Town of Walpole, Walpole, NH 03608
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
Work Session
Setember 23, 2008–7:00pm
Town Hall Basement
MINUTES
Present: Jeff Miller, Bob Miller, Ben Daviss, Don Lounsbury, Marsha Galloway, Mel Schupack
Recording: Pamela Aslinger, Secretary
These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the October 14, 2008 meeting for corrections.
Meeting Opened at 7:15pm
Purpose of the meeting was to review status of SW Regional Planning dues and to discuss the outcome of the public hearing held on 9/9/08 to adopt the Conservation Plan: Farms, Forests, Streams and Wetlands into the Master Plan.
Dues - Ch. Miller reported he had spoken with Tim Murphy in regard to the unpaid balance of the 2008 SE Regional Planning dues. It was discussed at SWRPC’s budget meeting and determined if the balance of the dues were not immediately paid the partial payment of $3000.00 would be returned to the Town and membership suspended. Ch. Miller discussed the suggestion made to invade the Master Plan update Planning budget line of $1500.00 by removing $1000.00 and paying the balance of the 2008 dues with it. He questioned whether the board could complete the Master Plan update with the remaining $500.00. It was decided and requested by Ch. Miller for Sec. Aslinger to contact the Planning board members by e-mail or phone for their consensus to remove the $1000.00 and pay the balance. He stressed the urgency to conclude this matter and would like to make the request of the Selectboard at their Oct. 2, 2008 meeting.
Mr. Lounsbury asked for the board to reconsider their fee schedule in December. Mr. Daviss and others are concerned about completing the Master Plan work with the remaining $500.00 but agreed to use it wisely. The board can make a request in the 2008/09 budget for additional monies to create an economic development plan and for printing.
Conservation Plan - A copy of the Selectboard’s letter from the September 14, 2008 meeting was reviewed as well as the outcome of the public hearing on adoption of the entire Conservation document into the Master plan.
Marsha Galloway, Ch. of the Conservation Commission recommended it be referred to as an appendix in the Master plan that it is a valuable inventory of Walpole’s natural resources that are deserving of protection for future citizens and in addition it defines a large part of Walpole’s character.
Mr. Schupack referred to RSA 647.2 Section III.D. - Natural Resource sections and inventories to be included in Master plans. He stressed the appropriateness of having the Conservation plan included.
After discussing which of the goals and objectives were duplicitous Mr. Daviss volunteered to dovetail them with the land use section goals and objectives and vision statement currently under review by the Planning board and develop a new draft for consideration and an eventual public hearing. All agreed the Farms, Forests, etc. document could be referred to in the natural resources section of the land use section as an appendix and would make that recommendation to the entire planning board.
Ms. Galloway thanked the committee for its work and requested that the Planning board and Conservation Commission continue working closely together in the future. Having Mr. Daviss attend their meetings has been helpful. Ch. Miller suggested that they plan to attend one regular planning board meeting per year to keep the board better informed of their projects. He asked they request to be put on an agenda perhaps in December or January. Mr. Shupack thought an annual review between all the boards would be helpful. He also mentioned the final walking tour to be held Oct. 11th to Table Rock on Fall Mountain.
Meeting closed 8:15pm
Cc: PB, MP, Town Offices, ZBA
Posted: Town Hall, Lobby, Burdick’s Market, www.thewalpolean.com
