Vouchergate, Part Two

Sandi Pierson is back from a five-day backpacking trip and wrote up a report on the welfare officer issue. We'll summarize it here and put the full text on the discussion board. You may have read the draft already; she sent it out as a reply to the chain of emails sent to many town residents.

According to Sandi:

• During the Select Board meeting, the Board voted to reimburse Pat Mercer for food expenses but not for credit card interest. 
• Two of Pat's vouchers for a shopping trip stated an expense of $244 for "food."
• The voucher Sandi was getting ready also listed "food" as the expense but requested $320. This larger amount apparently included credit card interest as well as other items.
• Sandi apparently emailed the Board, and one of the members told her the voucher would have to be rewritten at the next meeting.
• Sandi immediately emailed Pat about the inaccuracy in the vouchers and expressed regret about the delay.

Again, you can read Pat's full email on the discussion board. Feel free to comment below or, if you're a member of this site, add your own two cents to the board. 

Vouchergate!

Colin Higbie has started a discussion board over Pat Mercer's reimbursement for her hours and expenses as the town's welfare agent. He says that emails have been going around; we don't happen to be on the list, apparently. 

It'll be good to know the facts as well as people's opinion. A public discussion helps the town better than rumor mills. So please go to the discussion board. (If you don't want to go the board, comment below or email us and tell us what you'd like us to post for you.)

Also, as Colin says, be patient until you're sure you know the facts. A lot of people are out of town, and we understand that a report will be coming out next week.

Talking Trash

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Friday the 20th,  is large trash day. If you want to leave out tires, electronics & TVs, and appliances with Freon, you'll have to pay the Northeast Waste driver a fee.

For more general info about recycling in Orange, see the poster.

Road Agent's Report

Scott Sanborn submitted a state-of-the-roads memo for the Select Board. The report is posted in the Town House, but we asked Scott for a digital version to post. He went a step further, including updates. Thanks, Scott.

Grading:

As I’m sure you all know, Richard’s grader has continued to be down for repairs. As of yesterday the repairman was in the process of installing (for about the 4^th time!) the re-machined pump that has been the problem all along. We have made arrangements for the use of another grader should this round of repairs not get his back on the road, so one way or another grading will re-commence this week. Richard & I thank everybody for their patience!

Addendum, 7/13/12:  Grading commenced on Wednesday 7/11 on Tuttle hill road – another minor mechanical problem – unrelated to the pump - beset us yesterday but that should be repaired in a day or two.

 Paved Roads:

 I am in the process of putting together an RFP (Request for proposal letter) to obtain prices for some desperately needed repairs to the paved portions of our roads, specifically, “blowing out” and sealing cracks, and where applicable, applying a shim coat to fill wheel ruts and restore road crown (although some sections may be degraded beyond the point of being able to use this treatment – those areas will be evaluated separately). My hope is that the bids will be such that the FEMA overages will cover all, or at least most of these needed repairs.

 Remacle Contract:

  I had hoped to have a contract extension ready to submit to the Board tonight, but I have not gotten to this yet – expect to have it for the July 31 meeting.

 General maintenance:

Continue inventorying culverts and “trouble spots”.  When complete, areas of need can be prioritized, cost estimated and worked on as budget allows.

Continued work unplugging one “trouble spot” culvert on Cross Road. Have fabricated a  “culvert cleaner” with which the material clogging the pipe can be removed. Needed to purchase more handle extensions (to get further into the culvert) & will resume work on that site shortly.

FEMA:

Toured sites with new Selectman Bob Ells.

Have submitted a preliminary application to NHDES wetlands bureau for the required dredge and fill permit for the repairs on the large Burnt Hill Road culvert (FEMA site 00565). No response yet. Culvert sections have been ordered from Ferguson in W. Leb.

Addendum, 7/13/12:  Have since received a response from DES that the application looks approvable as presented, pending submittal of some minor supplemental information.

Met with Dave Stacy who will be doing the work on the Tuttle Hill road bridge (site 00562). This site also needs a permit, but I believe, a less detailed application than the previous site. Is almost complete and will be submitted shortly.

Other Burnt hill Road culverts/ditches/”catch basins” slated for repair under the FEMA project will be addressed after grading is completed.

The FEMA repairs included repaving the intersection of Tuttle Hill and Williams Road, but that intersection is in the best condition of any pavement in the entire town! I have arranged through FEMA contact Mike Porier, approval to use the funds for that site to instead repave the section of Tuttle Hill Road just north of the Cross Road intersection which has been a continual trouble spot. Bids will be obtained in conjunction with the other pavement repairs discussed above.

Addendum, 7/13/12:  I have heard from one of the two abutters to this stretch of road, who expressed that perhaps reclaiming this stretch to a gravel road with “ledge-pack” surface might be more in keeping with the character of the area. I welcome more input on that subject, and may consider an informal public forum on the subject prior to making a final decision, after obtaining cost estimates. 

Scott can be reached at 667-8237. And go to the discussion board to talk about road conditions or alert Scott to problems. He's been very responsive to board postings.

Select Board Minutes from June 26

They've been approved and you'll find them here. 

Sandi Pierson, the Board secretary, reminds us that a large trash pickup is slated for Friday, July 20. "Yes, you can dispose of tires, electronics & TVs, and appliances with Freon but these are fee items and you must pay the Northeast Waste driver at the time of pickup," she says.