TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
SEPTEMBER 28, 2006
Selectmen Present: Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller, (Absent: Sheldon Sawyer)
Mr. Aldrich called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with six people present in the audience.
BULDING PERMIT:
LEO AND DONNA DROUIN – MAP 012-044-300: Mr. Miller moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-051 for Leo and Donna Drouin to attach a greenhouse to their garage on Abenaki Lane. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: The Southwest Region Planning Commission sent a revised road map for Jim Terrell to review. There were some mislabeled roads; he made the corrections and turned it into the Board of Selectmen to check and then return to the SWRPC.
Mr. Miller asked Jim Terrell to check on some trees on Bookseller Road. They are not in the Town’s right-of-way but some of them look very fragile. It appears that if they are not taken down they will fall down.
Jim Terrell reported that “No Thru Traffic” signs were put up on the Cold River Road but people are still using the road. Mr. Miller suggested additional signs for “Limited Traffic”. Mr. Terrell felt he could also put them up but he has to stay within the RSAs.
Jim Terrell advised that in order to put up signs around the intersection of the Old Drewsville Road, North Main Street and North Road there needs to be a Traffic Committee of two or more people. The Board of Selectmen appointed Jim Terrell and Police Chief David Hewes to the Traffic Committee.
After the accident last winter with the Verizon telephone pole in North Walpole, Jim Terrell did some investigating and discovered that 32 poles are in the Town’s right-of-way or too close to the sidewalks. He discussed this with Verizon who feel they could not move some of the poles, therefore, would like to work with the Town. Verizon is going to send back the payment made to them for the pole. Jim Terrell is questioning the Town’s liability if the poles are allowed to remain within the Town’s right-of-ways. The Board of Selectmen asked Jim Terrell to contact the Local Government Center to discuss this matter with them.
Jim Terrell advised that some of the Highway Department employees are asking about staying on a four-day, ten-hour a day work week for the winter. It was suggested that they split the days whereby some of the department will work on Mondays and others on Fridays so the five days are covered. The Board of Selectmen approved this request but that it will be on a trial basis.
Jim Terrell met with the USDA and showed them some of the locations that might qualify for funding. At that time, he was not aware of the Duncan Watson concern but did notify the USDA who will contact him and will add that location if they feel it should be on the list.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
Fall Mountain Region School District: Dr. Charles Shaw and Steve Varone were present to discuss on-going negotiations within the Fall Mountain Region School District.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
Mr. Miller moved to enter into a Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss Negotiations. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion carried. The time was 7:48 P.M.
The regular meeting resumed at 8:46 P.M.
PUBLIC BUSINESS (Continued):
Special School District Meeting by FMRHS: Mr. Miller moved to sign the letter to James I. Peale, Clerk, Sullivan County Superior Court to support the School Board’s petition for a special school district meeting. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $31,743.14. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Miller moved to approve the Accounts Payable supplemental check register and manifest in the amount of $1,330.00. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
PAYROLL: Mr. Miller moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending September 23, 2006, for gross wages in the amount of $13,914.23 or net wages in the amount of $7,310.20. 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 $3,575.94. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- SEPTEMBER 21, 2006: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of September 21, 2006, as printed. 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) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners – September 26. 2006, and 2) Zoning Board of Adjustment – September 20, 2006.
WARRANTS:
TIMOTHY AND STACY ALLEN –TIMBER TAX- MAP 005-043-002: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Timber Tax in the amount of $1,970.00 for Timothy and Stacy Allen. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
NEW BUSINESS:
CHESHIRE COUNTY CHAMPION NORWAY SPRUCE: The Board of Selectmen acknowledged receipt of a letter from the University of New Hampshire Extension Service advising that the Town of Walpole has a 78-foot Norway Spruce. This is the largest Norway Spruce in the county.
SOUTHWEST REGION PLANNING COMMISSION FALL MEETING: The SWRPC will be holding their Fall Meeting on Tuesday, October 17th at 6:00 pm in Troy, NH. Mr. Miller and Mr. Aldrich plan to attend.
MUNICIPAL VOLUNTEER AWARDS NOMINATION: The form for the Municipal Volunteer Awards Nomination was passed onto Mr. Miller.
BUILDING QUESTION FOR MAP 005-005-002: The Board of Selectmen agreed that a property owner is allowed to live in an apartment over their garage only until their house is built. They will need a Building Permit for the garage and apartment.
WEB SITE – MEMO FROM TERESA: Relative to a memo from Teresa Kissell, the Board of Selectmen agreed to have the Master Plan added to the website provided there is sufficient capacity.
FENCE PROBLEM – School/Town: A letter was received from Sam Jacobs, Principal of the Walpole Elementary School, regarding ownership of a fence between the school and Whitcomb Park. Mr. Aldrich will call Mr. Jacobs in the morning regarding the fence problem.
Mr. Miller moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted. The time was 9:28 P.M.
THESE ARE UNAPPROVED MINUTES. CORRECTIONS, IF NECESSARY, MAY BE FOUND IN THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 5, 2006, SELECTMEN’S MEETING.