Sen. Gregg's office has notified Walpole that it will have a representative at the Town Hall next Tuesday, April 4, at 11:00 a.m. to hear from interested citizens on whatever issues we might want to raise.  I think we should all make a list of things we want done, undone, explained, etc., in Washington and make the senator's representative's visit worthwhile! Maybe even memorable! CCB

This promises to be an especially important and interesting world affairs program a week from Friday with a very experienced and distinguished speaker.  And it's free!  CCB

                   WINDHAM WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL

                  "THE COMING ERA IN NORTHEAST ASIA"

                       by AMBASSADOR DONALD GREGG

            FORMER AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH KOREA 1989-1993

     Prior to his foreign service assignments, Gregg served in the CIA and the National Security Council as national security adviser to Vice President George H.W. Bush. Since 1993 he has been the Chairman of the Korea Society. 
Amb. Gregg has also represented the U.S. in negotiations with the North Koreans

                                     FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2006

7:30 PM

THE ROTCH CENTER

WORLD LEARNING CAMPUS

                                                           BRATTLEBORO, VT 05301

    Two paintings by local artist Barbara O'Connor have been selected to appear in the Northeastern Fine Arts Juried Show, April 8 to May,15, 2006 at the Green Trees Gallery, 105 Main Street, Northfield, MA. The public is invited to attend a reception for the show on Saturday, April 8, 2006 from 5:40 to 7:30 p.m. as well as regular gallery hours, Thursday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

     Barbara O'Connor has worked in watercolor, acrylic and oil media at different times over the years. She studied in Wiesbaden, Germany under Alfred Hertsfield as well as the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and Keene State College with Peter Roos of Walpole. Barbara's work has been exhibited in juried shows in Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and North Carolina. Her work has been shown by Sharon Arts Center, The Thorne-Sagendorph and the Equinox Preservation Trust Show in Manchester, Vermont. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. She is married, the mother of four children and is a retired attorney and teacher. She lives in Walpole.

The painting below is one of her works in the show.  CCB

Courtesy of Regina Borden, here they are...

TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MARCH 16, 2006

Selectmen Present:              Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:45 P.M. with no one present in the audience. 

The Board of Selectmen had previously attended the Walpole Fire District Annual Meeting.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $10,219.56.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the supplemental Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $382.20 to the Postmaster for the Town Reports.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.  

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending March 11, 2006, for gross wages in the amount of $12,220.86 or net wages in the amount of $6,076.51.  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 $3,008.13.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- MARCH 09, 2006:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of March 09, 2006, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed Minutes of the following meetings:  1) the Zoning Board of Adjustment – March 15, 2006; and 2) Planning Board – March 14, 2006.

BUILDING PERMITS:

RALPH AND GLORIA HODGKINS – MAP 012-018-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-04 for Ralph and Gloria Hodgkins to construct a shed off Main Street.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

JONATHAN AND KRISTY TAYLOR – MAP 015-004-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-05 for Jonathan and Kristy Taylor to construct a barn.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

OLD BUSINESS:

METER READER:  The Board of Selectmen reported that a meter reader is needed in Walpole.  The meter reader is paid $1.00/per meter and there are about 350-to-375 meters.  There was a consensus that notices be posted and an advertisement placed in the newspaper. 

TOWN MEETING STUDY COMMITTEE –DECLINE- MR. HANSEL:  Mr. Hansel has declined the nomination to participate on the Town Meeting Study Committee. 

TOWN MEETING STUDY COMMITTEE –APPOINTMENT- DALE HUBBARD: 

Mr. Aldrich moved to appoint Dale Hubbard to the Town Meeting Study Committee.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

DANCE PROPERTY:  Mr. Miller noted that the Zoning Board of Adjustment requested that the Board of Selectmen look into some issues regarding the Dance property.  The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen contacted Mr. Dance’s attorney and was assured that the attorney will be in contact with the Board of Selectmen.

NEW BUSINESS: 

PERSONAL TIME –JIM TERRELL- MARCH 21, 2006:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Jim Terrell’s request to take off personal time on March 21, 2006.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

TIME OFF –RICK COOPER- MARCH 25, 2006:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the request of Rick Cooper to take Saturday, March 25th, 2006, off as a Holiday replacement day.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

Paul Colburn will be in charge of the Transfer/Recycling Facility in Mr. Cooper’s absence.

UPPER WALPOLE TRAFFIC – SPEEDING:  The Board of Selectmen acknowledged receiving a message from Bonnie Dockham regarding the Police Department and speeding on the Upper Walpole Road.  It was noted that written reports are preferred rather than telephone messages.  The Board of Selectmen liaison to the Police Department will notify the Police Chief.

JILL BOWEN LETTER (2) OF MARCH 13, 2006:  The Board of Selectmen acknowledged receipt of a letter from Jill Bowen in response to their letter to her regarding ownership of a small parcel on East Street.  There was a consensus to send a letter to Jill Bowen advising that they will obtain a survey.

TAX COLLECTING WORKSHOP –APRIL 13, 2006- TERESA KISSELL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve having Teresa Kissell attend the 2006 Annual Spring Tax Collecting Workshop in Concord on April 13th, 2006.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.        

TAX COLLECTING WORKSHOPS – MARCH 23RD AND 28TH, 2006 – TERESA KISSELL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve having Teresa Kissell attend the Tax Collectors Association Workshops on March 23rd and 28th, 2006.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING:  The Board of Selectmen will present the following Articles during the Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, March 18th: 

ARTICLE  8:  Mr. Sawyer -- the proposed budget;

ARTICLE  9:  Mr. Aldrich --  the 2006 International Six Wheel Dump Truck;

ARTICLE 10:  Mr. Aldrich -- the Hydraulic Road Broom attachment for the Loader;

ARTICLE 11:  Mr. Aldrich -- the 10 foot wing for the Loader;

ARTICLE 12:  Mr. Miller --  the five (5) Overhead Doors for the Old Town Shop;

ARTICLE 13:  Mr. Aldrich -- the Granite Curbing on Main Street;

ARTICLE 14:  Mr. Aldrich  -- the Old Keene Road Bridge #182/064;

ARTICLE 15:  Mr. Aldrich – the 2006 Dodge Charger Cruiser;

ARTICLE 16:  Mr. Aldrich – the three (3) Motorola XTS 3000 radios;

ARTICLE 17:  Mr. Miller – furnace and inadequate duct work at the Bridge Memorial Library;

ARTICLE 18:  Mr. Miller – the Walpole Recreation Park Trust Fund;

ARTICLE 19:  Mr. Miller – the work at the Recreation Center;

ARTICLE 20:  Mr. Miller – the Town Hall north side repairs;

ARTICLE 21:  Mr. Sawyer – the mandatory Statistical Update;

ARTICLE 22:  Mr. Sawyer – Our Place Drop In Center; they will have a representative;

ARTICLE 23:  Mr. Sawyer – Old Home Day Fund;

ARTICLE 24:  Mr. Sawyer – to dissolve the Old Home Day Capital Reserve Fund;

ARTICLE 25:  Mr. Miller – to increase the Optional Veterans Tax Credit;

ARTICLE 26:  Mr. Vose, the Moderator, will transact any other business.

Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 8:45 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden

THESE ARE UNAPPROVED MINUTES.  CORRECTIONS, IF NECESSARY, MAY BE FOUND IN THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 23, 2006, SELECTMEN’S MEETING.  

