TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

APRIL 24, 2008

Selectboard Present:            Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Jamie Teague

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

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

MATT SUCHODOLSKI – Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application:

As a follow-up to the March 27 Public Hearing, Mr. Suchodolski from the Southwest Region Planning Commission requested that the Selectboard consider actions toward submittal of

Community Development Block Grant application to the NH Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) for the Monadnock Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to provide a business loan to Andrus, LLC for working capital along with providing office fit up and improvements at the former JH Dunning facility in North Walpole. 

Items which were reviewed during the March 27 Public Hearing and necessary for the application to be considered for funding by NH CDFA include:

• Adoption of the Housing and Community Development Plan;

• Adoption of the Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan; and

• Approve the submittal of the application and authorization of the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen to sign and submit the CDBG application, and upon approval of the application, authorize the Chairman to execute any documents which may he necessary to effectuate the CDBG contract.   

Mr. Aldrich moved to adopt the Housing and Community Development Plan. Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Aldrich moved to adopt Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan. Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the submittal of the CDBG application for MEDC and Andrus, LLC and to authorize the Chairman to sign documents necessary to effect the grant.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

JIM TERRELL – Highway:  The Selectboard had requested that Jim Terrell attend a meeting to discuss the following items:  1) Summer hours; and 2) Having a consultant conduct an evaluation.  Mr. Terrell advised that for the past four years the Highway Department has worked a four day/ten hour schedule from April 1st to November 1st but the dates are flexible depending on the weather.  He does not see a problem with not having Friday coverage because in the summer there are very few call-ins and when there are he usually responds.  The Town is getting more production out of a ten hour day because it takes time to set-up and take-down a job site; once they are on a site it allows more time to finish a project.  Mr. Terrell will meet with Mrs. Teague to go over the highway operation before consideration is given to hiring a consultant.  It was noted that a Police officer contacted the perpetrator that had taken gravel off the Hooper Road for use in his driveway so that issue was taken care of.  Mr. Terrell reported that the rough winter weather had taken a drastic toll on his budget.  After putting aside enough funding for fuel, salt,

Selectboard Meeting – April 24, 2008 – Page 2

sand, oil and other winter necessities it left $50,000 for summer work; this excludes salaries.  Therefore there is no choice but to do just what is necessary.  The work that was voted on through the Warrant Articles will be done.  Mr. Terrell noted that there are 56 miles of paved roads in the town and a lot of them have not been done in many years.  He hopes to be able to shim some of the very bad areas.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $416,826.88.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

It was noted that $390,125.37 of the above amount is a monthly payment to the Fall Mountain Region School District.  The attorney’s fee to handle the suit against the Planning Board was $1,227.91 as of this date.          

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending April 19, 2008, for gross wages in the amount of $15,391.94 or net wages in the amount of $7,106.47.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $3,675.78.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

TRANSFER:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve having the Treasurer transfer the amount of $500,000 from the MBIA to the Savings of Bank of Walpole, Town of Walpole general fund and to authorize the Chairman to sign the document.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

BRUSH FIRES: 

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve signing the State of New Hampshire Forest Fire bill for the Town of Walpole in the amount of $600.34.  This was for a Mutual Aid call in Surry, NH.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

Mrs. Teague moved to approve signing the four following State of New Hampshire Forest Fire bills for the Town of Walpole as follows:  1) 64 Taggart Road - $890.48; 2) County Road and Farnum Lane - $273.40; 3) Cover at Fire Station - $818.72; and 4) 13 Union Street - $165.00.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – April 17, 2008:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the April 17, 2008, Selectboard meeting of April 17, 2008, as printed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague who noted one spelling change: Page 1 –change “Rfunds” to “Refunds”.  All in favor, so voted.

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the Minutes of the following meetings:  1) Zoning Board of Adjustment – April 16, 2008; and 2) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners – April 22, 2008.         

