MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD
DECEMBER 22, 2011
Selectboard Present: Whitney Aldrich (Chair); Sheldon Sawyer; (Absent: Jamie Teague)
Mr. Aldrich called the meeting to order at 5:10 PM in the Walpole Town Hall with eight people present in the audience.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
WALPOLE FIRE DISTRICT: Fire Chief Herb Hurlbert and several members of the Fire Department were present. The Fire Department received a letter from the Southwest Mutual Aid stating that they are no longer getting their funding from the Cheshire County Commissioners but rather from each town. They just wanted to be sure that either the Town or the District must include $34,521.00 in their budget to cover these dues. This affects the two fire districts in Town and the ambulance service. Mr. Sawyer confirmed that it needs to be covered. The Selectboard is still in the process of working on their 2012 proposed budget.
WALPOLE FARMERS MARKET – Holly Gowdy: Ms. Gowdy wanted to clarify that the Selectboard will authorize them to use the Common and Town Hall to continue the Walpole Farmers Market in 2012. Jill Robinson had sent a letter dated December 19, 2011, with the 2012 dates to Mrs. Clough. They would like to hold a Farmers Market on December 1st and another one just before Christmas on December 22nd, 2012. They did work with Ray Boas on the hours so they will not conflict with the Christmas Play. Mr. Aldrich noted that the Town Hall is always rented on the first Saturday in December for a family gathering. Ms. Gowdy will double-check with Mrs. Clough on the schedule. They just wanted to start planning their schedule.
PAUL McGUIRK: Mr. McGuirk wanted to bring the Selectboard’s attention to a newspaper article that appeared in the Union Leader on Tuesday, December 13th relative to the Planning Board’s concerns regarding the proposed relocation of Champlain Oil on Route 12 as quoted by Eric Merklein.
JAYSON MUNN: Mr. Munn came in to talk about the Hooper Study Committee and to take this opportunity to say “Thank You” to the Selectboard for listening to the Town’s people, taking the time to form a committee and come up with a Resolution. He wished the Selectboard a Merry Christmas. Mr. Sawyer noted that before that Public Hearing the Selectboard was talking about forming a Study Committee. He feels that Mrs. Peggy Pschirrer is doing a good job and is sticking to the subject. This is a seven person committee with Jerry Galloway and himself as ex-officio members. Eventually it will still have to go to the Attorney General’s Charitable Trust office.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $501,667.56. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
The above amount includes a monthly payment in the amount of $421,551.02 to the Fall Mountain Regional School District.
PAYROLL:
Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending December 17, 2011 for checks dated December 23, 2011, for gross wages in the amount of $18,219.92. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
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Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,069.96. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher in the amount of $1,200.00 for the extra time an officer put in this past year when the Police Department was short-handed. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $270.63. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
SELECTBOARD MEETING:
SELECTBOARD MEETING – December 15, 2011: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of December 15, 2011, as printed. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – December 15, 2011: Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of December 15, 2011, as printed. The Minutes will remain sealed. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Selectboard received and reviewed the Minutes of the following meeting:
· Hooper Study Committee – December 5, 2011.
PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS:
CONEENY, Main Street, Map & Lot # 019-039-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to grant the Property Tax Refund in the amount of $272.00 for Joseph A. Coneeny and Marina J. Coneeny. This is the result of an overpayment credit. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
NEILSEN, Wentworth Road, Map & Lot # 017-007-000: Mr. Sawyer moved to grant the Property Tax Refund in the amount of $301.00 for Todd R. Neilsen and Patricia M. Dooley. This is the result of an overpayment credit. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT:
LAZZARO, Old Keene Road, Map & Lot # 007-026-000: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Property Tax Abatement for John B. Lazzarro and Lisette Lazzaro in the amount of $159.00. This is the result of an assessment change granted in 2010 that was not processed on the Avitar system. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
NEW BUSINESS:
SPRINKLER SYSTEM INSPECTION: The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the Town Hall Report of Inspection/Test on the sprinkler system.
OLD BUSINESS:
DECEMBER 29, 2011 – Selectboard Meeting: The next Selectboard meeting will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 7:30 PM.
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NEXT BUDGET SESSION – December 29, 2011: The Selectboard advised that their next Budger Session is scheduled for December 29, 2011 at 1:00 PM in the Town Hall.
RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:
Mr. Sawyer moved to recess the Selectboard meeting. The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. The time was 5:53 PM.
HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING
Mr. Aldrich called this Hooper Trustees meeting to order at 5:54 PM.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION – RSA 91-A:3 II:
Mr. Sawyer moved to enter into a Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss ( c) Reputations. Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved.
The meeting resumed at 6:07 PM.
SELECTBOARD MEETING (Continued)
Mr. Aldrich called the recessed meeting of the Selectboard to order at 6:08 PM.
ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. The time was 6:09 PM.Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary
DECEMBER 29, 2011
Selectboard Present: Whitney Aldrich (Chair); Jamie Teague; (Absent: Sheldon Sawyer)
Mr. Aldrich called the meeting to order at 7:36 PM in the Walpole Town Hall with three people present in the audience.
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
POLICE CHIEF MICHAEL PAQUETTE: Chief Paquette talked with the Crime Star representatives and filled out the paperwork for the computer software. They sent him an invoice and are willing to accept one-half payment out of this budget and one-half payment out of next years budget. Their representative will come in to help train the department employees. They will be able to keep one computer operating with IMC for the existing documents. Chief Paquette talked with the Local Government Center and they gave him some great information on implementing the new up-dated policies. He will set up meetings with the officers so each up-dated policy will be discussed with them. They continue to work on existing and new cases. There was discussion relative to the fact that starting on January 1st, 2012, the time sheets need to be filled out to clarify over-time and compensation time so it can be tracked separately for the office records.
PAM DANSEREAU: Ms. Dansereau had submitted a letter to the Selectboard a few weeks ago and had not yet received their reply. Mrs. Teague advised that the Selectboard continues to work on the proposed 2012 budget and have not, as yet, made any decisions but will let respond to her letter as soon as possible.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $16,523.29. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
PAYROLL:
Mrs. Teague moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending December 24, 2011, for checks dated December 30, 2011, for gross wages in the amount of $22,039.05. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. 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 $5,329.44. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
SELECTBOARD MINUTES:
SELECTBOARD MEETING – December 23, 2011: There was a consensus to put the Selectboard Minutes on-hold as a quorum was not present. Mrs. Teague was not present at the December 23rd meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Selectboard received and reviewed the Minutes of the following meeting:
· North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – December 20, 2011.
TIMBER CUTS:
SAWYER, County Road, Map & Lot # 005-004-005, Map & Lot # 005-004-004 and Map & Lot # 005-004-003: Mrs. Teague moved to grant the following Notices of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber for Sheldon Sawyer:
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· Map & Lot # 005-004-005, Intent # 11-461-16-T;
· Map & Lot # 005-004-004, Intent # 11-461-17-T; and
· Map & Lot # 005-004-003, Intent # 11-461-18-T.
Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
EXEMPTION:
ELDERLY EXEMPTION – Houghton, Map & Lot # 010-043-001: Mrs. Teague moved to grant the Elderly Exemption for Arlene Houghton. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
ABATEMENTS:
PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT – NEPLLC-Northeast Paging, 88 Scoville Road, Map & Lot # 003-082-CLA: Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Notice of Property Tax Abatement in the amount of $732.00 plus interest for NEPLLC-Northeast Paging. This is the result of an incorrect assessment. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
SEWER ABATEMENT – ADAMS, 14 Church Street, Map & Lot # 028-018-000: Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Sewer Abatement in the amount of $425.16 for Madelyn Adams. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
WATER & SEWER ABATEMENT – HURLBURT, 32 Homestead Ave., Map & Lot # 023-013-000: Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Water & Sewer Abatement in the amount of $504.16 for Water and $394.56 for Sewer for Richard Hurlburt. This is due to a meter issue. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
WATER & SEWER ABATEMENT – WALPOLE YOUTH BASEBALL, Map & Lot # 012-057-001: Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Water & Sewer Abatement in the amount of $300.00 for the Walpole Youth Baseball. This is due to the fact that the youth ball field building does not have a sprinkler installed by the Water Department. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
SUPPLEMENTAL PROPERTY TAX WARRANTS:
NORTH WALPOLE VILLAGE HOUSING, 10 Merchant Street, Map & Lot # 028-102-000: Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Tax Collector’s Property Tax Supplement Warrant for the North Walpole Village Housing c/o Southwestern Community Services in the amount of $1,868.00. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
NORTH WALPOLE VILLAGE HOUSING, 26 Kiniry Street, Map & Lot # 028-011-000: Mrs. Teague moved to approve the Tax Collector’s Property Tax Supplement Warrant for the North Walpole Village Housing c/o Southwestern Community Services in the amount of $1,868.00. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
NEW BUSINESS:
CEMETERY DEEED, FLANDERS, Lot #83: Mrs. Teague moved to grant the Cemetery Deed for Lot #83 in the Walpole Cemetery to John R. Flanders, Jr. & Vivian L. Flanders. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
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CEMETERY DEED, FLETCHER, Lots #B519 and B520: Mrs. Teague moved to grant the Cemetery Deed for Lots # B519 and B520 in the Walpole Cemetery from William & Catherine Fletcher to Henry Fletcher. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
FAIRPOINT PETITION & LICENSES: Mrs. Teague moved to approve and sign the Petition and License as received from FairPoint Communications. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
EQUALIZATION STUDY: Mrs. Teague moved to approve and sign the 2011 Equalization Ratio as submitted by Avitar Associates of New England, Inc. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION PROJECT: Mrs. Teague moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Letter of Commitment for the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Project. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
HEALTH INSURANCE MEETING: Mrs. Clough talked to the Local Government Center about scheduling a date and time to come to Walpole to talk to the employees about the Health Insurance. There was a consensus of Mr. Aldrich and Mrs. Teague to try to schedule the meeting for January 19th, 2012.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
Mrs. Teague moved to enter into a Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel. Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved. The time was 9:48 PM.
The regular meeting resumed at 10:02 PM.
Adjournment:
Mrs. Teague moved to adjourn this meeting. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. The time was 10:03 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections, if necessary, will be found in the Minutes of the January 5, 2012, Selectboard meeting.)