Ed. Note: Thanks to Regina Borden, here are the minutes of the October 11 Selectmen's meeting. CCB
TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
OCTOBER 11, 2007
Selectmen Present: Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich
Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with four people present in the audience.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
RED SMITH – 1834 WASHINGTON SQUARE: Red Smith wanted to be sure that all the information that the Board of Selectmen would require was included in the Building Permit for 1834 Washington Square that will be known as the “Griswold Place”.
BUILDING PERMIT:
1834 WASHINGTON SQUARE II, LLC. – MAP 020-063-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2007-050 for 1834 Washington Square II, LLC to do renovations and reconstruction of the building located at 16 Westminster Street. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
PUBLIC BUSINESS (Continued):
TRACIE SMITH – TOWN HALL RENTAL: Tracie Smith explained that the rental of the Town Hall would consist of a contra dance fundraiser on December 9th, 2007, from 4:30 to 10:30 PM.
Mr. Sawyer moved to allow Tracie Smith to use the Town Hall on Sunday, December 9th, 2007, and to pay the normal fees. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
RANDY DANIELS – ROAD UPGRADE: Randy Daniels advised that the next step in their plans to develop property is to upgrade Hooper Road. It is their intent to have Hodgkins and Sons do the work; Jim Terrell, Road Agent, will oversee the project. He requested that the Board of Selectmen waive the bond option.
Mr. Sawyer moved to exempt Randy Daniels and Fred Dill from obtaining a bond for the road work. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $49,250.36. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the check register for two voided checks – Nos. 051030 and 051105. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
PAYROLL: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending October 6, 2007, for gross wages in the amount of $16,941.37 or net wages in the amount of $8,361.89. 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 $4,036.78. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. All in favor, so voted.
Mr. Aldrich moved to approve payment of the bill in the amount of $225.00 for Robie Speed. This will be taken out of the Fannie Mason Forest Fund. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
Board of Selectmen Meeting – October 11, 2007 – Page 2
MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- OCTOBER 04, 2007: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of October 04, 2007, as printed. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the Minutes of the following meetings: 1) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners - October 02, 2007; and 2) Zoning Board of Adjustment –Special Meeting- October 09, 2007.
There was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to have Mr. Miller, Chairman, visit the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners to explain the process used to present the Boston Post Cane to the oldest citizen in Town.
BUILDING PERMITS (Continued):
CHRISTIAN GOWDY – MAP 012-072-000: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2007-049 for Christian Gowdy to construct a 72’ x 16’ addition to an existing barn on the Old Drewsville Road. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
PETER GRAVES – MAP 005-016-000: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2007-051 for Peter Graves to construct a 12’ x 24’ storage shed on the County Road. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
OLD BUSINESS:
QUESTION REGARDING HOCKENSMITH REQUEST: Mr. Sawyer clarified that Attorney Hockensmith should be sent the information that he does not have in reference to the Berkshire – Walpole LLC matter.
NEW BUSINESS:
DRA – SET TAX RATE: The Board of Selectmen will meet with the Department of Revenue Administration to set the tax rate on October 18th, 2007, at 3:30 PM. Elaine Moore will notify the Village of North Walpole Board of Commissioners and the Treasurer of the Walpole Fire Precinct of this date and time.
RICK COOPER – VACATION TIME: The Board of Selectmen acknowledged the request from Rick Cooper to take vacation time from October 16th through 20th, 2007. Mr. Coburn will be in charge during his absence.
ELAINE MOORE – 2007 LGC WELFARE CONFERENCE – NOVEMBER 08, 2007: Mr. Aldrich moved to authorize Elaine Moore to attend the 2007 Local Government Center Welfare Conference on November 08, 2007. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. All in favor, so voted.
MARK HOUGHTON – SCADA UPGRADES AND ALARM SYSTEM:
Mark Houghton received a map outlining where the Wellhead Protection area is and gave it to the Board of Selectmen.
Board of Selectmen Meeting – October 11, 2007 – Page 3
The sewer pump stations in North Walpole are being checked each morning. Mark Houghton has a proposal from Hoyle, Tanner Associates to do engineering work on the pump station systems to change them. The contract would be for $10,600.00. He would like to do this before December 31st, 2007.
Mark Houghton talked to E.O.S. Research and they have given him a proposal to upgrade the Water and Sewer SCADA computer monitoring system. The contract price would be $11,965.00. This would eliminate the need to physically do the pump stations every day.
CHIEF HEWES – FIRE ARMS: It was agreed to have the Board of Selectmen’s representative talk to Police Chief Hewes about the fire arms before making a decision.
REGIONAL PROSECUTOR PROGRAM: There will be a meeting of the County of Cheshire SRPP Advisory Committee on October 30th at 5:00 PM in the Jury Assembly Room at Cheshire County Superior Court. Mr. Aldrich is the Board of Selectmen’s representative. The meetings are open to the public.
CHAMBERLAIN MACHINE: Mr. Sawyer feels that it is imperative that consideration be given to how the Town can promote having Chamberlain Machine relocate here and yet protect the aquifer.
Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen vote in favor of trying to get Chamberlain Machine to relocate to the Town of Walpole. The Board of Selectmen wants to be sure that the Wellhead Protection area is protected, as this is valuable for the Town, but Chamberlain Machine can work with the Water Superintendent to make this possible. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Mr. Miller was opposed. With Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich in favor, the motion was approved by a 2-to-1 vote.
Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich and, with all in favor, the motion was approved. The time was 8:58 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary