November 19, 2018

6:00 pm

Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm in the Town Hall Conference Room and a quorum is present.

Present: Bill Hiller, Larry Gould, Frank Tolopko, Lisa D’Orazio

Approval of Meeting Minutes. Bill recommended a few changes to the August minutes, those changes were read back, and the minutes were unanimously approved as changed. The September 17, 2018 meeting minutes were unanimously approved as written.

CBS Technology. Everyone was provided with copies of their proposal and the committee agreed we need to complete the broadband and accounting implementations before we can address the issue of digitally backing up our maps and lot plans. But we all have copies for future reference.

Vadar Implementation. We are moving forward with the project.

Broadband Updates. Phase 2 customer installations are going good and the Vine Street access issue has been resolved. Bill has asked for a spreadsheet from Sertex of the outstanding items by Phase that need to be addressed so everyone can keep track. Issues with Shore Circle (Phase 4) and Beaver Hill Road (Phase 5) are currently being worked out. We still have open issues with the MA Pike bridge, two tree issues, pole applications for the quarry, as well as other items. We received the materials invoice from Whip City Fiber, but it did not break out Otis’s materials from Blandford’s, so we have asked for the one invoice to be broken into two so we can bill Blandford. Westfield has provided Blandford with a price for connecting Blandford residents around the reservoir, but Westfield has not confirmed anything with Otis. Otis will not sign off on any agreement with Blandford until we get an actual confirmation from Whip City Fiber. Sertex has submitted a few change orders, of which one was a Sertex request and not Otis. Sertex will be invoicing us for the Vine Street work. The foundation for the broadband hut in the center of town is in and work is beginning on constructing the building. Saloomey Construction and Tony Loring donated the labor for putting in the foundation. Westfield is going to supply both huts with computers, so that should free up the East Otis computer for use in the Rec Center. The East Otis computer hopefully will solve the issues Rec Center has been having. The implementation of the new town email will not be going in until after Town Hall has fiber hookups. WiredWest has signed on with Whip City and other towns are using WiredWest as their agent. Otis works directly with Whip City Fiber and this will not affect us.

Broadband Insurance. Cabot has proposed $3 Million dollars worth of coverage with different costs based upon deductible amounts and various other recommended coverages. We must have PURMA cover us for the turbine. But if the broadband is under the same MLP, then they can provide the same coverage with the same deductibles for less cost annually and can bill us in four installments as our hookups increase. The broadband huts are covered under the town’s general insurance.

Other:

Eversource. They still need to install a pole in the center of town.

December Meeting. It was unanimously decided to cancel the December meeting because of the holidays being so close to that date. January may also be cancelled, but that will be determined later. We will probably need to have a February meeting for budget and town report discussions.

Website. Lyn has been having issues lately with functionality updates disappearing from use. Everyone believes a lot of the problems are due to our slow internet and should clear up when Town Hall goes onto fiber.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:48 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa D’Orazio, recording secretary

Town of Otis Technology Committee

List of Documents

A copy of the introductory flyers from CBS Technology will be filed with these meeting minutes.

A copy of the emails between Lyn and Bobby Flower resolving the issue that broke again will be filed with these meeting minutes.