Co-Leader Robin Lique tells me that 11 girls in her Junior Girl Scout Troop 299 will receive the highest award in Junior Girl Scouting a week from Thursday, June 8, at 4:00 p.m. at the North Walpole School.  The girls have earned these awards by completing a major project called "Fit for a Princess" in which they learned all about health maintenance for youngsters and shared their knowledge in a day-long progam for younger students in the school.  They will be the first in the area to earn the award, and it will be presented by a field executive of the Scouts that will be coming for the occasion.  Let's ALL show up and congratulate these girls! CCB

Here they are courtesy of Regina Borden.  CCB

TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MAY 18, 2006

Selectmen Present:            Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller, (Absent: Sheldon Sawyer)

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

Mr. Sawyer is attending the DES meeting on the Cold River at the Vilas School in Alstead.  

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $167,326.62.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

PAYROLL:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending May 13, 2006, for gross wages in the amount of $15,352.68 or net wages in the amount of $9,117.80.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Miller moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $3,704.32.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Miller moved to approve and sign the salary document for the Office Manager that was approved last week.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Miller moved to approve and sign the salary document for Elaine Moore as the Welfare Officer in the amount of $3,000.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Miller moved to approve the hiring of Gus Rogers in the Solid Waste Department as a temporary part-time employee to work on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday each week until a permanent part-time employee can be hired.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Mr. Miller moved to enter into a Executive Session to discuss possible Litigation.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich and, on a roll call with all in favor, the motion was approved.  The time was 7:40 pm.

The regular meeting resumed at 7:48 P.M. No announcements were made.

PUBLIC BUSINESS: 

ROBERT JASSE:  Mr. Jasse apologized for not obtaining a Building Permit as it was an oversight on his part.  The building was built according to specs and is now finished.  Charles Frye was the electrician, James Plumbing was the plumber and Thayer Fellows was the engineer.  The septic system is in good condition.  One pending issue is a letter from Fire Chief Hurb Hurlburt following his inspection of the addition.  Mr. Jasse left the Building Permit and engineer’s report with the Board of Selectmen.

TRANSFER OF FUNDS:  Mr. Miller moved to transfer $500,000 from the MBIA to the Savings Bank of Walpole Town checking account.  The chairman is authorized to sign the withdrawal form.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

HOOPER PROPERTY:  Jeff Miller and Richard High, members of the Hooper Golf Club, asked for an up-date on the painting of the Hooper Mansion as they would like to have it done this year.  Eloise Clark sent the specs out to ten painting contractors but only received two to-date.  There was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to wait one more week before making a decision. 

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- MAY 11, 2006:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of May 11, 2006, with the following changes:  Page 1-5thnd sentence – start sentence with “Mr. Hurlburt” rather than “He”.  Add a word in the third sentence as follows:  Mr. Miller noted that “before” Mr. Jasse obtains a Liquor Permit----.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor of the motion and amendment, so voted.    paragraph-2

Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the May 11, 2006, Executive Session as printed.  The Minutes will remain sealed as they contain information on personnel.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the Minutes of the following meetings:  1) Planning Board Meeting of May 09, 2006; 2) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meetings of April 25, - May 02, and May 09, 2006; 3) Cemetery Committee meeting of April 27,  and May 09, 2006, and 4) Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting of May 17, 2006.

WARRANTS:

REPORT OF EXCAVATED MATERIALS –GEORGE GRAVES- MAP 001-016-000:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Gravel Taxes in the amount of $597.08 for George Graves.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

BUILDING PERMITS:

FRANK AND LINDA PALMIERI – MAP 012-055-007:  The Board of Selectmen signed the cover document for Building Permit No. 2006-021 for Frank and Linda Palmieri that was approved at the last meeting.

SAM TALMADGE – MAP 010-024-000:  Mr. Miller moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-022 for Sam Talmadge and Eloise Carriere to demolish an el and farmers porch and replace it with a larger addition.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

WELDON AND EILEEN SMITH – MAP  016-005-MH05:  Mr. Miller moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-023 for Weldon and Eileen Smith to remove a 1964 mobile home and replace it with a newer mobile home at 16 Hogan Lane.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

OLD BUSINESS:

VANGUARD GROUP:   Mr. Miller discussed this document with Bruce Kramer of the Trustees of Trust Funds.  Mr. Miller will take the document to Attorney Kasper to fill out and bring it back for the signatures of the Board of Selectmen.

LAFAYETTE BUILDING PERMIT – QUESTIONS:   There was a consensus of Mr. Miller and Mr. Aldrich to ask Mr. Sawyer to contact Mr. Lafayette to check on the status of the Building Permit. 

NEW BUSINESS:    

LAWRENCE ASSOCIATES – LETTER REGARDING NORTH WALPOLE LAND USE:  The Board of Selectmen acknowledged receipt of a letter from the Lawrence Associates regarding the issue of land in North Walpole.  Mr. Miller suggested that one copy of this letter be put in the Jill

Bowen file, a copy mailed to the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners and a copy placed in the file where Elaine Moore keeps such information.

CEMETERY DEEDS –LOTS D351-352; D-411-412; D471-472: 

Lots D411-412:  Mr. Miller moved to table the Cemetery Deed for David and Christina Peck pending a clarification on the price.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

Lots D-471-472:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the sale of Cemetery Lots D471-472 for Susan R. Peck for $800.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

Lots D351-352:   Mr. Miller moved to table the Cemetery Deed for Eldred and Pearl as the last name was omitted on the document.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

REGISTRY OF DEEDS –OPEN HOUSE- MAY 24:  The Board of Selectmen received a notice that there will be an Open House on May 24th, 2006, from 5:00-to-7:00 P.M. at the Registry of Deeds in Keene.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER SEMINAR – IS THERE A FOX IN YOUR HEN HOUSE-(REGARDING FRAUD) SEMINAR ON JUNE 21, 2006:  This Seminar will be held on Wednesday, June 21st, 2006, from 5:00-to-8:00 pm at the Town Hall in Peterborough.

Mr. Miller moved to allow either one or both of the full-time office staff to attend this seminar if they choose to do so.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted. 

NORTH WALPOLE ROUTE 12 PROJECT:  The Board of Selectmen acknowledged receipt of a letter from the Department of Transportation (DOT) concerning the curbing in North Walpole on Route 12.  Mr. Miller recommended writing to the DOT acknowledging this letter and to advise that it was forwarded to the Highway Agent for his input.

QUINTON FUND:  Mr. Miller asked Bruce Kramer, Trustees of Trust Funds, to let him know what this fund earned last year.

Sheldon Sawyer came into the meeting at 9:22 P.M.

HOOPER BOARD OF TRUSTEES:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the painting bid from the Brattleboro Painting and Carpentry Service if it is a firm bid of $10,175.00 for the Hooper Institute.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:  Jim Terrell had requested that the Town Highway Department be allowed to swap two holidays.  They will work on Fridays (their day off during the summer schedule) in order to have Mondays and Tuesdays off for both the Memorial Day week-end (May 29th and 30th) and the July 4th weekend (July 3rd and 4th), 2006.

TOWN HALL ROOF:  Mr. Sawyer is waiting for an estimate to do additional roof repairs on the Town Hall.

WARRANT FOR THE 2006 FIRST ISSUE PROPERTY TAXES:  Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen will sign the Warrant for the 2006 First Issue Property Taxes as soon as they are completed.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT:  Mr. Sawyer moved to have Rick Cooper and Elaine Moore meet to go over any charges for mileage of the Town truck.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

COLD RIVER MEETING:  Mr. Sawyer provided a report on the Department of Environmental Services meeting he attended this evening on the post-flood activities, management and permitting requirements in the Cold River watershed.  It was a good informational meeting and there was a question and answer period.  They were just granted an $80,000 grant to study what can be done along the river bank to restore the vegetation.  Mr. Sawyer brought up the concern of why aren’t people able to get the trees out of the rivers.  They were told that as long as equipment isn’t put into the river the trees can be removed.

LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:

ROBERT HESS:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Robert Hess regarding the road cleanup in front of his residence on North Road.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted. 

NORTH WALPOLE VILLAGE COMMISSIONERS – RADIOS:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sent the letter to the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners regarding radios.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 9:56 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

                                                               

 

 

  

I'm happy to report that Walpole Boy Scout Blayze Robbins-Lique, who collapsed in the heat yesterday at the Memorial Day ceremony on the Common, is "doing well" today according to his mom, Robin Lique.  They're not certain what happened, but she's taking him to the doctor for a follow-up checkup. Blayze, a 5th grader at Walpole School, is thinking about baseball practice tonight!  Good luck, Blayze!  CCB

Ed. Note: I thought many of you might like to read the text of Dr. Chuck Shaw's Memorial Day remarks delivered on the Common this morning. Here it is...

    Good morning. Commander Hladky, Representative Sawyer, Representative Pratt, Walpole selectmen, Legion members, parade participants, families and friends.  Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this Memorial Day. This is my wife, Ellie’s, and my favorite holiday. We love the simplicity. We love the tradition, and we respect its meaning.

    Parts of the fabric of my family history, like most of yours, are woven from participation in present and past conflicts of our country.
I would like to dedicate this speech to several people. First, my
father, an electrical engineer, who, during World War II, was
relocated to the Bell Laboratories on Long Island to work on
developing aircraft radar. Twenty-five years later I was using updated
versions of that same radar in the A-6 Intruder to help me and my
navigator, Rob Jordan, slice through the mountains of Virginia and
Southeast Asia.

Second, my father’s best boyhood friend from Belleville, Kansas, Chevy White, killed at the age of 22 as a Marine in WWII at Guadalcanal. I honor him as well.

