Government at a glance

Government at a glance

April 01, 2009 03:49 am

—

Merrimac Board of Selectmen

March 30, 2009

APPROVED

Award contract of $159,200 for rehabilitation work at the Merrimacport Pump Station on River Road to Sherborn Consolidated of Amesbury, contingent on Town Meeting approval.

Allow the town's baseball organization to construct two dugouts at the Donaghue School Baseball Field A in accordance with the recommendation of Building Inspector Phil Hagopian.

Contracts for audit services from Bill Fraher, CPA for the Town of Merrimac, for June 30, 2009, through June 30, 2011.

Use of Carey Park by the Merrimacport United Methodist Church for Easter Sunrise Service on April 12.

Selectmen will request one-time in lieu of tax payments in the amount of $5,300 from the Water Department and $6,300 from the Sewer Department, reflective of forgoing 2 percent salary increase for fiscal year 2010.

DISCUSSED

Consulting engineer John Riordan will present the Water Department Master Plan at the selectmen's meeting on April 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sweetsir School (prior to the annual Town Meeting).

Selectmen are asking the Light Department for a one-time increase of their in lieu of tax payment, reflective of forgoing 2 percent salary increase for fiscal year 2010, along with their usual payment, totaling $29,696.

Selectmen reported to Parks and Recreation Committee members Erick Kuchar and Jay Soucy that their committee must become self-sustaining due to severe budget cuts, pending approval of the omnibus article at annual Town Meeting.

Selectmen will continue to review the warrant articles and will vote on them at their April 6 meeting.

Invite Ronald Proposki of North Shore Community Park to a selectmen's meeting to discuss his interest in joining the Rent Control Board, and also invite the full Rent Control Board to present an update.

Check with Highway Foreman Tom Barry as to David Grazio's request to regrade property at 12 Brush Hill Road (at no expense to the town) due to problems of holding water from the road.

MassHighway has put the River Road and Cobbler's Brook projects on the "fast track" and recommends combining the projects to increase the chance of going out to bid before Sept. 30 to ensure funding is not lost. The goal is to go out to bid in July with construction beginning in spring 2010.

The Town Square/Route 110 project is waiting for MassHighway approval.

All forms have been submitted for the winter ice storm, and reimbursement is expected shortly.

The snow and ice budget deficit reached $89,991.49.

Bids for the trash contract are due in the next week or two.

Consolidate the town's department Web sites into one site maintained by Virtual Town Hall, contingent on approval of funding at the annual Town Meeting. It would take four to six weeks to get up and running, with an initial set-up cost of $4,000 and annual maintenance of $2,700 (which is $1,200 more than the annual cost of the current department Web sites).

Sandra Venner will seek out residents interested in serving on the Housing Trust Fund Committee for the Affordable Housing Trust; five members are needed, and no one has come forward.

Refer John Stewart's request for a status on the repair project at Pine Bluff Avenue to Highway Foreman Tom Barry.

ON HOLD

A request for a drain layer's license from Frye's Landscaping Service, Inc., pending clarification.

Hold the contract of $28,500 for Patriot Properties with the Town of Merrimac for the Triennial Certification of Real and Personal Property, pending review.

Because gas prices are decreasing, selectmen will wait to decide on a request from third-party supplier Metromedia Energy to switch to their company.

Wait to form a search committee for a Department of Public Works director.