09/12/09 - The cost of the new municipal fire alarm system — including a receiver, a back-up receiver and radio transmitters for approximately 10 municipal buildings and installations — will be $103,000, Town Manager Nancy Dodge reported to the Town Council Tuesday.

The municipal transmitters would include those for the sewer and water companies, and the North Light.

A lightning strike last month disabled Security One’s fire alarm receiver at the police dispatch. In the aftermath, Security One owner Cheryl Blane said she would prefer to handle only residential accounts, leaving the town to arrange covering the monitoring of municipal and commercial buildings.

Commercial customers would have to purchase their own radio transmitters at a cost of $3,500 each in order to be compatible with the new system, which is being provided by the R.B. Allen company. Dodge said there are 68 commercial customers in addition to the town.

R.B. Allen provided a temporary receiver this week when the damaged receiver began acting up, however it monitors only phone lines. The permanent system, which would monitor both phones and radio signals, is expected to be in place in the next few weeks.

Dodge said after the meeting that R.B. Allen had a proven track record with the Middletown Fire Department, which gave the council the confidence when selecting the company.

As to how to pay for the system, Dodge told the council Tuesday that there are two companies, Univest or Direct Capital, which finance lease-ownership deals for the alarm companies. They offer five year plans at 5.85 percent interest, which would translate to a cost of $24,000 per year for the town.

Councilor Peter Baute suggested Dodge also try the Washington Trust Bank for financing.

The council voted to finance the system at a rate not to exceed 5.8 percent per year.

Deepwater Wind Turbines

The council voted to hire consultant Richard LaCapra to help the town with issues regarding Deepwater Wind’s proposed eight-turbine wind farm off the island and a proposed electricity cable from the island to the mainland. LaCapra would also represent the town’s interests before the state Public Utilities Commission. Deepwater will pay the consultant’s fee.

Asked whether Deepwater’s role in paying the consultant amounted to a conflict of interest, Gaffett said it was not. She said it was analogous to land use boards requiring an applicant to pay for engineering and other consultants.

In response to comments from the audience, Councilor Ken Lacoste suggested hiring a second consultant to look at the projects’ other potential impacts on the island.

Carroll Hughes, of Whale Swamp Road near the Southeast Lighthouse, suggested approaching Vision Appraisal — which assists the town with property tax appraisals — to help gauge the effect the proposed wind turbines would have on property values.

“Champlin’s is a drop in the bucket compared to this,” Hughes said. “This is a taking of public land.”

Also from Whale Swamp Road, Maggie Delia expressed concern that the project would result in a loss of views and Block Island’s sense of place — as well as affect its bread and butter: tourism. She pointed out that the core sampling boat that was offshore last month could be seen from the Spring House porch. The wind turbines would also be visible from all the best properties. Delia admitted she wasn’t sure the town ultimately would have any say about whether or not the turbines are built.

Recapping his letter to the council and the Block Island Times, David Lewis called for careful examination and uncovering whatever surprises there might be in the wind farm project.

Councilor Dick Martin said the public should contact the PUC with objections, since the farm is essentially a state project.

LaCapra’s first visit will be September 14 for a meeting with the Electric Utility Task Group.

2009 Challenge Grants

The focus of this year’s state planning challenge grants is transportation, Town Planner Jane Weidman reported. She suggested that the town begin work on some of the recommendations from the Old Harbor Task Force such as sidewalks and pedestrian circulation through the town, a moped training area, and scattered parking. She also proposed enlisting the partnership of Interstate Navigation and Ballard’s to reconfigure the ferry parking lot/freight areas.

Gaffett and Martin said the latter suggestion might not be feasible, but Second Warden Ray Torrey favored going to the companies with a reasonable request.

Baute made a motion to ask the Old Harbor Task Force and Planning Boards to apply for the grants. It passed with four votes, with Gaffett the sole nay vote.

Weidman was also amenable to Baute’s idea to apply for money to fund educational materials for tourists on how to operate motor vehicles and bicycles on the island. She said she would find out whether that would qualify under grant rules.

Shellfish Commission quorums

In response to complaints from oyster farmer Chris Warfel regarding the Shellfish Commission, Gaffett asked Shellfish Chair Lois Bendokas to set a regular meeting time and day, and discuss the possibility of adding members to assure a quorum. Warfel sent several letters to the council complaining about postponed and cancelled Shellfish Commission meetings when he had planned to present to them.

Bendokas attributed the lack of quorum to members’ work schedules and personal commitments. “It did not affect anything we had on our agendas or prevent moving forward with anything,” she said.

Senior Tax abatement

The council held a brief public hearing in which the tax abatement for senior citizens and the disabled was increased. Households with gross incomes of up to $30,000 per year will now be eligible for abatements of 60 percent of the nonabated tax at the regular rate with a maximum savings of $600.

Miscellany

• On September 29: the Champlin’s Marina expansion matter will be before the state Supreme Court.

• The Electric Utility Task Group has vacancies for two new members.

• The Town Council will try to set up a meeting with Joe Noel regarding changes to the state road in front of the Weather Station. The council will also bring state officials to see the site when they visit the island later this month.

