TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
OCTOBER 20, 2005
Selectmen Present: Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, (Absent: Charles Miller)
Mr. Sawyer opened the meeting at 7:30 P.M. with three people present in the audience.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
POLICE - SPENDING OF FUNDS: Officer Mike Paquette discussed the funds that are left in the Hurricane Katrina account. Originally a motion was made by the Board of Selectmen to split it between the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. He questioned if a check for a larger amount could be sent to the Red Cross for Katrina in Mississippi and Louisiana and a smaller check to the local Red Cross in Keene for the needs of the local community. A lot of local people had water in their cellars; furnaces, washers and dryers were ruined. Many people worked around the clock. People provided casseroles, sandwiches, coffee, etc. to the National Guard and they were very appreciative of that. Officer Paquette spoke about the good work that the ASPCA was doing with thousands of animals following the hurricane in Louisiana where the officers assisted for a week. They were looking for money and he wondered if some of the left over funds could be sent to them. The Board of Selectmen approved having Officer Paquette proceed by calling the Red Cross in Keene to ask about issuing two checks to separate the funds and to obtain mailing addresses for the Salvation Army and ASPCA.
MR. AND MRS. TRETLER: Mr. and Mrs. Tretler attended the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting yesterday when the Dance property on Wentworth Road was discussed. Mr. Tretler is concerned about the noise from the animals, the businesses and on-going construction. They just want to enjoy their home and yard. Mr. Sawyer advised that Mr. and Mrs. Dance had investigated and believed that they had complied with most of the ordinances. They have contacted the State and are now meeting with the local Planning Board & Zoning Board of Adjustment.
THADDEUS SELF: Mr. Self dropped off a packet of information for the Board of Selectmen to review, at their convenience, regarding Santaw Lane.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $334,107.19. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
It was noted that the above amount includes a payment in the amount of $328,427.86 to the Fall Mountain Region School District.
PAYROLL: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending October 15, 2005, for gross wages in the amount of $25,935.03 or net wages in the amount of $15,840.23. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $7,233.26. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
TRANSFER OF FUNDS: Mr. Aldrich moved to transfer $250,000.00 from the MBIA to the Savings Bank of Walpole general account and to authorize the Chairman to sign the documents. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
FOREST FIRE WARDEN: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the reimbursement in the amount of $145.60 to the Forest Fire Warden, Bill Houghton, to attend a seminar. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- OCTOBER 13, 2005: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of October 13, 2005, as printed. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the minutes of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioner’s meeting of October 18, 2005.
ABATEMENTS:
BURDICK & BURNS – WATER AND SEWER: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatements for Burdick and Burns for the past three billings as follows: $5,957.80 for Water and $4,640.59 for Sewer. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
OLD BUSINESS:
WALPOLE SAVINGS BANK – TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the Tax Anticipation Note in the amount of $1,000,000.00 through the Savings Bank of Walpole. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
MERRIAM ROAD UPGRADE: Mr. Aldrich moved to retain Attorney Gary Kinyon to represent the Town of Walpole in the Merriam Farms Upgrade issue. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
NEW ENGLAND POWER COMPANY: Mr. Sawyer advised that Jim Rice of Avitar will be in the Town Hall on Tuesday, therefore, they tabled signing the letter regarding the New England Power Company assessment until they have discussed it with Mr. Rice.
NEW BUSINESS:
TAX RATE: Jamie Dow of the Department of Revenue Administration will be in the Town Hall on October 24th, 2005, at 11:30 am to work on the Tax Rate.
AVITAR TRAINING: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve having Elaine Moore attend a computer training seminar sponsored by Avitar on November 7th, 2005, in Chichester, NH. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
STORM DAMAGE: Mr. Sawyer reported that, as of tonight, there are only three roads that are closed in the Town of Walpole – 1) at the easterly end of Cold River Road and Whitcomb Road and 2) the end of the Meeting House Road and County Road; and 3) High Street. Duncan Watson has his phone service but is waiting for the electricity to be reconnected. Allen Smith has been hired to do the sidewalk by the American Legion building and to shore up the culvert on March Hill.
LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:
FITZ VOGT AND ASSOCIATES: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the letter to Fitz Vogt and Associates of Walpole congratulating them on the fact that they were recognized as being in the 39th place within the top 100 companies [in New Hampshire in 2005]. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted. The time was 9:20 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden ______________________
Sheldon S. Sawyer
______________________Whitney R. Aldrich
______________________Charles D. Miller
THESE ARE UNAPPROVED MINUTES. CORRECTIONS, IF NECESSARY, MAY BE FOUND IN THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 27, 2005, SELECTMEN’S MEETING.