Selectboard Present: Whitney Aldrich (Chair); Jamie Teague, Sheldon Sawyer
Mr. Aldrich called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with eight people present in the audience.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
LEWIS LeCLAIR: Mr. LeClair asked the Selectboard to consider issuing an Abatement on his property taxes. He feels there are a few discrepancies in the assessment . Avitar stated that property values are dropping so the most recent appraisals are not comparable. Before submitting an Appeal to the Board of Tax and Land Appeals (BTLA) he wanted to present what he had researched to the Selectboard. Following their discussion the Selectboard recommended that he make his Appeal before the BTLA.
RECESS REGULAR MEETING:
Mr. Sawyer moved to recess this meeting to allow the Selectboard to enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees. Mrs. Teague seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved. The time was 7:48 PM.
MEETING OF THE HOOPER TRUSTEES
JOE DION and JERRY GALLOWAY: Mr. Dion, on behalf of the Hooper Property Study Committee, had an appraiser look at the antiques in the Hooper Mansion room-by-room. He anticipates that it will take about three days to do the appraisal at a cost of approximately $3,500. He feels this is not a good time to sell them because the market is down. In the meantime they should be insured.
Mr. Dion called Terry Knowles and left a message to ask her to contact him. In a previous conversation she indicated she would be available to meet with the Hooper Study Committee after July 1st.
Mr. Sawyer moved to have Mr. Dion and Mr. Galloway proceed to get a full appraisal of the antiques in the Hooper Mansion as presented at this meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
Adjournment:
Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting of the Hooper Trustees. Mrs. Teague seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved. The time was 7:56 PM.
SELECTBOARD MEETING (Continued)
Mr. Aldrich resumed the regular meeting of the Selectboard.
DAN NORTHCOTT and BEN NORTHCOTT: At the last meeting Mary McHugh expressed concern with the repair shop across the street from her property. The Selectboard moved to ask Daniel Northcott to attend this meeting to discuss this situation at his residence in a Rural/Agricultural District. Dan Northcott and Ben Northcott attended this meeting to respond to the concerns. Ben Northcott advised that at this time there is a bulldozer and an excavator on the property for maintenance because they have a garage there where they can do their maintenance work. They work on their own equipment
Selectboard Meeting –July 08, 2010- Page 2
only; they do no work for other people. A good part of their work is forestry, logging jobs, and thinning field restoration but they also do some construction work. Mrs. Mansouri read a section from the Zoning Ordinance, Article VIII, for the Rural/Agricultural District. Ben Northcott explained that this property abuts their family farm; the farm is on both sides of the road. He feels he has been a very nice neighbor, does not work after dark and most of the time there is only one truck there. Mrs. Teague recommended that a letter be written to Ms. McHugh to report that this is not a commercial operation; the equipment is owned by them. They have agreed to attend the next Zoning Board of Adjustment on July 21st for a consultation.
SOLID WASTE FACILITY – Paul Colburn: Mr. Colburn reported that they had a WRAP Committee meeting this afternoon. He talked to the committee about sending out some Thank You letters to LaValley’s in West Lebanon as they gave them a shed at no charge; to the Walpole Police Department for their donated computers; to Ray Harris and Ken’s Computers in Springfield for their donation of a hard drive; and to Herb Hurlburt for donating a box for the baler. National Grid will be coming in to be sure there is sufficient electricity coming into the facility. The furnace is completely installed and it was test fired. Since they have a supply of veggie oil it can be used provided it has a separate line. Mary Lou Huffling asked if they would be willing to take 3-or-4 used refrigerators and/or freezers this year; last year Alstead took several at no charge. The WRAP Committee had voted not to allow this but the Selectboard approved this request because the Food Shelf helps many residents in this Town.
Mr. Sawyer moved to allow the Coordinator of the Solid Waste Facility to assist Mary Lou Huffling with whatever he deems appropriate. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Colburn advised that the NH Legislators and Governor have extended the current burn pit regulations until 2014. The highest bidder has until Saturday to pay for the old truck. If he does not do so the Selectboard recommended that he be called and told that the truck will go to the next highest bidder. Mr. Colburn has held a safety meeting with the employees but still needs to do forklift classes.
The Walpole Village Market still has not paid for Walpole bags that were for sale in the store as a convenience to residents. A letter will be written to the owner to give her 30 days to pay for them or the Town will be forced to take legal action for collection.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $624,171.21. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
The above amount includes a monthly payment to the Fall Mountain Regional School District in the amount of $429,031.14.
PAYROLL:
Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending July 03, 2010, for checks dated July 09, 2010, for gross wages in the amount of $24,318.26 or net wages in the amount of $15,513.52. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
Mrs. Teague moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI, and FICA taxes in the amount of $5,109.95. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
Selectboard Meeting –July 08, 2010- Page 3
MINUTES:
SELECTBOARD MEETING – July 01, 2010: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of July 01, 2010, as written. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of July 01, 2010, as printed. The Minutes will remain sealed. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Selectboard received and reviewed the Minutes of the following meeting:
· North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – July 6, 2010.
BUILDING PERMITS:
PICKERING, 82 Thompson Road, Map & Lot #008-099-001: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2010-30 for Rick and Gayle Pickering to construct a single family home at 82 Thompson Road. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
LEWIS, 10 Short Lane, Map & Lot #017-018-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve Building Permit No. 2010-31 for Kimberly Lewis to construct a screen porch. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
ABATEMENT:
EMMERMAN, 503 March Hill Road, Map & Lot #011-058-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Abatement for Emmerman as recommended by the assessor, Avitar Associates. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
REFUNDS:
HURLBURT, 28 Pinewood Circle, Map & Lot #008-057-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to grant the Property Tax Abatement Refund for the Tax Year 2009 in the amount of $769.00 Overpayment and $28.70 Interest for a total of $797.70 for George and Joanne Hurlburt. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
BARCOME , 392 Watkins Hill Road, Map & Lot #005-047-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to grant the Property Tax Abatement Refund for the Tax Year 2009 in the amount of $1,777.00 Overpayment and $66.31 Interest for a total of $1,843.31 for Glenn Barcome. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
HODGKINS, 256 Old Keene Road, Map & Lot #007-024-002: Mr. Sawyer moved to grant the Property Tax Abatement Refund for the Tax Year 2009 in the amount of $168.00 Overpayment and $7.13 Interest for a total of $175.13 for John and Suzanne Hodgkins. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
ABATEMENT APPEAL:
ANDREW K. LEWIS v. TOWN OF WALPOLE – Decision: The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the Notice of Decision from the Board of Tax and Land Appeals regarding the Andrew K. Lewis property.
Selectboard Meeting –July 08, 2010- Page 4
NEW BUSINESS:
COLONIAL DRIVE ROAD SIDE WORK: The Selectboard viewed the pictures submitted by Paul Trask regarding the way the road side was mowed on Colonial Drive.
Mr. Sawyer moved that the pictures be passed onto the Road Agent for his information. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
NOTE FROM JOHN STEVENS FAMILY: The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the Thank You note from the John Stevens Family for use of the Town Hall for the memorial service.
WOMEN OF WALPOLE GAZEBO/COMMON USE: Mr. Sawyer moved to allow the Women of Walpole to use the Gazebo and Common for their annual flea market on Saturday, June 4, 2010 free of charge. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
WALPOLE RECREATION DEPOSITS: There was a consensus of the Selectboard to allow Joe Goodhue to continue to make deposits as he has been but he needs to send a copy of the deposit slip to Mrs. Clough who will share it with Mrs. Mansouri.
SOLID WASTE FACILITY: Charlie Andros contacted Mr. Sawyer relative to reinstating his privilege to use the Solid Waste Facility again.
Mr. Sawyer moved to send a letter to Charlie Andros to advise that he should contact Paul Colburn about using the facility again. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
OLD BUSINESS:
WALPOLE TOWN LIBRARY: The five quotes for repairs to the rear roof at the Library were reviewed by the Selectboard. Following a discussion there was a consensus to ask Lyn Cook and Jeanne Ramey to attend the next Selectboard meeting on Thursday, July 15th at 7:30 PM.
HEALTH OFFICER: Mr. Sawyer moved to sign the State of New Hampshire Local Health Officer nomination form for Dr. Charles Shaw. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Sawyer requested that Mrs. Clough write a letter to Dr. Charles Shaw to let him know that Dr. Harneet Sethi might be interested in being the Deputy Health Officer.
OLDEST TOWN RESIDENT: The Selectboard continue their research to find the oldest Town resident who will be the recipient of the Boston Post Cane.
WALPOLE FARMERS MARKET REQUEST: Mr. Sawyer moved to allow the Walpole Farmers Market to have access to water. The Town Hall will be locked at 6:00 PM. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
EAGLE ON FLAG POLE: Mr. Sawyer mentioned that Mark Houghton needs to be asked if he will make arrangements for the Fire Department to take the eagle down from the top of the flag pole so Stu Bailey can fix it and then have the Fire Department put it back on the top of the flag pole.
Selectboard Meeting –July 08, 2010- Page 5
ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. The time was 10:26 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary