Ed. Note: Thanks to board secretary Regina Borden, here are the minutes of the January 25 Selectmen's meeting. CCB
TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
JANUARY 25, 2007
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:
TIM ALLEN – TIMBER CUT WARRANT: Tim Allen explained that he purchased a piece of land on Stevens Lane. He filled out a Notice to Cut Timber that included an estimate of the cut but when they started to cut they discovered that a lot of the wood had no value except for their personal use. He was not aware of the fact that he needed to do a follow-up report with the State and Town until he received a letter and bill from the Town that included doomage fees. In view of the circumstances he asked the Board of Selectmen to reconsider the bill.
Mr. Sawyer moved that, in view of the explanation provided by Mr. Allen, the Town of Walpole will not charge Mr. Allen anything but he needs to see Elaine Moore to obtain the forms to get it straightened out with the State. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
JOE LASSARD – REF: STATISTICAL UPDATE: Mr. Lassard, Municipal Resources, explained that on January 23rd he received an e-mail advising that the Town would like to know whether or not he would be available to do the Statistical Update in 2007 and, if so, needed an estimate for his services. He distributed copies and reviewed the following documents with the Selectboard: 1) Title I – The State and Its Government – Chapter 21-J – Department of Revenue Administration – 21-J:11-a Assessment Report; 2) Title V – Taxation – Chapter 75 – Appraisal of Taxable Property – 78:8-a Five-Year Valuation; and 3) Title V – Taxation – Chapter 75 – Appraisal of Taxable Property – 85:8 Revised Inventory. All towns are to be on the five-year plan or in accordance with the DRA schedule. There was discussion relative to the DRA requirements. Mr. Lassard will provide additional information to the Selectboard prior to their next meeting.
ROBERT GRAVES: Mr. Graves inquired about the Petition for a Bandstand in the Common. Mr. Sawyer advised that it is now on the draft Warrant as Article No. 22. It was noted that February 6th, 2007, is the last day for petitioned Warrant Articles in accordance with RSA 39:3.
2007 ANNUAL WARRANT AND BUDGET MEETING: The Board of Selectmen announced that the 2007 Annual Warrant and Budget meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 31st, 2007, at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $48,576.86. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the check register and manifest for a voided check No. 049877 in the amount of $193.72. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
PAYROLL: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending January 27, 2007, for gross wages in the amount of $19,635.21 or net wages in the amount of $10,718.60. 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 $5,079.87. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- JANUARY 18, 2007: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of January 18, 2007. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer with the following correction: page 1 under Police Chief – Police Chief David Hewes received a copy of the “Police Prosecutor’s resignation” rather than “one employee resignation”. All in favor of the motion and correction, so voted.
Mr. Miller moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of January 25, 2007, as printed. The Minutes will be unsealed. 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) Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting of January 17, 2007; and 2) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meeting of January 24, 2007.
JOSH KELLY – BALLAM FARM: Josh Kelly, The Trust for Public Land; Gary Speed and Mel Schupack, Conservation Commission; and Mark Houghton, Town of Walpole Water Department, were present to continue their discussions on the former Ballam Farm to-date. Several issues of concern were raised and the proposed budget reviewed. The Town would be the holder of the Conservation Easement. Mr. Kelly will look into the option of the Town having the right to drill more wells in the future if that becomes necessary. Mr. Kelly will check with Attorney Kasper to have the additional wording added to the Warrant Article for added funding from the Conservation Commission as agreed upon.ABATEMENTS:
DAVID AND ANNE ASHTON – PROPERTY INTEREST ONLY – MAP 020-044-000: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Abatement of Interest Only for the year 2006 for David and Anne Ashton as the property tax was billed to the wrong address. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
REFUNDS:
THOMAS McELMAN – PROPERTY TAX – MAP 006-016-000: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Refund in the amount of $4.22 for Thomas McElman because of an over-payment of property taxes. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
WARRANTS:
CURRENT USE CHANGE TAX –ALYSON’S APPLE ORCHARD- MAP 005-002-005: Mr. Miller moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Land Use Change Tax in the amount of $10,000 for Alyson’s Apple Orchard. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
CURRENT USE CHANGE TAX – JOEL AND NANCY THOMPSON – MAP 005-002-008: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Land Use Change Tax in the amount of $10,000 for Joel and Nancy Thompson. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
NEW BUSINESS:
WRAP REAPPOINTMENT REQUESTS: Mr. Miller moved to approve the appointment of Phoebe Reynolds to the WRAP Committee until March of 2008. Dodie Ransome, Dan Schwenk and Mabel (Fritze) Till will be reappointed to the WRAP Committee until March of 2010. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
VACHON, CLUKAY & CO., PC – 2006 AUDIT LETTER-CONTRACT: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the 2006 Audit Letter-Contract to Vachon, Clukay & Company, PC and that the Chairman be authorized to sign it. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
ABATEMENT REQUEST –MAP 011-059-000- MICHAEL & KATHERINE NERRIE: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Michael & Katherine Nerrie regarding the 2006 property taxes. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted.
RICK COOPER – HOLIDAY TIME: The Board of Selectmen approved the memo request from Rick Cooper to be away from the Solid Waste Facility on Saturday, January 27, 2007, but will be using the New Years Day holiday time.
CONNECTICUT SCENIC RIVER BYWAYS: Mr. Paul Happ had previously resigned as the Town’s representative to the Connecticut Scenic River Byways Committee. Mr. Sawyer volunteered to replace him as one of the Town’s representatives.
Mr. Miller moved to appoint Sheldon Sawyer as one of the Town’s representative to the Connecticut Scenic River Byways Committee. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Mr. Sawyer abstained. With Mr. Miller and Mr. Aldrich in favor, the motion was approved.
VILLAGE OF NORTH WALPOLE: Mr. Sawyer mentioned the concerns of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners regarding the fact that the ECI Construction Company, who is doing the work in the railroad tunnel in Bellows Falls, is disposing of some removed fill in North Walpole but about one-half of it is in the Town’s right-of-way. Mr. Sawyer will try to resolve the situation.
REGIONAL POLICE PROSECUTOR: Mr. Aldrich and Police Chief Hewes will serve on the Regional Police Prosecutor’s Committee to hire a Prosecuting Attorney.
LETTERS:
COLD RIVER BRIDGE: Mr. Miller moved to approve writing a letter to the NH Department of Transportation in support of the hybrid timber, steel and concrete replacement bridge over the Cold River. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer volunteered to draft this letter.
JOHN STEVENS: Mr. Miller moved to approve and sign the letter to John Stevens regarding the Veterans Memorial. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Miller. All in favor, so voted. The time was 10:27 PM.