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APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE REPORT TO NOVEMBER 2011 STM There have been other failures during severe weather due to downed power and communication lines that are only partially addressed by the updates proposed here. A local consultant and two engineering resources evaluated the system and recommended replacing the existing receivers with hardware by the same manufacturer as the transmitters to unify the installation, allowing better programing and troubleshooting capabilities. To improve coverage in weaker areas, two new repeater sites are recommended. To reduce radio interference, the copper line connections will be replaced with fiber optic lines beginning with the installation at Estabrook School. Equipment currently housed in the attic space of the Harrington Administration building will be relocated to the new Harring- ton School for better climate control of the equipment. This is a stopgap measure. We anticipate a request for a comprehensive analysis of the Town's emergen- cy communication infrastructure in FY13, with requests for additional infrastructure improvements to follow. However, given the present risks created by an unreliable communications system, it is important to begin addressing this now instead of waiting until the 2012 Annual Town Meeting. The Committee recommends approval of this request(9-0). Article 4: Amend FY2012 Funds Funding Committee Requested Source Recommendation Operating and Enterprise Fund ($376,800) Approve(9-0) Budgets (see below) GF (see below) This Article is routinely included on the Warrant for Special Town Meetings to give Town Meeting an opportunity to make adjustments and/or additions to the previously approved operating budget and enter- prise fund budgets for the current fiscal year (FY12). The vote to recommend approval was unanimous (9-0) for all items in this request, except for the pro- posed appropriation of$20,000 to Town Manager — Expenses for a Police Sergeant Assessment Center. The vote for this item was (8-1). Amendments to the General Fund Operating Budget The following table provides a summary of the anticipated proposals for operating budget amendments as of publication. A more detailed discussion follows. Note that the new appropriations are less than the re- duction in Health Insurance costs,resulting in a net reduction in the operating budget. Page 10