We have all our approvals we need from DCR to install the broadband
system on Mt. Grace. I am working on scheduling with our contractor. The
install will take two or three days. I think all submissions are in to
American Tower as well and if so we will have a notice to proceed in
about a week. I don't believe there is much frost in the ground. We have
ground work to do at the cell tower to bring power to our equipment. We
can't do anything at American Tower until we have our notice to proceed.
I expect we will be using the system by the end of January.  We have a
plan to install Wednesday however the prediction of gusting winds may
likely delay us.

When reviewing the minutes of Nov 17, 2008 I noted that there is a typo
/ omission of the word "and" which is needed to covey the intended
meaning of adopting both the strategy and the project list.

I reviewed YTD complaints to Highway Dept. There have been four this
year to date.  Reviewed snow and ice spending. I see real efforts by the
department to justify expenditures and reduce costs. The board will get
a comparative report from Tim once we are through January as agreed. At
the 1/12/09 meeting the board will need to authorize deficit spending on
the snow and ice line item. Without a vote we can't address costs
outside of regular hours and would be forced to spend money from other
lines to buy salt, sand and fuel.

Massachusetts met and exceeded the threshold for FEMA disaster relief.
Warwick will be represented at the MEMA / FEMA upcoming meeting to
explain the reimbursement process by Tim and myself. I have been working
on cost justification for these submissions along with many other town
departments.

The new HD highway truck is in service and the old truck sold to city of
Easthampton. They have taken delivery. I will send them the title once
we have payment. We got $6000 for the truck. The new one cost almost
$120,000.

Most town departments have submitted their FY 2010 budget requests. I am
working on inputting the data into the spreadsheet. The school budgets
and local aid figures are to date unknown and have huge implications.
This is a teacher salary negotiating year.  The tax rate was set for
FY09 at $15.05, almost a dollar lower than last year. Most of the
reduction can be attributed to changes to the state grant to us for
capital improvements at Pioneer school and to the grant for Warwick
Center School building.

I am beginning work on an appeal of the Fire Chief's order to repair the
sprinkler system at WCS. The board had previously asked me to apply for
a waiver to remove the system. No process for such exists. However, with
the order to repair in hand we can appeal it and it has the same effect.
I have asked Russ Dupere to review and or assist on this matter.

I am working on the FY2009 Commonwealth Capital application and working
with their staff on ways to document to increase the score. They are
working on a programming glitch so we can get items we pledged to do and
did do recognized. We had a hearing on this at the same time as the Sept
CDBG hearing.

The Meridian phone system funded by capital stabilization and approved
by the Selectboard for installation at WCS has been installed. It
provides both paging and voice mail.  The old Vodavi system can be sold
as surplus to recover some of the cost. The district was paying $40 or
so per handset to replace units. PVRS member schools use the same Vodavi
type system and they'd like to have it.

Reviewed the YTD expenditure report (first half of fiscal year). Rosa
wrote up and I signed the Police Officer appointment letters approved at
the pervious Selectboard meeting. We generated a single letter to the
Town Clerk apprising her of these three year appointments.

Followed up on voted timber sale authorization with a letter to the
consulting forester. The costs from here on out will be covered by a
percentage of the volume marked for sale. The forester will have to deal
with any identified Natural Heritage listed species. The boundary paint
will be freshened.

The transfer station compactor has been freezing up in very cold
weather. I met a repairman there one very cold morning. He installed a
heater and lubricated the machine.  A more robust heater in the
hydraulic tank is probably in order and won't have to be left on all
week. I'm working with the BOH on the hiring of a replacement attendant
as Lynne resigned. We have six qualified applicants following a posting
and week-long advertisement in the Daily News. The BOH nominee will need
to be appointed by the Selectboard.

I met with Phil about some zoning and construction cases.

Met with Tim to review highway department plans for the coming week.

We had some problems with the boiler in the town hall which Charlie was
able to address. He also made some changes on the sump pump discharge so
reduce ice formation in the driveway and street. The new storms in the
dining hall have made a noticeable difference in the room's holding
heat.

The Community Development Block Grant application will not include the
weatherization activity as the State has the position that all sanitary
and health code matters must be addressed in a property - we can not
just choose to target a specific one. Result is that housing
rehabilitation is the only activity. Warwick is slated to be lead town
for a four town application submitted and managed by the regional
housing authority.