Coordinator report August 13, 2015

I had Larry check on a bucket truck that is for sale locally. We can do
much of our own tree work and be able to pay highway workers to help
with broadband installations once acquired with broadband, highway and
tree warden funds. The two units we have considered to date are not up
to the task, requiring substantial work to put in service. We will
continue to source a truck.

I posted availability of surplus used computers and tables. The tables
will be available after old home days and I am currently selling the
used computers. The first two went for $25 each.

It is legal to euthanize a horse or pet without a vet, provided it is
done so humanely.

At the previous meeting Mr. Arguimbau made comments regarding tax exempt
bonding requirement that no more than 10% of benefit be to a private
entity, I did a little digging. The provision applies to a single entity
so that for example a local government can't use tax exempt bonds to
finance infrastructure that wholly benefits a single manufacturer,
retailer or service business.  Wouldn't matter were the betterment
roads, fiber, sewer or water work. Tax exempt bonds can't be used if a
single entity gets more than 10% of benefit. In the case of our proposed
 regional fiber cooperative there would be thousands of individual
beneficiaries and none would have a large enough stake to trip this
provision.  

The net meter credit purchase agreement needs to be twenty year. This is
the need of the project financing. I previously got approval to sign a
three year contract with renewal clauses. Buying power from Seaboard  is
already in the contract Town Meeting voted. TM didn't vote the specific
terms and this represents a change from a power purchase agreement to
discounted net metering credits. Besides this justification, other towns
have signed after their counsel review, and we aren't buying anything
except financial instruments. I am waiting for our attorney's opinion to
back me up.

I had a productive meeting with our Nat Grid rep, our Green Communities
rep,  andJanice which means we will be able to get $1.5k in subsidy for
the police station heat pump energy work which the tech school will
install. This is due to the police station being currently electrically
heated. They pay 25 cents per kWh reduction to incent conservation. Our
oil heated buildings don't qualify. We will get additional incentive
payment for air sealing and insulation work on the police station. I
have functioned as general contractor for the town hall roof, the school
sprinkler system, the broadband system, and the school roof. For the
upcoming air sealing and insulation work at town hall, library, and
police station I plan to procure under the terms of MGL 25a which allows
us to skip competitive bidding so long as the job cost is under $100k
and we work with a utility approved project expediter. Guardian Energy
is the firm we have been working with for several years and they fit the
bill. It seems fair and moreover, this is a bunch of small jobs and they
will be responsible for oversite which can be substantial on a detail
oriented job such as air sealing where failures won't be immediately
apparent.

The oft referred to lawsuit by our local campground, is an appeal of our
Building Inspector / zoning enforcement order which our Zoning Board of
Appeals subsequently and unanimously upheld. This civil action is the
second stage in their appeal, their having lost the first round with our
local ZBA. I'd characterize our interest as upholding the community's
voted prohibition against trailer parks as a place of residence. When TM
voted not to permit trailer parks it did so as one of three options.
Legislative intent was thereby established. This business is permitted
as a "family campground" which is a recreational campground designation
not intended to provide housing for the homeless or folks otherwise
without a permanent residence who live there. In a move surprising for
its quickness, the judge from the bench tossed out the money damages
claimed and the attempt to recover legal costs from the Town should they
prevail. Besides being permitted as a family campground by the BoH, a
family campground is like all residents and businesses subject to the
building code and to the zoning by-law. It is a question with respect to
the latter that is being adjudicated. The court will hear their
contention that the campground has been continuously operated year-round
since a time prior to the Town having zoning. We will present evidence
to the contrary.

According to Town Counsel, Mr. Hay was engaging in "some dystopian logic
to say the least" when he stated that if the Selectboard lets the Town
Coordinator speak then they must let everyone speak. Not the case. 

Ms. Miller of Orange Rd phoned to state she was very unhappy about not
being notified she was "going to lose her 2nd amendment rights". She
asked to talk with our counsel and I let her know that only the chair
and the coordinator get to talk to counsel without special arrangement
and that she can hire her own attorney at her own expense as town
counsel works for the Town and specifically for the Selectboard.

Highway department has begun work on permitting a Wendell road guardrail
project.

I met with Ruth Miller the new school superintendent. She is taking the
lead on development of a District strategic plan which I applaud. I
learned that should the local elementary school close and be repurposed,
Warwick will have to pay back MSBA grant. To save money the kitchen at
WCS won't be staffed and the food prepared and transported from
Northfield.

Here is the case for keeping citizen concerns to the end of the agenda:
People who bother to get on the agenda shouldn't be subjected to delay
while the board listens to people who don't take the time. The open
meeting law says put matters on the agenda so the public knows what is
to be discussed.  It is not fair to the subject of questions raised as
"concerns" that they have no notice they are going to be discussed. I
suggest the board combine new, other, and public comment at the end and
place anything of consequence on a future agenda. Folks have the option
to contact the Selectboard office and get an item placed on the agenda
in the alternative. 
	
Following is a list of documents provided for the upcoming meeting:
Minutes August 3, 2015
June 2, 2010 minutes about public comment
e-mail from Drawes to Wyatt re: Questions about WiredW
Revised Participation guidelines	Coordinator 20 year net meter credit
procurement memo
Draft minutes 8/3/15		WiredWest income cost summary - 2
WW financial model process	Net meter purchase agreement