Fire safety agreement rescinded
ROCKINGHAM — ROCKINGHAM - Municipal manager Willis “Chip” Stearns III notified the Selectboard that he had received a notice from the Division of Fire Safety that the agreement between them and the Bellows Falls Village has been rescinded because of former Chief William Weston's retirement in August.
Stearns did note that three of the full-time staff are interested in pursuing the training to become fire code inspectors and this is being investigated. In the meantime, all fire code violation complaints will be performed by the state.
Trustee Sandy Martin commented on the overtime in the fire department budget, and Stearns explained that with Weston's retirement and previously scheduled vacation, it has been necessary for the staff to work overtime.
Wastewater project update
ROCKINGHAM - Municipal manager Willis “Chip” Stearns III said that the Village of Bellows Falls is still answering questions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the design of upgrades to the plant and pump stations.
Stearns said the questionnaire in the board's hands needed to be filled out. He said final design on the project is more than 90 percent complete, but will not go out to bid until the USDA approves this.
Discussing budget overruns, Stearns told the board the Wastewater Department had budgeted $500 for manholes, but ended up spending $13,000. This was done to replace all the rings and covers along the Route 5 (Atkinson Street/Rockingham Street) project.
He noted that the state is covering the cost of installation.