Coordinator Report Jan. 21, 2009

Dee Dee Mares who is a trainer / recruiter for US Census workers will
meet with the Selectboard at the next meeting. I have her on the agenda
right after the minutes. She is conducting prospective employee testing
each Thursday at 10 a.m. at the town hall.

I granted permission to a home schooled teenager to practice
occasionally on the town's baby grand piano. The youth has agreed to
monitor the humidification unit so that it stays plugged in and filled
with water.

For many years Lon Hickler tended the flowers by the town fountain /
library. Last fall Leanne Limoges offered to take over these flower
gardens. She plans to change the garden to annuals. She and I will
figure out a way to re-purpose the perennials that will be removed.

I executed the contract between the Town and  MEMA / VT Yankee. This
funding in the amount of $7500 goes to the Fireman's Association.

The Town received the $5,915 Mass. Technology Collaborative grant
funding which is designated for the town hall roof solar electric
project. So far I have not seen any incentives that would allow us to
increase the size of the project with other people's money.

Mary Williamson reports that the owner of the proposed Town Beach has
expressed willingness to separate the waterfront property from the other
parcel. I agree with her that this is a rare opportunity that the town
should pursue even absent full grant funding. There may be a TM article
submitted to support this acquisition.

Community Coalition for teens announced availability of mini grants for
youth recognition. The deadline is 2/14.

The tax rate has been set at $16.16 which is up a bit more than we
projected due to the recent revaluation which lowered average property
values. The revaluation does not effect the amount of money the town
receives in taxes (Tax Levy) and it can shift each taxpayer's share of
what the town can tax.

Ron Gates came in to discuss making a DRC / Forestry Grant application
and inquiring about town match and application assistance.

Accountant showed me a police officer payment from FY09 that was paid
(in error) as if it were a "detail" but it turns out there was no 
corresponding revenue source. This was related to the pine tree we had
to remove on Moore's Pond. This may require a 90% Town Meeting vote.  In
a related matter, we get some percentage of revenues from traffic
infractions and I wonder if we could establish a Revolving Fund to pay
for police patrols.

Regarding speed limit strictly enforced signs, Tim reports that the cost
will be $100 per sign times six plus Highway Department labor. We are
checking to see if we need to get anybody's permission to erect such
signs. Tim notes that these can not go in until spring, wonders whose
budget will pay for them, and he notes that we need to enforce if we put
up these signs.

Tim got the town's fire extinguishers tested and certified. We purchased
two new ones to replace units that were too old to pass. The proper type
for the kitchen was one of the replacements.

I took one telephone service call of about 20 minutes including write-up
was result of corrupt browser settings which the customer wondered if
husband caused when removing an applicationI told her I'd have done the
same thing... One subscriber contacted me saying their speeds were
getting slower and slower. Another commented on the list that theirs
were better than ever. . I re-aimed one customer's radio and cured their
two-day service outage.  We did a bandwidth test and we are drawing
three to six Mbps system wide. One customer has suggested that people
who use their Internet connection for work instead of play should get
priority. My practice is to take them in the order they are received. We
could consider offering a higher priced tier with higher service
standard.

The wet snow clinging to the trees I believe is causing changes to
environmental condition affecting some customer's radio reception. At
one point this week eight customers were affected to varying degrees.
Snow and ice by themselves are not an issue. I shoot right through the
roof of my house with snow on it with no effect.

New broadband installations numbered three so far this month and there
are two scheduled. One prospective new employee has been getting
trained.

I requested Town Counsel advice on Massachusetts Hoister license
requirements.