TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Selectmen Present: Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller
Mr. Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with eight people present in the audience.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
BILL THERRIEN: Mr. Therrien contacted Attorney Thomas Hanna regarding his application to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a Variance and provided copies of a letter from Attorney Hanna. The purpose of that letter is to address two issues, namely the applicability of RSA 674:41 and the selectmen’s March 11, 2004, Resolution relating to the Class VI / Private Road Policy and, also, the hardship criterion for obtaining a variance. Mr. Therrien is willing to sign the Town’s Hold Harmless Agreement relative to emergency services but is not willing to do it until he has permission to do his proposed subdivision. Mr. Sawyer will speak to Ernie Vose, Chairman of the ZBA, relative to the fact that Mr. Therrien’s lot was there before the Town’s Resolution was adopted.
MICHAEL NERRIE: Mr. Nerrie is on the WRAP Committee and had a Petition for a Warrant Article. He bought property that has a mobile home on it and he is willing to donate it to be used as the Reuse Center (as the current one is too small) but they need money to move the mobile home from Alstead to the Recycling Center. It will need some work but they feel most of the materials will come from the recycling center and done with volunteer labor but it will need the electric service. Mr. Sawyer advised that the Warrant Articles have already been sent to the Department of Revenue Administration for approval or disapproval, therefore, he did not accept the Petition. It was recommended that during the budget portion of the Town Meeting that Mr. Nerrie submit a request, in writing, and be prepared to provide an explanation of the request and to ask the voters to approve that the bottom line of the budget be increased for the $3,000. Mr. Nerrie thought that the WRAP Committee had until Friday to submit the Petition.
BERNARD KARNACEWICZ: Mr. Karnacewicz explained the two adjustments made by the North Walpole Board of Commissioners on his water bill. The Town had previously given him a $100 sewer credit but there should be a second adjustment for $162.76 as the water did not go into the sewer system at all.
Mr. Aldrich moved to approve an Abatement in the amount of $162.76 for Bernard Karnacewicz on his sewer bill. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
JEANETTE CLARK: Jeanette Clark lost her house and everything else during the recent floods. She is now losing her bank because of the redirecting of the river flow. Rudy Viegner said they were told that there were some federal funds available for people to restore and stabilize their banks and asked the Board of Selectmen for information. Is there a way for rip-rap to be put in along the riverbank so Ms. Clark will know whether or not to rebuild in the spring. She is supposed to have 4.6 acres but they do not know where the boundaries are now; some of the property is now across the river. Mr. Sawyer will do some research and contact the US Department of Agriculture.
CINDY WESTOVER: Cindy Westover has her accounting for the 2005 Walpole Old Home Days funds and will see that it is distributed. The next Old Home Days event will be held in 2008 and the Committee plans to do some fundraisers before then. Following a discussion, there was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to add a Warrant Article to establish a fund for the Old Home Days Committee.
DAVID HEWES: The proposed 2006 budget for the Police Department was reviewed with Police Chief David Hewes. He explained that in terms of salaries it is important to be competitive with the surrounding towns to try to keep the current staff.
Mr. Aldrich moved to give each of the three full time officers a $2,000 raise this year. Mr. Miller seconded the motion and amended the motion to include that the Board of Selectmen will review the salary structure. All in favor, so voted.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $20,696.91. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Aldrich moved to borrow $1,000,000 from the Savings Bank of Walpole for the anticipation of the collection of taxes and to transfer it to the MBIA. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
PAYROLL: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending February 4, 2006, for gross wages in the amount of $16,734.00 or net wages in the amount of $9.546.53. 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 $4,074.52. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- FEBRUARY 2, 2006: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of February 2, 2006, as printed. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the Minutes of the North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners meetings of February 07, 2006, and the Budget Hearing on February 07, 2006.
OLD BUSINESS:
SELECTMEN’S OFFICE – NO PHONE CALLS ON FRIDAYS: The Board of Selectmen discussed the request from the Selectmen’s Office to take no phone calls on Fridays. The Town Hall door will not be locked so people can come into the office. People can leave a phone message and the call will be returned.
Mr. Aldrich moved to close the office to phone calls on Fridays. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Mr. Miller was opposed. With Mr. Aldrich and Mr. Sawyer in favor, the motion carried.
UTILITY UPDATE – SANCOUCY: Following a discussion with Jim Rice, the Board of Selectmen made a decision not to hire George Sansoucy to do a statistical update of the utilities at this time as it will not affect the sales ratio.
NEW BUSINESS:
PAVING – MYRA MANSOURI: Myra Mansouri will be having her driveway paved and would like to be allowed to pave right up to the old Fire Station building. Mr. Miller wanted to make sure it would make a solid seal to avoid moisture problems in the future. Mr. Sawyer will take a look at it and, if it can be done to avoid future problems in the building, he will approve it.
OTHER BUSINESS:
BUDGET: The Board of Selectmen continued to work on the proposed Budget – both Expenditures and Revenues.
Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted. The time was 10:24 P.M.
THESE ARE UNAPPROVED MINUTES. CORRECTIONS, IF NECESSARY, MAY BE FOUND IN THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 16, 2006, SELECTMEN’S MEETING.