The cost of the new municipal fire alarm system — including a receiver, a back-up receiver and radio transmitters for approximately 10 municipal buildings and installations — will be $103,000, Town Manager Nancy Dodge reported to the Town Council Tuesday.

The municipal transmitters would include those for the sewer and water companies, and the North Light.

A lightning strike last month disabled Security One’s fire alarm receiver at the police dispatch. In the aftermath, Security One owner Cheryl Blane said she would prefer to handle only residential accounts, leaving the town to arrange covering the monitoring of municipal and commercial buildings.

Commercial customers would have to purchase their own radio transmitters at a cost of $3,500 each in order to be compatible with the new system, which is being provided by the R.B. Allen company. Dodge said there are 68 commercial customers in addition to the town.

R.B. Allen provided a temporary receiver this week when the damaged receiver began acting up, however it monitors only phone lines. The permanent system, which would monitor both phones and radio signals, is expected to be in place in the next few weeks.

Dodge said after the meeting that R.B. Allen had a proven track record with the Middletown Fire Department, which gave the council the confidence when selecting the company.

As to how to pay for the system, Dodge told the council Tuesday that there are two companies, Univest or Direct Capital, which finance lease-ownership deals for the alarm companies. They offer five year plans at 5.85 percent interest, which would translate to a cost of $24,000 per year for the town.

Councilor Peter Baute suggested Dodge also try the Washington Trust Bank for financing.

The council voted to finance the system at a rate not to exceed 5.8 percent per year.

Deepwater Wind Turbines

The council voted to hire consultant Richard LaCapra to help the town with issues regarding Deepwater Wind’s proposed eight-turbine wind farm off the island and a proposed electricity cable from the island to the mainland. LaCapra would also represent the town’s interests before the state Public Utilities Commission. Deepwater will pay the consultant’s fee.

Asked whether Deepwater’s role in paying the consultant amounted to a conflict of interest, Gaffett said it was not. She said it was analogous to land use boards requiring an applicant to pay for engineering and other consultants.

In response to comments from the audience, Councilor Ken Lacoste suggested hiring a second consultant to look at the projects’ other potential impacts on the island.

Carroll Hughes, of Whale Swamp Road near the Southeast Lighthouse, suggested approaching Vision Appraisal — which assists the town with property tax appraisals — to help gauge the effect the proposed wind turbines would have on property values.

“Champlin’s is a drop in the bucket compared to this,” Hughes said. “This is a taking of public land.”

Also from Whale Swamp Road, Maggie Delia expressed concern that the project would result in a loss of views and Block Island’s sense of place — as well as affect its bread and butter: tourism. She pointed out that the core sampling boat that was offshore last month could be seen from the Spring House porch. The wind turbines would also be visible from all the best properties. Delia admitted she wasn’t sure the town ultimately would have any say about whether or not the turbines are built.

Recapping his letter to the council and the Block Island Times, David Lewis called for careful examination and uncovering whatever surprises there might be in the wind farm project.

Councilor Dick Martin said the public should contact the PUC with objections, since the farm is essentially a state project.

LaCapra’s first visit will be September 14 for a meeting with the Electric Utility Task Group.

2009 Challenge Grants

The focus of this year’s state planning challenge grants is transportation, Town Planner Jane Weidman reported. She suggested that the town begin work on some of the recommendations from the Old Harbor Task Force such as sidewalks and pedestrian circulation through the town, a moped training area, and scattered parking. She also proposed enlisting the partnership of Interstate Navigation and Ballard’s to reconfigure the ferry parking lot/freight areas.

Gaffett and Martin said the latter suggestion might not be feasible, but Second Warden Ray Torrey favored going to the companies with a reasonable request.

Baute made a motion to ask the Old Harbor Task Force and Planning Boards to apply for the grants. It passed with four votes, with Gaffett the sole nay vote.

Weidman was also amenable to Baute’s idea to apply for money to fund educational materials for tourists on how to operate motor vehicles and bicycles on the island. She said she would find out whether that would qualify under grant rules.

Shellfish Commission quorums

In response to complaints from oyster farmer Chris Warfel regarding the Shellfish Commission, Gaffett asked Shellfish Chair Lois Bendokas to set a regular meeting time and day, and discuss the possibility of adding members to assure a quorum. Warfel sent several letters to the council complaining about postponed and cancelled Shellfish Commission meetings when he had planned to present to them.

Bendokas attributed the lack of quorum to members’ work schedules and personal commitments. “It did not affect anything we had on our agendas or prevent moving forward with anything,” she said.

Senior Tax abatement

The council held a brief public hearing in which the tax abatement for senior citizens and the disabled was increased. Households with gross incomes of up to $30,000 per year will now be eligible for abatements of 60 percent of the nonabated tax at the regular rate with a maximum savings of $600.

Miscellany

• On September 29: the Champlin’s Marina expansion matter will be before the state Supreme Court.

• The Electric Utility Task Group has vacancies for two new members.

• The Town Council will try to set up a meeting with Joe Noel regarding changes to the state road in front of the Weather Station. The council will also bring state officials to see the site when they visit the island later this month.