TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
NOVEMBER 30, 2006
Selectmen Present: Whitney Aldrich, Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer
Mr. Aldrich called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with six people present in the audience.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
NORTH RIVER ROAD - PUBLIC HEARING – DECEMBER 07, 2006: The Board of Selectmen announced that the Joint Public Hearing of the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen cancelled Hearing No. 2 scheduled for Thursday, December 07, 2006, at 7:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall. This was to discuss the access to the Claire Whitcomb Trust property being over a Walpole Class VI road and private drive but was cancelled because of the discovery that the Town does not own the road.
2007 PROPOSED BUDGET: Pam Aslinger, Planning Board Secretary, Myra Mansouri, Zoning Board of Adjustment Chair, Lucy Weber, Board of Adjustment member, Teresa Fernette, Bookkeeper, and Jeff Miller, Planning Board Chair, discussed the 2006 budget over expenditure of the combined Planning Board and ZBA. Mr. Sawyer noted that one big item contributing to this was a $2,000 bill from the Southwest Region Planning Commission that should have been encumbered from the previous budget; this was an oversight on everyone’s part. It was noted that the $600.00+ in the Miscellaneous account was actually offset by revenues received from Berkshire Development for a study. For clarification purposes, both the Planning Board and ZBA will have separate accounts in the next budget.
JAMES J. O’BRIEN, SR.: Mr. O’Brien explained that in August of 2004 his property was subdivided. The 1.3 acres should no longer be in Current Use but the current tax bill is still indicating that it is. The Board of Selectmen advised that Mr. O’Brien needs to submit a new map showing the change in Current Use and they will ask the Assessor to calculate what the difference will be.
NORTH WALPOLE TAX COLLECTOR: Teresa Kissell, North Walpole Tax Collector, advised that the computer has been troublesome for several months and she needs to have a reliable system. A new basic computer system will cost about $680.00; there is no internet connection.
Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen allow Teresa Kissell to replace the computer used for the collection of North Walpole property taxes. 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 $25,013.60. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the supplemental Accounts Payable check register for check No. 049533. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
PAYROLL: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending November 25, 2006, for gross wages in the amount of $20,440.91 or net wages in the amount of $11,966.09. 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 $4,925.27. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION: Mr. Miller moved to put the employee compensation request on-hold until the next meeting. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- NOVEMBER 23, 2006: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of November 23, 2006, as printed. 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) Cemetery Committee – November 15, 2006; 2) Planning Board – November 14, 2006; 3) Zoning Board of Adjustment – November 15, 2006; and 4) Hooper Institute Committee – November 21, 2006.
WARRANTS:
NORTH WALPOLE SUPPLEMENTAL PROPERTY TAX WARRANT: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Supplemental Property Tax Warrant for the Collection of North Walpole Property Tax Fees in the amount of $137,048.00. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
BUILDING PERMITS:
BENSONWOOD CO./EMICOR – MAP 001-004-000: Mr. Miller moved to approve Building Permit No. 2006-058 for Bensonwood Co./Emicor to construct a 56’x 100’ storage building. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
CHIP PALIOCHA – RENEWAL OF BUILDING PERMIT – MAP 009-023-000: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Renewal of Building Permit No. 2006-059 for Chip Paliocha to construct a one-and-a-half story barn and seasonal camp off March Hill Road. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
OLD BUSINESS:
SET DATES TO WORK ON BUDGETS: There was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to set the first date to work on the budgets as Monday, December 4th at 6:00 PM. Teresa Kissell will be asked to attend. The Board of Selectmen will request that she send reminder notices to all the departments to submit their proposed budgets by Monday, December 11th if they have not already done so.
DATE CHANGE FOR HEARINGS – FOR FRINK AND WHITCOMB: The Public Hearing for Mr. Mervyn Frink to build off a Class VI section of Merriam Road will be held on Thursday, December 7th, 2006, at 7:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.
Public Hearing No. 2 for the Claire Whitcomb Trust has been cancelled as noted above under Public Business.
CONTRACT FOR REGIONAL PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: The Board of Selectmen agreed to send letters to the Boards of Selectmen involved in the Regional Prosecuting Program to schedule a meeting on January 15th, 2007, at a time and location to be determined.
ATTORNEY HOCKINSMITH LETTER REGARDING ADELPHIA CABLE: The Board of Selectmen will try to schedule a meeting on Wednesday, December 13th at 6:00 PM with Attorney Hockinsmith and Sandy Smith, Town Clerk, regarding Adelphia Cable.
SWRPC APPOINTMENTS: This agenda item will continue “on-hold”.
GRANITE STATE ASSESSING CONTRACT: The Board of Selectmen agreed to put the Granite State Assessing Contract “on-hold”. A Statistical Up-date Contract will also be needed and it was suggested that this be for one year.
NEW BUSINESS:
JOHN HOYT – VETERANS EXEMPTION: Mr. Sawyer moved to grant the Veterans Property Tax Exemption in the amount of $250.00 for John Hoyt. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
THOMAS DURNFORD – VETERANS EXEMPTION: Mr. Miller moved to grant the Veterans Property Tax Exemption in the amount of $250.00 for Thomas Durnford. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
INTENT TO CUT WOOD OR TIMBER –WENTWORTH HUBBARD- MAP 012-067-000: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Intent to Cut Wood or Timber for Wentworth Hubbard. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
DR. MOROSINI – HEALTH ISSUE: Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen take no action on the health issue submitted by Dr. Morosini. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
LANGDON – SOLID WASTE DISTRICT RESEARCH: The Board of Selectmen will submit a positive reply to schedule a meeting with the towns of Langdon, Alstead and Acworth regarding a Solid Waste District Research. Jennifer Doyle will be contacted to see if the meeting can be held in Langdon.
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION AND LEGISLATOR RECOGNITION RECEPTION: The Board of Selectmen acknowledged receipt of an invitation to attend a Volunteer Appreciation and Legislator Recognition Reception to be held on Wednesday, December 13th, 2006, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Parks Place in Bellows Falls.
Mr. Miller moved to adjourn the Board of Selectmen’s meeting and to enter into a Trustees of Hooper Trust meeting. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted. The time was 9:42 PM.
TRUSTEES OF HOOPER TRUST
CONNECT HOOPER INSTITUTE TO THE TOWN WATER SYSTEM: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve payment of the bill in the amount of $3,916.00 from the Everett Houghton Co., Inc. to connect the Hooper Institute to the Town water system and to forward this bill to the Trustees of Trust Funds. 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 9:50 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary