Proof Positive We're Overtaxed .. More Wasteful Spending

MINUTES of the

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Wednesday

September 1, 2010

2^nd Order of Business: Other Business

Bob Gray informed the Board that the digital mapping services that Avitar provides for $3500 would have cost the Town $31,000 and $70,000 in past years.  Chad Roberge from Avitar made a presentation for the Board on the new digital maps available for the Town to purchase. If the Town were to purchase these digital maps and software, the tax maps could be made available on the Town website for residents and realtors to utilize. The digital map software has the capability to show many different layer options for zoning, wetlands, conservation land, water and sewer availability etc.  Margaret Sharra of the Planning Board came before the Board to inform them that these maps would be a very useful tool for the Planning and Zoning Boards. Selectman Fraser makes a motion to sign the contract with Avitar for their map services.  Selectman Ruth seconds the motion. After a brief discussion Selectman Fraser amends the motion to be; to sign the $3500 contract with Avitar for their map services $1800 to be funded from the Property Records budget and the remainder of the funds will come from the Re-Valuation overage. Selectman Ruth seconds the motion.  Motion carries 5-0.

Gary Puffer came before the Board to discuss an estimate in the amount of  $45,000 to replace 1000 feet of water main and 2 fire hydrants on Old Scotland Road.  This amount is not including 15% for engineering fees or contingencies. Any residents on that main would have to hook into the main at their own cost. Selectman Sepe feels strongly that the Town should replace the water main. The Chairman asked the public if they had any comment. Mr. Melillo and other residents of Old Scotland Road would like to see this water main replaced as there has been a lot of water lost and frequent spaghetti line repairs already.  Ted Whippie a resident was concerned as to where the funds would be coming from to cover this replacement.  Selectman Sepe clarified that funds would be used from the Capital Reserve account, as its purpose is to fund maintaining and upgrading items like this. Billie Jo Knoll a resident came before the Board, she stated that she does not have Town Water or Sewer and she feels the Town should replace this water main even though she would receive no benefit from this.  After some discussion Selectman Sepe would like to send this project out for bids. Gary Puffer informed the Board that it would have to go to an engineer first to be designed so that companies would have the drawings to base their bids on. Selectman Fraser makes a motion to hire Hoyle & Tanner to do the engineering work for this water main replacement project.  Selectman Gardner seconds the motion.  Motion carries 5-0.

Previously, water and sewer abatement had submitted for the Ashuelot Fire Station. This abatement was tabled for the next meeting, as the Board needed more information from Gary Puffer. The Board asked Gary Puffer why there was a bill for the Ashuelot Fire Station when the water there is shut off.  Garry explained that there were problems with the meter reading equipment.  The water department had to read over 900 meters in 2 weeks, so occasionally there is an error made. After a brief discussion Selectman Tedford makes a motion to abate the water and sewer bills for the Ashuelot Fire Station.  Selectman Fraser seconds the motion.  Motion carries 5-0.

A purchase requisition in the amount of  $3000 to have Renaud Brothers, Inc. clean the 2 covered bridges was submitted for authorization. This was the only bid submitted as the only other two specialized companies in that field; Barns and Bridges would not respond, and 3 G Construction refused to submit a bid. Selectman Fraser makes a motion to have Renaud Brothers, Inc. Clean the covered bridges.  Selectman Gardner seconds the motion.  Motion carries  4-1.

A concerned citizen informed the Town that the State had cleared a culvert, and dug a large rectangular hole that is now filled with water at the edge of the Russell property located on Rt. 119. And the railing that runs along the head of the culvert it is rotted which may pose a safety hazard to children walking by. Also discussed was whether or not the highway Department should clear the drainage ditch to allow the standing water to drain.  The ditch is on private property and the equipment would tear up the yard.  Selectman Sepe will speak to the landowner and report back to the Board on it next week.  After some discussion Selectman Tedford  makes a motion to have the Highway department repair the railing.  Selectman Sepe seconds the motion.  Motion carries  5-0.  Why isn't the State doing this?

Bob Gray presents the Board with a quote to upgrade the Town Hall Server.  The current server is 7 years old with only 1 GB of RAM memory and it is slowing down. Bob Gray received a quote in the amount of  $5,656 .  This quote includes a firewall update, a new server with a 3-year service warranty, and new software for the server, and a battery backup upgrade.  The funds for this upgrade would come from the Capital Reserve Fund established under Article 7 in 2009 for future upgrades to the Town’s computer and networking system. Selectman Ruth makes a motion to upgrade the server in an amount of up to $6000.00.  Selectman Gardner seconds the motion.  Motion carries  4-1.

In regards to the Avitar software; this is the same software they admit has problems and is responsible for the errors and wide variations in taxation across the town.

Why can't our Highway Department work with our Water Dept. to dig up and replace the broken leaking piping and replace it with new without spending thousands of dollars on unneeded engineers and other unwarranted costs. Are they that incompetent that they can't replace piping and install a couple of hydrants and if so shouldn't we demand they be replaced with people who know what to do and how to do it without costing us thousands in taxpayer's dollars every time there is an issue? Course with our Water Dept. Head billing a place where the water has been shut off for years kinda gives us an answer to our question now doesn't it? Wonder how many times this has been done in the past?

Shouldn't the engineering work also go out to bid? Why was it that Selectman Fraser was so quick to recommend Hoyle and Tanner for this job?

Is there something going on behind the scenes that two different businesses wouldn't even put in a bid to do work in our town when the economy is so bad?  Did they have a bad experience in a previous dealing with the town? 

And wouldn't it be much cheaper to add more RAM ( Random Access Memory ) to our current server and put files worth saving to disc and free up space without spending thousands on something new?  Adding another firewall to the one provided by the internet service provider is unnecessary and could cause connectivity issues. This could all be done for less than $500 ( high end ) yet here we go again, blowing money to keep up with the Jones. Why don't we have someone with enough computer savy working for the town to manage the system proficiently without constantly spending money every year to update by buying new toys for people who obviously don't have a clue how to do what's necessary to keep things running without spending thousands of dollars year after year having someone else do it.

Just more wasted tax payer dollars ..