TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

MAY 22, 2008

Selectboard Present: Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, (Absent: Jamie Teague)

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

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

RED SMITH – REF: PLAYGROUND BEHIND ST. JOHN’S CHURCH:  Red Smith talked about the debris that people leave behind after a ballgame in the playground behind St. John’s Church.  In addition, youngsters play on the ramp and stairs of the church, climb up the stones and climb the stairs to the apartment; someone is going to get hurt.  He requested that the coaches, teams, parents and youngsters be instructed to stay off the church property and to clean up after themselves.  The Selectboard agreed that this needs to be resolved therefore they will send a letter to the person in charge; a copy will be sent to Red Smith.  

FRANCIS PALMIERI – REF: 65 DEARBORN CIRCLE:  Jonathan Palmieri spoke for the family; they have nothing to hide.  With reference to the May 08, 2008, meeting minutes he asked that the word “apartment” be deleted as it is not an apartment but rather an “addition” over the garage with a bathroom.  It is all on one foundation as required by the Town regulations.  Mr. Palmieri displayed pictures of the construction.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $26,987.97.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending May 17, 2008, for gross wages in the amount of $14,398.85 or net wages in the amount of $6,364.32.  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 $3,447.29.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted. 

MINUTES:

SELECTMEN’S MEETING – May 15, 2008:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the May 15, 2008, Selectboard meeting as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Elaine Moore clarified the following:  Page 2 – Selectboard’s Office-Work Week-4 Days – the office will continue to be open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM five days a week.  The summer schedule for the four work days will be on a rotation basis.  All in favor, so voted.    

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the Minutes of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meeting of May 20, 2008.

REFUNDS:

LEON JONES, III – MAP 002-009-001:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Refund for 2007 Property Taxes in the amount of $1,041.61 (Principal $1,019.00 plus Interest $22.61) for Leon Jones, III.  This is the result of changes made by Avitar.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

Selectboard Meeting – May 22, 2008 – Page 2

PETER BERG – MAP 011-033-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Refund for 2007 Property Taxes in the amount of $2,412.95 (Principal $2,353.00 plus Interest $59.95) for Peter Berg.  This is the result of changes made by Avitar.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

PETER BERG – MAP 011-037-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Refund for 2007 Property Taxes in the amount of $396.86 (Principal $387.00 plus Interest $9.86) for Peter Berg.  This is the result of changes made by Avitar.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

PETER BERG – MAP 013-050-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Refund for 2007 Property Taxes in the amount of $95.36 (Principal $93.00 plus Interest $2.36) for Peter Berg.  This is the result of changes made by Avitar.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

BUILDING PERMITS:

JOSEPH and BARBARA JACKSON – MAP 011-051-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-017 for Joseph and Barbara Jackson to construct a 28’ x 20’ storage shed on March Hill Road.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

CRAIG and JAMIE DAY – MAP 004-019-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-018 for Craig and Jamie Day to construct a 12’ x 16’ deck on the Old Keene Road.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

ROBERT and STACY GAY – MAP 015-029-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-019 for Robert and Stacy Gay to construct a 28’ x 30’ garage with a 13’ x 12’ mud room on the Alstead Center Road.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

CHAMBERLAIN MACHINE, INC.:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-020 for Chamberlain Machine, Inc. to construct a 234’ x 240’ Commercial Building on Huntington Lane subject to the $500 payment for water.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

MARY LORI FRANDINO – MAP 010-048-001:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-021 for Mary Lori Frandino to construct a 20’ x 17’2” addition to the existing garage on School Street.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

PUBLIC BUSINESS (Continued):

BOY SCOUT TROOP No. 299:  Joshua Makinen explained that Boy Scout Troop No. 299 would like to place a “geo cache” on the Mill Pond Trail about 10’ to 20’ away from the main trail.  A “geo cache” is the hikers’ version of informational-type devices being used in vehicles.  He displayed one to those in attendance.  Mr. Sawyer felt the Conservation Commission should be alerted to the fact that they will be doing this.

Mr. Aldrich moved to allow Boy Scout Troop No. 299 to install a geo cache in the vicinity of the Mill Pond Trail.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

OLD BUSINESS:

RISE ENGINEERING:  A bill was received from Rise Engineering as a ladder was needed to install some of the energy light units that were too high to reach from a standard ladder.

Mr. Sawyer moved to refer this bill in the amount of $235.00 from Transworld Systems to the Tri-Village Energy Committee.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

Selectboard Meeting – May 22, 2008 – Page 3

OLD KEENE BRIDGE:  Mr. Sawyer will be in the Town Hall tomorrow at 9:00 AM to sign some paperwork for the Old Keene Bridge.

NEW BUSINESS:

ECUC PROPERTY – MAP 012-016-000:  There was a consensus of the Selectboard to request that the owner of the ECUC property, off Main Street, attend a meeting in the near future to explain what they are doing there and why they are not complying with the Town regulations.

LAVERNE HORNE PROPERTY – MAP 012-015-000:  Myra Mansouri and Sheldon Sawyer visited this property today.  There are 50 to 60 vehicles there.  The Selectboard is requesting that Laverne Horne attend a meeting in the near future to discuss the operation on that property.

FOREST FIRE WARDEN:  The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a State of New Hampshire Re-Appointment document announcing that William Houghton has been re-appointed as the Forest Fire Warden for the Town of Walpole until December 31, 2009.

SWRPC – PAYMENT ISSUE:  A letter was received from the Southwest Region Planning Commission acknowledging a partial payment from the Town for dues in the amount of $3,000 however, based on the Town’s per capita, the annual dues billed were $4,055.  Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Aldrich agreed to put this on-hold until a full Board is present.

BLOCK GRANT AID:  The Selectboard received a notice from the State of New Hampshire that their Highway Block Grant Aid has been reduced by approximately $500.00.

SAVINGS BANK OF WALPOLE:  Myra Mansouri was contacted by the Savings Bank of Walpole as they are requesting that a signature card be signed by two of the Selectboard for the new Recreation Playground account.  Mrs. Mansouri will obtain the card tomorrow.

OLD FIRE STATION:   Mr. Sawyer asked Elaine Moore to obtain an estimate for scraping and painting the old “old” Fire Station as it should be included in the next budget.

DOG EXCREMENT:  There was discussion relative to dog excrement not being picked-up by their owners on Town properties especially on the Common.  The Selectboard agreed that two signs, worded appropriately, should be ordered and placed at each end of the Common.

TOWN HALL PROPERTY - TREES:  Mr. Sawyer advised that one tree on the Town Hall lawn needs to be taken down and replaced.  An estimate will be obtained.

Mrs. Mansouri noted that the branches on the big tree on the corner of the Town Hall property are touching the Town Hall and should be cut back.

TOWN HALL FLOWER PLANTING:  Mr. Aldrich moved to give $200.00 to the 4-H group that did the flower planting by the Town Hall to cover their expenses.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted. 

CODING OF BILLS:  The Selectboard approved having a memo sent to all Department Heads to remind them that all bills need to be coded correctly.

Selectboard Meeting – May 22, 2008 – Page 4

AUDITORS:  The Selectboard asked Elaine Moore to contact the Auditors to see when they will be available to do the Town’s audit.

LETTER TO BE SIGNED:

PETER BERG – ABATEMENT REQUESTS:  Mr. Aldrich moved to sign the letter to Peter Berg to deny Abatement requests for seven properties.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

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

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

TRUSTEES OF HOOPER FUND MEETING

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting of the Trustees of the Hooper Fund to order at 8:58 PM.

SIDEWALK:  The Trustees of the Hooper Fund acknowledged receipt of a supplemental bill in the amount of $100.00 in conjunction with the sidewalk project because of the fact that an unexpected water line that runs under it needs to be pulled-up.  The Trustees agreed to put this on-hold until additional information can be obtained.

There being no other business, Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 9:06 PM.