Coordinator report November 20, 2009

This is an abbreviated report made early as I am out of the office next
week.

Several elected town officials have objected to the practice of e-mail
posts to the town email list-serve being assumed to be official
inter-departmental notification. My thought is that posting to the
list-serve is not sufficient and is ancillary notice. Many town
employees including the town clerk and two assessors do not subscribe. 
On the board's behalf our practice is that I put paper notice in
departmental mailboxes and in addition email directly when I know email
is attended.

Patricia raised an interesting procurement question recently.  We
procure under one of two different statutes. Goods and services are
governed by Ch30B and this says that if under $5000 we use sound
business practices, above that and under $25k we get three quotes and
$25k or more we go to bid.  Where building something new or modifying a
public building it is governed by Ch149 which has had a "dollar one"
threshold and has for some time. FRCOG is doing a tradespersons bid for
the school districts - because right now if you want an electrician to
come put in an electrical outlet, you have to get three quotes.

Jared Woods has agreed to become Transfer Station Alternate Attendant
and his hiring approval is before the Selectboard. He originally applied
when we hired David and Mary. We had six great applicants so are working
off that pool.

We are seeking special municipal employee status for Board of Health
members and approval of Ch 268 Section D exemption for Dick and Rita so
they may be paid in the event they ever need to fill in at the transfer
station.

Jeannette as town clerk has been working to get the town in compliance
with Ethics training requirement. I emailed the summary document and
receipt and she is distributing 100 or more copies to town employees. By
April everybody must take an on-line training. We will deal with that
after meeting the summary document requirement. We must designate a
senior level employee to be the "liaison" to the ethics commission.
Jeannette is willing to take this on so I recommend she be appointed.

Following a public meeting on the final draft of the CDS the board will
need to vote the Strategy at the next meeting.

We have pole hearing for Richmond Rd scheduled for 7:00 pm Nov. 30.

Highway Dept. got the Chestnut Hill bridge rebuilt with white oak
trucked all the way from Virginia. They are installing the speed signage
and have switched the trucks over to sanders and are ready for snow and
ice.  Tim and I have agreed to seek reserve fund request from the
Finance Committee for half the $10k cost as this was a huge hit on an
approximately $100k expense budget. Without some revenue"infill" we
won't be buying much if any gravel for our roads this year.

Senator Brewer's office has telegraphed some good news on Local Aid,
specifically PILOT which may not be cut as planned by the Governor's
office. That is $40k or more revenue to us.

ZBA decided to advertise anew on the Copper Angel special permits
application. This was on the advice of counsel. Advertising and notices
got out for the Dec 10 hearing which is scheduled for 7:15 pm. They are
working on the clock started by the original application.  The board now
stands at five members and all will participate so alternates have
participated.

Broadband committee is working on a planned grant application for
expansion and upgrade of our system. I provided a list of equipment for
their consideration and a copy is included with your meeting package. To
date we have added five subscribers this month to date and connections
stand at 64.