TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MAY 31, 2007

Selectmen Present:            Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich

Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with two people present in the audience.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

RED SMITH – CENTRAL PLATING PROPERTY:  Mr. Smith advised that the Central Plating building has been abandoned and all the equipment was removed.  There are two properties – the warehouse and the manufacturing building.  He questioned if the building could be leased by another business.  They are presently looking into the EPA and DES findings on the property.

JOAN DEVAULT – RE: PLAYGROUND:  Mrs. DeVault advised that the statue and art work at the Recreation area were donated by Duncan Burr a long time ago.  It is now unsafe and the committee would like to take it down. 

Mr. Aldrich moved that the Chairman of the Recreation Committee be authorized to contact Mr. Burr to ask him to dispose of the art work within 30 days because it is unsafe but if he does not wish to do so then it will be removed and disposed of by the Town.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

Mrs. DeVault reported that all of the playground equipment was removed because it was very old and unsafe.  Jim Terrell was wonderful in helping them out with this project.  She presented proposed plans for the new playground that is primarily designed for the two-through-seven age group and will be ADA accessible.  The cost is $100,000 installed and the Recreation Committee will be proposing a Warrant Article next year.  It will be in the space between the tennis courts and pool.  The proposed plan will be posted in the Town Hall.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $13,629.46.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending May 26, 2007, for gross wages in the amount of $18,338.80 or net wages in the amount of $10,975.98.  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 $4,362.09.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- MAY 24, 2007:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of May 24, 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 North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meeting of May 29, 2007. 

Board of Selectmen Meeting – May 31, 2007 – Page 2

ABATEMENTS:

WILLIAM AND LAURA McALLISTER –MAP 005-002-007- INTEREST ON PROPERTY TAXES:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement in the amount of $443.03, which is the interest and costs, on the 2006 Property Taxes for William and Laura McAllister.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen approve paying the fee of $16.41 to the Registry of Deeds to release the lien placed on the William and Laura McAllister property.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

DAVID EDKINS –MAP 012-059-002- WATER/SEWER:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Water and Sewer in the amount of $286.44 for David Edkins due to a computer glitch on the meter reading.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

ANTHONY JURKOIC –MAP 029-001-000- SEWER:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Sewer in the amount of $59.29 for Anthony Jurkoic due to a discrepancy between the old and new meter readings.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

TIMOTHY BRADY, ELIZABETH SNIDE, ANN COREY –MAP 030-047-000- SEWER:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement for Sewer Fees in the amount of $21.22 for Timothy Brady, Elizabeth Snide and Ann Corey due to a discrepancy between the old and new meter readings.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

KEVIN AND TAMMY SALOME –MAP 029-046-000- PROPERTY TAX:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Property Taxes in the amount of $84.28 for the interest only for Kevin and Tammy Salome as the bill was sent to the wrong address.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

WARRANTS:

HODGKINS & SONS, INC. –MAP 012-073-000- GRAVEL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Walpole Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Gravel Tax Fees in the amount of $164.70 for Hodgkins & Sons, Inc.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

HODGKINS & SONS, INC. –MAP 001-010-000- GRAVEL:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Walpole Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Gravel Tax Fees in the amount of $36.40 for Hodgkins & Sons, Inc.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

BUILDING PERMITS:

DOROTHY FLETCHER –MAP 004-037-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2007-018 for Dorothy Fletcher to construct an addition to the existing bedroom and bathroom and remove an existing 8’ x 12’ section of existing front porch on Bookseller Road.  This area will become a two story addition; the downstairs ties into the existing bedroom; the upstairs will enlarge the existing bathroom.  It doesn’t add a new bedroom or bathroom just increases the size.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

JANET SAARI AND KRISTIN MOSES –MAP 010-043-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2007-019 for Janet Saari and Kristin Moses to construct an 18’ x 18’ porch on North Road.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.               

Board of Selectmen Meeting – May 31, 2007 – Page 3

OLD BUSINESS:

MERVIN STEVENS –CEMETERY LOT- D-492 AND D-493:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the corrected Cemetery Deed for Mervin Stevens for lots D-492 and D-493.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

MERRIAM FARMS, INC.:  The Board of Selectmen acknowledged receipt of a copy of the letter from Bradley, Burnett, Kinyon, Fernald and Green to Patricia Panciocco, Esquire, in reference to Merriam Farms, Inc.

NEW BUSINESS: 

AVITAR – UPDATE OF ASSESSMENT VALUES:  Mr. Sawyer moved to post the following notice in the customary locations:  Town Hall, bulletin board on Burdick’s Building, in North Walpole and Drewsville and to submit it as a news item in both the Keene Sentinel and Eagle Times.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

“The Town of Walpole has contracted Avitar Associates of New England, LLC to perform an update of assessment values for all properties in town.  The reason for the update is per the Department of Revenue guidelines, towns must maintain an equalization ratio between 90% - 110%.  The equalization ratio illustrates the relationship between assessed value and sale prices.  Currently, the equalization ratio in the Town of Walpole is 70%.  In short, what that means is the assessments are 70% of market value.  The goal of the update is to bring assessments back to 100% of market value.

In the next few months, sales in the town will be reviewed and analyzed which will result in updated base rates for land and buildings.  Shortly thereafter, preliminary notices will be sent to all owners with the new assessed value.  Contained within the letter, will be dates and times for owners to call in the event they would like to make an appointment to speak with an assessor.  This process will be complete in time for the 2nd tax bill of 2007.  Please keep in mind, if all other factors remain constant, an increase in assessed value should result in a decrease in the tax rate.  At no point in time should anyone use the new value with the current tax rate to determine their taxes.  Upon completion, the revised assessments are submitted to the state, in addition to the information previously received in regards to the approved town and school budget to determine the final tax rate for 2007.  For those who remember the 2003 revaluation, the process will be similar.”

HODGKINS AND SONS –GRAVEL PERMITS- MAP 012-073-000 AND 001-010-000: 

Old Drewsville Road – Map 012-073-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Notice of Intent to Excavate for Hodgkins and Sons, Inc. for 8,000 cubic yards.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

Route 12 – Map 001-010-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Notice of Intent to Excavate for Hodgkins and Sons, Inc. for 1,400 cubic yards.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:

ANTHONY PRINCIOTTI LETTER:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the letter to Anthony Princiotti that provides an explanation of the process on the Veterans’ Memorial and Bandstand.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

Board of Selectmen Meeting – May 31, 2007 – Page 4

SAVINGS BANK OF WALPOLE – NAME CHANGE:  The Board of Selectmen approved and signed the letter to the Savings Bank of Walpole confirming a name change from “Teresa Fernette” to “Teresa Kissell” for the Town accounts. 

TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND – PAYMENT DUE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Josh Kelly, Trust for Public Land, asking him to pay one-half of the attorney’s fees as agreed to on the Ballam Farm.  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.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved.  The time was 8:56 P.M.

The regular meeting resumed at 9:18 P.M. 

Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 9:20 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary