Coordinator Report July 26, 2017

My most up to date information on the Community Compact is what I read
in the newspaper. I don't know if the agreement including scope of work
will be ready Monday night but it is on the agenda so you can consider
and possibly act upon the application.

Every year we must sign an agreement that contracts our transfer station
hauling costs. Please vote to sign, then sign and return to me. This
represents about a three dollar per haul price increase.

I'd like the board to consider scheduling a Fall Special Town meeting
for the purpose of asking the town to reduce the appropriation for the
new fire truck. Without TM action we must raise the full amount of $75k
and we can put new tires on the truck which I've recommended and reduce
the levy by $35k. We'd need to consult with the Moderator before setting
a date.

No action required regarding Old Home Days. PD has authority to
authorize road closure. The board could review and highlight planned
events in hope of publicizing them more widely.

Ted is the Planning Board representative to the FC Planning board and
the nomination for Selectboard representative shows that I have been the
representative. I have attended a few meetings over the years when the
topic interested me but did so not realizing I am a member. I suggest
you consider an appointment be made of somebody who'll attend if we want
full participation.

Broadband operations for the fiscal year that just ended June 30 had
total revenue of $93,377 and expenses of $71,548 resulting in a net
operating income of $21,829 for the year.  The difference constitutes
the year's retained earnings. Total retained earnings for life of
project are 28,177 + 21,829 = $50,006. This is net (doesn't include) of
the $20,000 of retained earnings approved for expenditure at the '16
Annual Town Meeting which has been expended.

Broadband buildout is nearing its halfway point. It is funded with a
state grant totaling $450,000 and a borrowing authorization of $240,000.
Expenditure to date totals $157, 963 and does not include the pole
setting costs, of which all twelve new poles are installed as the bill
has not been presented. I estimate WG&E setting charge at about $20k as
we only got two installed per day. A tower climb to implement everything
except LTE at Orange Rd tower is scheduled for next week. I have ordered
LTE test kits from both of the manufacturers of devices that operate in
our licensed space, one Chinese and one Israeli. The first is very low
cost and if we don't need it we can sell it, while the other is on a
test and if it doesn't work we can return. I want to be able to test the
interoperability of the products as this, like WIMAX, is a hardware
standard and brand A should talk to brand B. Also in answer to a
question raised by several folks, the broadband build budget is paying
for the time our highway workers and PD have spent in the past two
weeks. assisting with the project. We received our first reimbursement
in the amount of $150,000 this week.

Our fiscal year ended 6/30. My rough guesstimate is that we will have
about $100,000 in free cash once the books are closed and the amount
certified. The snow and ice deficit is zero after reallocation to the
regular highway budget.

Regarding Gale Rd Bridge, Larry has filed a Request for Determination of
Applicability for a plan to replace the rock in the bridge foundation
which has been authorized by CC. Our local engineer was of the opinion
that the resource area will not be altered and the question should be
found to be negative, not subject to a Notice of Intent filing. This
obtained. He also thinks the bridge can handle any legal load including
log trucks. Once the foundation is repaired, from a practical standpoint
we could re-open the bridge. We may wish to double the 3" planking to
good measure.

As for grants, in addition to Broadband and Small Bridge, I am working
on EMPG (emergency management radios for PD to be able to communicate
directly with Orange, a MIIA grant due Nov. 2 (we got body and dash
cameras in the past round); a pair of DEP transfer station grants to buy
us a lamp shed and help us purchase a scale, and we have the Community
Compact grant in development in conjunction with HEaRT Committee. We got
the bike racks delivered which Highway is installing on the common along
Athol Rd between the Historical Society's McKim Cottage and Town Hall.
And there is the tail end of the Green Communities Grant to report on
and a new grant to develop.

We got word that the ASHP (air source heat pump) rebates are in the
pipeline and in fact the smaller dollar one received. Planning Board
chair Cady and I had a phone conference to discuss next steps on the
environmental follow-up at the property on the pond. Our next task is to
gain site control, probably through a Housing Court petition. Both
Warwick and Pioneer District have been much in the news with coverage of
the Community Compact grant to support an outside look at our education
options, the possibility of creating a Charter School, and the recent
bond funding of an addition to the town forest. Old Home Day is the last
full weekend in August. Does the board have any objection to acquiring a
few more picnic tables? Also, we got an offer from Keene based Liberty
Elm of 60% off 20' tall 3" and larger trees if we dig them ourselves. If
that is of interest I'll investigate. The three at the school and three
in the park (common) are thriving.