 

[Note: Registered Walpolean subscriber Barbara O’Connor sent me the recent extensive report of the “Big Box” Sub-Committee of the Brattleboro Planning Commission to share with Walpolean readers.  I have excerpted it below to make its size manageable.  (I could email you the whole thing if you request it.)  The building proposed by Berkshire Development for Walpole is 68,400 square feet.  The largest store in it will not exceed 40,000 square feet, and the other three or four stores in the building will be considerably smaller.  CCB]

A Big Box Store is defined for our purposes as a retail establishment greater than 50,000 square feet in floor area. There is currently just one retail store in Brattleboro greater than 50,000 square feet, the Home Depot on Putney Road, comprising a footprint of 61,000 square feet. Although the 50,000 square foot threshold is by its nature somewhat arbitrary, numerous communities around the country have imposed caps on retail stores greater than 50,000 square feet, and a bill proposed in the Vermont legislature selects the same size threshold….

There is an extensive body of academic and other literature on Big Box Stores, which overwhelmingly demonstrates the overall adverse impact of large-format retail establishments on local economies and municipalities. Aside from studies paid for by Wal-Mart, the subcommittee was unable, despite significant research, to find a single independent study refuting these negative impacts….

One study concluded that big box retail generates a net annual revenue deficit of $468 per 1,000 square feet. The main factors were higher road maintenance costs and greater demand for public safety services. For example, the City of Pineville, North Carolina had to raise taxes to subsidize police calls primarily associated with big box stores, and in East Lampeter, Pennsylvania, crimes generated at a Wal-Mart accounted for one-fourth of the town’s non-traffic citations, criminal misdemeanors and felony complaints. Closer to home, planning board members and the police chief in Epping, New Hampshire complained last year about the cost and burden on the town’s small police force of responding to more than 250 calls that year for incidents at a 203,000 square foot Wal-Mart, mostly theft, accidents, and check fraud….[CCB Comment: It was suggested at the last Walpole Planning Board meeting and afterward as well that specific study be made on what demands for additional public services that additional stores such as Berkshire proposes might raise. I do not know whether anyone is looking into this issue.]

Locally owned stores contribute much more to the local economy than national chains. One independent study based on Chicago stores concluded that locally owned businesses contribute 70 percent more to local economies than national chains. This is because local businesses use local services such as banks, printers, accountants and newspaper advertising, unlike national big box stores. In addition, locally owned stores usually feature more locally produced products than big box stores with established supply systems, which helps the local and state economy….

Expanding the scope of DRB Review of Big Box Stores would send a pro-business message. One consistent criticism of capping the size of Big Box Stores is the perception that doing so sends an anti-business message which will hurt Brattleboro by driving away businesses that want to come here. This perception is one reason the subcommittee recommends expanding DRB review of applications for stores greater than 50,000 square feet, rather than an outright cap. The Subcommittee believes that the reasonable requirements set forth in the proposed Ordinance constitute a pro-business measure. The Ordinance allows the DRB to limit the establishment of vast stores that it finds, on a case-by-case basis, would adversely affect the town’s economy and character. The result is a pro-business climate not just for large stores that it finds will benefit the town, but also for more local, independent businesses that are the hallmark of a thriving community….

Here is the full story I filed with the Eagle Times on Walpole's town meeting held yesterday afternoon at Town Hall.  Some of it had to be cut for space lmitations in the paper.  CCB

Walpole Town Meeting Approves 2006 Budget and Warrant Articles

By Charles C. Bingaman, Contributing Writer

            The one hundred forty citizens present Saturday afternoon at Town Hall unanimously approved the proposed $3,011,474 consolidated budget that was up just .15% from last year’s total budget.

            While the operating expense section of the budget exceeds last year’s by 6.34%, due to increases in highway and street maintenance, solid waste disposal costs, anticipated legal expenses and an across-the-board town employee salary increase of 4.1%, lower warrant article costs for 2006 resulted in the smaller total budget increase percentage.

            Responding to observations of Dana Hemenway of Old Keene Road that costs of solid waste disposal had been increasing for the past several years at abnormally high rates, Select Board Chair Sheldon Sawyer noted that, “there is no good way of properly getting rid of our waste.  We can’t burn it.  We can’t bury it. But we continue to generate more of it.”  Sawyer also noted that tipping fees and transportation costs of dealing with solid waste continue to increase.

            All seventeen warrant articles passed.  In addition to the overall budget article, voters approved purchasing a new International Six Wheel Dump Truck for $130,000, an $8,500 hydraulic Road Broom attachment for a loader, and a $14,200 10-foot wing for the loader.  In other article votes, $30,000 was approved for new granite curbs for the downtown area, $8,399 for new overhead doors for the Old Town Shop, and $80,000 (75% of which will be reimbursed by the state) for work to be done on the Old Keene Road Bridge project.  Selectman Whitney Aldrich drew laughs when, in answer to an inquiry about the location of the bridge, he said it was near the other selectmen’s homes.

            Walpole Police were authorized to purchase a new cruiser for $26,447 (although $16,447 will come from the Capital Reserve Fund for Police Vehicles) and $10,500 to purchase 3 new Motorola XTS3000 portable digital radios for more effective communications with other police and emergency units.

            Town improvement expenditures voted in were…

·        $5,400 to replace the aging furnace and ductwork in the town library

·        $14,810 to repair cracks and install new color coat on the tennis courts, basketball courts and walkways at the Recreation Center.

·        $10,000 to repair structural problems with the pillars on the north side of the Town Hall

Voters also approved a $23,600 contract with Granite State Assessing Services for the mandatory Statistical Update of town real estate values required because, in 2005, valuations of Walpole properties sold were found to be just 76% of actual sale prices. 

At the end of the formal agenda, John Hanzel, co-chairman of citizens group Walpole Tomorrow, rose to comment on Tuesday’s vote on zoning ordinance amendments seeking to limit building size for new commercial developments.  While the 600-551 vote favored the 40,000 square foot size for such buildings, the article failed because a special petition by commercial landowners required two-thirds vote.  Hanzel said that, “although defeated, we sent a clear message to the developers: ‘You’re welcome, provided that you develop commercial property with restraint and with respect for our values as set out in our Master Plan.’”  Hanzel also noted that the amendment carried a majority despite the Planning Board’s voting not to endorse it and the ballot’s carrying a notice to that effect.  “Imagine the majority we would have had,” he said, “if the Planning Board would have supported us!”

At the conclusion of the meeting, Frederick A. Newton of Warwick, R.I. asked for the floor, explained that he was visiting friends in Walpole and had never before attended a town meeting. “But,” he said, “I am speaking from my heart when I say that I am very impressed with how well the meeting was run and  how seriously the citizens have taken it.  It’s been a great example of democracy in action.”

      The meeting adjourned with those in the audience standing and giving the selectmen and other town officers a rousing round of applause.

                              --30--

 

 

Here is the full text of an interview I did a few days ago with Walople Police Chief David C. Hewes. It will appear next week, in abbrieviated form, in the Eagle Times.  CCB

Walpole Police Chief Surveys Changing Crime Scene

By Charles C. Bingaman, Contributing Writer

            Thirteen-year Walpole Police Chief David G. Hewes has seen change and growth in law enforcement challenges in his town and looks forward to further significant change in the coming decade.

            The Eagle-Times sat down with Hewes earlier this week to question him on trends in his department, his priorities in law enforcement, his growing budget and his takes on the future.  Here, largely in his own words, are his answers…

            ET:  What are your priorities in Walpole law enforcement? 

Hewes: “As complaints about speeding and other areas of traffic enforcement are the No. 1 area of complaints to our Selectmen, we’ve focused on them in 2005.  We made more than 1,000 traffic stops in the year—up from 260 in 2004—issued more than 220 tickets and collected more than $16,000 in fines.  While the annual report shows just $325 in fine revenue going to the town, over $16,000 went, as required by state law, into the state.  Even at 1,000 traffic stops, we‘re far behind some comparable towns such as Chesterfield that made over 3,000 stops.”

