TOWN OF WALPOLE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
JULY 10, 2008
Selectboard Present: Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Jamie Teague
Mr. Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with eleven people present in the audience.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
TARA SADD –TRI-VILLAGE ENERGY– CLARIFICATION OF STATUS OF COMMITTEE:
Tara Sadd asked for clarification on the status of the Tri-Village Energy Committee. Mr. Sawyer advised that they are a committee by a vote of the Town and the members were sworn-in therefore their meetings should be posted and minutes taken. Sub-Committee meetings or work sessions should be noted in the minutes of the regular meetings.
DONALD SELLAROLE: Donald Sellarole lives on High Street. Following most rain storms he has to rake/dig out all the gravel that washes into his yard. Jim Terrell is aware of the drainage problem. Mr. Sawyer explained that at one time they thought the problem had been taken care of but that street is extremely steep; after more houses were built it created more issues. He suggested that Donald Sellarole call Jim Terrell to talk about this on-going problem.
JOHN & LINDA BURROWS and ED PECK: John & Linda Burrows and Ed Peck discussed drainage problems on Colonial Drive. The culvert is higher than the street. Mr. Peck has lived in his house about 25 years and they did not have a problem until about 10 years ago when development started on North Road. The Postal Service might discontinue delivering their mail because of the deep ditch that has been created by the water flow. They displayed pictures of the erosion along the edge of the roadway and explained how the water flows during torrential down-pours. Mr. Burrows asked the Selectboard to look at the area. The Selectboard agreed to look at the area individually and to talk to Jim Terrell about it.
WRAP COMMITTEE: The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a letter of resignation from Rick Cooper at the Transfer / Recycling Facility to be effective in September. George Watkins, Carol Christian and Dan Schwenk from the WRAP Committee inquired about the process that will be used to fill the vacancy. The Selectboard advised that the vacancy will have to be posted internally for seven days. Following this period of time the Selectboard will meet again with the WRAP Committee.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $565,548.21. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.
It was noted that $390,125.33 of the above amount is a payment to the Fall Mountain Region School District.
PAYROLL: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending July 05, 2008, for gross wages in the amount of $23,414.04 or net wages in the amount of $13,958.19. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $5,532.81. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.
Selectboard Meeting – July 10, 2008 – Page 2
MINUTES:
SELECTBOARD MEETING: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the July 03, 2008, Selectboard meeting as printed. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.
DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Selectboard received and reviewed the Minutes of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meeting of July 08, 2008.
ABATEMENTS:
WARNER AMEX CABLE: Lauren Martin from Avitar advised that the Warner Amex Cable transmission lines are not taxable and should not have been billed.
Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Abatement for Property Taxes for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 in the amount of $6,007.06 for Warner Amex Cable as the transmission lines are not taxable. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.
BUILDING PERMITS:
DAVID A. and CYNTHIA WESTOVER REVOCABLE TRUST – Map 011-034-002: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-030 for David A. and Cynthia Westover Revocable Trust to construct a 22’ x 44’ timber frame house on the Valley Road pending receipt of a Driveway Permit. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.
SCOTT and JUDITH NORTHCOTT – MAP 013-055-000: Mrs. Teague moved to approve Building Permit No. 2008-029 for Scott and Judith Northcott to construct a 15’ x 43’ extended roof connected to the original workshop on the Cheney Road. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
TOWN HALL AIR CONDITIONING: The Selectboard discussed the Town Hall air conditioning. A decision was made to put it on when needed; this will be left to the discretion of the Selectboard secretary. An air conditioning unit was bought for the Town Clerk’s office and it is doing well.
OLD DREWSVILLE ROAD: Doug Graham of the Department of Transportation was contacted regarding the Town taking over the Old Drewsville Road. Mr. Graham will prepare a letter for the Commissioner’s signature that will notify the Town of the reclassification and information about the block grant increase.
PAINTING OF TOWN HALL – Beginning on July 15: The painting of the Town Hall will begin on July 15th weather permitting.
PURCHASING POLICY: The Selectboard reviewed the proposed revised Purchasing Policy for the Town. Mr. Aldrich recommending having the purchase orders submitted to the “Selectboard Office” rather than “Elaine Moore” in the event that she is not available.
TOWN HALL RENTAL – USE OF OUTSIDE OVEN: The Town Hall has been rented for a wedding on July 18th and 19th, 2008. They have requested permission to use a convection oven which will require use of an electrical outlet. Mark Houghton advised that the oven should be 10-feet away from the Town Hall. There was a consensus of the Selectboard to grant permission for the oven to be placed any where around the Town Hall but not on the grass.
Selectboard Meeting – July 10, 2008 – Page 3
NEW BUSINESS:
DRIVEWAY ACCESS OFF ROUTE 12: Mr. Sawyer advised that an application will be completed to be sent to the State along with a letter of hardship to request a temporary driveway access off Route 12 for the Conservation Commission to do a logging operation at the Fanny Mason Forest.
CURRENT USE CHANGE TAX MONEY TO THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION: Mrs. Teague moved to sign the voucher request for the Current Use Change Tax Money to be transferred to the Walpole Conservation Commission. This is in connection with the Jeff Michaud change in Current Use. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed unanimously.
INTENT TO CUT TIMBER –WENTWORTH HUBBARD- MAP 012-061-000 and 012-067-000: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the two Notices of Intent to Cut Timber for Wentworth Hubbard. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.
OTIS ELEVATOR – SAFETY DEVICE: Otis Elevator would like to put a carpet or rubber mat at the bottom of the elevator for safety reasons.
Mr. Aldrich moved to pass over the Otis Elevator request for further investigation. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.
JCH MANAGEMENT LLC – BLOCK OFF IN FRONT OF 11 WESTMINSTER STREET – RED SMITH: Red Smith requested that JCH Management, LLC be given permission to block off the sidewalk near 11 Westminster Street during their roof maintenance project.
Mr. Aldrich moved to allow JCH Management, LLC, to block off the sidewalk on the street side near 11 Westminster Street while it is having the slate shingling roof replaced. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.
WELFARE HEARING IN ACWORTH: The Selectboard approved having Elaine Moore attend a Welfare Hearing in Acworth on Tuesday, July 15th.
Elaine Moore would like to have monthly or semi-monthly meetings with the people in Cheshire County and the surrounding area who work with welfare applicants. These meetings would be “round table” discussions on learning experiences and policies and procedures.
Mrs. Teague moved to allow Elaine Moore to do this as time allows. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed unanimously.
OFFICE SCHEDULE: Elaine Moore discussed the possibility of changing the Selectboard Office schedule for being open to the public. The proposal is to have the office open to the public on a three-day a week schedule but the office staff would continue to work their regular work week hours. This is due to an increased work flow. Following a discussion, Mrs. Teague recommended that Elaine Moore draft her plan for the three-day open schedule and present it to the Selectboard for their consideration.
LETTERS:
GARY McCORMICK – ABATEMENT APPLICATION: Mr. Aldrich moved to sign the letter to Gary McCormick regarding his Abatement application. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.
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Mr. Aldrich moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously. The time was 9:48 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 9:50 PM.
E.E. HOUGHTON BILL FOR REPAIRS AT HOOPER MANSION: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the purchase order and bill from the E.E. Houghton Company in the amount of $3,369.27 for repairs at the Hooper Mansion. The funds will be taken out of the Hooper Trust Fund. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Sawyer declared this meeting adjourned at 9:58 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary