TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
OCTOBER 5, 2006
Selectmen Present: Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer
Mr. Aldrich called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with seven people present in the audience.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
BRUCE MARTIN – UPDATE ON VETERANS MEMORIAL: Bruce Martin distributed copies of the latest artist conceptual drawing of the Veterans Monument. Attorney Kasper referenced the Minutes of the April 6th meeting when there was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to support the memorial and use of the Common as it is the most appropriate location. Several members of the American Legion were present to report that they are ready to offer a gift, a new Veterans Memorial, to the Town of Walpole and requested that the Board of Selectmen reconfirm their support and acceptance of the gift. They are proposing a 5-foot tall granite memorial as depicted in the sketch. Its footprint is the same as the present memorial but there will be room for 1,200-plus names. The group has raised over $100,000 and are prepared to enter into a contract with the Rock of Ages in Barre, Vt. A scale model of the memorial on the Common is in the Town Hall entryway.
Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen vote to act with the American Legion to contract with the Rock of Ages to start cutting the blocks and to accept the gift. Seconded by Mr. Miller.
Krystyna Marcom was present and, before the vote is taken, wanted to say that she is not anti-memorial but the Common is a public space and the Town should decide if they want the memorial. A Petition was submitted with 72 signatures. Mr. Sawyer said they do not look at this new memorial as new construction, it will not take up additional space and, if the tree is removed, it will be replaced. As a part of this project the two cannons are being refurbished. Mr. Miller feels the motion has nothing to do with the placement but only the authority to move forward. Mr. Aldrich said this project was started over a year ago long before the Petition came in. Bruce Martin stated the foundation will not go in until spring after the ground thaws. Ed Potter said there are a lot of residents in this Town that support this new memorial to honor the people that have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Vote: The full Board of Selectmen is in favor, the motion was approved.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $367,230.93. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
This amount includes a payment of $328,427.85 to the Fall Mountain Region School District.
Voucher Request – Conservation Commission: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payment to Robie Speed for a clean-up on Route 12 with funds coming out of the Mason Forest Fund. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
PAYROLL: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending September 30, 2006, for gross wages in the amount of $17,133.89 or net wages in the amount of $9,785.00. 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 $4,180.47. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Miller moved to approve the recommended pay increase for Mike Symonds of the Highway Department that will be retro-active back to September 6, 2006. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
TRANSFER: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the transfer of funds in the amount of $500,000 from the MBIA to the Savings Bank of Walpole and that the Chairman be authorized to sign the documents. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- SEPTEMBER 28, 2006: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of September 28, 2006, as printed. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of September 28, 2006, as printed. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE MEETINGS:
The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed Minutes of the following meetings: 1) Zoning Board of Adjustment – October 02, 2006; 2) Hooper Institute – September 19, 2006; and 3) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners – October 03, 2006.
REFUNDS:
HUBBARD FARMS – Map 010-006-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the Refund for the 2005 Property Taxes for Hubbard Farms in the amount of $3,873.00. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
BUILDING PERMIT:
STEVEN AND SHARYN TULLAR – MAP 008-096-000: Mr. Miller moved to approve and sign Building Permit No. 2006-052 for Steven and Sharyn Tullar to refinish the porch and put on a new roof. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
OLD BUSINESS:
MUNICIPAL VOLUNTEER AWARDS NOMINATION: Mr. Miller advised that Elaine Moore will be given the Municipal Volunteer Awards Nomination form.
TREES ON BOOKSELLER ROAD: Following a discussion relative to the trees on Bookseller Road that were mentioned during the last meeting, there was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to have Mr. Miller draft a letter to Mrs. Dodd suggesting that she contact her neighbor about the trees that she has concerns about.
SOUTHWEST REGION PLANNING COMMISSION – MAPS: Mr. Sawyer moved to sign and send the letter along with the corrected road maps to the SWRPC. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
JAY CHAMBERLAIN: Mr. Aldrich will contact Jay Chamberlain to see if he is still interested in taking on an Eagle Scout project to plant flowers and/or shrubs near the Town Hall or on the Common.
FENCE PROBLEM – SCHOOL/TOWN: Mr. Aldrich will contact Sam Jacobs at the Walpole Elementary School about the fence problem after he completes his research.
NEW BUSINESS:
COMMUNITY NETWORK TEAM TRAINING – OCTOBER 19, 2006: Mr. Sawyer moved to allow Elaine Moore, Welfare Manager, to attend the Community Network Team Training seminar on October 19, 2006. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
WATER/SEWER RATES:
Water Rates: Mr. Miller moved to set the water rate from a flat fee of $60.00 to $100.00. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Sewer Rates: Mr. Miller moved to pass over setting the sewer rates to allow time to study them. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
COPIER -2-STUDIO28: There was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to pass over the copier at this time.
WORK MEETING DATES –PREPARING FOR 2007 BUDGETS: The Board of Selectmen agreed to have a letter sent to the Department Heads to request that they start looking at their proposed 2007 Capital Expenditures and equipment and to submit their lists within the first week of November . The preliminary proposed budget should be submitted during the week of December 11th.
KINGSBURY ROAD / WATKINS HILL – SCHOOL BUS REQUEST: The Board of Selectmen acknowledged receipt of a letter from the State of New Hampshire, Department of Safety, to Dr. Joseph Della Badia at Fall Mountain Region School District relative to a blind spot for the school busses on Kingsbury Road / Watkins Hill. A copy of this letter will be referred to Jim Terrell
TOWN REPORTS: The Board of Selectmen agreed to have Elaine Moore make arrangements with Village Printers in Bellows Falls to print the Town Reports.
LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:
Arthur Audsley / Suzanne Reynolds: Mr. Sawyer moved to put this letter on-hold for revisions. 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 9:42 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary