Coordinator report July 30, 2015

The Town of Warwick is the net meter host of a solar farm being
constructed by Seaboard Solar in West Brookfield MA. Permits have been
obtained, the land has been cleared, financing secured and the next step
is the actual installation of panels and interconnection. Seaboard was
granted an extension under the current "cap" and expects the project to
be in operation before Jan 1. This project is 6 megawatts in size and
will pay Warwick about $32,000 per year. Unless the state legislature
raises the "cap" the other four megawatts from our contract probably
won't be built. In addition to being paid as the "host", Warwick has the
contractual right to purchase power for 7.5 cents per kwh which is one
cent lower than the contract we had with Soltas which is now void. Under
current regulations however a buyer doesn't purchase power from a remote
site. That electricity is instead put into the electric grid and to
monetize the generation the producer sells "net meter credits" which are
money or "gift certificates" to be used to pay electric bills. Provided
the bill incudes transmission, distribution charges and generation
charges, the net meter credits can be applied to the bill and are not
limited to the generation costs. We are being offered net metering
credits from Seaboard at a 25% discount. This means that when we get a
bill from National Grid for $100.00 we can pay it with 100 net meter
credits which cost us $75. I request the Selectboard authorize a three
year contract with Seaboard to purchase discounted net metering credits.
I am working with the school district to see if they want to have WCS
included as part of this proposed contract or a separate one.

Ms. Gaines from MBI contacted me and said they have updated premises
count and the disparity between what we know and what they think is now
about twenty sites. They feel we have 336 residences and 36 non-primary
/ second homes. I elaborated our concern that modeling based on bad and
excessive driveway lengths and an unrealistic and inflated premise count
was increasing our cost. She felt that these numbers are not as
sensitive as fiber road miles. I read in the Recorder that MBI is
vetting the WW business plan. We have a copy 3Mb but don't have the
software to view it which costs $5k. I have an agreement with the
software company that for $700 we can get hosted two years access via
the web. I would like authorization to make this expenditure.  We need a
letter to WW expressing concerns about not outsourcing network
operation, adequate construction contingency and other matters.

I sent a letter to Rep Marks supporting additional state funding of
broadband for communities such as Warwick.  I've drafted a letter to Rep
Lee supporting Hawley Selectboard request seeking $7M additional funding
from Commonwealth for broadband for sparsely populated towns.  In the
meeting package is a financing memo from MBI.

Rosa did some research and found a policy that complaints go to the
highway department head first dating from 2003. I recommend the board
vote a broader policy which will document the long standing practice
which dates from the 1980s when I was a Selectman. I recognize that Nick
disagrees and note that his concession regarding complaints against
employees and officials is a matter of law.

Please act on an application by David Shepherdson, on behalf of the
Beach Committee for a one day beer / wine licenses for a 8/22 wedding.
This is as a weather contingency only so if not actually used we will
cancel the license. In either event the water testing fund will be
financially enhanced.
We now have new tables for town hall functions. The church is purchasing
six the pastor one, the Arts Council two, Women's Guild two, and two are
funded from the Town Hall expense line. Three of the tables paid for by
the church will reside at Metcalf Chapel; ten will be at town hall. That
leads to the question of disposition of old tables.
	
I recommend the board declare surplus the ten older eight foot tables
and they be sold at or after Old Home Day. I recommend we keep the seven
foot even older pressboard town hall tables. I think they belong to the
Guild.

I learn or relearn something new every day. I think we should review
some basics so I will speak about and review what we all know about Open
Meeting Law (OML) including who can speak and what constitutes serial
deliberation on the part of a board such as the Selectboard and provide
some advice on e-mails and "the-List". One thing to keep in mind is that
a Selectboard meeting is not a Town Meeting. Only the members of the
board have right to speak. The open meeting law means everybody else has
a right to hear the proceedings.

Town counsel's opinion is that the Selectboard has the right to ban
firearms from town buildings and to in the alternative from public
meetings. I read in a newspaper that Town Counsel will attend the
meeting. This is not true. He has issued an opinion and it is in
writing. The motion at the previous meeting was to vote a policy to ban
firearms at Selectboard meetings. The board could extend this to
meetings of all town boards, or from all or specified town buildings. 
(Whatever is done the policy should exempt law enforcement officers).
This is like being pregnant. There is no middle ground. It is one way or
the other. Figure the chance of a lawsuit exists from either side and
make the right decision by your lights. The test is whether the policy
"achieves a compelling government interest". Our attorney says we would
prevail in a MA court. I note that if we lost we would not be facing
money damages which is not necessarily the case were I to
(hypothetically) sue the Town for allowing a hostile workplace. Don't
vote a policy as a reaction to unwelcome behavior. In that case work to
more actively moderate the meeting. We have been rather family style and
the extended family may have been unruly.

New Wendell Rd guardrails are probably not feasible. Permitting will be
complex as is within 200' of a riverfront. We'd need to procure and hire
an engineer. Attempt to get permits and easements and then find the
funding. The next transportation bond bill is about four years out. Most
of our work is replacing like for like. In this case there is nothing
where we want to put something. Former Highway Super found the project
would cost millions and necessitate relocation of the road which would
require a supermajority of the legislature as adjacent lands are
protected. If this were simply an embankment and not at a stream edge
the cost project would be about $60k. This potential project has merit
as do so many so it ought to be considered as part of the town's capital
planning efforts in a context that includes competing needs.

Last week some of the lower branches on Wendell Rd were removed. What
remains will addressed as time permits over the next couple of weeks. I
have heard concerns regarding the ditch work being excessive on the
Northfield Rd, concerns regarding scenic road and perceived conflict of
interest tree warden being a highway employee.

Chairman Magi asked that I move citizen concerns to the end of the
agenda.
	
One thing we need to do in our minutes is provide a list of documents
consulted. Here is it for the upcoming meeting:

Springfield Republican commentary: Warwick, Leave Your Guns at Home
Minutes July 20, 2015
Broadband supplemental funding letters and documents Hawley and
Petersham
Letter by Coordinator to Rep. Marks
Draft letter on funding from Selectboard to Rep. Lee
Dec 22, 2003 minutes on handling Highway complaints
Jan 3, 2005 minutes reiterated department first policy
Memo regarding disparity between TM budget summary and omnibus budget
Memo regarding meeting with Congressman McGovern's staff
Town counsel opinion greenlighting gun ban
Special improvement districts