TOWN OF WALPOLE

Minutes of the Meeting of the Select Board

DECEMBER 4, 2008

Selectboard Present:   Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich, Jamie Teague

Mr. Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM with one person present in the audience.

MEETING WITH DALE WOODWARD – REF: HUBBARD PROPERTY:  Dale Woodward presented property assessments and tax figures for the last three years regarding his Appeal on the Hubbard Farms Property located on Map 022-005-000 to the Board of Tax and Land Appeals.  In 2007 the assessor picked-up more features and changed the area.  Mr. Hubbard described it as a misinterpretation of the same things.  An independent appraisal was done recently; the value was $1,550,000 yet the Town’s appraisal was $2,666,000.  Following a deliberation the following decision was made.    

Mr. Aldrich moved that the Selectboard adjust the assessment on the Hubbard Farms property located on Map 022-005-000 to an assessed value of $1,750,000.00.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Motion passed unanimously.  

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

JOAN SMITH – GOOD CIRCLE:  Following a neighbor’s complaint about her property, Joan Smith provided an explanation of the circumstances.  There were boxes and household items on the porch as it was being moved in slowly due to her work schedule.  There are only a few items left on her porch at this time.  There was never any rubbish to cause a health issue.  The stuff by the brook does not belong to her.  The Selectboard had driven by separately, at their convenience, and from what they observed from outside the house they did not see a problem / health issue.  They will research the RSAs relative to the number of dogs allowed on a property. There was a consensus of the Selectboard to send a written letter to the Health Officer, neighbor and a copy to Joan Smith confirming their decision.        

JERRY GALLOWAY:  Mr. Galloway wanted the Selectboard to be aware of the arrangements an Avitar representative makes for a property site visit.  Scheduling is done in blocks of time therefore no definite time is set.  His property is vacant so it is not a convenience to “sit-and-wait” for long periods of time at this time of the year.  Mr. Sawyer will suggest that the Avitar representative contact Mr. Galloway to make the usual arrangements for a date and approximate time but ask that they use a cell phone to call when they are on route to the Galloway property.         

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT – Jim Terrell:  Jim Terrell explained how he arrived at several proposed line item figures for the next budget to produce the same services yet remain within the guidelines set by the Selectboard.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $1,369,334.65.  Included in this figure is a payment in the amount of $1,133,425.00 to the Cheshire County. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending November 29, 2008, for gross wages in the amount of $17,280.05 or net wages in the amount of $7,972.34.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

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Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,120.76.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously. 

MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – November 20, 2008:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of November 20, 2008, as printed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

SELECTBOARD MEETING – November 26, 2008:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of November 26, 2008, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  Mrs. Teague abstained as she was not present.  With Mr. Aldrich and Mr. Sawyer in favor the motion passed unanimously. 

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the minutes of the North Walpole Village Board of Commissioners meetings of November 25, 2008 and December 02, 2008.  

WARRANTS:

DANIEL NORTHCOTT –MAP 011-016-001- Property Tax:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Town of Walpole Warrant for Supplemental Taxes for the Year 2008 Second Issue in the amount of $125.00 plus interest for Daniel Northcott.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

MEADOWSEND TIMBERLANDS, LTD –MAP 006-021-000:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Town of Walpole Warrant for Supplemental Taxes for the Year 2008 Second Issue in the amount of $40.00 plus interest for Meadowsend Timberlands, Ltd.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

ABATEMENTS:

LLOYD and MONA-RAE HALL –MAP 011-014-000- Property Tax:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Town of Walpole Abatement for Supplemental Taxes for the Year 2008 Second Issue in the amount of $125.00 plus all interest for Lloyd and Mona-Rae Hall.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

WILLIAM and MARILYN NICHOLS –MAP 010-026-001- Property Tax:  Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Town of Walpole Abatement for Supplemental Taxes for the Year 2008 Second Issue in the amount of $81.00 plus all interest for William and Marilyn Nichols.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

GEORGE and KAREN FITZPATRICK – MAP 006-021-000- Property Tax:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Town of Walpole Abatement for Supplemental Taxes for the Year 2008 Second Issue in the amount of $40.00 plus all interest for George and Karen Fitzpatrick.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.  

OLD BUSINESS:

OLD KEENE ROAD BRIDGE (Certificate of Substantial Completion) Needs Signature:  Mr. Aldrich moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Certificate of Substantial Completion for the

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Bridge Over Great Brook Bridge No. 182/064, State Project No. 14267.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

EMICOR LLC vs TOWN OF WALPOLE:  Mr. Sawyer advised that court dates have been set in July 2009 for the pre-trial conference and bench trial on the Emicor LLC vs Town of Walpole case.

BAZIN BROTHERS – REQUISITION #2 – OLD KEENE ROAD BRIDGE:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Contractor Payment Requisition No. 2 in the amount of $194,610.73.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

JB RADIO – PAYMENT APPROVAL:  Mrs. Teague moved to pass-over this agenda item.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  Motion passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

SET DATES TO WORK ON BUDGETS:  The Selectboard set the following dates to work on the proposed Town Budget:

            Change Wednesday, December 10th to Tuesday, December 9th at 5:00 pm

            Thursday, December 11th at 1:00 pm

            Monday, December 22nd at 9:00 am

            Tuesday, December 23rd at 9:00 am.

DRA – PROPERTY EQUALIZATION DATA SHEETS:  Mr. Aldrich moved to sign the Department of Revenue Administration Property Equalization Data Sheets.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE – MAAP USER AGREEMENT (for Sandra Smith):  Mr. Aldrich moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the State of New Hampshire MAAP User Agreement for the Town Clerk.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

CONSERVATION COMMISSION – VOUCHER REQUEST FOR MONADNOCK CONSERVANCY:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve payment in the amount of $2,247.59 to the Monadnock Conservancy for the Community Conservation Partnership (CCP) per the request of the Conservation Commission.  This is being signed with the reference that it was highly irregular.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously. 

VETERANS EXEMPTION – Francis Burns:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Veterans Exemption for Property Taxes for Francis Burns.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

WALPOLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY – Use of Speakers:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the request of the Walpole Historical Society to have their annual meeting on April 28th, 2009, in the Town Hall and to use the speakers.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  Motion passed unanimously.

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Mr. Sawyer declared this meeting adjourned at 9:56 PM.

Respectfully submitted,