TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MARCH 22, 2007
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.
Mr. Aldrich thanked Cindy Westover and her committee for the well organized Town Meeting and Ernie Vose for running a positive meeting. He thanked Charles Miller and Sheldon Sawyer for helping him through his first year as the Chairman of the Board.
ELECTION OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN CHAIRPERSON:
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary, asked for nominations as Chairperson for the next year.
Mr. Sawyer nominated Charles Miller as the Chair. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. There were no other nominations. The Secretary closed the nominations and called for a vote. With Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich in favor, the motion was approved. Mr. Miller assumed the position as Chair for the 2007-08 year.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
STUART BAILEY: Following the Town Meeting vote, Mr. Bailey discussed ordering the bandstand and under-structure. Since the Board of Selectmen is accepting this gift they will attend the next Planning Board meeting on April 10th to present their plans. Mr. Bailey also plans to attend and will bring copies of the sketches. In the meantime, the Board of Selectmen will look at the site that will be in the north end of the Common but south of the flagpole. Mr. Bailey hopes that it will be erected for Memorial Day.
VETERANS’ MEMORIAL: Bruce Martin would like to coordinate plans for an exact location for the Veterans’ Memorial now that the bandstand issue was voted on. Mr. Sawyer felt that as soon as the snow is gone they could all meet to look at the Common. The memorial will face south. Bob Kasper will supply a plot plan done by Ted Fellows.
JOANNE TRAMANTOSI: Joanne Tramantosi and Charles Reese, from the Department of Revenue Administration, were present. Ms. Tramantosi distributed copies of the Assessment Review Report and reviewed the findings. She will provide Elaine Moore with a complete list of the properties that were involved in this report. Current Use, religious, charitable and other exemptions were discussed; updated current use maps can be requested every five years. Homes are selling about 30% more than they are assessed for; the Town is at 70% for the real estate market. Ms. Tramantosi said the contract for assessing and upgrades should go to the DRA for a review before the Town signs a contract but it would be in order for the Town to sign the General Maintenance contract. Mr. Sawyer advised that they voted to hire Avitar Assessing Service during their last meeting. Mr. Reese will contact Avitar to schedule a meeting to go over their procedures. Mrs. Moore will contact Ms. Tramantosi, within the next two weeks, when the items have been taken care of to schedule another meeting. The DRA has staff that will go to a town for assistance if they ask for it.
BALLAM FARM: Attorney Robert Kasper distributed packets of information and copies of a “Notice of Public Hearing” for the property known as the Ballam Farm as follows:
“Pursuant to the requirements of New Hampshire RSA 33:8-a, the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Walpole, New Hampshire will hold a public hearing on April 11, 2007 at 7:30 P.M. at the Walpole Town Hall regarding the proposed issuance by the Town of an approximately $302,000 bond for the purpose of financing the purchase of a conservation easement and a 6 acre addition to the Town’s river well property in fee simple and for associated project costs to permanently protect the Ballam Farm property consisting of approximately 59 acres more or less in Walpole, shown as Map 12, Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, located on the western side of Route 12 north of the Rite Aid. TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE By Its Board of Selectmen”.
The Board of Selectmen approved this notice that will be published and posted. Mr. Sawyer recommended contacting Cindy Westover and her committee to request that they work on getting good participation at this hearing and for the vote in May.
ATTORNEY ROBERT KASPER: Attorney Kasper distributed copies of a draft proposal for Town Attorney services. He felt it would be a benefit to the Town to have someone available for consultations and to attend some meetings. The Board of Selectmen felt they would like some time to review the proposal before taking action.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $153,618.61. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
It was noted that $120,000 of the above amount is for the Walpole Fire District.
Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the voided check register and manifest for check No. 049939. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
PAYROLL: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending March 17, 2007, for gross wages in the amount of $22,341.23 or net wages in the amount of $12,232.42. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the payroll cover sheet for the rates of pay for the Town employees and the Hooper employees. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll for the election workers for gross wages in the amount of $1,641.50 or net wages in the amount of $1,632.97. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $5,971.53. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
TRANSFER: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the transfer of $500,000 from the Town of Walpole MBIA to the Savings Bank of Walpole and moved that the Chairman be authorized to sign the document. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- MARCH 15, 2007: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of March 15, 2007,
corrections: 1) Page 3 – Town Hall Rental – correct motion, third line – change “live music will end at 10:00 PM and that it would be at a reasonable level so as not to disturb the neighbors” to “At 10:00 PM the live music will be tuned down to a reasonable decibel level that will not disturb the neighbors; the windows will remain shut. The music will end at midnight”; and 2) 2007 Local Officials Workshop – Elaine Moore will attend both the Basic and Advanced Workshops. Mr. Sawyer seconded the motion with corrections. All in favor, so voted.
DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the minutes of the Planning Board meeting of March 13, 2007.
OLD BUSINESS:
AVITAR – CONTRACT AND PICKUPS: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the Five Year Assessors Agreement from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2011 with Avitar subject to any changes that the Board of Selectmen may want to make following the DRA review. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
REGIONAL PROSECUTOR PROGRAM: Mr. Aldrich moved that the Chairman of the Board be authorized to sign the Regional Prosecutor Program agreement. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
NORTH – TOWN HALL REPAIRS: Mr. Aldrich reported that Jay Chamberlain is ready to do the landscaping work at the north end of the Town Hall Building. There was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to publish and post notices that the Town is soliciting bids for repairs to the north end of the Town Hall.
PLANNING BOARD – USE OF TOWN COMPUTER: There was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to deny the request from the Planning Board to have access to the Town computer, data base and server.
IAN ZIMMERMANN LETTER REGARDING TOWN HALL USE: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Ian Zimmermann regarding the Town Hall rental. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted,
NEW BUSINESS:
GRETA V. HOWARD –TIMBER CUT- MAP 013-061-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the Notice of Intent to Cut Timber for Greta V. Howard. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
BANK – CONCERTS ON THE COMMON: Elaine Moore received a phone call from the Savings Bank of Walpole questioning if they would have to rent the tent for the band concerts on the Common this summer. The Board of Selectmen signed the letter to the Savings Bank of Walpole stating that they hoped the band stand would be erected in time for the band concerts.
USE OF HALL FOR MONTHLY CONTRA DANCES: Mr. Sawyer moved that if the date is available the Town Hall can be rented for one Saturday night a month for contra dances at the usual resident rental rate. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
USE OF THE TOWN COMMON FOR WEDDING: Mr. Aldrich moved that the Board of Selectmen approve renting the Town Common to Scott Stevens and Laura Thompson for a wedding on July 14th, 2007, at 2:00 PM. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen study the rental figures for Town properties. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
JANITOR DUTIES: The janitor requested temporary assistance with shoveling snow and heavy moving work. The Board of Selectmen felt the Highway Department could assist when necessary.
LIBRARY – PAYROLL SIGNATURE: Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen approve the change in procedure for the Town Library payroll in accordance with the request from their Treasurer. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Mr. Miller was opposed. With Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich in favor, the motion was approved.
CURRENT USE APPLICATION – DOROTHY AND GORDON FLETCHER – MAP 4, LOTS 37-38-40: The Board of Selectmen passed-over this agenda item until the map is completed.
COCHRANE ROAD: Before the Cochrane Road issue is voted on during the Town Meeting in May, Mr. Sawyer felt the Board of Selectmen should take a stand. He does not feel that roads should be given up that are not maintained; the Town should retain this road as a Class VI road.
Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen is opposed to discontinuing Cochrane Road. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
UNIONS: Mr. Sawyer mentioned that the Senate just passed a bill to allow the unionization of municipalities where there are three or more employees. He felt that some action should be taken before it moves forward and suggested that letters be sent to the other Boards of Selectmen and representatives in this district. The Board of Selectmen agreed to have Mr. Sawyer draft the letter.
Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted. The time was 10:32 P.M.