            “Our other priority is investigating and solving criminal cases, and Walpole has a higher than average number of criminal investigations than other towns our size. We opened 189 criminal investigations in 2005, up significantly from prior years, but it’s hard to compare year-to-year numbers of investigations because they’re all different and some take much more time than others.”

ET: What determines when someone who is stopped for a traffic infraction gets a warning or a ticket?

Hewes: “Basically, we look at the driver’s motor vehicle record and the seriousness of the offense.  If he or she is going more than 20 miles per hour over the limit, we issue a ticket.  If less than that but they have a poor driving record, they may get a ticket.  And you have to remember that there are over 100 other traffic offenses that we enforce.”

ET: We note that Walpole has averaged 63 to 79 traffic accidents per year where your department was called in the past seven years.  How are we doing in that area?

Hewes: “When I came in 1993, we had 144 traffic accidents reported.  We have gradually cut that down through careful enforcement, building a reputation for enforcement and, I admit, a bit of luck.  We went through six straight years with fewer that 70 accidents.  Also, 2005 was our third straight year with no fatal accidents.  Again, we were lucky in that respect, but I hope that our traffic enforcement focus also contributed to it.”

“And the amount of traffic that goes through Walpole on a daily basis has grown.  People are commuting to Keene, buying houses Charlestown, Walpole, North Walpole, Acworth, and Rt. 12 is the main runway between Keen and those areas. We’re forced to deal with it.”

ET:  How many officers and other staff do you have, and how do you use them?

Hewes: “We have three full-time officers and a secretary to cover our needs 24/7, year around.  And I have a list of seven men who are available to work part-time when I need them. They all have full-time jobs.  When I need help, I page all seven of them.  If I get one or two to come out, if they’re available to come out, we’re lucky…. Umm…if not, we go with the people we’ve got which sometimes is very dangerous.  Not a good way to do business.  In small towns like we have, that’s how we have to operate.” 

ET: What do you do when you need more people and your part-timers not available?

Hewes:  “We can get backup from other town police departments providing they’re not tied up with something of their own. We have mutual aid agreements with all the surrounding towns, including Bellows Falls.  We go over there quite frequently.  They come over here quite frequently.  However, there has been a time or two when Bellows Falls was tied up with a serious situation on their side of the river and they were unable to respond.  With small towns, it’s getting’ so we need to depend on each other more than depending on other people.”

ET: Have you tried to expand beyond the seven part-timers you have?

Hewes: “In Walpole, it‘s taken me 12 years to get seven guys.  I’m cautious with the budget, cautious with how many people I have on the roster because, unfortunately, whether you’re full-time or part-time, it costs approximately $3500 to outfit somebody for their duty.  Bulletproof vest for $1,000, uniforms for roughly $100, belts, radios—if you add radios, that’s $3,500 apiece right there.  We can’t discriminate between part-time and full-time; it costs me—actually the town—the same whether you’re part-time or full-time.  And once we get somebody sometimes they’ll go to a bigger department [where they can get a full-time job] so it’s hard to keep them. A lot of your part-timers aspire to be full-time police officers. We only have three here, we don’t have a big turnover, so they go to Claremont or Keene or Charlestown.  And then I’m right back with $3,500 of gear that’s not going to fit anybody else.  It’s kinda unfortunate but that’s what I’m faced with.

ET:  What crime trends have you seen in the past few years?

Hewes:  “I’ve been here over 12 years and 2005 was the first year we did more than 100 arrests and they went from shoplifting all the way up to fist-degree assault.  We had additional bad check cases in 2005 from Ocean State Job Lot and other stores, although those have dropped a bit recently.  We deal with everything…

“The job has gotten much more dangerous, although none of our officers have had to use their weapons in the time I’ve been here.  Last year, with the Selectmen’s support, we purchased rifles because they allow us to deal with situations from a greater distance for safety while also being more accurate than handguns.  You’ll see in the budget that costs of weapons is up because we need to practice and to qualify annually in using them.”

ET: What if these new stores as proposed are built in and near North Meadow Plaza?

Hewes:  “Between more vehicle accidents, more vehicle violations, bad check cases, uh, shoplifting cases, it’s just going to keep increasing.  I can’t give you a figure.  It would definitely burden this department.  And not only my department.  The ambulance and fire department would also see their calls go up.  A town cannot grow and see its demand for services go up and still get the quality services unless you expand.  You can keep the services the same but you’re going to see [the services’ quality go down.]  You can’t dispute the fact that Walpole’s a growing town.  It has definitely grown, it’s definitely getting busier, my department is getting’ busier and, you know, I haven’t asked for another full-time guy since ’97, nor do I have any intentions of doing that.  But eventually it has to happen.”

ET: How do you decide when you need another full-time guy?  Sounds to me like you could make an argument for another full-time guy now.

Hewes:  I could.  I could have many years ago.  How I do it is when things get so bad that we’re not tracking the calls, we’re not getting quality work, we’re…there have been times when my desk is this high on cases that I just have to stick ‘em over in a corner and don’t even look at them.  And if it gets to that point, we're either forced to hire another part-timer or a full-timer.

The state recommends a full-time police officer for every thousand residents of the town.  And now I think it’s even less than that.  I think it’s every 800 residents.

You know, when I took over, we didn’t even have a building.  We had nothing.  So… we built a beautiful building.  We’ve come among way.  I think that’s what happens.  I get judged on…we got X amount of dollars the first year I took over and now we get X thousands of dollars. 

People don’t realize how busy we are.  They should spend an eight-hour shift with us and see all we do.”

ET: Is that an invitation for people to come in here and ride with an officer for a shift?

Hewes: Yes it is! We’d be glad to work it out.

ET: How much do full-time Walpole officers get paid and what are the benefits?

Hewes: “Our full-time officers have salaries in the low to mid-$30s, and I get, I think, $46,000.  We have Blue-Cross/Blue Shield, and we have to pay part of that monthly premium.  We are covered under a state retirement plan for police officers.”

“When we have opportunities to earn extra money for the town by handling special detail duty at road construction sites, I let my officers do it to earn extra pay but only after they have done their regular shift or on their day off.  It’s their only chance to earn some extra money.  They ordinarily get paid only for their 40 hours per week although they often do more than that on Walpole work. Part-timers also get their chances to do some special detail work.”

ET: I see that you’re proposing to raise the police operations budget from $308,988 in 2005 to $318,248 in 2006. What accounts for the increase? 

Hewes:  “We have had increases in health insurance costs, fuel costs, FICA, electricity and we are recommending 4.1% salaries increases—the same as for all town employees. Overall that’s about a 3% increase in that line for the year.”

ET: I also see that you’re asking for $36,947 in Warrant Article items.  Can you explain them?

Hewes:  “Sure.  We need to replace one of our two cruisers that is getting very old and expensive to keep in daily use. Article 15 explains that total cost is $26,447 but the net will be around $10,000 after we use the $16,447 in the Police Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund.  Warrant Article 16 is for $10,500 for three Motorola XTS digital portable radios for our officers to use when they’re in the field.”

“We’ll keep the old cruiser for special detail duty where all it has to do is drive to the location and run its light.  So we’ll have to daily operations vehicles and two special duty vehicles.”

ET:  $10,500 for three portable radios?

Hewes:  “Yes.  These are standard portables that police, fire departments and other kinds of emergency service personnel all over the country are using.  The digital technologies are so far advanced over the analog radios that we have been using!  We won’t have the blind spots, so to speak, in our communications.  They have emergency buttons on them.  If you’re in trouble, you push the button and it goes right to dispatch and it tells us that you need additional police officers to help deal with whatever situation you have [and it tells the dispatcher automatically where the calling officer is.]  This new technology has been out there about five years now.  It’s time that we update the department and get everybody that kind of equipment.  Actually we got three of these radios through a grant from the state last year.  Now we want to supply three more of our officer with them. And the price includes programming them for our frequencies and setting them up.”

