TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MAY 1, 2008

Selectboard Present: Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Jamie Teague

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

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $280,143.68.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  With Mrs. Teague and Mr. Sawyer in favor, the motion was approved. 

PAYROLL:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending April 26, 2008, for gross wages in the amount of $17,302.95 or net wages in the amount of $8,908.29.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  With Mrs. Teague and Mr. Sawyer in favor, the motion was approved.

Mr. Aldrich came into the meeting.

Mrs. Teague moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,087.27.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  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 $384.71 and that the Chairman be authorized to sign the document.  This was for a brush fire on East Street.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve signing the State of New Hampshire Forest Fire bill for the Town of Walpole in the amount of $1,412.17 and that the Chairman be authorized to sign the document.  This was for a brush fire.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

TRANSFER:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve having the Treasurer transfer the amount of $250,000 from the MBIA to the Savings Bank of Walpole and to authorize the Chairman to sign the document.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

WALPOLE LIBRARY:  Joe Beer explained that the Library would like to plant two trees by the building between the sidewalk and road.  One tree would be on Mortenson’s property and they will buy that one.  The second one by the Library will be donated by an anonymous resident.  Jennifer Burr was consulted on the type of tree and location.  Mrs. Teague asked them to consider the type of root system so it will not damage the sidewalk or road and that they contact the NH Dig Safe prior to digging.

Mr. Aldrich moved to allow Jennifer Burr and the Library Committee to plant the two trees between the sidewalk and road.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD REGULAR MEETING – April 24, 2008:  Mr. Aldrich moved to pass over these minutes until the next meeting.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

NON-PUBLIC MEETING – April 24, 2008:  Mr. Sawyer noted the following change:  Second paragraph – delete “especially when he left without a notice”.  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Non-Public Selectboard meeting Minutes of April 24, 2008, with the above correction.  The

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 Minutes will remain sealed as they contain information on personnel.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted. 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the Minutes of the following meetings:  1) Planning Board Work Session – April 22, 2008; and 2) North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners – April 29, 2008.

ABATEMENT:

RICHARD WESTNEY, SR. –MAP 028-012-000- PROPERTY:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Walpole Notice of Property Tax Abatement for 2007 in the amount of $312.00 for Richard Westney, Sr.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

REFUND:       

NORMAN and SUSAN FIRENZE –MAP 030-002-000- PROPERTY:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Walpole Notice of Property Tax Refund for 2007 in the amount of $236.61.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

WARRANTS:

DALE HUBBARD –TIMBER CUT- MAP 007-013-000 – INTENT 07-416-09:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Timber Tax Fees in the amount of $133.51 for Dale Hubbard.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

DALE HUBBARD –TIMBER CUT- MAP 010-022-001 – INTENT 07-416-10:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Warrant for the Collection of Walpole Timber Tax Fees in the amount of $109.85 for Dale Hubbard.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

BUILDING PERMITS:

RONALD and MARGO BANKS – MAP 009-017-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-012 for Ronald and Margo Banks to construct a 12’ x 20’ one story storage shed on March Hill Road.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

BRUCE CARRUTHERS – MAP 019-044-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-013 for Bruce Carruthers to take down a section of existing building and rebuild in the same area; the renovation and improvements include an exercise pool and second floor improvements.  The free standing garage will be connected to the house.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

SHELDON S. SAWYER – MAP 005-004-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-014 for Sheldon S. Sawyer to construct an addition to the existing barn on Wentworth Road.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Mr. Sawyer abstained.  With Mr. Aldrich and Mrs. Teague in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

DELIA BLANCHARD –JUNK VEHICLES:  Mrs. Teague and a Police officer went to the Blanchard property last night but Ms. Blanchard was not there.  Mrs. Teague hand delivered the letter from the Selectboard to Ms. Blanchard’s friend.  An arrangement was made to have Ms. Blanchard go to the Selectboard office and Police Station the next day.  Mrs. Teague will follow-

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up with Chief Hewes in the morning and do a follow-up letter giving Ms. Blanchard 14 days to comply and complete everything.

14 CHURCH STREET – FOLLOW-UP:  Mrs. Teague contacted Madeline Adams relative to disconnecting the water and sewer but there has been no follow-up discussion.

LAWSUIT – COST TO TOWN:  Mr. Sawyer advised that the lawsuit that Tucker Burr brought against the ZBA for denying the re-hearing for Chamberlain Machine cost the Town $1,227.91 in legal fees to-date.     

PAINTING OF TOWN HALL – START DATE:  Mr. Foster will be unable to begin the painting of the Town Hall until the end of June.  Letters have been sent to the other bidders.

NORTH WALPOLE TAX COLLECTOR –LIEN DISCHARGE TO REGISTRY:  The Selectboard reviewed the North Walpole Tax Collector’s lien discharge for the Registry of Deeds for a property located at 11 Ash Street.

NEW BUSINESS:

COLD RIVER LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FORMS TO BE SIGNED:  The Selectboard received a letter from the Cold River Local Advisory Committee relative to putting up two signs to indicate that the Cold River is a “Protected River”.

Mr. Aldrich moved that this request be made to the ZBA for their input.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

CURRENT USE –JUDITH STAMM- MAP 013-058-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Current Use application for Judith Stamm to put 27 acres of land into Current Use on the Cheney Hill Road.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

MARCH HILL ROAD:  The Selectboard reviewed the cave-in on March Hill that has now become a one way road (above French Road).  They are checking their options on how to proceed because of the expense.  There appears to be two options:  To transfer money within the budget to make the repairs and then if necessary request an emergency expenditure later this summer/fall if the town is going to go over budget for the year.  There needs to be an offsetting revenue for the emergency expenditure (such as fund balance).  The second option is for the town to petition the court to hold a special meeting.  Jamie Dow from the Department of Revenue Administration provided information for both options.  The State Department of Transportation will be here tomorrow to look at the site to determine whether it is a bridge or not; by the State definition of a bridge.  In the meantime emergency repairs are being made to keep it from going any further by using rip-rap stone.  Barriers and warnings were put up.  The DRA has to approve using the fund balance but they will not do it until further into the budget year to see if it is available.  The Auditors are due next week.  At this point the Selectboard is not sure what it will cost but it does look like a major expense. 

RECYCLE/TRANSFER CLOSING – MEMORIAL DAY:  A memo was received from Rick Cooper advising that the center will be closed on Tuesday, May 27th in observance of Memorial Day.

SCHOOL FIVE YEAR PLAN:  Mr. Aldrich reported that there will be a meeting on Thursday, May 15th at the school to discuss the Five Year Plan for the Walpole schools.  Since this is also a

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Selectboard meeting night they will be asked to send a copy of their meeting Minutes to the Selectboard.

ENERGY FAIR:  Tara Sad stopped by the Selectboard office to remind everybody of the Energy Fair to be held on May 3rd on the Common.  They reviewed the list of vendors and exhibitors.

LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:

MR. & MRS. NORMAN FIRENZE – RE: Property Abatement Request – Map 028-004-000:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve signing the letter to Mr. and Mrs. Norman Firenze denying the Property Tax Abatement.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

MR. BRUCE LABELLE – RE: Property Abatement Request – Map 003-040-000:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve signing the letter to Mr. Bruce LaBelle denying the Property Tax Abatement.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

MR. & MRS. RICHARD ZURMUHLEN, JR. – RE: Property Abatement Request – Map 003-006-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve signing the letter to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Zurmuhlen, Jr. denying the Property Tax Abatement.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

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 time was 9:06 PM.

The regular meeting resumed at 9:25 PM.

PERSONNEL:  Mrs. Teague moved that the current Selectboard has decided to terminate all payroll and benefits to Tracy Nash.  The final pay will be made on May 9th, 2008, and the insurance coverage will terminate on June 1st, 2008.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Aldrich moved to deny Joe Benjamin his 3% payroll increase because payroll increases are at the discretion of the Selectboard.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 9:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary