Coordinator report October 29, 2009

Met with insurance agent to receive endorsements and review policies. We
received an inspection report from Hartford Insurance Co wherein they
note the need for a redundant low water cut-off switch. I guess that
without a Hartford loop (we are a one pipe system) the code says we need
two. This boiler is about a million years old and this isn't a new
requirement. I'll get it added to the system. Probably cost a few
hundred.

Wrote three pages summarizing FY09 for annual report

Billed broadband subscribers, processed payments. Developed October
financial statements.

Regarding transferring broadband administration, this takes about three
and a half hours per month. Included are purchasing, setting up new
subscribers in the database, dispatching installations, billing,
recording collections and turnovers to the treasurer, and customer
support if any. This month because of the power outages I got one phone
call when a router wouldn't reconfigure. It wasn't really our problem.
The administration might take even less time if I had more to do in this
capacity as I have to relearn certain functionalities of the database
software if I don't use it often. At this scale it would take more time
to teach somebody and supervise and correct errors. We are currently at
fifty-nine subscribers including town government connections. Currently
the time lag isn't satisfactory on getting cash book information from
the treasurer. This is really my problem. The bills get paid and exactly
how much cash is on hand yesterday isn't really of paramount importance.
I may want to start keeping a cash book myself if exact current
information is desired. That will add an hour or so. Special projects
such as analysis of adding a lending component, adding super
subscribers, adding infrastructure or supporting or writing grants add
to the time required. No matter, I recommend administration of broadband
remain a part of coordinator job for the foreseeable future. It is
working. We are building subscriber base, cash flow, and fund balance.
At some point in the future we may achieve scale to offload
administration or it may just keep getting easier. Very little of the
coordinator's time is spend on broadband so there is no reason to fix
what isn't broken.

Regarding financing customer premises installations we have options. 
They are:

The broadband committee recommendation which is that customers pay $85
per month,  that people who finance their systems be required to sign a 
document saying that if they default on payments, their equipment will 
be repossessed with no refund, and that no one in arrears on property or
excise taxes should be allowed to finance their broadband system. Fred
says he can if instructed develop such a document that would let us
enter private property to repossess the radio modem.

My recommendation that customers pay $75 per month and that installation
occur when they have $225 on account. This is a limited lay-away /
equity solution. When we collect $500 at the get-go we lose $75 on day
one and make it back over time.  This would provide $150 of the
borrower's money at risk instead of a no down payment scenario.

Another solution is that we offer Paypal or Unipay on-line where
customers pay us using a major credit card and their debt becomes
somebody else's problem.

Finally there is the recommendation of town counsel and the tax
collector which is that we not offer financing. Fred characterized this
as a bad, bad, idea. He is willing to come and address the Selectboard.

If the board continues to have concerns about how I spend my time it
should seriously consider the implications of administration / servicing
a loan program. The cost in staff time, in court time and legal fees and
potential losses to the enterprise are real. So are the benefits to
lower income residents if it works. Securing with municipal liens or
betterment district are not feasible ways to secure. We are talking
about getting into the rent-a-center business. At least with a sizable
down payment our borrowers would have some skin in the game.

I exchanged some correspondence with the school regarding their need to
get authorization before expending money on the building they expect the
town to pay for directly. This was in relation to the phone system but
last year applied to other building repairs.  Bill Lyman reports that he
has yet to get back to work on about one day's worth of additional
exterior trim work I authorized.  This is in addition to the three areas
he's already repaired which included the big problem spot.

The Kurkoskis are getting us quotes on a 1 kW solar electric system so
the town can draw down the almost $6k in matching grant money we have to
secure by Nov. 1.  A signed plan by Selectboard chair will move the
funds to the town.  The project which is proposed to be located on the
town hall roof and will, based on the proposals need one to two thousand
in addition to the almost $6k we have accrued. Dan Dibble will be at the
meeting to present. Balance of funding can come from the Town Hall
improvement account, Mary Hastings Fund, fund drive, ATM
appropriation...

Assistant transfer station attendant resigned. I recommended to the BoH
that we use the previous hiring process resumes as we had six good ones
and hired two. They will recommend and Selectboard will act on their
subsequent nomination.

I got FY11 budget forms to departments. That means it is time to give
some guidance on wage increases. Last year COLA was up more that 5% and
we granted 2%. This year COLA is negligible and it would be worth
considering doing a little make up.  I have a draft warrant done and
will start on the budget spreadsheet next week.  ZBA were the first
department to submit a budget and for it I am grateful.