FY13 Budget
Town staff is in the thick of things regarding the development of the FY13 budget proposal, but many building blocks still need to be assembled. The process is taking longer this year due to changes in account organization, assembly of information and supporting documents, and frankly, other competing priorities. As a result, it may be necessary to delay the budget schedule a week or so, but we will do our very best to adhere to the schedule.
Ricker Trust
Now that a judge has issued an order authorizing the Poland Board of Selectmen to act as trustees for the Ricker Trust, the matter of adopting a corporate authorization for financial management of the fund is in order. The authorization appears on the Board of Selectmen’s January 17th agenda for approval to contract with H.M. Payson & Co. as investment advisor. The principles that will guide the trustees in their management of the fund are based in the court’s order. See attached.
Water & Sewer Project
Pay requests and change orders are in process, and the tank contract is 95% complete. The remaining work in the spring will include final site work, including loaming and seeding. The tank leak test will be completed in February once the booster pump station is operational. The contractor also needs to complete the equipment testing associated with Contract #1 in February as part of the booster pump station start-up (Contract #2).
Contract #2 is approximately 85% complete. K & K is working on completing all of the water and sewer pipe testing requirements over the next month concurrently with the booster pump station completion. Spring work will include: installation of water services; final site work at the booster pump station; pavement overlay of a section of Route 122 near the guard rail section and Route 122 wastewater pump station; final clean-up and surface restoration along roadways.
The most important action item is to identify properties that may not want water service. The contract includes a water service to each developed property, but the Town may not want to pay to install a service if the property owner has no intention to ever connect. Auburn Water may also not want a service installed that will not be connected. The Town should have a conversation with John Storer about how to approach the water service installation. The other issue that should be discussed with him is the installation of water bleeders to manage water quality. This was an item that was discussed and agreed to as part of the agreement with Auburn Water & Sewerage District.
A punch list will be generated for both projects by the end of February. The entire water system will need to be disinfected in the spring prior to putting the system on line for potable water use. The contractors will be required to complete the disinfection work in consultation with Auburn Water District. Contractors for both projects have done excellent jobs, and the engineers are very happy with the outcome of both projects.
Digital Mapping – John E. O’Donnell & Associates
Last Friday a group of Poland town officials met at John E. O’Donnell’s office to hear a presentation about the new GIS digital mapping project they have completed for the Town of Poland. This digital mapping system joins data sets from Google Earth with O’Donnell’s Poland tax maps to provide more accurate and accessible parcel information to those who need information about Poland real estate and facilities. The Town will install the Poland KMZ file onto its computer system and use it with Google Earth to present the digital mapping system and property information to users.
We hope to have a joint meeting with the Planning Board, Board of Selectmen, Conservation Commission and other interested parties with Mike and John O’Donnell to discuss the mapping and property information services they offer. Other opportunities for expanded GIS capabilities are available through John E. O’Donnell & Associates, as well; and they would like to further explain those opportunities to decision makers and other users of the service.
Business Registration Fees
Please see the memo and accompanying documents from Rosemary Roy for explanation about this program.
Fire Station Committee
Upon recommendation from the Fire Station Committee and Board of Selectmen, Fire Department members, Fire Station Committee members, and architects have reassessed the needs of the department and redesigned the configuration for an expanded fire station. The new design, along with several suggestions for reductions and other changes to the project was discussed at a committee meeting this week. The committee is content with the recommended changes and reduced project scope, so now the architect will develop revised cost estimates for the project. Hopefully, the new cost estimates will be ready within a couple of weeks for the committee to consider. The committee is also hopeful that the matter will be ready to go before voters at this year’s annual town meeting.
Customer Service Clerk
The applications for Customer Service Clerk have been thoroughly reviewed, and now the Clerk is in the process of scheduling interviews with selected candidates. Initial interviews will begin next week.
Respectfully submitted,
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Rosemary E. Kulow
Poland Town Manager
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