TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DECEMBER 14, 2006
Selectmen Present: Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer
Mr. Aldrich called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with six people present in the audience.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
LUCY WEBER, TARA SAD, JACK PRATT – REF: BRIDGE: Lucy Weber, Tara Sad and Jack Pratt were present to talk about the bridge to be rebuilt on Route 123 over the Cold River. They distributed a copy of a letter they had written to the NH Department of Transportation to request that they thoroughly consider all of the options. Mr. Sawyer advised that the Board of Selectmen wrote a letter to the DOT after the first meeting and will hold-off writing another letter until after the meeting on January 24th, 2007. He hopes that after the first of January there will be another meeting only on the proposed wooden bridge; that information is being put together and Benson Woodworking is checking on the requirements and cost. The Board of Selectmen needs assurances that they are supporting something that is viable. It is expected that the DOT will make a decision on the bridge in February. Mr. Pratt would like to see something built that is aesthetically pleasing; it would be nice to use a Walpole business.
DEBBIE HINMAN AND DICK OBER – RE: EASEMENT – WATKINS HILL ROAD – STEVENS: Gary Speed, Chair of the Conservation Commission, explained that this is regarding an easement on the John and Peggy Stevens property. There is a consensus of those involved that the Conservation Commission should be the Secondary Executor on the easement because they put some funding into it. This property has 130 acres on both sides of the road. Gary Speed will FAX a copy of the easement to the Board of Selectmen for their review as they will be asked to sign the paperwork during their meeting on Thursday, December 28th.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $5,919.07. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
PAYROLL: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending December 9, 2006, for gross wages in the amount of $17,451.39 or net wages in the amount of $9,312.24. Seconded by Mr. Miller. 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 $4,286.50. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved to hire Scott Bryant as a temporary full-time employee in the Highway Department and to sign the payroll document. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- DECEMBER 07, 2006: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of December 07, 2006, as printed. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the Board of Selectmen’s Non-Public Session of December 07, 2006, as printed. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
ABATEMENTS:
TERRY AND JOSEFA TAYLOR – MAP 010-024-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for a Current Use Penalty Tax in the amount of $19,500.00 for Terry and Josefa Taylor due to taking property out of Current Use that was never in Current Use. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
504 MAIN STREET – MAP 012-013-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Property Tax in the amount of $7,250.00 for 504 Main Street, c/o Fred and Carol Dill as the property was billed to the wrong owner. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
BUILDING PERMITS:
REBECCA PEARSON – MAP 009-023-000: Mr. Miller moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-060 for Rebecca Pearson to construct an addition to the existing kitchen. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
CYNTHIA STACK – MAP 010-006-002: Mr. Miller moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-061 for Cynthia Stack to construct a two story, four bedroom house with attached three car garage on the North Road. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
OLD BUSINESS:
FOREST FIRE BILL SUBMITTED BY BILL HOUGHTON: Mr. Miller moved to sign the State of New Hampshire, Department of Resources and Economic Development, Forest Fire Report/Bill for Bill Houghton in the amount of $484.00. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
CARTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATES – MAPPING: Mr. Miller moved to approve and sign the “2007 Maintenance Contract” for the amount of $2,475.00 with Cartographic Associates for tax mapping. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
NEW BUSINESS:
RECYCLE/TRANSFER CENTER CLOSING FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23 AT NOON. REQUEST: The Board of Selectmen acknowledged receipt of a memo and approved the closure of the Recycle/Transfer Center on Saturday, December 23rd, 2006, at Noon.
WALPOLE VILLAGE SCHOOL: Mr. Aldrich moved to pass-over this agenda item to allow time for Mr. Miller to do research on the Walpole Village School taxes until the next meeting and that all interest and penalties will not be applied. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
VETERAN’S EXEMPTION – JEFFREY FRENCH: Mr. Miller moved to pass-over this agenda item pending receipt of additional information. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
INVITATION TO CEREMONY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS: The Board of Selectmen received an invitation to attend the Ceremony of Elected Officials on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007, at 8:30 am to be held in the Mountain View Room at Keene State College. A continental breakfast will be available. Mr. Miller plans to attend.
PAUL HAPP – RESIGNATION FROM CONNECTICUT RIVER JOINT COMMISSIONS: Mr. Miller moved to accept, with regret, the resignation of Paul Happ from the Connecticut River Joint Commissions to be effective on December 31, 2006. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.The Board of Selectmen requested that this vacancy be posted and put on the Town’s website.
LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:
NORTH WALPOLE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – RE: BUILDING PERMITS: Mr. Miller moved to sign the letter from the Town of Walpole to the North Walpole Board of Commissioners regarding Building Permits. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
OTHER BUSINESS:
BUDGET MEETINGS: During the budget meetings there was discussion regarding communication within the offices.
Mr. Sawyer moved to allow Sandy Smith, Town Clerk, access to the tax assessment cards in the computer on a “read only” basis. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
The Board of Selectmen will do research on the salaries and benefits of employees in the surrounding towns of Charlestown, Alstead, Acworth, Chesterfield and Westmoreland.
Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted. The time was 9:12 P.M.