TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
SEPTEMBER 14, 2006
Selectmen Present: Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer, (Absent: Whitney Aldrich)
Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with four people present in the audience.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
CANNONS: Bruce Martin reported that when he started work on the Memorial the Board of Selectmen directed him to refurbish the cannons as a part of the project. He has found someone that will do the work free of charge but the cannons will need to be moved to Stu Bailey’s machine shop.
Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen allow the Highway Department to move the cannons to Stu Bailey’s machine shop for refurbishing and, after the work has been done, to return them to the memorial site. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
JOSH KELLY, GARY SPEED, TERESA KISSELL – TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDS:
Mr. Sawyer moved to enter into a Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (d) real estate. Seconded by Mr. Miller and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion carried.
The regular meeting resumed at 8:42 P.M.
Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen sign the Purchase and Sale Agreement to purchase a Conservation Easement plus six acres and fee simple on the Ballam Farm contingent on Town Meeting approval in 2007. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved to apply for a Department of Environmental Services Land Grant. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved that the Vice-Chairman be authorized to sign the Department of Environmental Services Land Grant application. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the formal bidding process whereby Boggy Meadow would have the First Right of Refusal on the restricted farm land. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $83,513.74. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
PAYROLL: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending September 9, 2006, for gross wages in the amount of $14,891.28 or net wages in the amount of $7,958.84. Seconded by Mr. Miller. 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 $3,599.42. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the voided payroll check register for cancelled check No. 28232. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- SEPTEMBER 7, 2006: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of September 7, 2006, as printed. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the minutes of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meeting of September 12, 2006.
BUILDING PERMIT:
ROGER AND STACY WILBUR –MAP 003-036-001: Mr. Sawyer moved to sign Building Permit No. 2006-049 that was approved last week. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
OLD BUSINESS:
NORTH WALPOLE METERS: The Board of Selectmen would like to meet with the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners regarding the new meters soon. They felt that as many Selectmen as possible should attend this meeting. Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Miller have other commitments for next Tuesday when the Board of Commissioners meet again. Mr. Sawyer suggested that the Board of Selectmen invite the Board of Commissioners to their next meeting on Thursday, September 21st, at 7:30 pm.
MERRIAM FARMS: Relative to a request to look at past records from Wiggins and Nourie, attorneys for Merriam Farm, Mr. Miller said they can come to the Town of Walpole to look at the records whenever the office is open. They will have to check with the Town of Surry to see when they are open.
DES – APPROVAL FOR REDUCTION IN GAS MONITORING AT LAND: The Board of Selectmen announced that a letter was received from the Department of Environmental Services to advise that the Town of Walpole can reduce their testing from four times a year to once a year at the landfill.
CELL TOWER ARMS: Jim Rice prepared the necessary tax bills for each owner of antenna on the University of NH tower and Frank Brown’s tower in North Walpole.
NEW BUSINESS:
OFFICE CLOSING – TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 20, AND 21ST, 2006: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the request to close the office on September 19, 20, and 21, 2006, for intense training on the new water and sewer meter. They will be open on Friday that week. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
REQUEST TO ATTEND WELFARE MEETING – OCTOBER 12, 2006: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve having Elaine Moore attend the 2006 Informational Welfare Meeting on Thursday, October 12th, 2006, from 8:00 am to 11:30 am. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
VACATION REQUEST – NO PAY: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the request from Elaine Moore to take October 4, 5, and 6 and October 13 and 16, 2006, off as vacation time with no pay. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
USDA NATIONAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION FUNDING: Mr. Sawyer reported that there are four locations in the Town of Walpole that were looked at for erosion problems because of the additional funds that are available from the USDA. This will include taking trees out of streams due to the storms. The Town’s Road Agent is looking for other areas. The USDA is holding a meeting on September 30th This program is three-quarter federal and one-quarter landowner.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MEETING – SEPTEMBER 27, 2006: The Board of Selectmen received a letter from the Emergency Management Deputy Directors, Larry DeVault and Scott Taylor, that there will be a meeting on September 27th at the Fire Station at 12:00 Noon to up-date the plan.
TOWN HALL DOORS – PRE-PAYMENT: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve a pre-payment in the amount of $1,330.00 to the Old Ways Building Company to repair the east doors in the Town Hall. The balance of $520.00 will be paid upon completion. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:
NEW ENGLAND POWER ABATEMENT REQUEST: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to the attorneys for the New England Power Company and their Abatement request which confirms a refund of $20,807.00. This is due to billing for the wrong acreage. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
MR. BICKFORD: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Mr. Bickford. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
RICK COOPER: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Rick Cooper provided that all the documentation is in place. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
ADELPHIA/COMCAST: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Adelphia/Comcast addressing the Adelphia Franchise Agreement with the Town of Walpole. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
HODGKINS & SONS: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Hodgkins and Sons. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
ROBERT L. O’CONNOR: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Mr. O’Connor addressing his complaint. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
JIM RICE: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Jim Rice, Granite State Municipal Assessing Services, regarding the Walpole Statistical Update. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn the Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted. The time was 10:12 pm.
TRUSTEES OF HOOPER TRUST
E.E. HOUGHTON BILL: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve payment of the bill in the amount of $135.00 from the E.E. Houghton Company for repairs at the Hooper Mansion. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BILL: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve payment of the bill in the amount of $50.00 to the Department of Labor for the boiler inspection fee at the Hooper Mansion. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting of the Trustees of the Hooper Trust. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted. The time was 10:18 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary