I. Council Action Requested.
Title
To approve a Joint Funding Agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the amount of $16,000 for continued water quality monitoring in the well network in North Windham, funding for which shall come from the Roosevelt Promenade TIF fund.
Body
II. Basis for Council Action.
Council approval of this item is required because;
- the Council has the authority to enter into contracts as the legislative body of the Town pursuant to Article II, Section 3(I) of the Charter, and
- the amount of the purchase is $5,000 or more, requiring Council approval in accordance with Article II, Section 1(C) of the Town of Windham Purchasing Guidelines, as amended.
III. Issue Summary.
A copy of the proposed funding agreement is attached. Cooperative funding is not available in this fiscal year; however, USGS may have funds available in federal fiscal year 2015 (beginning October 1), at which time this agreement may be modified to reflect that funding. Prior to 2013 the usual practice was for the town and USGS each to fund half of the cost of the work.
The current partnership with USGS for monitoring groundwater quality dates back to 1996. Due to its relationship to commercial development in the area, the Town's portion of the joint funding agreement has been paid for with funds from the Windham Development District - North fund but, with that fund being closed out, the Roosevelt Promenade TIF fund also includes work relating to the study of wastewater in the area. As of June 30,2014 the Roosevelt Promenade TIF fund's unaudited balance was $192,272.
The contract period covers the time during which USGS would be doing the sampling and testing of wells. This agreement would take effect retroactively as of September 1, 2014.