WARREN — Warren's coffers, recently the source of much consternation by residents and public officials, are in relatively good shape, considering.

At the October 8 Council meeting, Director of Finance David Burlingame provided his monthly update to the body, saying with everything in mind the fiscal fitness of the town is solid.

"We survived September," said Burlingame. "We got through it with all the bills paid and with a few bucks left in the bank. I thought it was going to be more difficult."

The director began his update by noting Gov. Dan McKee recently signed into law required increases in municipal contributions to the Municipal Employees' Retirement System (MERS) program.

The percentage increase, .8 up from 9.48 to 10.25, is roughly $45,000 in actual expense to the town this year. Burlingame said it was unfortunate the change came after most municipalities had approved and finalized their budgets.
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In general, the director said he and his department continue to "hunt for money" within the budget to decrease and/or save on expenditures.

On the revenue side, Burlingame noted September was among lower months for tax collections. The three-year average for Sepetmber was $483,000, but this year only $451,000 was taken in, 7 percent below average. The director indicated the significant amount collected at the start of the quarter, $5.6 million, was "way out of the norm."

He expects October to be "better." The average taxes collected to start the second quarter is $3.8 million.

"That seems about the reasonable number," Burlingame said, adding the town has no "big" debt payments this month or next.

Manager's memos
Among the items included in Town Manager Brian Sullivan's monthly update for the Council was a request to repair the HVAC system at the town's wastewater treatment facility.

A bid was accepted from the Warwick-based firm NEXGEN Mechanical, Inc. of $105,617 includes the removal of three existing pumps, remove and replace pipe only to the extent required for the new pumps, furnish and install three new TACO pumps as specified, provide electrical work limited to wiring for new pumps only, insulate the new pipes installed, test for leaks and start-up of the new pumps.

The manager presented two bids for the replacement of desktop computers and monitors for Town Hall employees. The Council eventually approved the one from the local outfit, PacketLogix of Barrington, in the amount of $12,027.55, for 10 Dell PCs ($9,036.90), 15 Dell monitors ($1,854.15) and up to five years of tech support ($1,136.50).

A lesser bid of $10,174.85 was submitted Milliard Tech of Clarksburb, Md., but both Sullivan and the Council thought it imprudent to accept the proposal of a long-distance firm and one whose credentials the manager could not verify.

New fence bid
The Council backed a submission by Rec Department director Tara Thibaudeau for the purchase of a fence for the town's planned new community garden project. The monies were made available earlier this summer via a Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Recreational Grant in the amount of $72,445.

Thibaudeau said initially no bids were received, but that the firm FencePro, which performed similar work at the town's dog park, submitted a proposal to install 440 feet of 8-foot high black coated mesh fencing on 5'x5" cedar posts, a 8'x10' double drive gates and a single 8'x4' gate at a cost of $15,500. The proposed garden compound will be 120' wide by 100' deep.

New CPR devices
The Council approved a purchase by the Warren Fire Department for the purchase of three Lucas v3.1 CPR Chest Compression Systems in the amount of $30,397.95. The monies will be derived from the town's remaining federal COVID-19 relief American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Before the vote, Chief Jim Sousa told the body one of three current devises, "critical pieces" to the department's efforts, is broken and no longer serviceable. The better deal for the town is to buy all three at the same time while also getting "good" trade-in value for the current ones.

The chief explained the devices, as opposed to human compressions, have been statistically proved the "rate of success is much greater due to the uniformity and it keeps one more person out of the way while other medical intervention" is being provided to the patient.

Trash update
Councilor Steve Calenda, providing a brief update to a matter listed under "old business," said the town's trash contractor, MEGA, has agreed to add more trucks to its routes during recycling weeks, especially, and when needed for interruptions to regular schedules.

Accolades
The Council recognized the following members of the for service and promotions: Warren Police Department Detective Joel Camara, 35 years of service; Finance Office Clerk Elizabeth Johnson, 31 years of service; Warren Police Department Detective Daniel McLaughlin

The Council also recognized the following official Warren Police Department commendations to Sergeant Joel Morrissette, Patrolman Joshua Walsh, Patrolman John Fabiano, Patrolman Sean Foley and Dispatcher Laura O’Donnell.

Next meeting
The next meeting of the Town Council is scheduled for November 12 in the Town Hall chamber at 6 p.m.