ET:  $3500 apiece?? 

Hewes:  “Yep!  They are!”  

ET: Are they specifically for police?  “No, fire departments have them.  The old radios had six or seven channels.  These have, probably, fifty frequencies that we can monitor and talk on.  The other radios just didn’t have the technology.  If someone were talking on our police channel, we’d have to wait.  We couldn’t talk!  And you’ve got to figure that they were being used for as many as 28 police departments in the area.  So chances are someone was always on that frequency.  Now, we will have all these channels that we can switch around and get through.  The beauty of this is that I can be in Concord on business, key this off, and talk to Walpole.  They have just that much more power, that much more range.  I don’t understand the digital technology, but I know from what I started with 18 and a half years ago, it’s night and day.” 

“Now it’s crazy for me to have four guys carrying analog portables.  Sometimes there are entire areas of Walpole where we just cannot reach with our analog radios.” 

                                    --30--

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the story I filed with the Eagle Times last Wednesday following Tuesday evening's Planing Board meeting. Quite an interesting meeting. (Incidentally, the next Planning Board meeting will be April 18 at 7:30 p.m. I hope you plan now to attend.)

3-15-06

Walpole Planning Board Weighs Berkshire Shopping Center Proposal

By Charles C. Bingaman, Contributing Writer

            Declaring that “I don’t think it’s a viable plan without the interconnection of the two [parking] lots,” Walpole Planning Board Chairman Jeff Miller and the full board Tuesday evening received an advisory report on the proposed Berkshire shopping center proposal from Kevin Russell of the Southwest Regional Planning Commission and heard responses from Berkshire representatives.

            While state statute requires the Board to make its decision within 65 days, Planning Board Chair Jeff Miller also said, “I don’t think we should be rushing through this because it’s a major thing for the town.”

            The principal point of debate came when Wagner Engineering’s Jennifer Rzepka noted that Berkshire can commit to bringing a road from the proposed new shopping center parking lot to the edge of the property but cannot, at this time, commit to having it connect to the existing North Meadow Plaza parking lot.

            To that, Chairman Miller stated that, “Having a proposal like this is going to increase the traffic flow.  We cannot expand as you describe without it being an absolute nightmare unless the two parking lots are connected.  I want it fixed or it’s dangerous…unacceptable.”

            In answer to a question from Board member David Edkins, traffic engineer Nicholas Sanders of Bedford, NH traffic engineering firm Vanasse Hangen, Brustlin, Inc., said that the traffic study previously submitted did not assume an interconnection of the two lots.  And that study predicted as many as 150 to 300 additional cars per hour, depending on day of the week and time of day, would be attracted to the proposed new development.

            Berkshire attorney Thomas R. Hanna of Keene argued that “Berkshire’s efforts to get tenants in North Meadow Plaza to agree to connect the lots is a question for two private landowners and we don’t want to play that out here.  The Berkshire proposal is a separate project on independently, or nearly independently, owned property and the DOT will decide whether the traffic mitigation we have proposed is sufficient.”  At the February meeting, Hanna had explained that leases of current tenants in North Meadow Plaza gave them veto power over any additional or new entrances into the current parking lot.

            Miller replied that, “While not speaking for the full Board, even though they are independent, North Meadow Plaza and the new space are one entity in terms of their impact on the town.  If the lots are not interconnected, it’s not a viable site plan.”

            “Even now,” he continued, "under good conditions, the traffic on Rt. 12 is really hectic.  Since Ocean State Job Lot came in there, I think the entry to North Meadow Plaza has maxed out.”

            On the question of the possible impact of the development on the aquifer beneath it, Walpole Conservation Commission Chairman Gary Speed suggested, and the Board unanimously agreed to, the hiring of an independent consultant to advise the Board on any problems present in the proposal.

            The Board also questioned the engineers on whether there might be a sidewalk connecting the “out building” to the main building.  The current plan does not provide for one, even though the buildings are more than 300 feet apart.  Berkshire’s Jamie Keough suggested the possibility of putting a crosswalk through the  parking lot.  He also noted that there is no provision for a drive through around the “out building.”

                                                --30--

 

 

 

           

 

            Russell reported that there were no elevations submitted with the proposal for the “out building”, the small building proposed for the end of the lot near the intersection of Rt. 12 and Upper Valley Road and that there had not be a submission of a design for proposed signage.  Berkshire representatives then presented both the missing elevation and a basic design for the sign pylon. 

 

           

Courtesy of Gwen and Kathy Yardley, here is an annoucement of an important upcoming event in Walpole...

ABC Quilt Workshops

On Wednesday, March 22nd and 29th, there will be ABC Quilt
making workshops at the First Congregational Church in Walpole.
ABC Quilts are At-Risk Baby Crib Quilts that are given to babies and
young children worldwide.  Last year, 60 quilts were sent to the
state headquarters in Northwood, NH as a result of our workshops. 

We meet from 10am to 2pm.  All materials are provided, but it is a good idea to bring your own scissors and sewing machine, if you have a
portable one.  Many of the quilts we make are tied, so if you can tie
a square knot, we can use your help.  Bring a sandwich for lunch,
beverage and dessert will be provided.  Come, bring a friend or two, and join in the fun and fellowship.  For more info, call Gwen Yardley at
756-3677.  For more information about the ABC Quilt program, see www.abcquilts.org.

CCB

I've been asked to talk to the Walpole Seniors on Monday noon, April 17, about The Walpolean--what it is, how it works, and maybe a bit about how blogs are becoming both ubiquitous and influential in our information society.

The Congregational Church has an Internet connection, but I need an LCD projector to project a live Internet picture to properly illustrate The Walpolean as a living site. If anybody has such a think that I could use, I would appreciate their calling me at 756-9268 or emaling me at chuck@chuckbingama.com.  Thanks!
Chuck Bingaman

While they're counting ballots downstairs the Planning Board will be meeting upstairs tonight at Town Hall.  Here's the tentative agenda courtesy of Board Secretary Pam Aslinger.  Note that Mary McMahon has withdrawn her sub-division plan.  CCB

PLANNING BOARD MEETING

March 14, 2006     7:30PM     Town Hall Upstairs

Agenda

I.              Open Meeting

                A.  Roll Call/Designate Alternates

                                (Jeff Miller, Dave Edkins, Bob Miller, Sheldon         Sawyer, Henry Fletcher, Dave DeCoste, Eric Merklein, Ray Boas alt., Fred Dill alt., Pam Aslinger alt.)

                B.  Approve Minutes of February 14, 2006.

II.            Review Applications Submitted:  Accept/Reject/Delay

A.  Lawrence A. Burdick - L.A. Burdick Chocolate, Inc. - Site Plan Review renovations to the former R.N. Johnson building located at 47 Main Street, Walpole, NH  in the Commercial District, Map 24, Lot 38.  Purpose is to manufacture chocolate and related items in and existing commercial building.  The Zoning Board has granted a special exception for an industrial use in a commercial zone for the new operation.

B.  Mary N. McMahon - Minor 3 Lot Subdivision located on Whipple Hill Rd., Map 3 Lot 1-1. Purpose is to subdivide 176.05 acres into three lots of 92.21, 9.79 and 74.05 acres. (Withdrawn)

III.           Close Meeting/Open Public Hearings

                A.  L.A. Burdick Chocolate, Inc.

                B.  Mary N. McMahon

IV.           Close Public Hearings/Re-open Meeting

V.            Action on Applications Submitted:  Approve/Disapprove/Delay

                A.  L.A. Burdick Chocolate, Inc.

                B.  Mary N. McMahon

VI.                Unfinished Business:  Pending Applications

                A.  Walpole Properties LLC. - Two buildings with several retail establishments and associated parking and driveways, located on Main St. (Rte. 12) and Upper Walpole Road (aka Dearborn Road), Commercial Zone, Map 12, Lot 56.  Purpose is to build a  70,078         Sq. ft. building, including common halls and loading areas.  Continued review by the Planning Board, no public hearing is scheduled for this meeting.

VII.         New Business

                A.  Dave Bergeron - Brickstone Masons

                B.  Other

VIII.        Communications and Miscellaneous

                A.  Letters and Correspondence

                B.  OEP Handbook purchase request

                C.  Workshop Info

                D.  Other

IX.           Adjourn Meeting

 

 

Following up the discussion topic aired here recently on whether and when people should sign pulbicly distributed political statements, Pauline Barnes and Adrian Basora asked that I post the following. CCB
 "With regard to recent discussions about anonymity, we would 
like to publicly identify ourselves as among the senders of a  
mailing Walpole residents just received.  The mailing urged a yes 
vote on warrant articles 6 and 7 (described as amendments 5 and  
6) and a no vote on Article 2 (amendment 1)."

   "We were responding  to the sudden news of a commercial landowner protest petition and, in our haste, we did not add our names.  We regret that.  We are not an organization but among a group of several concerned citizens reacting to a legal maneuver that hands developers an extraordinary advantage at the expense of the ordinary citizen:  the requirement for a two-thirds majority vote."

Pauline Barnes
Adrian Basora

Bob Jasse sent the following letter to a number of neighbors and friends over the weekend. He asked that I share it with Walpollean readers.  CCB

March 8, 2006

Dear Neighbor

We enjoy Walpole as it is – that’s why most of us are living here.

While change is inevitable and often beneficial, the growth we seek should be evolutionary, not revolutionary.

Behemoth stores will not benefit Walpole.  By definition they are blights on the landscape!  There are damn few towns in America that have not been defaced in this way – or by the inevitable forest of traffic lights.  Just look at Route 5 south of the roundabout in Brattleboro, or Route 1 north of Boston, or Route 101 to Nashua and you get the idea.

I urge you to consider the consequences of BIG BOX OUTLETS – vote ‘yes’ on Articles 6 and 7.

Sincerely,

        Bob Jasse

        P.O. BOX 66, WENTWORTH ROAD

        WALPOLE, NEW HAMSHIRE 03608

The following is a short study of population growth in some small towns compiled by Mel Schupack of Walpole.  He authorized The Walpolean to share it with you. CCB

A Perspective on Growth and the Need for Active Planning
by Mel Schupack

    I think there is little question Walpole will grow. The issue is the degree to which growth will be defined by the community as opposed to the degree to which the community will end up being defined by the growth. Walpole is entering a period of growth beyond what it has experienced in the past. We look to our Planning Board to provide leadership in dealing with it.  

    Up to now growth in Walpole has been quite slow.  The first year we had a census, 1790, the population of Walpole was 1,245.  By 1950 (160 years later) it had grown to 2,536.  In 2000 the population was 3,594. The US Census estimate for 2004 was 3,704.
Year    Population    % Change    Source of Data    

1790    1,245         First Census of Walpole    
1950    2,536        103.69%    % Change over 160 years    
1960    2,825        11.40%            
1970    2,966        4.99%            
1980    3,188        7.48%   

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security.
1990    3,210    0.69%    US Census
        
2000    3,594    11.96%            
2004    3,704    3.06%    Estimate        
 
    Walpole has not yet experienced real growth.  Some of us who have lived elsewhere have experienced what happens to the community fabric with acceleration of growth. 

    What we see so far in Walpole is just the beginning of a more rapid growth cycle. The graph above shows this is still at early stages of what some of us have seen elsewhere.  There is more to indicate this as well. The Society for the Protection of NH Forests issued a report in 2000, which showed almost all the growth in NH, was in the southeastern part of the state. Little growth was evident in the southwestern part.  I believe the projections for us back than were in the 10-12% range for the next two decades or so.  Their latest report in 2005 more than doubled that projection and indicated accelerated growth has begun in our area.  Indeed several towns in the Monadnock area were taken by surprise and rushed to put in some emergency growth management ordinances.  A recent article by a conservative commentator (David Brooks) indicated the US will grow by 70 million people by 2025.  Already the trend shows growth is not going to existing metropolitan areas nor to suburbs, but to the less populated parts of the country, which Walpole is. While the details of growth will be somewhat different for different areas and different periods, I suggest that there is a general overall pattern.  Important differences in the variations of that pattern depend to a significant extent on the reaction of different communities to the beginning of growth.   It is necessary to look over decades rather than just a few years.

    To demonstrate the importance of an early active approach, I will be comparing the very early stage of growth here in Walpole to two towns.  I call them Town A and Town B.  These two towns are way ahead of us in terms of growth, but the patterns of growth can suggest lessons from which we might benefit.   Both were, and still are, considered small towns similar to Walpole.  They began as very small towns in rural and agricultural areas with very little growth over many decades.  (Having lived in Town A for 35 years I am most familiar with it.  Town B is not far from Town A.) 

    Town A in the very early stage of the growth cycle reacted very differently than did Town B.  Town A had a quite active Planning Board, town government and citizenry that enacted comprehensive zoning and other ordinances to actually implement the Master Plan.  Town B took a far more hands-off approach.

    Physically, Town A is in many ways comparable to Walpole.  Both towns go from a waterway to hills (a small mountain in A and in Walpole, High Blue, which is only 700 ft. lower than that mountain.).  Both towns are heavily forested with second growth forests, having been cleared for agriculture early on.  Both towns are historic and have a historic center.  Town A is much farther along the growth curve and yet has largely retained its physical character and integrity by means of a comprehensive Master Plan implemented by a comprehensive set of land use ordinances.  The land use ordinances for Town A are145 pages long compared to about 41 pages for Walpole.  Town A is smaller in area.  While it is not possible to briefly review all of that, Town A’s ordinances include detailed design review criteria, including building size, density, design and landscaping. There are also planned residential districts, an historic overlay district and a heritage trees and habitat ordinance to protect forests and habitat. Town B has undergone rather profound transformation, now having mostly high end residential subdivisions surrounding huge shopping malls, although more recently (a bit after the fact perhaps) it also has put in design review and a more comprehensive set of land use ordinances.

    The data I use start at different dates for each because real development started at different times.  (Town A was earlier.)  But the data for the first two decades of this comparison shows definite similarities.   The figures below are for population:

Decades    Town A    Town B    Walpole
1                   2,551    1,587        3,210
2                   2,554    5,150        3,594
3                   4,164    18,225    
4                   4,847    39,844    
5                   7,331    53,643    
6                 10,411    60,569    
7                 12,942    64,296     

    Property owners are rightly concerned about the impact of land use regulations on their future property values.  The instinctive reaction often is to oppose any regulation for fear it will limit their future property values.  However actual data will show the opposite to be true.  For example, the median house values for Town A in 2000 (at the end of the accelerated growth period for both towns) was 2.2 times that for Town B.  Property owners in Town A fared very well indeed.  It suggests what I expect most realtors with a few decades of experience with such situations might tell us, that property values are impacted more by the physical (and historic) environment of the surrounding community than by the number of houses you can cram on to a piece of property.   A properly comprehensive set of land use ordinances end up protecting property values as well as the community,

    Growth is always incremental. If one focuses on each incremental project it can be easy to miss the broader perspective.  In part it is job of a good master plan to provide at least some of that broader perspective.  That is why the master plan is so important.  When the actual land use ordinances do not provide for  “protecting and carry out of the master plan”   then the community is at considerable risk.  Whenever the master plan goals are bypassed, then it gets very hard if not impossible to go back to those goals. 

    It is for this reason that the two petition warrant articles are submitted.  These aim at a small change in the zoning ordinance aimed at that “protecting and carrying out of the master plan”.  These are only small steps for what might be the larger task of protecting the character and integrity of what is so much valued by most of us who live in Walpole.  For that we really need a far more concerned and forward looking planning board leading a comprehensive planning effort.  The future of our community is at stake.

    

    

    

Since posting my note criticizing unsigned campaign posters on Friday, I've gotten several thoughtful comments that I've been mulling over. 

Several people agreed with me and several argued that there ARE times when anonymity is tolerable. And several pointed out my inconsistency is permitting some subscribers to The Walpolean to post comments without posting their full names.

When I started The Walpolen, my original position was to require full names in order to post a comment.  As it is, I have all subscribers' user IDs--not necessarily their names--and their email addresses from which I can deduce many, but not all, real names.

When one gentleman started posting polical views a few weeks ago with only a first name, and I considered deleting his comments for that reason.  But I did not because I thought his voice and views, many of which I part company with him on, were worth everyone's hearing, and I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that requiring his full name would deter him from making future comments. 

I continue to think that responsible people state their views and attach their full names.  That certainly makes me give them a more careful hearing, and knowing who they are gives us some assurance who they are speaking for. In addition, as one subscriber has pointed out, it can be very unfair for a person to be able criticize another subscriber by name while withholding his own name.

So...I am considering deleting future comments unless they are signed by the commenter with his or her full name.  I wonder what our readers think about this issue and what long-term policy The Walplolean should follow on this issue?

I look forward to your thoughts.

Chuck Bingaman

I am not a fan of Berkshire Development's proposal and I am not very impressed with their arguments for defeating Warrant Articles 6 and 7 next week.  (Personally, I would like to see additional commercial and housing development, AND I would like to see it in attractive, smaller buildings and layouts more in keepng with the town's Master Plan.)

But I agree with Tim Traynor's Comment posted here at 10:18 this morning--and available for reading  by clicking in the box to the right and down a bit on this page.  Like his proposals or not, Traynor has been up front, in person and available for questions, comments, and everything else since this business began.  He has tried to meet with everyone who is interested and has listened to their views. (Some who claim they are interested in the town's future have refused his offers to meet.) And, he has adjusted his proposals significantly as a result.

To be met with last minute, misleading  and unsigned posters in the village is, I think, irresponsible, unfair and a regrettable example to our young people of how our democracy should work.

The social fabric of the town is better served if we all make our best arguments, our best judgments, out in the open with our names on them, try our best to persuade our neighbors to agree with us, try to understand those who disagree with us, vote on Tuesday, and move on. 
Chuck Bingaman

Fall Mountain High School students perform their Broadway Revue tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the school auditorium.  We went last night and found it very entertaining and great fun!

The talented 27-member cast, 4-member stage crew and 2-piece band put on an energetic, non-stop show that the whole family will enoy.

Our area's "Music Man", Fall Mountain music director Walt Sayre has done an amazing job pulling it all together!

Tickets are just $5 for adults. Check it out!  CCB

One of the ballot articles we'll vote on next week that is recommended by both the School Board and the Budget Comittee asks if we will support raising and spending $195,000 to fund the staffing and materials needed to increase half-day kindergarten to full-day kindergarden throughout the district.  From all l'm reading, our country faces a growing deficit vis-a-vis the rest of the world in terms of education, and all signs point to the need and effectiveness of serious early starts in educating our children. CCB

Ellen J. Shemitz, Present of the Children's Alliance of New Hampshire sent me the following letter on this issue to share with you...

March 7, 2006

On behalf of the Children's Alliance of NH, an organization with a long history of advocating for kindergarten in NH, I am pleased to comment on an issue facing voters in the Fall Mountain School District, who will have the opportunity to consider the value of kindergarten -- specifically, full day kindergarten -- on March 14.

The reasons for full-day kindergarten are both educational and economic.

Children who attend full-day kindergarten start grade school more ready to learn. Studies of the effects of full-day (defined as about six hours) kindergarten have found that students, particularly from disadvantaged families, learn more than in half-day programs. Studies that have tracked kindergarten students into grade school report strikingly similar results.

Kids who had attended full-day kindergartens were better prepared to succeed in first grade: they were more-independent learners, more engaged in the classroom and more thoughtful. They also were more socially and emotionally prepared, worked more productively with other students, related more positively and confidently with teachers, and were less prone to anger, blaming, withdrawal and shyness.

The economic argument is two-fold. In the short term, quality full-day kindergarten supports today's workforce. In New Hampshire, 61 percent of parents with children under age 6 depend on family, friends and center-based professionals to care for their children while they work. Those parents are more productive workers when their child is settled for the day in a high-quality program, rather than being shuttled from home to a friend's house to kindergarten to day care.

In the longer term, quality full-day kindergarten creates and strengthens tomorrow's workforce. Children who love to read and learn at age 5 are more likely to stay in school, graduate from high school, and be good learners for the rest of their lives.

I hope that this information will be of assistance to kindergarten supporters as Fall Mountain School District voters cast their ballots on March 14.

Ellen J. Shemitz, President,

Childrens Alliance of New Hampshire

I hate passing this along, but CNN reported at 9:26 this morning that Dana Reeve, daughter of Walpole's Chuck Morosini, died last night of lung cancer in New York.  What a series of tragedies that family has suffered over the past several years!  I'm sure that we all join in wishing Chuck and Dana's family strength and support in this latest shocking loss.  CCB

OK town government junkies!  Here's your homework for the next ten days before the town meeting!  Study it carefully! We may have a quiz before the meeting!  Seriously, these minutes of the February 13 Warrant and budget Meeting contain more specific information about town operations than almost anything else you can read. If you send specific questions or comments, I'll take them up with the Selectmen for their answers before the meeting.  Or you can raise them at the meeting yourself.  CCB

TOWN OF WALPOLE

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

WARRANT AND BUDGET MEETING

February 13, 2006

Selectmen Present:            Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller

Ernie Vose, Moderator, called the Public Hearing on the proposed 2006 Warrant and Budget meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.  Notices were duly posted and published.  

Mr. Vose turned the meeting over to Mr. Sawyer to present the proposed budget.  If there are comments or questions, this is the time for discussion. 

Mr. Sawyer announced that when the bottom line is reached the Board of Selectmen do not expect a big change in the tax rate.  There is a 6.34% increase but when we get to the Articles, if they pass, we still will be spending less money than last year.  He began a line-by-line review of the Expenditure Comparison for the year ending December 31, 2005.  The difference between the 2005 budgeted and 2006 recommended figures were included as well as detailed Budget Worksheets.  Following are some of the accounts discussed and their increases or decreases.

Expenditures:

Executive – Increase $3,846 – this is basically salaries;

Tax, Election, Registration, Vital Statistics – Increase $7,621 – there will be three elections

 this year;

Financial Administration – Decrease ($5,332) – In past years there was $10,000 in this account

for assessing services but this year they entered into a contract so it is a Warrant Article;

Legal Expenses – Increase $15,000 – Legal expenses are going up; when people hire a lawyer

 the Board of Selectmen quite often have to hire one as well;

Planning & Zoning – Decrease ($1,570) – Last year a Capital Improvement Plan was done
through the Southwest Region Planning Commission as the State required it but it will only be used if the voters want to impose impact fees; this was the ground work.

 General Government Bldg – Increase $3,692 – This includes heating;

Cemeteries – Decrease ($1,000) – This is basically for the mowing contract.  The Board of

 Selectmen cut out tree work;

 Other Insurances – Increase $3,785 – There are insurance coverage increases;

Regional Associations – Increase $138 – This is for the Southwest Region Planning Commission

 and the Southwestern Community Services;

Police – Increase $10,914 – The increase covers salaries, gas, ammunition, etc.  Chief Hewes

brought to their attention the fact that the Town was low in their salary range compared to some other towns.  We would like to keep our trained people here.  

Police Special Detail – No increase – The Police do flagging for contract jobs, etc.  The figure in

2005 Actual is what we paid out but the town makes money and we will look at the Revenues.  The town made about $24,000 over the expenses;

Emergency Management – Increase $2,000 – Last year we had flood damage and there is still a

lot of work to be done.  A Hazardous Mitigation Plan was included and some money for radios;

Highways & Streets – Increase $94,709 – This includes salary and health insurance increases.

The Main Street project was done last year but this year money was included for the curbing.  $4,000 was added for employee uniforms as all of the other towns are doing this.

Highway Bridges – Decrease ($10,000) – Hopefully, the town won’t have to do any bridge

 repairs this year;

Highway Street Lighting – Increase $3,000 – An increase because of electric rates;

Solid Waste Disposal – Increase $42,150 – This account was cut in other years but the town gets

a substantial amount of Revenue so that offsets some of the expenses.  Another part-time person was approved and an extra purchase of bags.

Health Agencies – This will remain the same.  It includes funding for the Fall Mountain Food

Shelf, Monadnock Family Mental Health, Home Health Care Expenses, Southwestern Community Services, The Community Kitchen, Walpole Meals on Wheels, and Fall Mountain Friendly Meals – they do a good job for the Town; one new request was received this year – see Article No. 22.

Welfare Administration – Increase $252 – This account is difficult to predict – the Welfare

Officer tries to find other assistance for some people;

Parks & Recreation – Increase $5,450 – Some supplies have increased.  They want to do more

landscaping and maintenance.  The employees are part-time.

Library – Increase $4,830 – A small increase mainly because of the hours and salaries.

Other Culture & Recreation – Increase $1,000 – This account covers the Age In Motion class,

Senior Citizens, Hockey, Soccer, and Basketball Programs and Sports Insurance.

Conservation – Increase $530 – Postage went up;

General Fund Totals – 2005 Budgeted $2,486,330; 2005 Actual $2,899,847; 2006 Recommended $2,644,056; Difference between 2005 Budgeted and 2006 Recommended $157,726.

Total General Fund Including Special Articles – 2005 Budgeted $2,949,211; 2005 Actual $3,326,654; 2006 Recommended $3,010,412.

The Water and Sewer Departments are through user fees.  They do not anticipate any big projects this next year.

Water Department – 2005 Budgeted $195,526; 2005 Actual $206,271; 2006 Recommended $152,111; Difference between 2005 Budgeted and 2006 Recommended ($43,415).

Sewer Department – 2005 Budgeted $228,025; 2005 Actual $277,399; 2006 Recommended $215,307; Difference between 2005 Budgeted and 2006 Recommended ($12,718).

Total Budget Appropriated – 2005 Budgeted $2,909,881; 2005 Actual $3,383,517; 2006 Recommended $3,011,474; Difference between 2005 Budgeted and 2006 Recommended $101,593.

Total Budget including Special Articles – 2005 Budgeted $3,372,762; 2005 Actual $3,810,324; 2006 Recommended $3,377,830; Difference Between 2005 Budgeted and 2006 Recommended $5,068.    

Revenues:

Every year the Board of Selectmen have no idea of what the Revenues will be.  If the surplus gets too high they can use some of that to offset the taxes.

Yield Tax – Estimated $10,000 – This is for timber cuts;

Excavation Tax – Estimated $4,000 – This is for gravel excavation;

Penalties and Interest – Estimated $40,000 – This is tax liens and interest;

Business Licenses & Permits – Estimated $25 – The town has one junk yard;

Motor Vehicle Permits – Estimated $600,000 – For vehicle registrations;

Building Permits – Estimated $50 – For Building Permits;

Other Licenses, Permits, Fees – Estimated $21,451;

Other Federal Grants & Reimb – Estimated $-0- - This would be revenues from FEMA;

Shared Revenue Block Grant – Estimated $69,635 – Miscellaneous;

Meals & Rooms Tax Distribution – Estimated $120,000 – Through the State of NH;

Highway Block Grant – Estimated $119,314 – This is based on the number of miles of roads –

there are about seven miles of State Roads in the Town;

Water Pollution Grants – Estimated $305,592 – This is federal money – interest goes down each

year;

Other State Grants & Reimb – Estimated $4,000 – Railroad Tax & reimbursement for the Fire

and Highway Departments;

Income from Departments – Estimated $105.620 – From the Police and summer programs;

Solid Waste Revenue – Estimated $142,000 – This depends on the market prices;

Sale of Municipal Property – Estimated $6,000 – Cemetery lots;

Interest on Investments – Estimated $30,000 – Deposits in the Public Deposit Investment Pool;

Rents of Municipal Property – Estimated $5,300 – Town Hall rentals;

Police Department – Fines – Estimated $500 – Fines;

Insurance Dividends & Reimb – Estimated $-0- - The Town is not sure because the Board of

Selectmen entered into a new program this year;

Other Miscellaneous Revenue – Estimated $115 – Miscellaneous

Interfund Operating Transfers in –SD – Estimated $42,210;

Transfer from Trust & Agency Funds – Estimated $10,000.

General Fund (Less Property Taxes) – 2005 Budgeted $1,816,518; 2005 Actual $2,205,612; 2006 Estimated $1,635,811.

Water Administration – 2005 Budgeted $167,400; 2005 Actual $169,892; 2006 Estimated $163,635.

Sewer Department – 2005 Budgeted $234,325; 2005 Actual $221,084; 2006 Estimated $223,973.

Total Budget Appropriated – 2005 Budgeted $2,218,243; 2005 Actual $2,596,588; 2006 Estimated $2,023,419.

Mr. Sawyer advised that the tax rate for the town portion should be close to what it was a year ago.  The school tax will then be added to it.

James Aldrich moved to accept this proposed 2006 Budget as presented at this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Watkins.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

WARRANT ARTICLES:

Mr. Sawyer advised that the first Article to be discussed at this meeting is No. 9.  The first eight (8) Articles deal with the election of Town officers, Planning Board Amendments, changes to the Zoning Ordinance and Article 8, the operating budget.  They will be voted upon on March 14th.

ARTICLE 9:  “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($130,000) for the purchase of a 2006 International Six Wheel Dump Truck with Tenco Side Dump Body – Plow and Wing for use by the Town Highway Department to replace the 1997 International Dump Truck; and to fund this appropriation by trading in the 1997 International Dump Truck (trade in value of $15,000) with the balance to be funded by general taxation.”

(The Board of Selectmen Approves this Article)                         (Majority vote required)

Jim Terrell advised that by the time the dump trucks reach 8 years or so they start to cost money for repairs. 

ARTICLE 10:  “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Eight Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($8,500) for the purchase of a Hydraulic Road Broom ATTACHMENT for the Loader.”

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)                         (Majority vote required)

Mr. Sawyer explained that the present broom keeps getting welded as it keeps breaking down.

ARTICLE 11:  “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fourteen Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($14,200) for a 10 foot wing for the Loader.”

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)                         (Majority vote required)

There was no discussion on this Article.

ARTICLE 12:  “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Eight Thousand Three Hundred Ninety Nine Dollars ($8,399) for the purchase and installation of five (5) Overhead Doors for the Old Town Shop.”

(The Board of Selectmen Approves this Article)                         (Majority vote required)

Mr. Sawyer said last year the town put a new roof on the Old Town Shop.  They would like to keep up-grading the building; fix it up so the Highway and Water Departments can share it.

ARTICLE 13:  “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) for curbing on Main Street.”

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)                         (Majority vote required)

 Mr. Sawyer explained that they intended to put in the granite curbing last year but then the floods came. 

ARTICLE 14:  “To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of Eighty Thousand Dollars ($80,000) for work to be done on the Old Keene Road Bridge #182/064.  This will be the first of a three year warrant article to complete the project.  When the project is complete the State will inspect, and when approved will reimburse the Town 80% of the total cost to repair the bridge.”  (This article is non-lapsing)

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)                         (Majority vote required)

This bridge is by Mill Road and the Old Keene Road.  The Town will get 80% reimbursement from the State.  This is an on-going project and the third year the Town is dealing with it.  The engineering is all done.  Mr. Sawyer advised that this is a three year appropriation of $80,000.

ARTICLE 15:  “To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Six Thousand Dollars Four Hundred Forty Seven Dollars ($26,447.00) for the purchase of a 2006 Dodge Charger Cruiser ($23,947) and detailing, lettering, etc ($2,500), to be used by the Walpole Police Department, and to fund this appropriation by withdrawing Sixteen Thousand Four Hundred Forty Seven Dollars ($16,447.00) from the Capital Reserve Fund Police Vehicle and the balance to be funded by general taxation.”

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)                         (Majority vote required)

There was no discussion on this Article. 

ARTICLE 16:  “To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($10,500) for the purchase of three (3) Motorola XTS 3000 radios, and to approve the funding by general taxation if a Grant cannot be obtained.”

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)                         (Majority vote required)

It is expected that these radios can communicate with the other services.  Mr. Watkins questioned if these radios will have the capability of communicating with everyone else as there have been problems in the past.  Jim Terrell explained that they do not like to put the Police Departments on for privacy purposes but will be able to talk to other service providers and Highway Departments.

ARTICLE 17:  “To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($5,400) to replace a thirty-year old furnace and inadequate duct work at the Bridge Memorial Library.  This replacement and improvement repair will be funded by general taxation.”

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)                         (Majority vote required)  

Mr. Sawyer advised that the “thirty-year old furnace” will be changed to “twenty-year old furnace” but that should not make much of a difference.

ARTICLE 18:  “To see if the Town will dissolve the Walpole Recreation Park Trust Fund in the amount of $6,591.21 with said funds to be placed in the general fund.”

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)

Mr. Sawyer explained that this is the correct way to handle this; it is carried over into Article 19.

ARTICLE 19:  “To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of Fourteen Thousand Eight Hundred Ten Dollars ($14,810) to repair cracks and install a new color coat on the tennis, basketball courts and walkway areas at the Recreation Center.  With $6,591.21 coming from the general fund (warrant article 18) with balance to be funded by general taxation.  ($8,218.79)”

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)                         (Majority vote required)

There was no discussion on this Article.

ARTICLE 20:  ”To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) for repairs to the North side at the Town Hall.”

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)                         (Majority vote required) 

Mr. Miller noted that the pillars are in good shape but repairs to the north side are needed.  They hope to take care of the emergency bars also.

ARTICLE 21:  “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Three Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($23,600) for the mandatory Statistical Update to be done by Granite State Assessing Services, and to fund this article by taking Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) from the Statistical Update – Expendable Trust Fund, with the balance to be funded by general taxation. ($13,600)”

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)                         (Majority vote required)

Mr. Sawyer reported that the Board of Selectmen made a decision to switch from Avitar to Granite State Assessing Services.  The Statistical Update is to bring the assessed values up to 100%.  After a town goes below the 90% level the State likes them to do a Statistical Update.  They use the sales data of the properties sold during the year.  Mr. Miller noted that recently houses have been selling for more than the assessed value.

ARTICLE 22:  “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000 for Our Place Drop In Center in Bellows Falls.  (Our Place is used by the Walpole Welfare Department)”

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)                         (Majority vote required)

Mr. Sawyer advised that the Town’s Welfare Department has used Our Place for assistance and Elaine Moore recommended this Article.

ARTICLE 23:  “To see if the Town will vote to establish an Old Home Day Fund and allow any donations to be kept in this fund as well as any budgeted monies from the town.  Old Home Days committee shall be designated Agents and shall keep the necessary accounting.  The Trustees of Trust Funds shall administer this fund.”

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)                         (Majority vote required)

Mr. Sawyer explained that with a Capital Reserve Fund the monies can only be taken out through a vote of the Town.  If this separate fund is established the Old Home Days committee can put monies in and take it out.  Next year the voters will probably be asked to put some money in this account.  

ARTICLE 24:  “To see if the Town will dissolve the Old Home Day Fund with any said funds in the account to be placed in the general fund.”

(The Board of Selectmen Approve this Article)                         (Majority vote required)

Mr. Sawyer noted that this should be changed to the Capital Reserve Fund shall be dissolved with said funds to be placed in the Old Home Day Fund.

ARTICLE 25:  “To see if the Town will vote to increase the Optional Veterans Tax Credit from Property tax in the Town of Walpole from the current amount of $100.00 to $250.00.  Effective with the tax year beginning April 1, 2006, as provided in RSA 72:27-A & 73:28.  (This is a PETITIONED Article)

James Aldrich explained that in accordance with the RSAs this amount could be up to $500.

Mr. Sawyer announced that the voters are hereby notified to meet at the Town Hall, 34 Elm Street, Town of Walpole, on Tuesday, March 14, 2006, at 8:00 A.M., to act on Article 1 – 3, which are the Articles to be voted on at the polls.  Polls at the Walpole Town Hall and at North Walpole St. Peter’s Church will open at 8:00 A.M., and will remain open until 7:00 P.M. 

Following the counting of the ballots, the meeting will be recessed until Saturday, March 18, 2006, at 1:00 P.M., at the Town Hall, at which time the balance of the Articles will be acted upon.

There were thirteen voters present at this meeting.

Mr. Sawyer adjourned this meeting at 8:26 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

THESE ARE UNAPPROVED MINUTES.  CORRECTIONS, IF NECESSARY, MAY BE FOUND IN THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 23, 2006, SELECTMEN’S MEETING.

The Windham World Affairs Council has an interesting looking program a week from tomorrow in Brattleboro.  Here are the details...

CENTRAL ASIA: AMERICA’S NEWEST FRONTIER

____________________

ISLAM, HUMAN RIGHTS, DICTATORSHIP,

AND DEMOCRATIC REFORM

Featuring

DR. GLEN W. SWANSON

American Council of Learned Societies Foreign Area Fellow

    Glen W. Swanson will consider Central Asia’s importance in world politics and America’s interests because of its strategic position and rich oil reserves, tempered by the issues of security, Islam, human rights, dictatorship, and democratic reform.

FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2006

7:30 PM

BROOKS MEMORIAL LIBRARY

224 MAIN ST.

BRATTLEBORO, VT 05301

According to yesterday's Sentinel, there will be a memorial service for Bob at 1:00 p.m. next Monday, March 6, at St. John's Episcopal Church in Walpole.  There will be no funeral home calling hours, and the burial will be private.

In addition to Georgie, Bob was survived by his daughter, Nancy Banks, of Acton, MA and two sons, Robert Haight Jr. of Murrells Inlet, SC and Stephen Haight of San Diego and five grandchildren.

The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Bob's memory to Cheshire Medical Center in Keene or to St. John's Episcopal Church in Walpole.