Report of the Chief Administrative Officer 2008
2008 was a busy year, meeting the needs facing town government in addressing many continuing capital needs and maintaining service levels within limited resources. A considerable amount of effort was expended by dedicated volunteers on town boards as well as the staff throughout the town.
• The DPW and Sewer Implementation Committee assisted by Tighe and Bond Engineering continued to review Sewer Phase II options for appropriate line extensions and researched funding source offsets.
• The Board of Selectmen signed a contract with Great Northern Video for the upgrade of the town’s Channel 15 CATV system. The system is being modernized to a PC based format with many enhanced features for public notices and programming.
• A new Fire Tanker/Pumper unit for the Southwick Fire Department was approved and a bid award made. The unit should be delivered in Spring 2009.
• Lane Construction Company substantially completed the work for Phase I Rail/Trail project up to the Point Grove Road area. The project is anticipated for completion by early Summer 2009.
• Phase II Rail/Trail was delayed for the construction of a natural gas line for the City of Westfield to be placed on the corridor. The Rail/Trail construction specifications were updated to accommodate the gas line work and for submission to MHD.
• Several roads were resurfaced.
• The lakes received an annual evaluation and chemical treatment to keep non-native invasive plant life in check. The program is paid for in equal thirds by Southwick, Suffield, CT and CRC, continuing to be a successful venture.
Aside from regular funds to the town received from the state through its cherry sheet aid, other sources of grants and monies were pursued in order to offset the costs of projects and services.
• An estimated $214,063.90 in interest was collected from overdue tax bills.
• Approximately $278,000.00 was received from the State Highway Department to help pay for eligible improvement to the Town’s road network.
• State government problems continue to make planning a town budget somewhat difficult due to the uncertainty of local aid/school aid dollars. Both the regional school and the Town received minimal increments in new aid levels. The Town appropriated $380,360.00 in new funds for the school region for education purposes.
• The Town Tax Rate was set at $12.55 per thousand dollars of valuation under a single tax rate for all classes of property and it was approved by Mass D.O.R.
• Insurance rebates totaling more than $12,000.00 were obtained from Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA) for instituting insurance related cost containment measures including municipal board training sessions, safety reviews, and employee attendance at seminars all of which were free to the Town.
• A Sewer Rate Relief Grant of $38,239.00 was awarded by MA DOR to help offset sewer o/m bills for users.
Personnel related activities for the year encompassed:
• Melinda Wingate – Clerk for the Treasurer/Collector/Clerk’s Office to fill a vacancy
• Robert Eak – Dispatch to fill a vacancy
• Greg Burt – Police Officer to fill a vacancy
A word of thanks is due for many individuals and groups for their help in making the year a productive one. This includes our citizens for supporting their town meeting form of government; The Board of Selectmen for sorting out priorities and projects to best reflect the townspeople’s needs; The Finance Committee for helping to fund and develop a balanced budget that maintains adequate services levels; The legislative delegation of Congressman John W. Olver, Senator Michael Knapik and Representative Rosemary Sandlin, their staff who strongly advocated for the Town’s needs while at the statehouse or Congress and our volunteer board and commission members, department heads and staff who performed the many services that town government provides for its people. Special thanks to Cindy Pendleton, Robin Solek, Dick Grannells and Gail Cigal.
Respectfully submitted,
Karl J. Stinehart
Chief Administrative Officer