TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

JANUARY 24, 2008

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:

ERNIE VOSE and JOANNE HURLBURT:  Ernie Vose and Joanne Hurlburt asked for some locked storage space in the Town Hall basement to provide security for their election items.  They submitted a list of what will be stored there.  On a temporary basis the Board of Selectmen approved having them use some space in one of the Town’s locked closets but arrangements will be made to have a separate storage space built for the election supplies. 

There was discussion relative to the preparation for Town Meeting including the need for two wireless microphones and one at the stand.  

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $68,412.22.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending January 19, 2008, for gross wages in the amount of $21,624.80 or net wages in the amount of $11,854.55.  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 $4,965.84.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the pay increase of $.50/hour for Bruce Russell of the Highway Department.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- JANUARY 17, 2008:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the Board of Selectmen’s and Hooper Trustees meeting of January 17, 2008.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

ABATEMENTS:

WILLIAM & SALLY ALLEN –WATER & SEWER:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement in the amount of $343.70 for Water and $254.23 for Sewer for William and Sally Allen.  This was due to a leak as verified by Mark Houghton.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

CLIFTON AND MARILYN COOKE – SEWER:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Sewer in the amount of $1,143.20 for Clifton and Marilyn Cooke.  This was caused by the outside meter not being read.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

BUILDING PERMIT:

JASON WYMAN – MAP 012-055-012:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-002 for Jason and Elise Wyman to construct a 10’ x 10’ mud room on Dearborn Circle.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

Board of Selectmen Meeting – January 24, 2008 – Page 2

OLD BUSINESS:

CURRENT USE –RUSSELL HARDING- MAP 009-006-002:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Current Use application for Russell and Pam Harding to add 7.57 acres to their existing parcel in Current Use on Barnett Hill Road.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

TOWN HALL SPEAKERS:  Mr. Sawyer spoke about the need to have the speakers hard-wired in the Town Hall meeting room to eliminate the need to run wires.  Elaine Moore will contact Mr. Hurlburt.

HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT:  Dick Hurlburt and Larry DeVault were unable to attend this meeting therefore the Board of Selectmen put the Homeland Security Grant document on-hold until the next meeting.

MICHAUD – CURRENT USE QUESTION:  The Board of Selectmen put this agenda item on-hold as Mr. Michaud was unable to attend this meeting.

NEW BUSINESS:

RICK COOPER – PERSONAL TIME REQUEST:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve having Rick Cooper take off Saturday, January 26th, 2008, as a personal day.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

SECRETARY TO ZONING BOARD:  The Board of Selectmen announced that Elaine Moore was hired as the secretary to the Zoning Board.

LGC – RETIREMENT COSTS:  Acknowledgement was made of a letter from the Local Government Center regarding Retirement costs.

Mr. Sawyer moved to pass-over this agenda item until the next meeting to allow time to do some research.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted. 

INTENT TO CUT TIMBER – THOMAS LARSON- MAP 004-014-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the Notice of Intent to Cut Timber for Thomas Larson as submitted by Melvin Rice.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

ELLIS AND AUDREY WHEATLEY –ELDERLY EXEMPTION- MAP 013-028-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Elderly Exemption for Ellis and Audrey Wheatley.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

ICE SKATING RINK:  Glen Stan from the Walpole Middle School requested some information on the ice skating rink at the north end of the Town Hall behind the church. 

Mr. Sawyer moved that Charles Miller contact Glen Stan regarding the ice skating rink.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.  

Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 8:48 PM.

Board of Selectmen Meeting – January 24, 2008 – Page 3

HOOPER

TRUSTEES OF TRUST MEETING

Mr. Miller called the meeting of the Hooper Trustees of Trust Meeting to order at 8:50 PM.

Hooper Pro Shop:  The Board of Selectmen acknowledged a letter from Richard High regarding the Hooper Pro Shop.  They will do some research on the lease agreement before responding to the letter.

Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 8:56 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary