MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

JUNE 12, 2008

Selectboard Present:   Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Jamie Teague

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

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $66,003.94.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the voided Accounts Payable check register for checks Nos. 037385 and 037413.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

PAYROLL:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending June 7, 2008, for gross wages in the amount of $18,174.76 or net wages in the amount of $9,429.64.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  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 $4,319.77.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE:  Mrs. Teague recommended that Teresa Kissell check with the Savings Bank of Walpole regarding a Sweep Account.

Mrs. Teague moved to pay off the TAN for $1,000,000.00 and to take the balance out of the MBIA and put it into the Town’s checking account at the Savings Bank of Walpole.  The Chairman and Treasurer are authorized to sign the documents.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

BRUSH FIRES:

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve filing the State of New Hampshire, Division of Forests and Lands, Forest Fire bills for the Town of Walpole as follows:  1) North Walpole on May 27th - $612.19; 2)  $236.24; 3) $263.28; 4) $135.46; and 5) $1,412.17.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

CINDY WESTOVER – OLD HOME DAYS UP-DATE:  Cindy Westover distributed copies of the schedule of events for the Old Home Days activities.  Last Friday evening she met with the Police Department and Road Agent about the 7:00 to 11:00 PM dance in the parking lot.  The fireworks will be set-up on North Road and the Fire Department is aware of this.  She would like to shut-off the road by the Common for the 5-K race because it starts and ends by the Town Hall.  People will be allowed to come into the Common to set-up on Saturday but then it will be shut-off to traffic.  The Parade will begin at 10:00 AM and the Police Department will have a cruiser at the beginning and the end.  There is also a schedule for Sunday that includes the Sunday evening concert that begins at 7:00 PM.  Mrs. Westover is in the process of obtaining an insurance rider to cover the events.  The Selectboard members were invited to participate in the parade and are to be at the Walpole Elementary School by 10:00 AM. In addition to the above there are many other activities through the week-end.

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – JUNE 04, 2008:  Mr. Aldrich noted that on page 2 under Letters to be signed – change “Mr. Sawyer approved” to “Mr. Sawyer seconded” the motion. 

Selectboard Meeting – June 12, 2008 – Page 2

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the June 04, 2008, Selectboard meeting with the above correction.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  With Mr. Aldrich and Mr. Sawyer in favor, the motion was approved.  Mrs. Teague abstained as she was not present.

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the June 04, 2008, Non-Public meeting as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  With Mr. Aldrich and Mr. Sawyer in favor, the motion was approved.  Mrs. Teague abstained as she was not present.

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the Minutes of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meeting of June 09, 2008.

ABATEMENTS:

RICHARD N. WESTNEY, JR. – LIEN FEES – MAP 027-001-006:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement in the amount of $37.12 for Richard N. Westney, Jr.  The lien fees were erroneously assessed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

PATRICK F. AUMAND – LIEN FEES – MAP 028-127-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement in the amount of $18.56 for Patrick F. Aumand.  The lien fees were erroneously assessed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

REFUND:

VINCENT MALNATI –TAX ABATEMENT- OVERPAYMENT:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Refund in the amount of $71.20 for Vincent Malnati.  This is due to an over payment.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

PUBLIC BUSINESS (Continued):

GARY FOX –PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION- CONN. RIVER TRANSIT:  Mr. Fox spoke to Mrs. Teague a few months ago about the possibility of the Connecticut River Transit providing trips in the Town of Walpole to the Bellows Falls Senior Center, to Shaw’s for shopping and possibly other stops.  The CRT is a non-profit service in 30 towns.  Mr. Fox distributed a brochure and current schedule in Bellows Falls.  Some employers pay for their service to transport their employees to the various places of business.  To provide the service in Walpole would cost $2,260.00/year.  The rides would be based on voluntary donations by the users; there are no age requirements.  Mr. Fox will provide a questionnaire that will then be distributed at the Senior Housing center, the churches and all local stores to be filled out to provide an estimated number of users.  If the response is favorable, it might be possible to begin the service by September 1st. 

WARRANTS:

MARY McMAHON –TIMBER CUT- MAP 003-002-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the Warrant for the Collection of Timber Cut in the amount of $1,624.00 for Mary McMahon on Whipple Hill.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

BUILDING PERMIT:

WILLIAM and KRISTEN WHITON –MAP 003-038-003:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-023 for William and Kristen Whiton to construct a 16’ x 12’ shed on the County Road.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

Selectboard Meeting – June 12, 2008 – Page 3

OLD BUSINESS:

KATHY MONAHAN:   Ms. Monahan talked to the Selectboard last week about a sidewalk sale using two parking spaces in front of her store but she has now decided to still have the sidewalk sale but to put the racks out in front of her store and to do it during Old Home Days.

