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Putney manager reports Renew Town Hall kickoff, tax delinquencies and IT transition problems
Summary
Town Manager Karen Astley reported a Renew Town Hall kickoff with a $7,000 REDI grant, flagged approximately $326,000 in taxes due with $99,104.51 delinquent across 32 properties, reported $28,458.71 in delinquent sewer/water receivables and described IT issues after a managed-services transition.
Town Manager Karen Astley told the Selectboard the Renew Town Hall project team held a kickoff meeting on Dec. 5 and the town attorney has reviewed the AIA architect agreement. North Hill Solutions is supporting project-development work under a $7,000 REDI grant to develop a project timeline, capital-budget analysis and feasibility deliverables.
Astley reported that taxes were due Dec. 6 and the town is in a "good position" with roughly $326,000 outstanding; delinquent property taxes total $99,104.51 across 32 properties, including $55,277.79 for 2023 (two properties date to 2011). Sewer and water receivables more than 30 days overdue total $28,458.71; Astley said the town uses the same process for utility delinquencies as it does for property-tax sale proceedings.
Astley also described problems after the town's migration to CCI Managed Services. The town has struggled to connect security cameras, internet and shared folders; Consolidated Communications provided static IP addresses to restore some functions. Astley said 17 town computers will eventually need updating; nine run Windows 10 and will no longer receive updates after October 2025. The town is evaluating Microsoft licensing and possible software-subscription costs (current perpetual license cost noted at $6 per user per month vs. potential $15 per user per month solutions).
Astley listed active grants the town is tracking, including Highway Better Roads, Parkman Wood culvert replacement (FEMA planning), VTrans Route 5 crosswalk, a Municipal Planning Grant for a housing needs assessment, the Municipal Energy Resilience Program (linked to Renew Town Hall), and Buildings & General Services pool doors work; combined active grant totals were reported as $753,111.62. Astley flagged a potential meeting conflict for Dec. 18 related to the housing study final report.
