TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

JANUARY 5, 2006

Selectmen Present:            Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with two people present in the audience.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

HOOPER HILL HOPPERS – USE OF CLASS 6 ROADS:  Marsha Galloway, President of the Hooper Hill Hoppers Snowmobile Club, advised that the State Bureau of Trails is asking that all snowmobile clubs receive written permission from the towns they go through stating that the Board of Selectmen, on their letterhead, give them permission to use the Class 6 roads until it is rescinded.  The Board of Selectmen granted them permission to do a little repair work on the Class 6 roads when necessary.

Mr. Aldrich moved to grant permission to the Hooper Hill Hoppers to use the Town’s Class 6 roads, as requested, and to write the letter to the State Bureau of Trails.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

A copy of the letter will be sent to Marsha Galloway at her home address.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $23,671.03.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending December 31, 2005, for gross wages in the amount of $14,217.51 or net wages in the amount of $7,390.83.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the supplemental payroll voucher for gross wages in the amount of $62.82 or net wages in the amount of $54.88.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  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 $3,580.41.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Miller moved to put an employee pay raise on-hold until it is explained by the Department Head.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- DECEMBER 29, 2005:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of December 29, 2005, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the Minutes of the following meetings:  1) Zoning Board of Adjustment – December 29, 2005, and 2) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners – December 27, 2005.  It was noted that the new Fire Chief of North Walpole is Ed Hasselmann.

ABATEMENTS:

DAVID WALKER AND WILLIAM WALKER – MAP 013-042-000 – PROPERTY TAX YEAR 2005:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement for over-assessment of Property Taxes for the year 2005 in the amount of $463.00 for David Walker and William Walker.  This

REFUNDS:

DAVID WALKER AND WILLIAM WALKER –MAP 013-042-000– PROPERTY TAX YEAR 2005:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve a Refund for an Overpayment of Property Taxes for the Year 2005 in the amount of $262.00 plus interest for David Walker and William Walker.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

DAVID WALKER AND WILLIAM WALKER –MAP 013-042-000– PROPERTY TAX YEAR 2004:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve a Refund for an Overpayment of Property Taxes for the Year 2004 in the amount of $648.00 for David Walker and William Walker.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

WARRANTS:

WALPOLE SEWER DEBT FEES – YEAR 2006:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Sewer Debt Fees for the Year 2006 in the amount of $19,729.25.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

NORTH WALPOLE SEWER DEBT FEES – YEAR 2006:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of North Walpole Sewer Debt Fees for the Year 2006 in the amount of $20,473.75.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

PURCHASING DIRECTIVE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to sign the Purchasing Directive Policy.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

NEW BUSINESS:

USE OF TOWN COMMON FOR WEDDING – AUGUST 26, 2006:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the request of Andrea Vickers to use the Town Common for a wedding on August 26^th, 2006, from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm and to set-up for the wedding on August 25^th.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.     

COLD RIVER ROAD:  Mr. Aldrich talked to Police Chief David Hewes regarding the posting of the Cold River Road for 25 MPH.  The Town of Langdon owns a section of that road and their speed limit is 25 MPH, therefore, the Walpole Board of Selectmen wanted the entire road to have the same speed limit.

Mr. Aldrich moved to post the Walpole portion of the Cold River Road at 25 MPH.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER – MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve having a representative from the Local Government Center meet with the Town’s Department Heads on Thursday, January 26^th, 2006, from 9:00-to-10:00 am.  This meeting is to explain the TRIM Program (Total Risk Management Agreement), Workers Compensation, to comply with safety issues.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

HEALTH INSURANCE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER:  Mr. Aldrich moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Health Insurance document with the Local Government Center.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

CONSERVATION COMMISSION:  Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Miller attended the Conservation Commission meeting last Monday night to discuss the “Community Survey for a Conservation Plan” that the Conservation Commission wants to mail to the citizens of the entire town of Walpole including Drewsville and North Walpole. During the discussion various changes were made and some items were crossed out as they relate to the Planning Board.  They incorporated a great amount of suggestions.  A copy of the revised survey was reviewed at this meeting.

BOARD OF LAND AND TAX APPEALS:  The Board of Selectmen were not aware of receiving any notices regarding two hearings before the Board of Land and Tax Appeals but asked Elaine Moore to find out what the schedule is for this month.  If there are two hearings scheduled for January 12^th, Mr. Sawyer will be in Concord and the Board of Selectmen agreed that it would be beneficial to have him attend the hearings. 

LETTERS:

PRIMEX:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the termination letter to Primex confirming that the Town is canceling their coverage with them as of January 1^st, 2006.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted. 

Mr. Sawyer declared the meeting adjourned at 9:12 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,