Mrs. Teague moved to allow Kathy Monahan to have the sidewalk sale as proposed above.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

OLD DREWSVILLE ROAD:  Mr. Sawyer reported that for two years the Town’s Road Agent tried to contact the Department of Environmental Services in an effort to do the repairs on the Old Drewsville Road.  Jim Terrell felt that for safety issues he could not wait any longer therefore he is going to fix up the ends so it will be safe.  There was an Article for these repairs.  It was agreed to have Jim Terrell detail the step-by-step things that he did so it can be sent to the DES to advise that the work is now being done by the Town for safety reasons. 

NEW BUSINESS:

TOWN HALL RENTAL QUESTION:  Contra Dances are held in the Town Hall on the third Saturday of every month and were scheduled through 2008 and 2009.  The Fall Mountain Region High School recently wanted to book the Town Hall for their prom on the third Saturday in May 2009.  The Selectboard discussed booking Town Hall functions out too far except for weddings. There was a consensus to change the policy on Town Hall rentals to state that they will only extend out dates for weddings but any other type of event can only be scheduled four months out.  A letter is to be sent to the person in charge of the contra dances to reflect this change.

PUBLIC BUSINESS (Continued):

MARCIA GALLOWAY – CONSERVATION COMMISSION   Mrs. Galloway advised that the Conservation Commission is requesting that the Selectboard make arrangements with the Department of Transportation for a temporary access off Route 12 to do a logging operation in the Fanny Mason Forest.  Peter Rhoades, Forester, will mark the trees but there is no access for logging to be done.    

Mrs. Teague moved for the Selectboard to approve asking the State of New Hampshire for temporary access off Route 12 for a logging operation on Map 7, Lot 6.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.                       

NELSON CONSERVANCY:  Mrs. Galloway reported that Peter Graves and Brad Fletcher did an inspection on the Nelson Conservancy off French Road.  There was a utility trailer parked there but they could not find any auto parts.  There is a trailer on private property but it was further back than the house on that property.

NEW BUSINESS (Continued):

DISABILITY LEAVE:  The Selectboard reviewed a memo from Teresa Kissell relative to an employee that will be taking a disability leave.  Mr. Sawyer read the section from the Personnel Policy in reference to disability leaves.  Mrs. Teague would like to discuss the procedure used in the past with Ms. Kissell.

JEFFREY HORNE –REPRESENTING LAVERNE HORNE- MAP 012-015-000: Mrs. Mansouri noted that Jeffrey Horne did not attend this meeting as he had so indicated to discuss this property.  Laverne Horne is in violation of the Zoning Permit.  Mrs. Mansouri will work with Elaine Moore to send the information to the attorney tomorrow to have the court documents prepared.  .         

Selectboard Meeting – June 12, 2008 – Page 4

PERSONAL DAY REQUEST –JIM TERRELL- JUNE 19, 2008:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the request of Jim Terrell to take a personal day off on June 19, 2008.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

TOWN HALL HEATING/AIR CONDITION REPAIRS/AND BATHROOM REPAIR:  Elaine Moore explained that Blanc and Bailey had done the renovations to the Town Hall but some work was sub-contracted to Bergeron Electric.  There are condensation problems with the air conditioning system in the Selectboard office, the men’s room ceiling pipes are leaking so it is ruining the ceiling and the men’s room toilet needs to be replaced.  There was a consensus to have Elaine Moore contact Bergeron Electric to come and look at the problem areas and to check to see if there might be some guarantees on the parts.

NORTH WALPOLE LIEN EXECUTION LIST:  The North Walpole Lien Execution List was submitted for the Selectboard to review.

JOE GOODHUE –UPDATE ON PAY DISBURSEMENT:  Joe Goodhue submitted his summer schedule.  The Selectboard approved his work schedule and payment information.  Mr. Sawyer recommended that a letter be sent to him to acknowledge his memo and to thank him for putting in all those hours.          

MARY McMAHON –INTENT TO CUT TIMBER- MAP 003-001-000 and MAP 003-001-002:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the two Notices of Intent to Cut Timber for Mary McMahon.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

MICHAEL McCONNEL and BARBARA HAYDEN –INTENT TO CUT TIMBER- MAP 005-031-002:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Notice of Intent to Cut Timber for Michael McConnel and Barbara Hayden.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:

RONALD ALDRICH – ABATEMENT REQUEST:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the letter to Ronald Aldrich relative to an Abatement request.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  All in favor, so voted.

There being no other business, Mr. Sawyer declared the meeting adjourned at 10:04 pm. 

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary