Coordinator Report March 29, 2012

The state contract and conservation restriction documents have been submitted to town counsel for review. I expect them back tomorrow, Friday.  Mary Williamson is going to contact the Winchester NH snowmobile club regarding the railing.

We received a question regarding payment of admin fees to the Housing Authority for the most recent HR loan and as your vote didn't specify the payment of an admin fee I bring it before you.  The vote did authorize spending up to a total of $20k on the "loan", provided it didn't cut into the unrestricted funds from prior to '93. Since the motion included the word "loan" and not "project" I seeking clarification. I recommend you approve the 15% administration fee which totals $2144.06   which would come from the funds derived since FY93 which are encumbered to eligible uses. I used to be Athol's Program Director and I would have expected to receive admin unless we had enough open grants to cover our organization's costs. Since the '09 grant is closed, my opinion is this it is a reasonable and customary expense. 

Tim proposes, subject to your approval, to submit to MA DOT paving and sub-drainage projects on Flower Hill and Hastings Heights Roads respectively. The cost of both totals $100k and will leave us with +$50k in FY 13 and the FY14 award untouched.

Unclear if Kyle and Dozer the dog are with us. I spoke with landlord who expects his return to town.

I spoke with the assistant to school superintendent who invited me to a building and grounds committee meeting next week as their permission is required to submit a feasibility study to burn biomass at the school. I declined as the proposal has been submitted and it is but a study. I explained that despite the school committee sub-committee's unwillingness to approve or recommend our exemption to the district agreement to do the energy betterments that we are going to district TMs anyway. I am meeting with Bernardston Selectboard on Tuesday evening.

I met with EMD Erviti regarding a continuity of operations plan which MEMA has asked him to develop. What happens if all or most of the Selectboard are taken off the board by a disaster? We are looking into it and thinking about who takes over for coordinator, town clerk, highway boss, etc.  

I worked with assistant EMD, Bill Lyman, and submitted a grant for $1750 to MEMA for purchase of much needed high band pagers for firefighters.

Selectboard have a meeting with Finance committee scheduled for 4/10, Tuesday at 6 pm to meet jointly and review the ATM Warrant and budget. The Finance Committee has concluded its work. We have a real number for the PVRS operating budget.  The PVRS debt number, predicated upon being refinanced, is down $20k and there are two minor capital projects.

I have worked with Ted Cady to refine the Tully Rd ATM article and have simplified it to "discontinuance of maintenance". Our WCS roof matter did not get on the MSBA agenda in March and they may put it on their (late) April meeting. We need to decide whether to keep the article on our ATM warrant. It now appears without dollar amount and is strictly subject to a grant award. BEC will be meeting tonight to decide if they are recommending the Stretch Code.

I had a contractor in the school attic during the most recent rain and he found some evidence of roof failure in one spot near the roof junction with the gym. No structural damage and he estimates we have about a year before there are real problems. I directed him to make temporary repairs if he can find a likely cause.

I fouled up the April broadband bills citing the wrong month. Three people noticed. I repaired the database, sent our correct bills by mail to those who get mailed bills. I met with the Broadband committee. Phase II of the WiMax broadband grant was awarded to low bidder WiValley. I'll be submitting a report and invoices to MBI in the next few days.

Alana Day and David Shoemaker have agreed to be write-in candidates for Cemetery Commission. Miguel Tores is willing to continue as burial agent but doesn't much like going to meetings.