ABATEMENTS:

HARRY and SHIRLEY REMICK –MAP 013-030-000 – PROPERTY TAX:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement for Property Tax in the amount of $158.00 for Harry and Shirley Remick on the Old Turnpike Road.  This is the result of an Avitar adjustment.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

Selectboard Meeting – April 24, 2008 – Page 3

VINCENT MALNATI – 351 MAIN STREET – SEWER:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement for Sewer in the amount of $335.02 for Vincent Malnati.  This meter was read in gallons rather than cubic feet.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

ROBERT CLEMENT –HYDRANT ON COMMON- WATER:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement for Water in the amount of $680.00 for Robert Clement.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

REFUND:

LEON JONES – Map 002-009-001 – PROPERTY TAX:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Refund for Property Tax in the amount of $1,036.92 for Leon Jones.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

WARRANT:

TIMBER WARRANT –ANDREW BISSLAND- MAP 012-068-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Timber Tax in the amount of $2,341.76 for Andrew Bissland on the Old Drewsville Road.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

BUILDING PERMITS:

MAURICE & RACHELLE CYR –MAP 003-012-002- 57 Whipple Hill Road:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-010 for Maurice & Rachelle Cyr to build a 3 bedroom house with two car attached garage.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

ELIZABETH & MICHAEL SNIDE –MAP 009-003-000- 84 Ramsay Hill Road:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-011 for Elizabeth & Michael Snide for a 16’ x 16’ addition to the kitchen area.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

OLD BUSINESS:

DELIA BLANCHARD – JUNK VEHICLES:  As a follow-up it appears that Ms. Blanchard did not pick-up her certified letter and she was not present at this meeting.  Mrs. Teague recommended moving to the next level.  She will ask a Police officer to accompany her when making a visit to Ms. Blanchard at her property to discuss removal of the junk vehicles.

PAINTING OF TOWN HALL – CONTRACTORS:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the contract with Foster’s Pro Painting Plus, LLC to paint specified sections of the Town Hall for the amount of $11,740.00.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

NEW BUSINESS:

INTENT TO CUT TIMBER –NANCY SHEPARD- MAP 008-099-000- THOMPSON ROAD:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Notice of Intent to Cut Timber for Nancy Shepard on the Thompson Road.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

COLD RIVER LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE – MEMBER APPOINTMENT:  Austin Hunter’s name was nominated by the Cold River Local Advisory Committee and it was approved by the NH Department of Environmental Services.

Mr. Aldrich moved to appoint Austin Hunter to the Cold River Local Advisory Committee and to authorize the Chairman to sign the appointment document.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

Selectboard Meeting – April 24, 2008 – Page 4

VACANCY STATUS OF PROPERTY AT 14 CHURCH ST., NO. WALPOLE (ANNA KENNEDY):   Mrs. Teague was contacted by Madeline Adams who is taking care of Anna Kennedy, her sister.  Ms. Adams questioned the water and sewer bills since there is no usage.  There was a consensus that as long as the water and sewer is hooked-up a bill for the minimum amount will be issued; they should consider having the utilities shut-off.           

USE OF GAZEBO AND COMMON –AUGUST 08, 2008 FOR WEDDING:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the request from Jeanne Cloues to use the Gazebo and Common on August 08, 2008, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM for a wedding.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

VACATION TIME –ELAINE MOORE- MAY 02, 2008:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve Elaine Moore’s request to take off May 02, 2008, as a vacation day.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

CONSERVATION COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS (2) BOTH ALTERNATES:  Mr. Aldrich moved to appoint Fred Ernst and Andrew Lewis as Alternates on the Conservation Commission.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

Mrs. Teague moved to recess this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 9:44 PM.

The Selectboard entered into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees of Trust Fund.

HOOPER

TRUSTEES OF TRUST FUND MEETING

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting of the Hooper Trustees of Trust Fund to order at 9:46 PM.

Hooper Cottage Driveway:  There was a consensus of the Selectboard to ask Jim Terrell to put some gravel in the Hooper Cottage driveway but to charge it to the Hooper Maintenance Fund.

Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 9:52 PM.

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

The Selectboard resumed their regular meeting at 9:54 PM.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION:

Mr. Aldrich moved to enter into a Non-Public Meeting pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved.

The regular meeting resumed at 10:28 PM.

There were no announcements made following the Non-Public Session.

Selectboard Meeting – April 24, 2008 – Page 5

There being no other business, Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.   All in favor, so voted.  The time was 10:29 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary