Ed. Note: Town Financial Clerk Teresa Taylor fell on the ice outside of Town Hall last week and injured her back. She has had surgery and is recovering at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon. Because of Teresa's absence several meetings preparatory to the town meeting have been pushed back on the February calendar as noted below. CCB

TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

JANUARY 26, 2012

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

Mr. Aldrich called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall with six people in attendance.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

MR. ERNIE VOSE:  Mr. Vose and the Selectboard discussed the fact that the Walpole Farmers Market wanted to use the Town Hall on the same day as the Town Meeting.  The Selectboard do not want to hold the Town Meeting on the second floor therefore Mrs. Clough was asked to contact Jill Robinson of the Farmers Market to advise that they will have to re-schedule that date. 

Mr. Vose advised that the sound system is being repaired but will be ready for Town Meeting.  He would like to try using the big speakers by putting one on each side of the head table. 

The 2012 Warrant Articles were reviewed briefly.  There was a consensus to pay $10.00/per hour for the election workers who stay more than 10 hours and $8.00/per hour for the workers who are ballot counters (less than 10 hours).  Mr. Vose allows a two hour minimum; the Selectboard agreed.    

MR. BILL KOSTER:  Mr. Koster was present to talk about the right-of-way that is on the Connors property off the Alstead Center Road.  It allows his daughter, Katie Koster, access to her land.  Mr. Koster read a portion of Katie Koster’s Deed.  That right-of-way existed as an existing road.  He provided a brief history of the area, displayed a copy of Bill Lawrence’s survey and explained where the right-of-way is.  He believes that the Connors house sits on the old right-of-way.  He is also concerned where their septic is as it should be 75-feet from the stream and, if it is, it is where the right-of-way is.  Reference was made to a Planning Board meeting on May 9, 2006.  New Hampshire requires mutual consent for right-of-ways.  Ms. Koster’s Deed clearly references the right-of-way going across the property. The Kosters agreed to a minimal change of easement during the Planning Board meeting but a proposed easement / right-of-way change was never presented to the Kosters via a Quitclaim / new Deed thus he feels the original easement / right-of-way should be in effect.  Mr. Koster feels that Mr. Connors is going back to the 2006 statement by the Planning Board “while the right-of-way referred to the Woods Road, it was noted that a right-of-way doesn’t necessarily require an exact placement, as long as the property owner allows for passage”.  Mr. Koster questioned if they can change that statement.  Mrs. Teague asked Mr. Koster to provide the Selectboard with a copy of the documents so they can send the file to Attorney Hockensmith to see what the Selectboard’s position should be.  Mr. Sawyer feels that it should go before the Planning Board.  Their next meeting is Tuesday, February 14th at 7:00 PM.                         

PAYROLL:

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending January 21, 2012, for checks dated January 27, 2012, for gross wages in the amount of $21,649.33.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and FICA taxes in the amount of $4,637.00.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

Selectboard Meeting –January 26, 2012 - Page 2

SELECTBOARD MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MEETING – January 19, 2012:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of January 19, 2012, as printed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – January 19, 2012:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard session of January 19, 2012, as printed.  The Minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, the motion was approved. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard received and reviewed the Minutes of the following meetings:

·         Hooper Study Committee – January 17, 2012;

·         Zoning Board of Adjustment – January 18, 2012;

·         Planning Board – January 10, 2012; and

·         North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners – January 24, 2012.

TIMBER CUTS:

SIMONDS, 15 Sawmill Lane, Map & Lot # 013-034-000:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber, Number 11-461-22-T, for Rita Simonds.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

WALPOLE FARMERS MARKET REQUEST:  Relative to the request received from Jill Robinson of the Walpole Farmers Market the Selectboard decided to table their request at this time. 

Mrs. Teague moved to advise the Farmers Market that they will be required to pay the non-profit resident rates for the use of the Town Hall for the market.  This is due to public inquiry as to why the market does not pay for use as the vendors are for profit.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

TOWN HALL ROOF:  The Selectboard is looking for alternative ways to fix the drainage issue of the water dripping off the Town Hall onto the cement walk / entryway to the Town Hall.  They requested that Mrs. Clough contact three roofing companies to get quotes.

Mrs. Clough also stated that it is dangerous to walk on the sidewalks after a snow storm as the snow slides off the slate roof and onto the sidewalk.  She questioned whether the sidewalk should be closed off.  The Selectboard advised her to look into getting warning signs for each end of the sidewalk and also to ask the same roofing companies their opinions of what could be done to help rectify the issue.

2012 ANNUAL BUDGET AND WARRANT HEARING:  Mrs. Teague moved to re-schedule the 2012 Annual Budget and Warrant Hearing from February 1st to Wednesday, February 15th, 2012, due to the absence of the Financial Clerk.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

WARRANT ARTICLES:  The Selectboard reviewed and approved the 2012 Warrant Articles as presented.

Selectboard Meeting –January 26, 2012- Page 3

DECORATIVE POLE ATTACHMENT AGREEMENT:  Mrs. Teague moved to authorize the Chair to sign the Decorative Pole Attachment Agreement with FairPoint Communications.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:  Mrs. Teague moved to recess the Selectboard meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.  The time was 9:50 PM.

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING

Mr. Aldrich called this Hooper Trustees meeting to order at 9:51 PM.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION – RSA 91-A:3 II:

Mrs. Teague moved to enter into a Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss ( c) Reputations.  Mr. Sawyer seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved.

The regular meeting resumed at 9:59 PM.  No announcements were made.

Adjournment:  Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this Hooper Trustees meeting. The Hooper Trustees will resume their Selectboard meeting.  Seconded by Mrs. Teague.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

 SELECTBOARD MEETING (Continued)

Mr. Aldrich called the recessed Selectboard meeting to order at 10:01 PM.

ADJOURNMENT:  Mrs. Teague moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.  The time was 10:02 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary