To the Inhabitants of the Town of Walpole qualified to vote in Town Affairs:
You are hereby notified to meet at the Town Hall, 34 Elm Street, Town of Walpole, on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 7:00 A.M. to act on ARTICLES 1 – 14. Article 1 will be voted on at the polls. Polls at the Walpole Town Hall and at North Walpole St. Peter’s Church will be open at 7:00 A.M., and will remain open until 7:00 P.M. Following the closing of the polls and counting of the ballots, the meeting will be adjourned until Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 1:00 P.M., at the Walpole Town Hall on Elm Street, at which time the balance of the Articles will be acted upon.
ARTICE 1: To elect the necessary Town officers for their respective terms.
ARTICLE 2: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of three million two hundred eighteen thousand five hundred sixty two dollars ($3,218,562) for the purpose of furnishing, constructing and installing facilities and equipment to make available to residential and business locations in the Town of Walpole a “Fiber to the Premises” network by Consolidated Communications Enterprise Services, Inc. (“Consolidated”), with one million eight hundred fifty six thousand one hundred dollars ($1,856,100) of such sum to be raised through the issuance of bonds or notes, under and in compliance with the Municipal Finance Act, RSA 33:1, et seq, as amended; and one million three hundred sixty two thousand four hundred sixty two dollars ($1,362,462) of such sum as a donation from Consolidated; to authorize the Selectboard to apply for, obtain and accept federal, state or other aid, gifts and donations which may be available for said project and to comply with all laws applicable to said project; to authorize the Selectboard to issue, negotiate, sell and deliver said bonds and notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon and the maturity and other terms thereof and to authorize the Selectboard to take any other action or to pass any other vote relative thereto.
**2/3 ballot vote required**
The Selectboard recommends this article. (3 Yes, 0 No, 0Abstain)
ARTICLE 3: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of four million six hundred seventy nine thousand, eight hundred four dollars ($4,679,804) which represents four million, fifteen thousand, five hundred fortyfour dollars ($4,015,544) for the Town operating budget to be raised from general taxation; one hundred eighty eight thousand four hundred ninety eight dollars ($188,498) for the Water Fund Operating Budget and four hundred seventy five thousand, seven hundred sixty two dollars ($475,762) for the Sewer Operating Budget, which includes two hundred thirtythousand dollars ($230,000) for bond assessments. Such sum does not include special or individual articles or bonds found in the warrant.
The Selectboard recommends this article. (3 Yes, 0 No, 0Abstain)
ARTICLE 4: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for updates, repairs and remodeling of Town buildings including the renovation of the Town Clerk’s office, painting in Town Hall, repair of the Town Hall entrance walkway and replacement of the Reuse Center at the Recycling Center at $75,000 with $29,634.82 to come from insurance coverage. The said funds to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance.
The Selectboard recommends this article. (3 Yes, 0 No, 0Abstain)
ARTICLE 5: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred thirty thousand dollars ($130,000) for the purchase of a truck for the Highway Department. The said funds will come from the Unassigned Fund Balance. This is a non-lapsing warrant article.
The Selectboard recommends this article. (3 Yes, 0 No, 0Abstain)
ARTICLE 6: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000) to be deposited in the Town of Walpole HighwayCapitol Reserve Fund Account. The said funds to be raised through general taxation.
The Selectboard recommends this article. (3 Yes, 0 No, 0Abstain)
ARTICLE 7: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of thirty eight thousand dollars ($38,000) for a vehicle for the Walpole Police Department and to authorize the issuance of not more than thirty eight thousand dollars through a promissory note with Mascoma Bank at a rate of 2.99% or the lowest available rate at the time of the purchase of the vehicle in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33) and to authorize the municipal officials to issue and negotiate such bonds or other notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon. Further,to raise and appropriate the sum of thirteen thousand two hundred fifty nine dollars and four cents ($13,259.04) for the first year’s payment. The said funds to be raised through general taxation.
**2/3 ballot vote required**
The Selectboard recommends this article. (3 Yes, 0 No, 0Abstain)
ARTICLE 8: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) to purchase a cage, console, other necessary equipment and installation in the new police vehicle. This article is contingent upon passing of warrant article 7. The said funds to be raised through general taxation.
The Selectboard recommends this article. (3 Yes, 0 No, 0Abstain)
ARTICLE 9: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $39,000 for the purchase of six (6) Motorola Dual Band portable radios. This will also include the radio programming costs. (These are State of New Hampshire bid prices.) The said funds to be raised through taxation.
The Selectboard recommends this article. (3 Yes, 0 No, 0Abstain)
ARTICLE 10: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) to be deposited in the Town of Walpole Police Department – Capitol Reserve Fund Account. The said funds to be raised through general taxation.
The Selectboard recommends this article. (3 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstain)
ARTICLE 11: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for a study to determine the most economical approach to ensure the police station meets the needs of the Town. Said funds will be used to contract with an outside consultant, if necessary. The said funds will be raised through general taxation.
The Select Board recommends this article. (3 Yes, 0 No, 0Abstain)
ARTICLE 12: To see if the Town will vote to pass an ordinance banning the distribution or sale of thin-film single-use plastic bags (defined as a bag, typically with handles, with a thickness of 4.0 mils or less that is provided at the point of sale for the transport of purchased products) by retail establishments. This ban will go into effect twelve months after its creation to allow retail establishments time to adjust.
By petition of 25 or more eligible voters in the Town of Walpole, NH.
The Selectboard recommends this article. (0 Yes, 0 No, 3Abstain)
ARTICLE 13: To see if the Town of Walpole will urge the Selectboard to write a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission require, via license article, the current and any subsequent owners of the Wilder, Bellows Falls and Vernon Dams to modify current dam operations to minimize peaking; provide for ongoing monitoring, to develop a shoreline adaptive management plan; and commit funding for riverbank restoration and/or property owner compensation to reimburse towns and landowners for any and all damages resulting from the deterioration of the riverbank.
The Selectboard recommends this article. (3 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstain)
ARTICLE 14: To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting
Given under our hand and seal this 13th day of February the year of our Lord, Two Thousand Twenty.
Walpole Selectboard
The Walpole Clarion 