert/Bridge Repair:  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve and have the Chair sign the Agents Authorization Form.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the form was approved and signed by Ms. Vose.

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve and have the Chair sign the Wetland Permit Application.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the application was approved and signed by Ms. Vose.

New Business

Water-Sewer Users Email Notification List: There have been requests for email notifications since the boil water notice was posted.  The Town needs a way to send email blasts to residents for water issues, road closures, etc.  Highway is doing a Facebook page.  We want to email and send texts.  In the future, boil water messages should specify that private wells are not impacted.  Ms. Vose will look at applications and make a recommendation.

In Person Staff Meeting: The In Person Staff Meeting on August 20th will focus on Department succession plans and budget preparation:

  1. All Departments need to submit succession plans to their liaison by 8/14/206.  The plans will be shared with the whole Selectboard for recommendations and questions during the 8/20 meeting. 
  2. In preparation for budgets, Ms. Wight will prepare reports for all Departments by 9/2.   The reports will include all the August transactions posted so they can be used to prepare 2026 budgets.  These budgets must be submitted to Ms. Wight by 9/10 so that she can consolidate the data for the Selectboard to use at their 9/18 budget meeting.

Letter of Deficiency for Hubbard Farms: The temperature monitoring process in the EU01 incinerator needs to be corrected at the Pomeroy Farm location.  Ms. Vose acknowledged the notice from NHDES.

New Police Station Bond Informational Meeting: There will be an additional information meeting on the new Police Station bond on Saturday, August 15 at 10:00 AM in the Town Hall.  This will be another opportunity for Walpole residents to learn about the new Police Station and have their questions answered before the vote.  The Special Town Meeting to vote on a bond for the New Police Station will be at 7:00 PM on Monday August 17, 2026 in the Town Hall.

Non-Public Business RSA 91-A:3 II (b)(e)

Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (b)(e) at 7:15 PM.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:30 PM.

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

Adjournment: Ms. Vose declared the meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the July 30, 2026 Selectboard meeting.)

Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 7/15/26

SELECTBOARD 07/24/2026 Leave a comment

Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Meeting of the Selectboard

July 15, 2026

Selectboard Present: Carolyn Vose, Chair, Cheryl Mayberry, and Steven Dalessio

Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Guests Present: Diane Harty, Moe Harty, Kaian Wilkes, Recreation Director; Lauria Smith, Marshall McGuirk, Ashley Adams, Erinn Richardson, and Simon Gascoyne, Health Officer

Call to Order: Ms. Vose called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:37 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

The following was moved to the top of the agenda to accommodate guests.

Donation to the North Walpole Park

When the donation was first mentioned to Mr. and Mrs. Harty, it was described as “maybe enough for a bench”.  The donation was $5,000.  Ms. Mayberry explained that all donations to the Town become part of the public funds. However, the money can be earmarked for the North Walpole Park and held in the Recreation Revolving Fund.  Ms. Mayberry will be sure it ends up in the right fund, and it is correctly recorded for the North Walpole Park.  Mr. and Mrs. Harty would like to form a committee of community members to determine what is needed. The Selectboard asked that the committee include a variety of interests and local businesses.  The committee will also do some fundraising.  One thought is to create a pickleball court.  Ms. Mayberry suggested looking into grants which are relatively easy to find for healthy outdoor activity.  The Selectboard also reminded Mr. and Mrs. Harty to keep the North Walpole Commissioners aware of their progress.

Mr. and Mrs. Harty left the meeting.

The Non-Public session was moved to the top of the agenda to accommodate guests.

Non-Public Business RSA 91-A:3 II (a)

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (c) at 6:49 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:37 PM.

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

Mr. Wilkes left the meeting during the Non-Public session.

Old Business

This item of Old Business was moved up on the agenda to accommodate guests who wished to speak to a specific agenda item.

167 Valley Road re: Mobile Home Permit: Marshall McGuirk and Lauria Smith, co-Trustees of the Elisse McGuirk Trust, wished to discuss the short-term permit and grey water issues with the RV. Marshall McGuirk read a letter explaining the issues from the Trust’s point of view.  The letter is attached to the official copy of the minutes.  Dr. Simon Gascoyne, Health Officer, was contacted by the State.  He talked to Mark McGuirk about wastewater from the RV.  When he visited the RV, the grey water was collected in a bucket and dumped into an old septic system installed in 1950s for the slaughterhouse.  Ms. Vose acknowledged that the Selectboard lacked knowledge of the situation with the McGuirk Trust. Therefore, the Board accepted the information provided by Mark McGuirk on June 25, 2026. Mr. Dalessio moved to rescind the previous decision of June 25th permitting Mark McGuirk to live in an RV until November 1st on the property owned by the McGuirk Trust.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Mr. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion passed.  The previous short-term permit is rescinded.

Dr. Gascoyne, Ms. Richardson, Ms. Smith, Mr. McGuirk and Ms. Adams left the meeting.

Non-Public Business RSA 91-A:3 II (c) (e)

Ms. Mayberry  moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (c) at 8:12 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 8:30 PM.

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

Accounts Payable

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Purchase Order# 498240 totaling $72,591.00 to Grappone Ford for the purchase of a one-ton 2026 Ford F-600 truck as approved at 2026 Town Meeting, Warrant Article #7. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Purchase Order was approved. This is the cabin and chassis only.  The vehicle will be sent out for wiring.

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Purchase Order# 256813 totaling $38,596.00 to Recycling Mechanical for the purchase of a new compactor.  This purchase was approved at the 2026 Town Meeting under Warrant Article # 11. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Purchase Order was approved. There will still be an EE Houghton bill to hook up the electricity.

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Accounts Payable Check Register totaling $277,053.60 dated 7/21/2026 and an ACH payment of $31,714.38 payment to NH Retirement System. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Accounts Payable was approved. 

Payroll

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $41,981.32 dated 7/17/2026 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,700.27.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, Payroll was approved. 

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Public Hearings for the New Police Station Bond and Budget – July 1, 2026: A request was received to amend the minutes, to add more detail regarding an August meeting.  The Selectboard discussed the request and noted the concern about attendance at an August meeting. The Board agreed by consensus that the minutes stand as they are.

Selectboard Meeting – July 9, 2026: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of July 9, 2026.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and  Ms. Vose in favor, the Selectboard minutes were approved.

Selectboard Meeting Non-Public Session – July 9, 2026: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard Meeting Non-Public Session of July 9, 2026.  The minutes will remain sealed.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Non-Public Session minutes were approved.

Building and Demolition Permits

2026-22, Map and Lot# 019-033-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Building Permit # 2026-22 for Map and Lot # 019-033-000 to construct a 30’ x 3.5’ addition to an existing structure. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor,  the motion was approved.

2026-23, Map and Lot# 025-006-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Building Permit # 2026-23 for Map and Lot # 025-006-000 to construct a 16’ x 16’ deck on the back of the house. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor,  the motion was approved.

2026-24, Map and Lot# 024-038-001: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Building Permit # 2620-24 for Map and Lot # 024-038-001 to construct a 5,855 sq, ft, addition to the Fire Station.  Part of this is a rework of the existing building. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor,  the motion was approved.

Old Business

Ruggiero Processing Facility’s DES Approval Notice: The Town has received the NH DES Response to Public Comments, the Type I-A Modification to Solid Waste Facility Permit, and the Approval of Increase in Capacity ad Facility Site Improvements.  This is an increase in capacity from 240 to 800 maximum tons daily of municipal, construction/demolition debris and recyclable materials.  Ms. Vose acknowledged the documents from NH DES. 

New Business

Thank You Letter: A letter was received from River Valley Seniors at Home, thanking the Town for a budgeted donation. Ms. Vose acknowledged the letter.

Hooper Trustees

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into the Hooper Trustees meeting at 8:48 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 8:54 PM.

Non-Public Business RSA 91-A:3 II (b)

Mr. Dalessio moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (c) at 8:54 PM.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 9:13 PM.

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

Adjournment:  Ms. Vose declared the meeting adjourned at 9:13 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the July 23, 2026 Selectboard meeting.)

Police Station Building Committee Meeting Minutes – 7/13/26

Police Building Committee, Police Dept 07/17/2026 Leave a comment

POLICE STATION BUILDING COMMITTEE

Minutes of July 13, 2026

Steve Dalessio called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm in the Selectboard Office. Present were Andrew Dey, Trevor MacLachan, Jay Punt, Cheri Watson, Chief Justin Sanctuary and Peggy Pschirrer.

Trevor MacLachlan moved the minutes of June 29, 2026, be approved; Cheri Watson seconded the motion, and the minutes were approved unanimously.

Ms. Pschirrer distributed letters addressed to local Walpole citizens and business. She asked that committee members sign and write a message on each letter.  The letters will be folded, put in an addressed envelope which will include a return envelope and be mailed tomorrow, July 14th.

Mr. Dalessio distributed the newest drawings of the police station which illustrate the changes within the building and the addition to a covered entry in the front of the building. The training room will be accessed from the lobby.  The officers’ work room has been moved and the entry to the mechanicals’ room will be at the front of the building.  There will be no storage space in the overhead mechanicals room.  This new drawing will be displayed with the Town for residents to see the proposed changes.  The size of the building is unchanged.

The committee discussed the location of a dumpster and the location of a tower which will be built on a pad at the back of the building.

The Special Town Meeting to request the approval of a three-million-dollar bond will be held August 17, 2026, at 7:00 pm in Town Hall.  The Selectboard and Sarah Downing are working with the Bond Attorney Renelle L’Huillier of Devine Millimet, to meet all the requirements of an application for a municipal bond for twenty years. Applications for the Bond market are due in October for a purchase of a bond in January 2027.  Bonds are also available for thirty years.

During the last public meeting, someone ask if absentee ballots would be distributed.  The answer is “no”. Absentee ballots for any annual meeting or special meeting are not legal because the warrants under consideration may be amended during a meeting, thus nullifying any absentee ballot.  

Rena Peck of USDA in NH has asked that the Town arrange a meeting with her to begin the process of accessing the federal grant we have been awarded.  We will meet as soon as possible.

Ms. Pschirrer agreed to call Mike Hubbard’s landscaping service to request he mow the Lot on Upper Walpole Road where the police station will be built.

The committee discussed the need for a construction manager (CM); Mr. Dey has sent the group a list of potential CMs.  An RFP will be prepared for distribution.

A review meeting is scheduled for July 16, 2026, at 2:00 pm with Black River Design. Mr. Dalessio will circulate the web site; anyone may attend.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held in the Selectboard Office on August 10th at 6:30pm.

Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 7/9/26

SELECTBOARD 07/17/2026 Leave a comment

Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Meeting of the Selectboard

July 9, 2026

Selectboard Present: Carolyn Vose, Chair, Cheryl Mayberry, and Steven Dalessio

Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Guests Present: Jane Malmberg, Library Director and Steve Varone, Treasurer

Call to Order: Ms. Vose called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

The Non-Public session was moved to the top of the agenda to accommodate a guest.

Non-Public Business RSA 91-A:3 II (a)(c)

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

The meeting was reconvened at 6:52 PM.

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

Mrs. Malmberg left during the Non-Public meeting.  Mr. Varone joined the meeting.

Estimating the Impact of the Police Station Bond

Mr. Dalessio commented that the rate has not been set for the Police Station bond that will be voted upon at the August 17th Special Meeting.  However, people need to know the impact on their taxes so they can decide how to vote.  Mr. Varone explained that to estimate the impact, if the Town assumes the rate will be 4.5%, the current rate, on a bond of $3,000,000 maximum for twenty years, the increase in taxes would be $30 per $100,000 assessed value.  Mr. Dalessio and Mr. Varone each calculated the same estimate using different methods.

Walpole Credit Card: Mr. Varone is reviewing Town departmental credit cards.  American Express offers a card with 2% back with no monthly fees. The Town pays off the bill each month, which is required with Amex.  Multiple credit cards with limits totaling $25,000 would be available.  Credit cards would be very useful at times when expenses are due before income is available. Additionally, using the card would be a monthly source of income with the cash back benefit.  Mr. Varone is waiting to hear from Wells Fargo before deciding on a specific credit card vendor.

Mr. Varone left the meeting.

Accounts Payable

Mr. Dalessio moved to not approve the ACH payment of $70,896.00 to Cambridge Trust for the Walpole School Reserve Fund because the amount does not match the Warrant Article. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Accounts Payable was not approved.  The check from Fall Mountain Regional School District (FMRSD) is $1 more than the district’s warrant article. The check must be sent back to FMRSD.  Ms. Mayberry commented that there was no documentation with the check.

Payroll

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $42,021.82 dated 7/10/2026 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,589.20.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Payroll was approved. 

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Public Hearing for the New Police Station Bond – July 1, 2026: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Public Hearing for the New Police Station Bond of July 1, 2026. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Bond Hearing minutes were approved.

Public Hearing for the New Police Station Budget – July 1, 2026: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Public Hearing for the New Police Station Budget of July 1, 2026. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Budget Hearing minutes were approved.

Selectboard Meeting – July 1, 2026: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of July 1, 2026. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Selectboard minutes were approved.

Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – July 1, 2026:  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of July 1, 2026.  The minutes will remain sealed.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Non-Public minutes were approved.

Committee Reports

Mr. Dalessio brought to the chair’s attention the following committee reports:

  • Conservation Commission Meeting – July 6, 2026

Ms. Vose acknowledged these minutes.

Timber Yield Taxes Assessed and Warrant

Op# 25-461-08, Map and Lot # 010-034-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the taxes assessed and warrant for $18.14 for Timber Op# 25-461-08.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Building and Demolition Permits

2026-20, Map and Lot# 017-017-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Building Permit #2026-20 for Map and Lot # 017-017-000 to construct a 24’ x 24’ detached one story garage. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

2026-21, Map and Lot# 003-008-000: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve Demolition Permit #2026-21 for Map and Lot # 003-008-000 to remove a 22’ x 25’ garage. Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the motion was approved.

Old Business

Warrant Article for Special Town Meeting: Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Warrant Article to vote on a bond not to exceed $3,000,000 for construction of the new Police Station.  The article will be voted on at the Special Town Meeting on August 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the Warrant Article for the Special Town Meeting was approved and signed.  

Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the True and Attest Notice.  Ms. Mayberry seconded.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Ms. Vose in favor, the True and Attest Notice was approved and signed.

The signed Warrants and MS-636 for the meeting will be posted Monday, July 13, 2026 at the locations listed in the Warrant.

Open Container Letter to Walpole Fire and EMS: Ms. Mayberry moved to approve the open container letter for the Walpole Fire and EMS lunch event on August 1st at Whitcomb Park.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Vose in favor, the letter was approved and signed.  

Clarion Questions: Mr. Boas has questions on two topics that need to be included in the August issue of the Clarion:

  • The Special Meeting on August 17th and the impact of the bond, if approved, on the taxes:  The above discussion will be made available to Mr. Boas.
  • The FMRSD approach to the North Walpole School: Ms. Mayberry will put Mr. Boas in touch with the North Walpole Commissioners. 

New Business

Cybersecurity Training: There will be cybersecurity training at FMRHS on July 20th.  The Town is invited to participate.  Ms. Vose is not attending. Ms. Mayberry will attend.

Employee Appreciation Lunch: The suggested date is Tuesday, September 22nd.  The proposed menu is lasagna with gluten-free and vegetarian options.  Brad Nash has offered to prepare the main course.  Ms. Vose is not available because she will miss work on September 8th also. Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio will attend.

Election September 8, 2026: There will be an election on Tuesday, September 8th.  Because Labor Day is Monday, September 7th, the election will be set up on Friday, September 4th.

Dunk Tank Fundraiser: The Summer Festival at Alyson’s Orchard will be July 18th and will include a dunk tank.  The organizers are hoping to have local celebrity volunteers to be “dunked”.  Proceeds from the dunk tank will go to the Fall Mountain Food Shelf.  Ms. Vose will volunteer.  Mrs. Downing will have Alyson’s contact Ms. Vose directly to work out the details.

Adjournment: Ms. Vose declared the meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Selectboard meeting.)

Police Station Budget Public Hearing Minutes – 7/1/26

SELECTBOARD 07/11/2026 Leave a comment

Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Public Hearing

New Police Station Budget

July 1, 2026

Selectboard Present: Carolyn Vose, Chair; Cheryl Mayberry and Steven Dalessio

Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Police Station Committee Present: Steve Dalessio, Trevor MacLachain, Peggy Pschirrer; Justin Sanctuary, Police Chief, and Cheri Watson.

Public Present: 31 residents (sign-in attached to official record of the meeting)

Call to Order: Ms. Vose called the Public Hearing to order at 6:34 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

Pursuant to RSA 32:5.1, the Selectboard held a public budget hearing to discuss the Town’s proposed budget for the August 17, 2026 Special Meeting.

Detailed estimate reports were available showing the costs of materials for the Police Station.  

There was a question about the rate of the bond if approved.  Mr. Dalessio explained that the State has not yet released the bond rate, but it is expected soon.  It will be available before the August 17th meeting.  Once the Town has that information we can determine the impact on property taxes.  The information will be made available as soon as possible.

There was a question about how to avoid the same year delay that the Fire Station Expansion Project experienced.  The Police Station Committee is working with and learning from the Fire District‘s experiences.  The Town is already processing the documents and forms that caused delays for the Fire Station Expansion Project.

Adjournment: There being no more questions or discussion, Ms. Vose declared the meeting adjourned at 6:40 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Police Station Bond Public Hearing Minutes – 7/1/26

SELECTBOARD 07/11/2026 Leave a comment

Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Public Hearing

New Police Station Bond

July 1, 2026

Selectboard Present: Carolyn Vose, Chair; Steven Dalessio and Cheryl Mayberry (arrived late)

Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Police Station Committee Present: Steve Dalessio, Trevor MacLachain, Peggy Pschirrer, Justin Sanctuary (Police Chief), and Cheri Watson.

Public Present: 31 residents (sign-in attached to official record of the meeting)

Call to Order: Ms. Vose called the Public Hearing to order at 6:00 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

Pursuant to RSA 33:8-a,1, the Selectboard of the Town of Walpole held a public bond hearing to discuss the proposed issuance of a bond in the amount of $3,000,000 to finance the construction of a new Police facility.  The bond issue will be voted on at the special meeting on August 17, 2026.

Mr. Dalessio presented a summary of the process to date and then answered questions with the rest of the Committee that were in attendance.  This design is about $2,000,000 less than the initial one that people felt was more than what the Town requires.  Chief Sanctuary said he feels that this design meets all their current and foreseeable needs.  Some of the spaces have dual purposes to help control costs. For example, the three holding cells could also be used for interrogation since each will house only one person.  There are some final tweaks to the design being done such as the roofline. It will be simplified to make the attic a more effective space for the utilities.  The design will be finalized before the August 17th Special Meeting.  Only those doors and windows that need to be ballistic will be.  The total price includes furniture.  The building will be 5,700 sq. ft. including the four drive through sally ports.  The new facility includes space to continue cybercrime work.  Robbie Mahrou argued for a larger building because the Town is being asked to pay for this construction and should not be asked to enlarge the facility in 25 or 50 years.  Others in attendance disagreed and said that was clearly not what the Town wanted as shown from feedback given at the first information session.

There was a question about absentee ballots for voters not able to attend the Town Meeting in August.  There is no process for absentee ballots for Town Meetings.  Personal priorities will control who is here to vote.  Ms. Vose commented that the number of attendees is also an issue for Town Meetings in March. Many residents go south for the winter.  Mr. Dalessio commented that if the bond vote is pushed out to March, the project will be delayed for a year. Additionally, costs will rise significantly, and the Town will lose the first year of the USDA grant.

Adjournment: Ms. Vose declared the meeting adjourned at 6:34 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary