Tag Archives: Police Building

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

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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.

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

Police Station Building Committee Meeting Minutes – 6/15/26

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Police Station Building Committee Minutes

June 15, 2026

Steve Dalessio called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm in the Selectboard Office.  Present were Officers Roger Landry and Josh Merkle, Trevor MacLachlan, Andrew Dey, Cheri Watson, and Peggy Pschirrer.  Jay Punt was absent.

Black River Architects have approved minor changes to the contract.

After conversations with Mr. Dalessio, Mrs. Pschirrer and Chief Sanctuary, Black River has prepared three options for the size and layout of the proposed police station.  The Committee reviewed all three options and focused on option three, which has slightly larger sally ports, some offices changed in location, and secure gates to the back parking lots. The sally ports will have drainage. Option three also has a staircase to an upper area for mechanicals. Mr. Dey suggested the space for mechanicals will need to be insulated.   A suggestion from the group is to change a storage area on the main floor, to the opposite side of the building to add an exit to the parking lot. Individuals who have been brought in for any reason need to be able to leave the building without going through the public entry.

Black River architects will visit the current police station on Thursday, June 20. They have already contacted Liberty Utilities and will contact Houghton’s about water/sewer lines. 

Black River will meet with Steve Dalessio, Chief Sanctuary and Peggy Pschirrer online on July 2 at 2:00 pm. Anyone may join that review/discussion.

Officers Merkel and Landry expressed some concern about how the police will leave the site for calls. 

Walpole’s request for a Special Meeting with Bond and Budget Hearings was approved by the Superior Court.  Notices have been posted.  Hearings will be held to discuss the bond and budget on July 1st at 6 pm at the Town Hall.  The Special Meeting is scheduled for August 17th at 7 pm at the Town Hall.

The Committee discussed the need to hire a construction manager as well as an owner’s representative.

Fundraising materials are being prepared which will include letters to residents as well as local businesses.  Each letter will have an envelope addressed to the Town for contributions to the construction of the new station.

The next meeting of the Committee will be June 29, 2026, at 6:30 pm in the Selectboard Office.

Police Station Building Committee Meeting Minutes – 5/11/26

Police Building Committee, Uncategorized 06/03/2026 Leave a comment

Police Station Building Committee Minutes

May 11, 2026

Steve Dalessio called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm at the Hooper Institute. Also present were Cheri Watson, Trevor MaLachlan, Jay Punt, Chief Justin Sanctury, Andrew Dey, and Peggy Pschirrer.

The Committee reviewed and approved the contract with Black River Design Architects, PLC.  It was agreed that weekly meetings would be held with Chief Jutin Sanctuary, Mr. Dalessio, and Black River, preferably scheduled for an afternoon, on Thursdays. Chief Sanctuary will be our primary contact with Black River.  It was also agreed that the design changes would be made available in August if the petition for a special Town Meeting is approved by the court.

Mr. Dalessio distributed an outline of fundraising techniques as well as drafts of AI generated fundraising letters.  Ms. Watson has also drafted fundraising letters for local businesses and residents.  Ms. Pschirrer suggested a return envelope be inserted in each letter which will have a suggested gift amount as well as the name of and address of the donor. The envelope will be returned to the Town of Walpole to the attention of Sarah Downing who will be overseeing the fundraising tracking efforts.  It was also suggested we provide a QR code tied to a website at Town Hall for future gifts.

We have verbally been told we have received a federal grant from USDA; Rena Peck is our USDA contact.  The USDA office is minimally staffed. Although we have some information about the grant and its requirements, we are yet to receive everything we need to access the funds.  Our local fundraising the federal grant and a municipal bond of three million dollars are essential to our successful building of a new police station.

Our next meeting will be June 15, 2026.

The meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.

Peggy Pschirrer recorded these minutes.

Police Building Committee Meeting Minutes – 2/18/26

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Police Station Building Committee Minutes

February 18, 2026

The Police Building Committee was called to order in the Walpole Town Hall at 6:30 pm by Peggy Pschirrer.  Present in person were Steve Dalessio, Jay Punt, Andrew Dey, Chief Justin Sanctuary, and Zoom, Cheri Watson and Trevor MacLachlan.

Mr. Dalessio distributed a list of the architects/engineering companies who had indicated they are interested in submitting a proposal for the new Police Station.  The deadline for proposals is February 27, 2026. The Committee will meet on March 3 at Town Hall to review the proposals.

The Committee agreed that a construction manager should be sought before the owner’s representative.

Mr. Dalessio will contact Rena Peck to discuss our USDA grant and its requirements.

Chief Justin Sanctuary has created stationery for the Committee to use in its fundraising which will not begin before the middle of April.  The Committee has made suggestions for changes in the stationery.  

Attorney Hockensmith has drafted an appeal for a special Town Meeting to present a warrant to the voters authorizing the purchase of a bond for the construction of a new police building.

The next meeting of the Committee will be March 3, 2026, at Town Hall to review the proposals from architects and engineers.

Police Building Committee Meeting Minutes – 1/21/26

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Police Building Committee Minutes

January 21, 2026

Peggy Pschirrer, Interim Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm in the Hooper Institute.  Present were Steve Dalessio, Trevor Macclachlan, Jay Punt, Cheri Watson, and Andrew Dey.  David Adams was not present because we could not establish a Zoom link.

Mr. Dalessio discussed his conversation with Rena Peck who works for the USDA in New Hampshire.  He clarified the misunderstanding that the recent allocation of a Congressional grant from the office of Senator Jean Shaheen is for the new police building, not the Walpole Fire House.  Our Congressional Grant is $200,058,000.  Ms. Peck indicated she would be back in touch with us in February.  The NH Office of USDA is very short staffed.

Ms. Pschirrer observed that the grant, which was written by Nancy Merill, was written for a larger building than we are now planning to build. We need to correct the size and the cost.  Ms. Pschirrer will contact our Grant Writer to make the appropriate changes.  These changes were made after a public meeting in September when it was clear the public supports our need for a new station but asks that it be smaller and less expensive.

Mr. Dey has mailed RFP’s requesting bids from Architects and Engineers. He has begun to receive inquiries as has Mr. Dalessio.  The deadline for bids is February 27.  The RFP will be published in the Keene Sentinel as well as the monthly Shopper.  Ms. Pschirrer will work with Sarah Downing to publish the RFP Andrew Dey will write for publication.

Ms. Pschirrer discussed the Bond Municipal Bond Schedule: there are two dates for Municipal Bonds- January and July.  We have missed January 2026 but could consider July 2026 which would require a Town Warrant on the agenda of Town Meeting March 14, 2026.  The Committee after discussion agreed it would be better for Walpole to have a special Town Meeting in the Fall and to work toward the October 2026 deadlines for buying a municipal bond in January 2027. Ms. Pschirrer will contact Attorney Renelle L’Huillier who worked with us to secure a Bond for Broadband installation.  That Bond is not considered debt.  The NH legislation allowed towns to buy the bonds debt free to encourage the construction of broadband.  Walpole’s contract with Constellation ensures that every user of their services pays a small monthly fee which goes toward payment of the bond.

Police Building Committee Meeting Minutes – 1/6/26

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Police Building Committee Minutes

January 6, 2026

Peggy Pschirrer called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm in Walpole Town Hall.

Present were Steve Dalessio, Andrew Dey, Jay Punt, Chief of Police Justin Sanctuary, and by Zoom, Cheri Watson, David Adams and Trevor MacLachlan.

The Raffle for a framed copy of a Howard Hill picture of the Walpole Village Store had a drawing on December 18. The successful ticket for the drawing was purchased by Sarah Waterman. There were several generous gifts in lieu of buying raffle tickets. We took in $21,975.00 dollars. Robin Sanctuary who managed the raffle will be reimbursed $1,550 for handling the copies of Howard Hills painting. The Walpole Police Benevolent Association served as the agent for the raffle.

Andrew Dey reviewed the RFP he had drafted for Architects and Engineers. With minor adjustments, the Committee agreed the RFP should be circulated within the next few weeks. Further, the Committee agreed to seek a Construction Manager without undue delay. Rod Bouchard has prepared the RFP for a Construction Manager.

The Committee has been notified that we are the recipient of a USDA grant in the amount of $2,058,000. This is the result of our grant written by Nancy Merrill and submitted to Senator Shaheen’s office. The grant was financed through the budget which was adopted at the end of the government shut down. The state office of the USDA is short staffed, but we will work with Rena Peck who is in the New Hampshire office of USDA.

The Committee had a short discussion of when to approach the Town voters with a warrant for bonding the remaining cost of construction for the new station. Mr. Dalessio noted that we will need special state permission for any bond which exceeds 10% of our budget.

Our next meeting will be January 21, at 6:30 pm in the Hooper Institute, first floor.

Peggy Pschirrer

Walpole Police Building Fundraiser Update

Uncategorized 12/17/2025 Leave a comment

The Walpole Police Building Fundraiser Raffle is this THURSDAY, 12/18!

If you still want to purchase raffle ticket there will be a table set up at the Town Hall from 3:30 til 3:50 pm so tickets can be purchased before the raffle at 4:00 pm.

Thank you to all who have participated: 

  • Savings Bank of Walpole
  • Mascoma Bank
  • In the Company of Flowers
  • The Drewsville Store
  • Aubuchon Hardware

Good Luck to all who purchased a raffle ticket!

Walpole Police Building Fundraiser

Uncategorized 12/07/2025 Leave a comment

Still time to purchase your raffle tickets benefiting the Walpole Police Building Fundraiser.

Date for the drawing of “Westminster St” print is December 18th. 

Drawing held at the Town Hall at 4:00p.m. 

Raffle tickets available at: 

  • Mascoma Bank
  • In the Company of Flowers
  • Drewsville Store
  • Aubuchon Hardware

 or contact Robin @ 603-313-9165

Tickets are $10 each or 3 for $25. Donations are gratefully accepted.

Prints are available for purchase of “Walpole Town Hall” and “Westminster St”

The prints are displayed in the window of In the Company of Flowers. Take a look – they make fabulous gifts!