MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
APRIL 12, 2007
Selectmen Present: Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich
Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with four people present in the audience.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
BRUCE MARTIN – WAR MEMORIAL UPDATE: Mr. Martin and Thayer Fellows surveyed the Common area from the flagpole north. Three sketches of the proposal were displayed. One sketch indicated all the objects that exist on the Common now; the benches will remain. Paving blocks will be used rather than a concrete sidewalk. The replacement community Christmas tree will be a blue spruce, about 12-to-15 feet high; the Bemis tree will remain in its present location as long as it does not interfere with the memorial; both trees will be fertilized and taken care of. Everything is expected to be in place by May 20th.
Mr. Sawyer moved to accept the positioning of the Veterans Memorial as presented. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $534,723.98. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
It was noted that the above amount includes a monthly payment in the amount of $434,569.83 to the Fall Mountain Region School District.
PAYROLL: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending April 07, 2007, for gross wages in the amount of $16,313.09 or net wages in the amount of $8,013.08. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. 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 $4,135.58. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Aldrich moved to sign the payroll form for the 3.3% cost-of-living increase for Regina Borden. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the payroll form for a $.50/hour increase for Mike Symunds. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- APRIL 05, 2007: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of April 05, 2007, 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 meeting – April 10, 2007; and 2) Planning Board meeting – April 10, 2007l
ABATEMENTS:
NORTH WALPOLE TAX ABATEMENTS: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the Abatements for North Walpole Property Taxes for ten properties each under the amount of $5.00 or for a total of $22.97. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
OLD BUSINESS:
SHELDON SAWYER– STAFF: Mr. Sawyer advised that the Board of Selectmen had been discussing the possibility of having Elaine Moore attend these meetings as a resource person.
Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen have the office manager attend the Thursday night meetings every week as a resource person. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
DRA MINI COURSE – REGULATION AND TAXATION OF EARTH EXCAVATIONS: The Board of Selectmen had previously approved having Elaine Moore attend this DRA mini course. Myra Mansouri will speak to the Zoning Board of Adjustment at their next meeting relative to her attending this seminar before she makes a commitment.
BALLAM FARM DES GRANT PAPERWORK FROM JOSH KELLY: Mr. Aldrich moved to authorize Mr. Miller to sign the Certificate of Authorization document for the Department of Environmental Services grant for $153,000 for the Ballam Farm. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
CHIEF DAVID HEWES – REF: PORTABLE RADIOS: The Board of Selectmen congratulated Police Chief David Hewes on obtaining the grant from the Lawnet and Homeland Security Grants through the NH Department of Safety for three portable radios.
TOWN MEETING – MICROPHONE EXPENDITURES: There was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to pay the bill from Hurlburt Electric, Inc. for the microphone expenditure and to have him finish the electrical wiring in the Town Hall.
JANITOR – SNOW SHOVELING: Mr. Sawyer suggested that the Chairman ask Mr. Brady if he has a problem with shoveling the snow off the walkway into the Town Hall.
NEW BUSINESS:
TOWN REPORT BINDING: Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen authorize having copies of the Town Reports bound every five years. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
DAVID EDKINS – RESIGNATION FROM PLANNING BOARD: The Board of Selectmen acknowledged receipt of a copy of the letter from David Edkins to the Planning Board advising that he resigned as an alternate member.
SET WORK DATE FOR REVIEWING ASSESSMENT CARD CHANGES: The Board of Selectmen set a date for a Work Session Meeting to review the assessment card changes on Wednesday, April 18th, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM.
CURRENT USE PROBLEM – MAP 008-043-000: After a review of the Current Use documents there was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to have the assessor make a change and process an Abatement.
KEYS TO SELECTMEN’S OFFICE: Mr. Sawyer moved to ask the groups that have keys to the Selectmen’s Office to turn them in. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Mr. Miller was opposed. With Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich in favor, the motion was approved.
TOWN WARRANT - ARTICLE 3: Mr. Sawyer acknowledged receipt of a letter from Attorney R. Hanna: “This letter serves as a Motion for Rehearing concerning the March 13 vote on the above-referenced warrant article. This Motion for Rehearing is filed pursuant to RSA 677:2 and 677:3 on behalf of my clients, Berkshire-Walpole LLC and Walpole Properties, LLC, which own properties in the Commercial District in the Town of Walpole.”
Mr. Sawyer moved to have copies of this letter FAXed to both the New Hampshire Municipal Association and Attorney Jeremy Hockinsmith tomorrow requesting their opinions on the proper procedures to follow. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
HB-88: Mr. Miller received a call from the Town of Dublin advising that there will be a Hearing on HB-88 on Wednesday, April 18th at 10:00 AM in Concord in Room 307.
UTILITIES: Mr. Miller would like to have Avitar Assessing Service contact David Gould at the Town of Rockingham to discuss their assessed value on the dam.
LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:
SAVINGS BANK OF WALPOLE – REF: TRUSTEES: Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the confirmation letter to the Savings Bank of Walpole for the Trustees of Trust Funds. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
Mr. Sawyer moved to enter into a Non-public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel and (e) Pending Claims or Litigation. Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved. The time was 9:42 PM.
The regular meeting resumed at 10:04 P.M.
Mr. Sawyer moved that the minutes of the Non-Public Session will be sealed as they contain confidential information on Personnel and Pending Claims or Litigation. Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved.
Solid Waste Department: Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen concur with the Manager of the Solid Waste Department on his handling of personnel. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
TOWN OF ALSTEAD: Mr. Sawyer recommended that the Board of Selectmen talk with Rick Cooper to see if he is ready to schedule a preliminary meeting with the Town of Alstead Board of Selectmen. Mr. Sawyer will talk to Rick Cooper about this matter.
Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted. The time was 10:08 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary