TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
SEPTEMBER 13, 2007
Selectmen Present: Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich
Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with two people present in the audience.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
POLICE CHIEF DAVID HEWES: Police Chief David Hewes reported that the Walpole part-time officers and State Police covered the period of time that he was on vacation. Mr. Sawyer expressed concern because three of the full-time officers accompanied him on the trip. Chief Hewes felt confident that everything was taken care of and the Town would have adequate coverage in his absence. He advised that the number of accidents is down and the number of summons is about the same as last year; the department has been doing patrols on the Old Drewsville Road. They will be working on a few big cases that they became involved in this week. The Regional Prosecutor is doing a great job.
OUR PLACE: Bill Therrien explained that Our Place in Bellows Falls provides a food shelf for a lot of families with children and seniors in addition to breakfast and hot lunch meals four days a week and distributed brochures that illustrate all the services. Some nutrition education is also provided. In Vermont they serve Bellows Falls, Grafton, Rockingham, Westminster, Saxtons River, and Athens; in New Hampshire they serve Walpole, North Walpole and Alstead. Our Place does a lot of their own fundraising and has many food drives. Two years ago the Town voters supported a Warrant Article but last year the Board of Selectmen deleted it from the budget. Mr. Therrien requested that the Board of Selectmen consider reinstating the funding to Our Place in the next budget.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $51,672.94. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
PAYROLL: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending September 8, 2007, for gross wages in the amount of $16,055.29 or net wages in the amount of $8,209.01. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $3,873.48. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
FOREST FIRES: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the two Forest Fire documents to the State of New Hampshire, Division of Forests and Lands. These are for reimbursement of two fires on Derry Hill Road on September 4th and 5th, 2007. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- SEPTEMBER 06, 2007: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of September 06, 2007, as printed. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
Board of Selectmen Meeting – September 13, 2007 – Page 2
DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the Minutes of the following meetings: 1) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners – September 11, 2007; 2) Hooper Committee Meeting – July 17, 2007; and 3) Cemetery Committee Meeting – September 07, 2007.
ABATEMENT:
WALPOLE-FORT NO. 3, INC. – MAP 024-009-000: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement in the amount of $7,175.00 for the 2006 property taxes due to an incorrect assessment. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
REFUND:
JOY FERNANDES – MAP 011-056-000: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Refund in the amount of $1,178.00 to Joy Fernandes to correct taking land out of Current Use in error. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
BUILDING PERMIT:
JARED AND LISA STOLPER – MAP 010-013-000: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2007-044 for Jared and Lisa Stolper to construct a 10’ x 20’ one-story shed on the Old Drewsville Road. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
OLD BUSINESS:
TOWN FUEL: There was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to keep the Town Fuel issue on-hold for the next agenda.
CHARLESTOWN-WALPOLE 14747 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN: Mr. Sawyer moved to designate the following residents as Town of Walpole representatives to the Charlestown-Walpole 14747 Public Involvement Plan: Conservation Commission – Gary Speed; Selectboard – Jim Terrell; North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners – Patrick Kiniry; Business Interest – Donald Lennon; Planning Board – Jeff Miller or his designee. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
MAP 021 – LOT 013: A memo was received from Mrs. Martin of Avitar requesting clarification on a previous assessment adjustment on this property.
Mr. Sawyer moved to have Avitar re-assess the property at Map 021 – Lot 013. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
NEW BUSINESS:
CEMETERY DEED –CHARLES AND ELEANOR SHAW- D408: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Cemetery Deed for Charles and Eleanor Shaw for one lot in the amount of $400.00. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
PUBLIC SERVICE MEETING –REGARDING ELECTRIC-WELFARE– OCTOBER 11, 2007: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve that the Welfare Director, Elaine Moore, be allowed to attend the annual Public Service meeting on October 11, 2007 in Keene. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Board of Selectmen Meeting – September 13, 2007 – Page 3
SWRPC – MONADNOCK REGION IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE: The Board of Selectmen acknowledged receipt of a brochure from the Southwest Region Planning Commission advising that there will be a seminar on “Monadnock Region in the Global Marketplace” in Keene on Friday, October 5th, 2007, from 8:30 am to Noon.
FOREST FIRE WARDEN: A memo was received from Bill Houghton advising that the Regional Forest Fire Warden, Robert Stewart, has retired and the State will be appointing a new one as soon as they can. In the meantime, Mr. Houghton will take care of all problems that arise locally and will involve the State when necessary.
TOWN HALL SPRINKLERS: Elaine Moore will talk to Herb Hurlburt about the Town Hall sprinklers as it appears they have not been inspected since September 16, 2005.
VILAS BRIDGE: The Board of Selectmen Office received an email from Jim Byrne that was followed by receipt of a package that contained a picture of the covered bridge, built in 1804, that crossed the Connecticut River where the Vilas Bridge is now located. There was a consensus to display it in the Town Hall office.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
Mr. Aldrich moved to enter into a Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved. The time was 9:14 PM.
The regular meeting resumed at 9:25 PM. No announcements were made.
Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich and, with all in favor, the motion was approved. The time was 9:28 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary