Coordinator report April 14, 2011

A few folks are wondering how come other towns are talking layoffs and
prop 2 1/2 overrides and Warwick has free cash and excess capacity? The
answer is on both the expense side and the revenue side.  We didn't have
any free cash last year due to failure to borrow on broadband. That is
corrected and $33k that should have been for FY11 is now in the
available column. We got about $10k from MEMA for the '07 ice storm that
went to free cash. We had a snow and ice surplus of almost $20k last
year which adds to free cash. We got a one-time debt retirement proceeds
check for $68k. That won't happen again and we are appropriating it to
lower the tax levy.  On the expense side we have not given any raises to
employees for two years, have realized energy conservation savings and
generally held to level funded budgets, the transfer station is getting
closer to paying its own way. Finally, our school assessments have been
increasing more slowly than the 2 1/2 percent tax cap.

I am requesting the board vote to establish a "copier donation account"
into which we may deposit the check from the new copier vendor to pay
the remaining balance owed on the old copier. The old vendor will charge
$100 for early lease termination which we will avoid by keeping the old
machine and making the payments as they become due from the new donation
account until August. I placed the old machine in the accountant's
office for their use until lease in which is in August. At that point
town departments or the public can be offered the old machine for $336
and we can avoid the $400 return fee.

We got insurance check equal to our vendor's estimate for the damage to
the park fence granite posts. Accountant created an account. Brian Miner
has ordered the granite posts and will do the work in the next couple of
weeks for the amount received as insurance proceeds.

Chief Shoemaker will attend the meeting to present his monthly report,
request authorization to execute new police mutual aid agreements and
per Nick's request he will discuss the new cruiser purchase that will be
before annual Town Meeting.

I hope that sample copies of the town report will be available for final
proofreading before we begin to publish them. They will be printed on
the new copier and bound in house by an intern. It is a good idea to
have some fresh eyes on this. Patricia has been working on this for a
long time.

Finance committee recommends the budget and warrant article passage. 
The Selectboard ought to make its recommendations to the voters on town
meeting articles and the budget as well.

Annual election warrant is ready for the board's signature and we can
post the Annual Town Meeting Warrant and Budget. These have been
reviewed by town counsel and the moderator. The Stretch Code article is
included. We are using the language that New Salem used at their annual
town meeting last year. Postcards announcing the Annual Town Meeting and
Election are ready to go and will be mailed next week.

We have some more certifications to give the Secretary of State
regarding the Census and our single voting precinct. We will work
through it at the meeting.

Verizon company representative reports that they have placed "predictor
packages" which log trouble on circuits on a number of affected phone
numbers. These include Quarry Rd. They are trying to find larger
problems on "spans" and want to run these devices for a number of days
and including wet weather.

MBI has issued an RFP for grants to communities and vendors. We are
working on a plan to provide more CPE assistance, WIMAX licensed
facilities at 3.65 GHz on both towers, and funding to propagate the
signal to areas where we have failed to extend the signal.  The maximum
grant amount is $50k and requires a 25% match which we will meet with
operating revenues.  Late next week we will begin the expansion on Mt
Grace adding more Canopy 900 nodes and 2.4 GHz distribution. Broadband
committee meets Thursday 4/21 at 9 am to discuss the application.

Fuel oil use by Town departments has almost reached the 4000 gallons
ordered. I don't think we will exceed this contract which was not
supposed to be all the oil we need. Our conservation measures are paying
off.

We got our Chapter 90 award letter and this year's apportionment is
$229,667 which is a 29% increase. Our plans this year include crack
sealing and crumb rubber treatment of road surfaces.