Advisory Committee Present: David Lindsay
March 23, 2010 Burt Shnitzler
Randy Dinjian (arrived 8:15 p.m.)
Bob Czekanski
Connie Benjamin
Terry Abdalian
Linda Day, Town Secretary
The Advisory Committee met at the Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.
Present: Kenneth F. Troup and Curt Plante, Board of Selectmen; Donald Lowe, Town Administrator
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
Present: Bill Spratt, NRSD Facilities Manager
Mr. Spratt met with the Advisory Committee to discuss the operator costs for the wastewater treatment plant. He stated that when the wastewater treatment plant was constructed there was an agreement made between the district and the previous Town Administrator Jodi Ross that the expenses would be split 75% (district) and 25% (town) since the school was the only flow going into the system. There was discussion about the town hooking up to the treatment plant and that this would be revisited at a later date. At the time of the discussion the only costs being considered were the actual operating costs for the operators of the treatment plant which was estimated at $30,000 per year. The electricity costs were not considered at this time and the district has been paying this expense estimated at $16,000
per year. We are currently paying $7,500 which is 25% of the Whitewater operator costs. Mr. Spratt proposed a 50/50 split of the operator costs which is a 2/3 (district) and 1/3 (town) of the total operational cost (maintenance and electricity) of $46,000.
The plant was built over capacity. In terms of flows the school would still be about 80% of the flow. The school was permitted for 12,000 gallons and the total flow for the town buildings is estimated at 2,500 (Library 1,200; public safety building, 800; Houghton Building, 1,200). Mr. Plante stated that DEP has capped the flow of the public safety building and library at 1,000 gallons per day. Mr. Plante’s recollection was that the wastewater treatment plant was built for the schools and it was built to maximum capacity because it made the most financial sense. Mr. Shnitzler recalled discussions early on in the process about the possibility of hooking up other town buildings and Main Street residents.
Mr. Lindsay proposed a 75%, 25% split of the $46,000 which would be $11,500. Mr. Spratt was favorable to this proposal.
Mr. Troup was favorable to the proposal and suggested that the Board of Selectmen vote on the proposal and that Mr. Lowe could then accept and sign the memo of agreement for the town and the district. Mr. Plante was not favorable to the 75%, 25% split of the $46,000 but was favorable to paying our fair share of the treatment plant which he felt was more like 10%.
There was a motion made by Mr. Shnitzler and seconded by Mr. Lindsay to budget $11,500. On a motion made by Abdalian and seconded by Czekanski, the original motion was amended to approve a budget of $7,500. (Czekanski – yes, Benjamin – yes, Abdalian – yes, Lindsay – no, Shnitzler – no) Mr. Lindsay suggested that the Advisory Committee budget on the basis of the 75%, 25% split and if the Board of Selectmen chooses to do something different at their meeting the Advisory Committee can address this again at their next meeting.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Benjamin, the Advisory Committee voted to increase the Fire Department budget, line item 5700 Miscellaneous from $1,000 to $1,400 for the purchase of a television cabinet/wall mount for the new dayroom in the fire station.
(Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Benjamin – yes, Abdalian – yes)
PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER OIL LEAK TRANSFER REQUEST
Mr. Lowe reported that during a conversation with the Maguire Group he was informed that there were three tasks related to the public safety center oil leak clean up that must take place in FY10 versus FY11. The activities included the installation of one more monitoring well; groundwater monitoring for the total of four wells and an IRA completion report which must be filed with DEP. The quote given to perform these tasks totaled $18,700. Mr. Lowe reported that Bond Counsel stated that the $18,700 is not a bondable expense. Mr. Lowe is in the process of determining the amount of funds that will be needed prior to the annual town meeting. Mr. Lowe will give the Maguire Group the go ahead to proceed and the Advisory Committee was in favor of approving a transfer to cover the tasks to be done.
Mr. Troup proposed that an article, sponsored by the Board of Selectmen, be placed on the Annual Town Meeting warrant requesting funds for unforeseen costs for the Public Safety Building. Mr. Troup was concerned that the funds would run out before the project was completed and he did not want to have to cut back on things such as landscaping, equipment and furnishings for the center.
On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Shnitzler, the Advisory Committee would be supportive of an article on the Annual Town Meeting warrant for an additional appropriation for the public safety center. (Lindsay – no, Shnitzler – yes, Dinjian – yes, Czekanski – yes, Benjamin – yes, Abdalian – yes)
LIBRARY PROJECT
Mr. Lowe reported that the builders risk insurance policy for the library project was paid out of the regular insurance line item when it should have come out of the library project budget and this amount will need to be transferred back to the library project budget. Mr. Lowe will be reconciling the library construction budget with Mr. White, OPM and Julie Costello, Town Accountant to determine the balance of the library project.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
The Advisory Committee reviewed their statement and made minor revisions.
ARTICLE REVIEW
Article 1: Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Transfer
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 2: Accept Annual Reports
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 3: Fiscal Year 2011 Operating Budget
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 4: Implementation of a Permanent Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility
On a motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Dinjian, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – no)
Article 6: Purchase of Web-based Municipal Software
On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Shnitzler, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 7: Establishment of a Revolving Fund for Web-based Municipal Software Service
On a motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 8: Transfer of $175,000 to the Stabilization Fund
On a motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 10: Granting of Liquor License
On a motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Benjamin, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 11: Cell Tower Easement
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Abdalian, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 12: Pole Easement for the Library Project
On a motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Dinjian, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 13: Propane Easement for the Library Project
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Benjamin, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 14: Easement for National Grid for the Public Safety Center
On a motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 17: Establishment of a Revolving Fund for Parks and Recreation Commission
On a motion made by Abdalian and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee voted to disapprove this article. (Lindsay – no, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 18: Purchase of New One-Ton Minimum 16,000GVW Truck for the Department of Public Works
On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Shnitzler, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 20: Grant for Redesign and Reconstruction of Route 117
On a motion made by Czekanski and seconded by Dinjian, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
Article 23: Purchase of Defibrillators
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Shnitzler, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Lindsay – yes, Shnitzler – yes, Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin –yes, Abdalian – yes)
On a motion made by Shnitzler and seconded by Czekanski, the Advisory Committee adjourned at 10:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day
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