     I would also like to dedicate this speech to my father-in-law who, as a civil engineer in North Africa and Italy in WWII for three years, came home to a new daughter, a new family, and a new life. And finally to our fathers’ wives, Ellie’s mother and my mother, who held their lives together with limited resources but with extended family support during that difficult time.

     Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it has previously been referred to, was officially created by the residents of Waterloo, New York, on May 5, 1866, to honor its soldiers killed in the War between the States, or Civil War.  By 1868 Memorial Day was officially declared as May 30 until 1971 when, for the sake of the three-day weekend, it became officially recognized as the last Monday in May. Now, Memorial Day is the day designated to specifically honor Americans who died while serving their country.

     As I thought about this privilege to speak today, the question I kept revisiting was what would our departed honored veterans, who gave their lives for this country….. what would they say about the events of today and, specifically, events that incorporate the use of military personnel in life threatening roles. Who would risk one life of one American military person without completely understanding as much as possible the consequences of that decision. When General Eisenhower decided upon the Normandy invasion in WWII he must have made that decision with an extremely heavy heart knowing completely the loss of life that would be certain. By the end of that war the peace movement in the United States was at its strongest. People at that time had experienced loss of loved ones, gas rationing, meat rationing, steel pennies, and victory gardens while their lives were put on hold in order to support the War.

But today we send our military personnel, people who have chosen to serve and sacrifice, ..… we send them to Iraq while we go shopping at the mall. Whether for democracy, oil, or Texas justice, or to alienate another section of the world, we have created an unpopular conflict. If we were the ones to break it, we need to fix it. Pity that we may be asked to sacrifice anything that may slow our consumption economy while our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen are ordered to take life-threatening risks on a daily basis with inadequate numbers of personnel and inadequate protective equipment. And make no mistake, I fully support the individual honorable efforts of every one of our servicemen in Iraq and around the world.

I am heartened by the senior retired American military officers who continue to come forward to speak out against the decisions of the current administration that have weakened military effectiveness.  The failure of Vietnam, from which I served, was placed squarely on the lap of the American military. They are not going to sit idly by and take that blame again.

     In many ways, war represents failure:

1.   failure of resolution that would eliminate loss of life.

2.    failure of resolution resulting from the collective strengths of rational minds to reach a conclusion satisfactory, and most likely begrudgingly, to all parties involved

3.    failure of the ability to recognize or understand another culture,

4.    and failure of forgiveness for past transgressions that hold the anger and paralyze progress.

Let us hope that the next war, if there ever should be one, and there most likely will, happens because the consequences of NOT going to war far outweigh those of going.

As we pursue our own American dream let us take the time to stay informed and get involved with what is really going on in our schools, our town, our state, our country and our world. I hope and pray that as our world gets smaller and we personalize relationships around it in our work, our play, our travels, and our outreach that the sooner we all realize that we sleep, we eat, we work, we play, we feel joy and sadness over the same events of our daily lives that we will collectively work to eliminate the evils of greed, of terrorism and the way we treat those we accuse of terrorist acts, of selfish secrecy especially when people are hurt by exposure, misinformation or invasion of privacy, and that we support our veterans and military personnel, people who knowingly have risked their lives, both in active duty and retirement.

          May God bless this day and return each of us to our lives to do our best. Thank you

    

 

Editor's Note: If you attended last Tuesday's Planning Board meeting or read the minutes that were posted here Friday, you know that a batch of 15-20 citizens' letters to the Board concerning the Berkshire Development proposal were not allowed to be read to Board members on the motion of Berkshire attorney Tom Hanna.  Hanna argued that the time for public comment on the proposal was past and that Berkshire would be prejudiced by Board members seeing the letters.

While Hanna may have been correct procedurally, we wonder if suppressing of the letters was in the best interests of the town and its future. 

Here is the letter that Sue and I submitted.  The other letters, I know because I talked with many  of the writers, were quite similar. 

We think the letters' approach suggests a way to promote sensible and needed commercial devlopment in Walpole, to avoid the costs and divisiveness of law suits, one of which has already been filed, and to break the stalemate that the Planning Board seems to be in.  And one other thing.  We are convinced that Berkshire itself would much rather propose and get on with a plan that the majority of the town wants and will support than fight for a "white elephant" plan that few can support with enthusiasm.  Let's help them out of the box they're in and encourage them to use their great experience and skills to offer some creative alternatives.  Let's get on with guiding such a process! Chuck Bingaman

Charles and Sue Bingaman

P.O. Box 390

Walpole NH 03608

May 20, 2006

To Chairman Jeff Miller and the Walpole Planning Board Members:

          We favor balanced commercial development that meets Walpole's present and future needs and does not overwhelm Walpole’s scale and rural atmosphere.  And, because we have been favorably impressed with the thoroughness of Berkshire’s preparatory work here, we favor working with Berkshire for future development.

 We urge you to tell Berkshire that you will not approve its current proposal under our site plan regulations and zoning law because of the oversized nature of its primary building and because of its poor siting on the property that turns its back on the existing shopping area, creates an internal traffic bottleneck and dwarfs surrounding businesses and houses.

 However, if Berkshire would offer a reconfigured plan limiting the largest building to 40-42,000 square feet and otherwise fitting it in better with what is there now, as we think the majority townspeople favor, we say that it should get expedited consideration. 

We remind you that, in March, the Planning Board proposed, and the voters agreed by a vote of 910 to 212, that we should add to the purposes of our zoning ordinance “to…promote balanced growth, guide the character of development with aesthetically pleasing buildings and as much open space as possible, and to protect the historic nature, the economic and aesthetic interests of the town.”  You’ll also recall that, despite the Planning Board’s recommending against it and its failing to gain the required 2/3 majority, a most voters said then that they wanted to clarify the zoning ordinance to say “No” to new commercial buildings above 40,000 square feet.

          Walpole has shown signs of major growth potential. We think this is a perfect opportunity for you to “guide the character of development with aesthetically pleasing buildings and as much open space as possible, and to protect the historic nature, the economic and aesthetic interests of the town” by asking Berkshire for some more acceptable options. You might even suggest  some such as beginning with a thorough update of the current North Meadow Plaza, an expansion of the current Shaw's space, or a new stand alone grocery store that lines up with the current buildilngs.

Our future should be based on moderate development limits, working effectively with developers, avoiding unnecessary, expensive and divisive lawsuits, and maintaining our rural atmosphere and culture that we all enjoy.  We think those results can be achieved by the approach set out above. 

          We hope you agree with us that our recommendations can achieve those goals.

                                                Sincerely,

                                                Sue and Chuck Bingaman

                                               

Courtesy of secretary Pam Aslinger, here are her EXCEEDINGLY THOROUGH minutes of Tuesday's meeting.  CCB

Town of Walpole, NH  03608

PLANNING BOARD WORK SESSION

May 23, 2006  7.30PM in the Town Hall

Unapproved Minutes

Members Present:  Jeff Miller, Ch., Bob Miller, VCh., Dave Decoste, Henry Fletcher, Sheldon Sawyer, Ben Daviss, Pamela Aslinger, Alt., David Edkins, Alt.

Absent:  Eric Merklein, Ray Boas, Alt.

Presiding:  Jeff Miller

Recording:  Pamela Aslinger, Secretary

Note:  The meeting was tape-recorded, these minutes are NOT a verbatim transcription of the tapes.

These minutes will be reviewed at the June 13, 2006 meeting to be held at the Walpole Primary School at 7:30pm.

Notice of the meeting was properly posted.

The meeting was called to order at 7:35pm.  One member absent, no alternate appointed.

OLD/ONGOING BUSINESS

Ch. Miller diverted from the agenda began with announcing the Board had scheduled this work session to address Board review of the South Meadow/North Meadow Plaza aka

Walpole Properties/Berkshire Development Proposal at the May 9, 2006 meeting.  He said the Board intended to have a representative from the NH Dept. of Transportation to answer questions and update of the site layout for the entrance/exit at tonight’s meeting.  He said the rep. would have something ready for the June 13th meeting.  He said he did talk to a Bill Oldenburg at the State level, they are in process of reviewing the design plans.  Ch. Miller said further discussion would be taken up at the June 13 meeting.

Ch. Miller said the Board had also requested to review issues with Legal Counsel regarding square footage and conflict of interest.  He called for a motion to move into a non-public executive session to discuss pending legal litigation matters that may face the Board.  Dave DeCoste so moved, seconded by Ben Daviss.  Ch. Miller called for the vote.  Motion passed unanimously.

The Planning Board moved to the basement office, deliberated until 8:35 PM.

The Planning Board returned upstairs to the regular meeting at 8:35PM.

Ch. Miller said the Board would continue with the workshop.

Fred Dill stated he would like to recuse himself from discussion and deliberations on the Walpole Properties proposal, siting his financial interests.  He said he would like to sit in the audience, watch, learn and listen.  Ch. Miller said as an alternate member he was more than welcome to do that if Mr. Dill feels it is appropriate.  Mr. Dill left the table and sat in the audience.

David Edkins stated in light of the questions raised over his participation and as an alternate member of the Board, he requested the Board to vote on whether they felt he had a conflict of interest.  He said he did not feel he had a conflict, had signed the protest petition relative to the zoning amendment itself, which was consistent with the position the Board had taken on the amendment.  He said it had nothing to do with the project before the Board, he has not reached any conclusions on it.  He added because a question had been raised, he would ask the Board to vote on whether he should be disqualified. 

Mr. Daviss moved that Mr. Edkins remain at the table during the discussions of Berkshire hearings and has no apparent conflict.  Seconded by Mr. DeCoste, vote taken, motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Fletcher asked the Planning Board to vote on whether he should be disqualified from action on the Berkshire proposal due to conflict of interest.  He said he had absolutely no interest in Pinnacle View, owned by his brother, who was a signer on the protest petition.  Ch. Miller called for a similar motion to Mr. Edkins’ being no conflict, so Henry Fletcher could remain as a full acting member of the Planning Board.  Moved by Ben Daviss, seconded by Dave DeCoste, vote taken, motion passed unanimously.

Ch. Miller called for review on the Walpole Properties/Berkshire Development  proposal:

He said of primary concern was DOT’s review but we couldn’t address it at this time.

He called for other issues.

Mr. Edkins agreed that traffic was one of several issues, such as landscaping, bonding, looking at Kevin Russell’s list.  He said including DOT, other permits were still pending such as the Alteration of Terrain Permit, although Sec. Aslinger thought that had been completed.  Also status of sewer and water connections, clarify installation of systems.   He said those items should be addressed prior to the Board’s final decision on the application.

Mr. DeCoste asked if two buildings are allowed on one lot.  Sec. Aslinger said she had raised that question earlier.  Mr. Edkins said he had never heard that question raised before, many businesses in the commercial district had more than one building.  Ms. Aslinger said they were accessory buildings, such as Fall Mountain Building’s pole barns, but the Zoning Ordinance does not allow accessory use buildings in the Commercial District. 

Mr. Edkins said he had never heard that issue raised before, although it was a valid question and should be looked at.  Ch. Miller and others said they could not think of another situation where two separate buildings, with two separate uses existed on one lot. 

Mr. Dill stated a building permit was issued to a cabinet shop on the same lot as the Baseball batting cage business in the Industrial Zone last fall.  The Selectmen issued the permit without requiring a Site Plan Review, or notifying the Planning Board.  The Board agreed to inquire about whether a Site Plan should have been conducted.

Mr. Edkins said Ms. Aslinger had raised this subdivision question in an e-mail to Kevin Russell at SWRPC.  She said she had discussed it with the Board at the April 11th meeting.

Mr. Hanna interjected saying it was never discussed at any meeting he attended.  She said he left prior to the meeting being over, he argued that he had never left before a meeting was closed.  Ch. Miller intervened. 

Referring to Ms. Aslinger’s and Mr. DeCoste’s question, Mr. Edkins and Ch. Miller said they did not see in the ordinance anywhere, where it allows only one building on one lot.  Ms. Aslinger asked the members to refer to the Zoning Ordinance under Article VI. B  Commercial District.  Uses PermittedAa lot may be used or occupied only for the following purposes and in ac-cordance with the following provisions”.  She said she reads that to mean aone building, on a lot/one lot.  Mr. Edkins said he did not agree because every item listed after that is in the plural.  She said she sees those plural items being allowed in a/one building on a/one lot.  Mr. Edkins disagreed saying he thought she was reading something into the ordinance that isn’t there.  Ch. Miller said he thought it was a good question, Mr. Edkins said he wasn’t saying it wasn’t a good question.  which states “ building may be erected, altered or used and building/

Ms. Aslinger said being new to the Town and it’s ordinances her intent was to clarify what the ordinances mean.  After serving for 18 years on the Warner Planning Board and dealing with ordinances, she reads Walpole’s ordinances the way she had read and understood Warner’s ordinances.  To see what subdivision means in Walpole, 

she read the definition of “subdivision” within Walpole’s subdivision regulations noting it means:  the division of a lot, tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, plats, sites, or other divisions of land for the purpose …of sale, rent, lease, condominium conveyance, or building development etc.  She asked if the North Meadow Plaza had been subdivided under that definition.  Mr. Edkins said Ames built the original building and they later decided to subdivide the Ames building off from the other section so they could own their building and the land it was on.  He mentioned they sought a variance because of not meeting building setbacks.  He said all other stores are on a single parcel, the Shaw’s building is owned separately from the land it is on.  Mr. DeCoste asked if it was done through the subdivision process, Mr. Edkin’s said Ames requested it, not because it was a requirement.  Ch. Miller said yes, like the Bank, it was subdivided.   Mr. Edkins said he thought of a shopping center as a use of the property, whether it has multiple establishments, tenants or even buildings it is all the same use.  Ms. Aslinger said she thought the definition of subdivision allowed for the grouping of businesses in one building, that she did not see where the proposed larger building would require subdivision, just the separate restaurant building.  She said Kevin Russell of SWRPC thought the ordinances were ambiguous on this issue, to look around the Town for a similar situation.  She said she thought of Fall Mountain Building Supply and Pinnacle View’s pole barn/lumber storage/equipment storage areas.  Although the ordinance does not allow accessory use buildings, she considered these spaces as necessary buildings much like the loading dock at the proposed grocery store, a location to temporarily house inventory, accept shipments and deliveries.  But she did not see how a restaurant in a separate building could be considered even an accessory use building to the grocery store.

She said she felt it was important to avoid creating a situation where an applicant would not be in conformance with the subdivision regulations, this was her purpose in asking the question.  Mr. Edkins said he doubted it was ever interpreted that way before or would interpret it that way now, but the worst case scenario would be, Berkshire would have to create a new lot for the restaurant.   She added accessory use buildings that are not allowed in the Commercial district should be considered for a zoning amendment if they are thought to be allowed or should be allowed.  Mr. Sawyer asked what happens if there are two separate buildings on two separate lots and one person buys both, isn’t it allowed.  Answer was yes because they would already be subdivided. Mr. Sawyer mentioned the cabinet shop and batting cages were an instance of two separate buildings/uses on the same lot.  Members agreed the cabinet shop situation needed review, that it had never come before the Planning Board for Site Plan Review therefore the Board would not have been able to apply this interpretation.  Mr. Edkins still felt the interpretation was brand new and the Board was in uncharted territory.  Ch. Miller said it was a new question, but he couldn’t remember two distinct uses and buildings on one property allowed in the Town. 

Letters for the record

Ch. Miller asked to have noted in the minutes 10 letters had been received by the Board from concerned citizens regarding the Berkshire development. Sec. Aslinger added that more had come in throughout the week, now totaling 5 original letters and 14 form letters.  She began reading the names, was interrupted by Mr. Hanna objecting to comments coming to the Board after the Public Hearing had been closed, he couldn’t speak tonight since it was closed.  Sec. Aslinger said she was going to say, after she acknowledged who the letters had been submitted by, the Board does not have to read them into the record for them to be part of the record.  Mr. Hanna objected to them even being part of the record or to name names since they were written and received outside the process.  Ch. Miller said he just wanted to acknowledge the letters and would leave it at that.  Ms. Aslinger disagreed with Mr. Hanna’s objection.

Ch. Miller asked if there was anything else.

Sheldon Sawyer moved to adjourn the meeting until the June 13 meeting.

 Con’t review Walpole Properties/Berkshire proposal

Ben Daviss asked what the Board’s jurisdiction was on regarding traffic safety issues on both the inside and outside of the Berkshire proposal.

Ch. Miller said after his conversation with DOT, the Board would be waiting to hear from them.  That the State’s responsibility is to accept a design they feel would work, it’s not their job to say you can’t do this because of a,b,c, that it(DOT report) always is added as a condition of approval.

Ben Daviss asked if the State had the final word, we couldn’t challenge their decision?  Ch. Miller said he thought the Board could have some input and it is why he invited the Regional person come.  D. DeCoste asked if the Board had safety concerns, could the Board deny the application based on those concerns. 

Sec. Aslinger asked to read aloud her notes from the conversation she had with Mr. CR Willeke of the Regional District Office in Swanzey.  She had spoken to Mr. Willeke to

obtain the State contact person at the request of Ch. Miller.  Ch. Miller had also spoken with Mr. Willeke that day, 5/17/06.  The notes stated:  “Mr. Willeke said he had contacted Concord last Thursday (5/10) that Concord’s review of the study and concept plans on their part was almost done.  He did not feel it would be ready for our 5/23/06 meeting/work session, but might be ready for the June 13th meeting.  Mr. Willeke will forward a copy of Concord’s recommendations, once available, to the Town.  He said the District Office will or will not concur with the recommendations.  He said there didn’t seem to be a signal needed, basically it is a very similar configuration, with turning lanes etc., to the existing North Meadow Plaza.  He said his office would be the overseer of all recommendations.  I asked Mr. Willeke if the Board has safety concerns, are we to just assume the State DOT’s review was the final word?  Mr. Willeke said his agency cannot deny the traffic proposal or deny them access to Rte. 12 as long as it meets the standardized criteria his office uses for review.  He said for a development of that size, the standard criteria can be met, especially since there is a development of similar size next door.  I asked him since we did not know who the tenants were going to be, could the numbers be accurate as to traffic flow?  He said some of the numbers were based on a grocery store, but agreed the second building and other spaces were unknown.  He said Concord will check to see if it needs a traffic signal, and the District Office will double check that recommendation by doing their own analysis to see if it is warranted.  He said Concord views projects mainly “on paper”.  The District Office relies on the physicality of the location, they use seven specific “warrants” in their determination including crash history.  I reminded him the Townspeople are the ones driving the area, there is no way to quantify the “near misses” we all experience at the present Plaza.  I asked if he would be able to come to a Board meeting to answer the surfacing concerns over the traffic, scale and safety of the proposal.  He stated he would rather appear before the Board once the Concord review is in, and his office has had a chance to review what Concord is recommending.  I asked him if the Board could send along their concerns, he said yes, he had received a letter from a citizen in Town, he prefers to have them in written form not by e-mail.  He reminded that his District Office is the correct contact for the Board, not the Concord agency.  Chairman Miller said he invited Mr. Willeke to the June 13th meeting at 7:30pm.”

Sec. Aslinger said she hoped the notes answered some of the Board’s questions.

Mr. Daviss asked if the State presents us with an ok for a plan, it’s not within our purvue to say no this isn’t ok, this lane needs to be longer etc., do we have to take or leave it?  Ch. Miller agreed, but Mr. Willeke is willing to take input. 

Mr. Sawyer withdrew his motion to adjourn.

NEW BUSINESS

Sec. Aslinger asked to go over the remaining agenda items, beginning with a letter received from Mr. Larry Burdick:  Mr. Burdick wrote a letter to the Board saying the minutes reflected an untruth about where deliveries were to be made at the new location.  The minutes state three different ways the deliveries would be taken on the side only.  Mr. Burdick said they would be taking deliveries in the back. Ch. Miller, Mr. Edkins and Mr. Sawyer were certain they thought deliveries were going to be made at the back of the building only.  Sec. Aslinger said the minutes she took did not show that, specifically an abutter in attendance asked if deliveries would be made at the back, Burdick’s representative (Cathy) said no, only on the side.  The abutter would be the one most affected by rear deliveries. The Board decided to write Mr. Burdick a letter acknowledging his concern and adding it to his file.  Members did not feel it should be re-heard, Mr. Sawyer said he didn’t see where there would be a conflict.

Meeting location change for June 13th

Secretary Aslinger reminded the Board that the June 13th meeting will be held at the Walpole Primary School Building due to Graduation taking place at the Town Hall, extra notices have been posted, the Principal will be putting up a sandwich board at the High School to direct persons to the Primary School.

Capital Improvements Program

Secretary Aslinger asked the Board to consider holding a Public Hearing, June 13th for the adoption of the Capital Improvements Program completed by SWRPC, since the agenda was lighter than usual, the hearing notice had been created, it was just a matter of posting and providing a couple of copies for public review.  She said the Town had spent $5000.00 to create it, the Board should be prudent in getting it adopted.  She reminded the Board she will be gone from June 19 through August 10.   She was hoping to have this done ahead so as not to leave it for Regina Borden, who will be covering while she is away.  Ch.Miller and Mr. Edkins felt it would be better to wait until after the Board had completed the Berkshire proposal, that it should be moved to July at the earliest, thus allowing for a more complete review of the document.  Mr. Sawyer said it was a rather easy process to adopt it and it was not disputable.  (tabled until June meeting) 

Other

Mr. Sawyer said the DOT was holding a hearing on the 27th regarding the bridge over the Cold River.  He said input would be appreciated.  Ch.Miller asked if the center  abutment would change the course of the river.  Mr. Sawyer said the public was used to seeing the center abutment in the stone arch bridge.  He said DOT had considered relocating the bridge but because of steep slopes and moving houses they decided to replace the bridge.

Walpole Properties/Berkshire proposal deadlines

Sec. Aslinger reminded the Board of the “day” in the review process of Berkshire’s Proposal.  As of 5/23/06 we are at day 34 of the additional 65 day extension.  April 11 was day 57 of the first 65 day period, April 19 was day 65. June 13 is day 55 of the extension, June 23 is the 65th day.  She said if the Board was considering an extension these dates should be kept in mind.  Mr. DeCoste said he didn’t think a final decision  could be made on the proposal without the DOT report, members agreed and in hopes the plans could be available by the June 13 meeting.

Sec. Aslinger said she had mentioned in the agenda items, if the applicant submitted new materials or when the DOT study came in, the Board could schedule a second public hearing, that those items should be reviewed under public hearing process.  Just because this phase is closed doesn’t mean the Board couldn’t hold an additional hearing.

Mr. DeCoste asked when the bonds etc. would be written.

Mr. Edkins said the Board needs to craft them and put them into its decision, they would be the details of the final decision, and negotiated with the applicant.

Mr. Daviss asked who was responsible for writing those kinds of items.

Mr. Edkins stated the Board was, by pulling together a proposal,

Ch. Miller said it was interesting because it does come from the Board, the Board has to come to a decision whether it is a good proposal or bad proposal.  If there is a prevailing motion that it’s for certain reasons it is a no go, then you don’t have to deal with the conditions.  If a motion is in favor of the proposal then the conditions would be part of the motion, and listed.  He said a voting member of the Board even now, has the perogative, they could be putting it together now.

Other

Sec. Aslinger asked to clarify Mr. Hanna’s attack about the question on the subdivision not being brought up at a meeting he attended, needed to be settled.  (Mr. Hanna was not present) that in fact Mr. Hanna and the Berkshire group did leave before the meeting was over.  Ch. Miller said he knew it was brought up during the meeting and not to worry about it, the subdivision question was legitimate and needed to be addressed no matter who raised it.  Mr. Edkins said honestly it is not a big deal they can just subdivide the lot.  Ms. Aslinger agreed, her intent was to simply understand the regulations, the ordinances are so thin.  Mr. Sawyer felt when Ms. Aslinger had brought it up, no one on the Board seemed to be interested so it should have left Ms. Aslinger with the impression that it wasn’t a big deal. Mr. DeCoste said he had originally brought up the question not Ms. Aslinger.   Ch. Miller said he thought it was an interesting concept.  Mr. Edkins  said in the grand scheme of things what is to gained by drawing an imaginary  line across that lot, how does it make it a better or worse project.  Ch. Miller said so it conforms to the subdivision regulations.  Ms. Aslinger agreed saying, so it simply conforms to what is written in the ordinance.  Mr. Edkins said he thought Ms. Aslinger’s interpretation was a stretch to begin with.  She said so does Mr. Hanna, she is only acting as a board member trying to contribute to the review.  Mr. Edkins said he wasn’t criticizing, he just didn’t agree. 

Mr. Fletcher said that there are seven members on the Board, there is some give and take to be expected. 

Mr. Miller said he still couldn’t come up with another situation in Town where two separate use buildings were on the same lot.

Mr. Fletcher asked about Pinnacle View’s additional building.  Ch. Miller said it would be an accessory use, an expansion of the same use.  It wasn’t as if Pinnacle View asked to have a second building in the back of their property for a Real Estate office, which would be an example of two distinct uses.  He said he cannot think of any approval or denial the Board has made regarding the issue because it has not happened.  He said North Meadow Plaza could have been an instance but they went through the subdivision process because everyone wanted to own their own property.  Ms. Aslinger said this was her point, North Meadow Plaza did follow the subdivision requirement.  Ch. Miller said he could

understand where you can see the interpretation and it is one of those issues that needs to be clarified just like the 40,000 sq. foot issue. 

Mr. DeCoste said it is possible if an applicant came in with two buildings/uses on one lot, then the Board could possibly deny the entire proposal if the Board didn’t want one or the other building, therefore the subdivision regulations provide the protection against that action.  He said to look at it from a turned around position.

Mr. Sawyer said but the Board is only concerned with the one building at present because nothings been proposed for the second building.

Ch. Miller said no, both buildings are shown on the plan and will be built if approved.

Mr. DeCoste said the point is, if part of the proposal doesn’t meet the regulations, then should the entire proposal be denied?

Mr. Daviss said this is why it needs subdividing.  

Mr. Sawyer said if there is only one part that doesn’t work, why deny the entire project.

Mr. DeCoste strongly disagreed with Mr. Sawyer, the whole project needs to meet the regulations because it is all on one parcel.

Mr. Sawyer said it could be a condition put on a proposal for acceptance, yes you can do this, but you can’t do that, it would be up to the applicant to decide whether to follow the conditions.  Mr. DeCoste said if they don’t meet the conditions then the whole project would be invalid.

Mr. Fletcher said then they could either subdivide or go to the Board of Adjustment.

Mr. Daviss asked if Berkshire had submitted all they had been required to, was everything complete? 

Sec. Aslinger said yes, Mr. Edkins said except for some permits and the DOT plan.

Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn.

Secretarial Position

Ben Daviss asked about the final agenda item, Secretarial Position.  Sec. Aslinger said she and Regina Borden had agreed to continue sharing the position although she had considered having Regina take over fully.  Sec. Aslinger will be gone for a portion of the summer in Montana, but reachable by phone and e-mail to stay in touch.  If the Board is agreeable, she and Regina will continue with their arrangement.

Mr. Sawyer amended his motion to adjourn until the June 13, 2006 meeting to be held at the Walpole Primary School Community Room at 7:30pm.

Seconded, carried.

Meeting adjourned 9:30pm

Cc:  All PB members, ZBA, Select’s Office, Town Clerk

Posted:  Town Hall, Town Hall Lobby, Burdick’s Market, Town website

 

 

 

  

   

 

     

 

 

 

 

Looking for some activities for the weekend?  Here's some news courtesy of Marche' Brown and Tara Sad. CCB

A “Ring The Bell Bash” will be hosted at the Walpole Historical Society on Saturday, May 27^th – Memorial Day Weekend.  This day will celebrate the completion of the repair work to the Academy Building that houses the historical society, and the first day that the BONG BONG of the bell will be heard in years.   The celebration will also mark the opening of the Historical Society Museum for the season, the unveiling of new exhibits, and introduction of new docents to the public. 

            The “Ring the Bell Bash” will take place on the lawn of the Academy building from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.   Snacks, refreshments and surprises will be offered under a tent in case of inclement weather.  The once in a lifetime chance to be the first person to ring the bell this century will be offered to the highest bidder.  Come prepared to bid high and often!  Proceeds from the auction will go toward the remaining costs of the repairs.

It has been many years since the people of Walpole have heard the old bell in the Academy Building tower ring.  The bell is dated 1840 and marked George H. Holbrook, a foundry established in 1797 in Medway, Massachusetts whose founder apprenticed with Paul Revere.

            For over a century, the ringing bell would signal the start of a new school day for students at the Walpole Academy, later named the Walpole School.  Few people remember the sound of the tolling bell echoing throughout the town, because for years it has remained silent.  It has hung in a rickety, crumbling tower that was so precarious the bell might have crashed to the ground had someone tried to ring it.  So this fine bell hung motionless and toneless.

            On May 27, 2006, all that will change!  One lucky person will be the first to ring the bell that is now firmly secured in a shiny, new bell tower!  Thanks to the kindness of the townspeople, a generous private grant, and a very big mortgage, the Walpole Historical Society, working with the MacMillin Company, has completed the desperately needed repairs to the roof, columns, portico – and the bell tower!  The public is invited to join in the celebration. 

 

 

 

The Walpole Planning Board has a "working meeting" tonight, meaning a less formal meeting than usual when board members discuss options for dealing with various current agenda items.  While it is open to the public, only Board members speak.   Here's the agenda.  CCB

TOWN OF WALPOLE, NH  03608

PLANNING BOARD WORK SESSION

MAY 23, 2006 at 7:30PM in the Town Hall

AGENDA

I.          Open Meeting

A.  Roll Call/Designate Alternates -  Jeff Miller, Ch., Bob Miller, V-Ch., Eric Merklein, Dave DeCoste, Henry Fletcher, Sheldon Sawyer, Ben Daviss, Ray Boas, alt., P. Aslinger, alt., Fred Dill, alt., Dave Edkins, alt.

B.  Other

II.            Old/Ongoing Business

            A.  Discussion of Legal Review/Report

                        1.  Executive Session

                        2.  Zoning Interpretation, 40,000 sq. ft. limitation

                        3.  Other - Letters for the record

            B.  Continued Review of Walpole Properties/Berkshire Development

Proposal on Rte. 12.  (The Public Hearing has been closed on this phase of the proposal)

1.  Zoning Interpretation, 40,000 sq. ft. limitation, subdivision

requirement for second building

                        2.  Traffic report, status of NHDOT

                        3.  Item by item review of SWRPC’s report

                        4.  Item by item review of Wagner Engineering submissions, reports

                                    and responses

                        5.  Item by item review of Town Official’s reports

                        6.  Other item by item reviews of previously submitted materials

7.  Other item by item reviews of newly submitted materials, schedule

     an additional public hearing?

                        8.  Discussion of time line for Board action on the proposal

                                   9.  Other

III.       New Business

            A.  Burdick’s Chocolates - delivery location mention

IV.       Other

            A.  Review agenda items for June 13, 2006 meeting, meeting being held at the

                        Walpole Primary School Community Room.

            B.  Capital Improvements Program Public Hearing/Budget report

            C.  Discussion of Secretarial Position

            D.  Other

V.        Close Meeting

Cc:  All PB members, ZBA Chairman, Select’s Office

Posted:  Town Hall, Burdick’s Market, Town website:  www.walpolenh.us

 

              

                       

                       

 

 

 

Courtesy of Secretary Lucy Weber, here are minutes of last night's Zoning Board meeting...

MINUTES--17 May 2006

Present:  E. Vose, M. Mansouri, J. Galloway-Leclerc, L. Carignan, W. Webb, L. Weber.

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING MINUTES WILL BE REVIEWED ON 21 June 2006.

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.

PUBLIC HEARING: Walpole Creamery, LLC, 532 Main Street—Special Exception.

Timely notice of the public hearing was posted and published, and all abutters were notified by mail.

            Ms. Mansourri recused herself, as she works with Cindy Westover.   Mr. Carignan and Mr. LaClair were appointed to serve as voting members.  Mr. Britten arrived, and Mr. Carignan resumed his role as alternate.  David Westover presented the proposal, introducing Steve Caswell of Ye Goodie Shoppe in Keene and Tom and Cindy Beaudry, dairy farmers, the other partners in the business, and Vic and Maria Castellano, owners of the leased premises.  Applicants are proposing the manufacture and wholesale and retail distribution of high-quality hard ice cream made from scratch, not from a mix.  The enterprise is in the north end of the building with the existing Laundromat and Tire Center.  The premises, just over 1000 square feet, will house manufacturing operations in the rear of the building, and retail sales of cartons and a seasonal scoop shop in the front third of the space.  The back space will resemble a milking parlor with washable surfaces and floor drains per State regulations.  The State inspector has viewed the property.  Paved parking spaces are located in front and in back of the building, and you can drive through around the back. A 10 x 30 exterior freezer unit from Kelly Containers will be installed outside the building against the north wall.  A similar unit with a larger motor is used at Bellows House Bakery and makes no more noise than a big air conditioner unit.

            The partners will manufacture the ice cream, and when the seasonal scoop shop is running, three or four seasonal employees will be hired.  The partners will use the rear parking spaces.  Truck traffic consists of raw milk, delivered once a day or less, and supply deliveries received two or three times a week.  Wholesale deliveries will be made from a pickup truck with a food locker on the back.  Eventually, they hope to purchase a Swann-type truck for deliveries.  The scoop shop will operate from mid-afternoon til no later than 9:00 PM..  Picnic tables will be placed on the lawn.   The building is equipped with 3 Phase power and town sewer.  It is served by a well, and water will be recirculated to avoid excessive strain on the well.  The long-term goal is to open a milk bottling operation at another site in Walpole, which has the largest number of active dairy farms in the state.

            Mr. Vose explained that because the operation includes activities defined as manufacturing, the applicants must satisfy the industrial use criteria for a Special Exception.  He read the standards from the ordinance, including setback requirements, adequate off-street parking and loading facilities, and lack of offensive dust, noise, odor, fumes or water pollution.  Also required is a recommendation from the Planning Board, which has been received. 

            Mr. Webb inquired about the distance from the edge of the freezer to the property line, which must be more than 20 feet.  The Castellanos believe there is more than 20 feet to the pie-shaped wedge of property on the north side.  Ralph Murray, abutter, asked if the freezer could be installed at the back rather than the side, avoiding the distance issue and lessening the noise for his property.  The Castellanos replied that there is a snow issue in the back, making it impractical to place the trailer against the building.  They offered to go and measure the distance to the side line.  Mr. Murray is concerned both about the noise issue and the placement of the picnic tables, as he says there was some encroachment by a prior occupant of the space.  Mr. Westover offered to meet with Mr. Murray regarding the placement of the tables.

Mr. LaClair asked how often the sanitization process would occur. Sanitization has to occur whenever the flavor of the ice cream is changed, and at the end of the day.  Standard milk house disinfectant is used, and then disposed of through the town sewer.  Mr. Vose asked about disposal of milk byproducts.  The creamery will use whole raw milk enriched by extra cream, so no milk byproducts will be produced onsite.  Ms. Mansouri asked, from the audience, if the proposed renovations to the building would cost less than $10,000 and Mr. Westover confirmed they would.  Mr. LaClair asked how much water is used in the cleaning process, and it was estimated about as much as washing a car or taking a shower—in the neighborhood of 15 gallons.

The matter was tabled while Mr. Carignan and the owners visited the site to verify measurements to the side line.

Old Business:

Mr. Vose inquired of Mr. Searles, who was present in the audience, if he was going to submit an application for the catalogue business on Wentworth Road.  Mr. Searles said he has a deposit on premises in Westmoreland, and hopes to move his operation there by summer, so he will not submit an application.

Mr. Vose stated that Mr. Pickering had decided not to proceed with the covering of his basketball court at this time, so no application will be forthcoming.

Gravel Pits:  Mr. Britton and Ms. Mansouri visited both Cold River Materials operations and found them to be in good order.  Mr. LaClair and Ms. Weber visited both Hodgkins pits and George Graves’ pit.  The Graves pit was in good order except for one point where the berm protecting the roadbed from a steep slope was low.  On a subsequent visit this problem was no longer apparent.

Ms. Weber expressed concerns regarding the Hodgkins operation, including potential silt runoff and operations close to the streambed and abutters at the Drewsville Road operation, and lack of barriers and landfilling of construction debris close to the streambed on the Route 12 site.  As the Zoning Board’s mandate is to regulate earth extraction operations, it is unclear what our role is with respect to the deposit of material on the property.  Mr. LaClair also wondered of parts of the site are due for reclamation operations. Both sites have been rechecked by Mr. Vose and Mr. Carignan, and a list of the concerns was left for Mr. Hodgkins.

Mr. Vose reported that some debris had been burned and cleaned up at the Woods pit, which he visited with Mr. Carignan.   The Sawyer pit on Route 12 is the only one not grandfathered, so a permit and performance bond for reclamation are in force.  The front part of the operation has been reclaimed and is the current Flea Market site.  The back part has some activity, and all was in good order.  

It was moved and seconded that we revisit all the gravel pits this fall to ensure compliance and to get back onto the fall inspection schedule, which was disrupted by last fall’s flood.  All voted in favor.

Minutes:  The minutes of the April 19 2006 meeting were approved with corrections already made by Ms. Weber.

The measuring crew returned and Mr. Carignan reported that there is in excess of 30 feet to the side line, so adequate space exists for the freezer.  Mr. Murray and others have gone up to Bellows House Bakery in North Walpole to assess the noise from their freezer.

Election of Officers:  The following officers were duly elected for the coming year:

Chair:  Ernest D. Vose

Vice Chair:  Myra Mansouri

Clerk:  Jan Galloway-Leclerc

The Walpole Creamery hearing was reconvened on the return of the property owners and abutter.  Mr. Murray reported that the niose from the freezer was not bad.  It was moved and seconded that the proposal be approved as submitted.  All voted in favor.

New Business:  There being no new business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.  The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at 7:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Lucy McVitty Weber

Courtesy of Regina Borden, Secretary, here are the Selectmen's minutes for May 4, 2006.  Chuck Bingaman.

TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MAY 4, 2006

Selectmen Present:            Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer

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

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

SURVEY – NH PROPERTY:  Bill Lawrence reported on his research done on the .14 acre property on East Street in North Walpole, as requested by the Board of Selectmen.  He reviewed the correspondence, plans, Deeds and talked with Aurelius DiBernardo.  There is documentation that in 1895 the North Walpole Village had the land; Jill Bowen claims that in 1919 it became Bowen property.  It was noted that someone cannot make a legal claim to land that belongs to the Village.  The Board of Selectmen asked Mr. Lawrence to provide them with a letter outlining his findings.  He will talk to Aurelius DiBernardo to bring him up-to-date on this matter. 

BUILDING PERMIT:

RICHARD FRANCIS – MAP 011-007-001:  Mr. Miller moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-016 for Richard Francis to build a one story, three bedroom frame house on Ramsey Hill Road.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

RICHARD & TAMMY LAFAYETTE – MAP 005-020-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-017 for Richard & Tammy Lafayette to remove an old mobile home and replace it with a double-wide mobile home and porch on the County Road.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

E-911 – BUCK TAYLOR:  Buck Taylor received the E-911 maps from the State.  He explained that any mapping is still a work-in-progress.  Mr. Taylor will have four color sets of the maps made to be distributed to the Fire Department, Police Department, Ambulance Service and the Board of  Selectmen’s office.  Each set consists of 46 pages. 

Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen approve and sign the acceptance letter with the State of New Hampshire to accept the map set and associated data.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.         

WALTER BAUER:  Walter Bauer is an abutter to the Dean Prentiss property off the Alstead Center Road.  He received a letter that a proposed lot line adjustment will be before the Planning Board next Tuesday.  He asked the Board of Selectmen to issue a “Cease and Desist” order as Mr. Prentiss is doing some work on the property and a well is being drilled yet Mr. Prentiss does not have a Building Permit.  The Board of Selectmen agreed that Mr. Prentiss can work on his land and drill a well but cannot start a dwelling without the Building Permit.  Mr. Bauer has two separate rights-of-way but has been unable to get to his property.  Mr. Sawyer will contact Mr. Prentiss to discuss and research this matter.         

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Mr. Miller moved to enter into an Executive Session to discuss possible land acquisition.  Mr. Sawyer seconded the motion.  On a roll call with all in favor, the motion was approved.   The time was 8:34 P.M.

The regular meeting resumed at 8:58 P.M.  No action was taken.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $53,442.17.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

PAYROLL:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending April 29, 2006, for gross wages in the amount of $16,204.78 or net wages in the amount of $9,117.40.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $3,910.95.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

HOOPER MANSION:  Mr. Miller moved to approve payment of the Royal Glass and Security Co., Inc. bill in the amount of $57.00 for the Hooper Mansion.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- APRIL 27, 2006:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of April 27, 2006, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Mr. Aldrich noted on page 3 under adjournment – “Mr. Sawyer” rather than “Mr. Miller” seconded the motion.  With all in favor, the motion and correction were approved.

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the Minutes of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meeting of April 18, 2006.

ABATEMENTS:

WATER/SEWER –GUY PRONESTI- MAP 019-048-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Water/Sewer in the amount of $4,167.14 for Guy Pronesti.  The meter was broken so was read incorrectly.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich were in favor.  Mr. Miller was opposed.  The motion carried by a 2-to-1 vote.

BUILDING PERMITS (Cont’d):

DANIEL AND JEANNE McALLISTER – MAP 005-002-006:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-018 for Daniel and Jeanne McAllister to build a 2-1/2 story house on the Wentworth Road.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

NEW BUSINESS:

LANDFILL STUDY COMMITTEE:  The Board of Selectmen is thinking about establishing a Landfill Study Committee and names are being sought to serve on it.

CEMETERY RULE CHANGE:  A notice was received from the Cemetery Trustees that as of May 1^st, 2006, artificial floral displays and decorations will only be permitted in moveable pots.  All others will be removed.

SALE OF CEMETERY LOT –JEROME GALLOWAY- LOT D-482:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the sale of cemetery lot D-482, to Jerome Galloway.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

USE OF TOWN HALL –JULY 24-JULY 28 – WALPOLE JR. PLAYERS:  Mr. Sawyer moved to allow the request of the Walpole Jr. Players to use the Town Hall from July 24^th to July 28^th,

2006, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm for a summer theatre camp and also for a performance Friday evening, July 28^th, 2006.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

HOOPER MEETING – REQUEST FOR BOARD OF SELECTMEN TO ATTEND:  The Board of Selectmen has been invited to attend a Game Dinner of Caribou and Pheasant on May 16^th, at 7:00 pm. at the Hooper Mansion.

HOOPER MANSION:  A memo was received from Teresa Kissell advising that Brendon Honey will have the handicapped ramp ready by the time the golf course officially opens.

HEATING OIL:  The Board of Selectmen made a decision not to participate with the State bid for heating oil for the coming heating season.

OLD BUSINESS:

NORTH WALPOLE:  Mr. Miller attended the meeting in North Walpole regarding the curb work on Route 12.  Following an inspection, the State engineer wants to bring the curbing up. 

TOWN HALL ROOF:  Jancewicz and Sons made some repairs to the slate roof but the Board of Selectmen is waiting for them to send in a report on work that needs to be done on the bell tower.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Mr. Miller moved to enter into an Executive Session to discuss personnel.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  On a roll call with all in favor, the motion was approved.  The time was 10:05 pm.

The regular meeting resumed at 10:20 p.m.  No action was taken.

Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 10:22 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

                                                                            

THESE ARE UNAPPROVED MINUTES.  CORRECTIONS, IF NECESSARY, MAY BE FOUND IN THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 11, 2006, SELECTMEN’S MEETING.      

Jackie Caserta tells me that the Walpole Village School's Annual Perennial Plant and Bake Sale will be held from 9:00 a.m. to Noon (rain or shine) next Saturday, May 20, at the First Congregational Church on the Common. "We'll have a wide selection of great perennial plants," Jackie promises, "including some unusual or hard to find varieties, and pies, cakes, cookies,homemade chili and baked beans from some of the best cooks in the area."  There will also be a selection of garden crafts created by the Walpole Village School children such as stepping stones, windchimes and garden toadstools. We'll hold a raffle for a chance to win a pair of irresistible planted shoes and a selection of premier specimens of perennials. Come out and help support your local school and get some great buys as well. Chuck Bingaman

    The Walpole Community Grange will host its annual
Awards Night Tuesday, May 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the
Walpole Town Hall.

     Trooper Matt Asselin of the NH State Police and
his dog Lazer will provide the entertainment /
education for the evening.

    Awards to be presented include:
   Community Citizens --George Gage and Ted          
                                            Brooks
   Agriculture--Bruce and Erin Bickford
   Educator--Fritzie Till
   Youth Service--The Alstead Flood History Project

     The Grange invites all community members to come
thank these outstanding Walpoleans.  Refreshments will
be served.  For more information, call Kathy or Gwen
Yardley, 756-3677.          

Here is my original report on Tuesday's Planning Board meeting that appears, in edited form, in today's Eagle Times.  CCB

5-10-06

Walpole Planning Board Conflicts Flare in Berkshire Development Review

By Charles C. Bingaman, Contributing Writer

            Angry personal and philosophical differences on the Walpole Planning Board flared Tuesday evening as members struggled to find a response to Berkshire Development’s proposal to build a 70,000 square foot commercial building south of the current North Meadow Plaza strip mall and were threatened with an injunction suit to disqualify three members over conflicts of interest.

            Speaking for the citizens group Walpole Tomorrow, Walpole attorney Nathan Lynch asked the board to disqualify member Henry Fletcher and alternates Fred Dill and David Edkins from participating in the discussion or decision on the Berkshire proposal because they own land in the town’s commercial zone.  Lynch said he hoped that the board could resolve the matter “by internal housekeeping.” The alternative to the members’ recusing themselves or the board disqualifying them from participating in the matter, said Lynch, was an injunction action in the Cheshire County Superior Court that he intended to file this week or next.

            Board chair Jeff Miller ruled that only board members themselves could, under New Hampshire statutes, raise conflict of interest issues and that, because no Board member had done so, the issue was mute.  But before Miller could issue his ruling, Edkins had demanded a closed executive session because the Board “had been threatened with litigation” and further demanded that Board members Eric Merklein and Ben Daviss and alternate Ray Boas should be disqualified for their membership in Walpole Tomorrow.  (Merklein replied that Edkins himself had been listed as a Walpole Tomorrow member and that Merklein had asked three times that his name be removed from the Walpole Tomorrow member list.  Boas noted that he had attended one meeting of the group more than 18 months ago and had taken no part in its activity since.  And Edkins said that his name was no longer on the roll as of 4:00 p.m. Tuesday.)

            Under unfinished business, Berkshire Development architectural, engineering and traffic consultants showed examples of building materials being considered and summarized minor changes in the planned development based on suggestions made in the April Planning Board meeting. 

Walpole resident Joe Dion asked whether it was appropriate for the Board to listen to details of the Berkshire proposal before it had determined whether the proposal could even be considered under Walpole’s zoning ordinance limit of 40,000 square feet for new commercial buildings.  Board chair Miller replied that Dion had “made a good point brought up at the appropriate time.”  But later, when Dion pressed for an answer to his question, Miller said “we’ll deal with it at the proper time” without further explanation.

The proper time had apparently arrived for Board member Bob Miller (no relation to Jeff Miller).  “It seems to me,” he argued, “that this Board is going to have to take a stand on ‘building or establishment’”, referring to the unresolved question whether Walpole’s 40,000 square foot limit refers to the size of permitted buildings or simply the size of permitted businesses within them with no limit on overall size.  Chairman Miller, noting that “the Board really hasn’t finalized its feelings one way or another” on that essential point, asked whether the Board was prepared to take a vote. 

After some discussion, the Board agreed to meet for an extraordinary “working session” at 7:30 p.m. May 23 and to ask its attorney, Peter Heed of Westmoreland, to provide it with some legal guidance at or by that time.

In other business, Walpole resident David Westover, asked the Board for a recommendation to the Walpole Zoning Board that he be granted a special use exception to allow a manufacturing operation in an commercial zone, as required by the zoning ordinance.  Westover explained that he and associates Tom and Charlotte Beaudry were forming a business, Walpole Creamery, to be based at 426 Main Street, Walpole, to make high quality ice cream from local milk sources.  The Board voted unanimously to make the recommendation to the Zoning Board.            

Here is an event announcement courtesy of Alice Fogel in Acworth.  (Alice, incidentally, recently won best in show in a New York Swap-O-Rama-Rama for her bridal gown made from 21 repurposed men's white dress shirts.) You can get further information by phoning Alice at 603-835-6783.  CCB

SWAP-O-RAMA-RAMA!

On Sat. June 3, from 9:00-3:00

at The Orchard School in East Alstead, NH

 there will be

a fashion spree of a different color!

It's a creative & ecological workshop that will teach you how to

TRANSFORM unwanted old clothes

into artsy or practical clothes for yourself.

SWAP-O-RAMA-RAMA

is a national movement event now being held here in our region.

The full day SWAP-O-RAMA-RAMA at the Orchard School will include

A Demonstration, Instruction & Exhibit

by custom clothier & designer Alice Fogel

(Grand prize winner in the Re-Fashion Design Contest)

on how to cut up, collage & reconstruct

sweaters, skirts, T-shirts, dresses, jeans & more;

Mixing, Matching, Slicing, Decorating, Pinning & Putting it all together;

Plus a Re-Fashion Show & Inspirational To-Do Lists.

AND

You will take home lots of "new" clothes!

No sewing ability is required.

A portion of proceeds go to scholarships for summer camp.

The cost for this full day spree, with lunch, & LOTS of newly created clothes,

is only $35 + 2 BAGS OF OLD CLOTHES.

Learn more about it at www.swaporamarama.org

SPACE ON JUNE 3RD IS LIMITED SO CALL TO PRE-REGISTER NOW! AT 603-835-6783

Alyson's Orchard has announced an open house on Saturday, May 13th to show off acres of apple blossoms. "Our four lodging properties will be open for tours as well," says proprietor Bob Jasse.  "And come by for refreshments and a peek at our newly-expanded Orchard Room Event Center.  Our Route 12 entrance is now open.  Open House hours from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m."

Glen and Melissa DiPalma opened their  "Web"-based business, Little Starfish, nearly a year ago from their home on County Road.  They specialize in mail order sales of outdoor clothing and equipment for children. Check out their web site at www.golittlestarfish.com.

The summer sheep season has arrived at Louise and Bob Anderson's at 226 Old Keene Road. Some people will resort to anything to avoid lawn mowing!

Courtesy of secretary Regina Borden, here are the April 27 minutes...

TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

APRIL 27, 2006

Selectmen Present:            Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer

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

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

JOANNE TRAMONTOZZI –DRA- CERTIFICATION REVIEW:  Joanne Tramontozzi, Department of Revenue Administration, distributed copies of the “Assessment Review 2006 – Information Packets”.  The Town is doing a statistical up-date with Jim Rice.  Mrs. Tramontozzi asked who her contact person will be in the office as she needs to make an appointment and go through some files.  The Board of Selectmen responded that Elaine Moore will be the contact person or her designee.  Mrs. Tramontozzi will be reviewing the Veterans Exemptions, Elderly Exemptions, Current Use, Exempt Charitables, etc.  It was noted that the tax maps are up-dated annually through Cartographic Associates.  About twenty (20) properties will be inspected for sales accuracy.  Jim Rice noted that in 2011 the Town will do the full up-date.  Mrs. Tramontozzi will also need a set of the tax maps.

SHARON TULLER:  Sharon Tuller lives on Prospect Hill.  A few days ago when the water main broke it cut a swath through their driveway and there is a lot of debris in her pond.   The water is not draining right above them.  Prospect Street is a state road but the water main is the towns.  The Board of Selectmen agreed to call in Troy Wilmott to look at the area tomorrow as it needs to be resolved as soon as possible. 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $482,196.67.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

The above amount includes a monthly payment in the amount of $328,427.85 to the Fall Mountain Region School District.

PAYROLL:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending April 22, 2006, for gross wages in the amount of $16,151.31 or net wages in the amount of $7,790.02.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Miller moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $3,928.49.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the Personnel form as presented for Joe Goodhue for the 2006 season for the Recreation Department.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Miller moved to sign the Personnel form as presented for Michael Milano for the Police Department for an hourly wage change.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

TRANSFER OF FUNDS:  Mr. Sawyer moved to authorize the transfer of $200,000 from the MBIA to the Savings Bank of Walpole and to authorize the Chairman to sign the document.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted. 

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- APRIL 20, 2006:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of April 20, 2006, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the Walpole Police Department Log for the period of April 17 to April 21, 2006. 

WARRANTS:

WALPOLE WATER FEES:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Water Fees in the amount of $68,958.90.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

WALPOLE SEWER FEES:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Sewer Fees in the amount of $40,642.36.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

OLD BUSINESS:

SEPTAGE PROBLEM:  Mr. Sawyer did an investigation into the septage problem that was referred to the Board of Selectmen from the DES.  He contacted Dr. Morosini, Health Officer, and they discussed the problem.  Mr. Sawyer recommended that the Board of Selectmen send a note to the DES advising that the Board of Selectmen satisfactorily settled the complaint; it is not a septic problem.     

NEW BUSINESS:

TOWN HALL #2 FUEL BID FROM STATE:  There was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to have Elaine Moore contact a few oil companies to see if they offer a locked-in bid for fuel so they will have something to compare with the State bid.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO EXCAVATE GRAVEL – MAP 001-016-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the Notice of Intent to Excavate Gravel for George and Freda Graves.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO CUT TIMBER – MAP 010-002-001:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the Notice of Intent to Cut Timber for Charles Shaw on Walker Road.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO CUT TIMBER – MAP 013-061-000:  Mr. Miller moved to approve and sign the Notice of Intent to Cut Timber for Greta Howard.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DATES:  Mr. Miller moved to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the Hazardous Waste Collection Dates document.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

ELAINE MOORE – PERSONNEL:  Elaine Moore discussed several matters with the Board of Selectmen as follows:  1) A bill was received from the Southwest Region Planning Commission for their work on the Capital Improvement Plan that was done last year and the funding was in last year’s budget.  The Board of Selectmen feel that payment will now have to wait until the next budget.  2)  The Board of Selectmen signed an application for Current Use for Fred and Carol Dill that was previously approved and signed.  The original document was double sided and was not accepted by the State.  3)  A brochure was received relative to a seminar on “Writing The

Employee Handbook” that will be held on May 23, 2006 in Concord.  4)  Discussed a personnel matter regarding payroll.

LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:

JEFF MILLER – PLANNING BOARD- RE: DEARBORN CIRCLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Jeff Miller, Chairman of the Planning Board, regarding the Petition received on Dearborn Circle.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

MR. & MRS. JEFFREY WHITE – RE: DEARBORN CIRCLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey White regarding the Petition received on Dearborn Circle.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Miller moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 9:28 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

THESE ARE UNAPPROVED MINUTES.  CORRECTIONS, IF NECESSARY, MAY BE FOUND IN THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 4, 2006, SELECTMEN’S MEETING.       

 

 

 

 

 

Here it is...

Walpole Planning Board Meeting

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 7:30 P.M. - Town Hall Building

Agenda

I.          Open Meeting

A.  Roll Call/Designate Alternates

B.  Approve Minutes of April 11, 2006 Meeting

C.  Other – Discussion of Legal Findings

D.     Petition – Rezoning Clarification of the Dearborn Circle/Burrows Lane Subdivision from Commercial to Residential B

II.         Review Application(s) Submitted:  Accept/Reject/Delay

A.  John A. Hubbard and Carol A. Hubbard – Two (2) Lot Subdivision located on

17 Old Drewsville Road in the Rural Agricultural Zone, Map 10, Lot 7.  Lot 1 of 2.76 acres with existing house and Lot 2 of 9.31 acres.  Mr. DiBernardo will be representing the applicants.

B.  Dean Prentiss and Robert L. & Stacie M. Gay – Proposed Lot Line

Adjustment located on the Alstead Center Road in the Rural Agricultural Zone, Map 15, Lots 29 & 29-1.  Purpose is to straighten an “L” shaped center line between the two lots.

III.       Close Meeting/Open Public Hearing

A.  John A. Hubbard and Carol A. Hubbard

B.  Dean Prentiss and Robert L. & Stacie M. Gay

IV.       Close Public Hearing / Re-open Meeting

V.        Action on Application(s) Submitted:  Approve/Disapprove/Delay

A.  John A. Hubbard and Carol A. Hubbard

B.  Dean Prentiss and Robert L. & Stacie M. Gay

VI.            Unfinished Business:  Pending Applications

A.  Walpole Properties, LLC – Site Plan Review, Continued Review

Update & Status of Pending Application Materials – Reports

VII.      New Business:  Preliminary Conceptual Consultations(s)

VIII.            Communications and Miscellaneous

A.  Review Items for Next Agenda

B.  Discussion of Legal Findings

C.  Other

IX.            Adjourn Meeting

  

Two world affairs opportunities to consider....

1. The National Geographic Society has launched a new effort to encourage students (and adults) to get more interested--and informed--about world geography with a new web site at www.mywonderfulworld.org.  Check it out AND share it with every child you know!  Very worthwhile! We are faced with so MANY complicated and major challenges in the world, yet we are not training our citizens to understand or deal with them. Effective training in geography is one place to start.

2.  If you'd lke an interesting academic vacation to a great U.S. destination in June, consider the Santa Fe Council on International Relations'  6/14-16 Summer Seminar on the Past, Present and Future of Iraq with a stellar international faculty.  Full info at http://www.santafecouncil.org.

CCB

*GROW MUSHROOMS IN YOUR GARDEN!*

On Saturday, May 13, 9:00 am-12:00 pm, in the Emerson Brook Forest, Gilsum, NH, Mycologist Dave Wichland will demonstrate the cultivation of the Elm Oyster and Shaggy Mane mushrooms. Both mushrooms are delicious and healthful additions to the diet and beneficial in the garden.

It has been reported that they promote cardiovascular health, boost immune system, fight cancer and intestinal disease, help control cholesterol, and have antibiotic and anti-tumor properties.

Elm Oyster forms a symbiotic relationship with plants, unlocking nutrients from the growing medium and feeding the roots of underlying plants. Shaggy Mane grows well in compost and manure rich soils, in deep beds of hardwood sawdust and woodchips, and in newly laid or fertilized lawns that are watered frequently.

Dave Wichland studied with Paul Stamets, probably the country's, if not the world's, leading mycelium expert . On his website fungiperfecti.com, Paul says his new book, "Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save The World," is a manual for the mycological rescue of the planet.

The cost of the workshop, sponsored by The Sustainability Project and the Hannah Grimes Localvore Project is $10. Participants who want to try growing these mushrooms at home can buy a bag of spawn from the instructor for $30. For more information or to register for the workshop email Jill Robinson at sustainabilityworkshops@verizon.net. When you register for the workshop, indicate if you'd like a bag of spawn for Elm Oyster, Shaggy Mane, or both.

The Sustainability Project promotes a love of nature, environmental stewardship, caring communities and ways of living that deepen our interconnection with the web of life. The Hannah Grimes Localvore Project promotes the enjoyment of local foods.

Ed. Note: Walpolean subscriber Jill Robinson sends the following note...

"If anyone is interested in joining a weekly morning meditation group, please email Jill Robinson at jillrob@gmail.com."

Walpole artistis Barbara Tarantino and Judy Stalus exhibit their watercolors and photographs, respectively, of spring flowers at Burdicks from now until the end of the month.  Don't miss this colorful and inspiring show.  CCB




by Barbara Tarantino

Ed. Note: Here are Selectmen's minutes from their April 20 meeting.  Note that I have established a NEW CATEGORY of materials in the right hand column for Selectmen's minutes.  Henceforth--and retroactively if I get around to it--ALL Selectmen's minutes will be listed in this catregory for ease of checking back.  Chuck Bingaman

TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

APRIL 20, 2006

Selectmen Present:            Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer

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

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

JEFFREY WHITE – PETITION TO REZONE DEARBORN CIRCLE:  Jeffrey White and Cathy White appeared before the Board of Selectmen and submitted the following Petition signed by 23 residents: 

“On 11/10/05, I appeared before you seeking a zoning clarification of the Dearborn Circle/Burrows Lane subdivision.  I was told then that I needed to consult the Planning Board for a true determination.  On 12/13/05 I went before the Planning Board to straighten this out one way or another.  The board verified that while we are taxed as if we are zoned “Residential B”, we are in fact commercially zoned.  While it was noted that the subdivision has protective covenants, I informed the Board that those covenants have pending expiration dates, thus offering us no protection from commercial encroachment/development from the abutting retail plaza(s).  The Planning Board was surprised to hear this and recommended that we “petition the Town for a zoning change from Commercial to Residential B”.

Please find before you a petition signed by the vast majority of our neighbors in support of this recommendation by the Planning Board.  It is clearly the hope of this neighborhood that you will accept this as proof that we indeed desire re-zoning, and that you now move forward in whatever manner is necessary to achieve this in a timely fashion.”

Mr. Miller moved to support the re-zoning request of Jeffrey White and Cathy White of Dearborn Circle as per their Petition.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

The next step is to forward this Petition to the Planning Board and request that it be included on their next agenda for the May meeting.

DON TRETTLER:  Mr. and Mrs. Trettler wanted to find out what the status is of the Dance Alpaca Farm.  The neighbors feel they bought in a residential area and want it to remain that way.  Mr. Sawyer contacted the Dance’s lawyer but, because of his schedule, they have not yet met to discuss it, therefore, Mr. Sawyer will contact him again tomorrow and stress the importance of working toward a resolution of the matter in a timely fashion.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $30,929.46.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

PAYROLL:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending April 15, 2006, for gross wages in the amount of $17,981.39 or net wages in the amount of $10,682.02.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Miller moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,345.24.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

TRANSFER OF FUNDS:  Mr. Miller moved to authorize the Treasurer, Myra Mansouri, to transfer $350,000 from the MBIA to the Savings Bank of Walpole.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Mr. Sawyer amended the motion that the Chairman be authorized to sign the document.  All in favor of the motion and amendment, so voted. 

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- APRIL 13. 2006:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of April 13, 2006, with the following corrections:  Page 3 –Dermott Daley- change map # “028-012-000” to “012-012-000”; and Page 3 –WRAP– change the advertisement for a Solid Waste “Manager” to an “Operator”.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the Executive Session of April 13, 2006, as printed.  The Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the Minutes of the following meetings:  1) Planning Board Meeting of April 11, 2006; and 2) Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting – April 19, 2006.

WARRANTS:

JERROLD SWAIN – MAP 011-024-001:  Mr. Miller moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Timber Taxes in the amount of $718.74 for Jerrold Swain.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

NORTH WALPOLE SEWER FEES:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of North Walpole Sewer Fees in the amount of $33,851.04.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

BUILDING PERMITS:

WALTER AND PATSY CAMPBELL – MAP 007-010-001:  Mr. Miller moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-015 for Walter and Patsy Campbell to construct a garage on their property.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Mr. Sawyer amended the motion that acceptance is based upon receipt of the side boundaries to be sure they conform with the Zoning regulations.  All in favor of the motion and amendment, so voted.

OLD BUSINESS:

TIMBER CUT – SIGN PAPERWORK FROM CONCORD:  The Notice of Intent to Timber Cut, Map 006, Lot 013, for Paul Galloway was returned to the Town from the Department of Revenue Administration for the approval of the Board of Selectmen. 

Mr. Miller moved that the Board of Selectmen approve and sign this Notice of Intent to Timber Cut for Paul Galloway.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

DR. MOROSINI – HEALTH OFFICER REPORT ON SEPTIC PROBLEM:  The Board of Selectmen acknowledged the letter from Dr. Morosini, Health Officer, regarding a possible septic problem.  It was agreed that Mr. Sawyer will contact the owner to further investigate this matter. 

HOOPER PAINTING – BIDS:  The Board of Selectmen received a copy of the painting specifications for the Hooper Mansion and Institute from Eloise Carter. 

Mr. Miller moved that the Hooper Institute policies should conform to the Town of Walpole policies.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

FLOOD DAMAGE REPAIRS – DES LETTER:  The Board of Selectmen reviewed the letter from the DES on flood damage and the need for repairs.  A permit must be obtained to work in the streams.  The Board will look forward to the visit from the DES.

NORTH WALPOLE:  Mr. Aldrich talked to Jim Terrell about the drainage concerns of David Hewes in North Walpole.  Mr. Terrell will take it under advisement.  It is on his list of things to do but the tar plant has not yet opened up.

SIGNS:  Jim Terrell submitted a list of signs that are needed.  The Board of Selectmen are not opposed to ordering more signs but were not sure if there is enough funding in this budget or if it will be a Warrant Article for the next budget.

NEW BUSINESS:

VACATION TIME –JIM TERRELL- MAY 1^st THRU MAY 12^TH AND MAY 17, 18, & 22, 2006:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the request of Jim Terrell for vacation time for May 1^st through May 12^th and May 17, 18, & 22, 2006.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

VACATION TIME –ELAINE MOORE- JUNE 07 TO JUNE 21:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the request of Elaine Moore for vacation time from June 07 to June 21, 2006.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

CUB SCOUT CLEANUP IN BACK OF OLD TOWN SHOP:  Mr. Miller moved to approve having the Cub Scouts cleanup in back of the old Town Shop.  There will be adult supervision.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Miller moved to write a letter to the Cub Scouts to accept their offer and to thank them for taking on this project.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.

TOWN HALL RENTAL PROBLEM:  The Board of Selectmen reviewed a memo from the office staff regarding a rental problem of the Town Hall.  

Mr. Sawyer moved that his initial reaction is to say “no” provided that, after further research, he does not find extenuating circumstances.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted,     

SURPLUS DISTRIBUTION SECTION:  Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen authorize and sign the State of New Hampshire Surplus Distribution document.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

DRA – JOANNE TRAMONTOZZI:  The Board of Selectmen advised that Joanne Tramontozzi of the DRA will be here next Thursday, April 27^th, 2006, at 7:30 pm to meet with the Board of Selectmen, Jim Rice, Elaine Moore, and Teresa Kissell.

NORTH WALPOLE – CHURCH STREET:  Jim Terrell will be meeting with the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners, the North Walpole Water Department, a State Engineer and Mark Houghton or his representative, on Wednesday, April 26^th, 2006, at 9:00 A.M. regarding Church Street.

OFFICE MANAGER’S REPORT:  The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the Office Manager’s Up-date.

LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:

MR. & MRS. LARRY WOOLBERT, SR.:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Mr. & Mrs. Larry Woolbert, Sr.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Miller.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 9:48 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

                                                                                                _____________________

                                                                                                Whitney R. Aldrich