2 - December 2, 2011 | Pelham - Windham News Town Office in Need of Computer Upgrades
by Barbara O’Brien It’s budget season for the Town of Windham; time for department heads to propose expenditures and time for selectmen and other administrators to whittle away at those proposals wherever deemed possible and responsible. Certain items get postponed until next year or the year after that, but some issues can’t be put off indefinitely. That might be the case with some aspects of the town’s IT (Information Technology) Department, headed up by Director Eric DeLong.
During the selectmen’s budget workshop on November 21, DeLong informed town officials that “We’re facing a major upgrade” to the town’s financial software system. Currently, the town uses Munis, a Maine-based company, for its financial software system. “We have no choice, if we stay with Munis,” DeLong said, referring to the need to upgrade. According to DeLong, the cost of upgrading to Munis’ new SQL program would be about $15,000. Staying with the existing software program is, apparently, not an option, and would also not serve to benefit town operations. The only other choice would be to go with ASP (Active Service Platform), a more expensive program not affiliated with Munis, but one that does have additional advantages, including “disaster recovery” capabilities.
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With the current financial software used for town business, as well as the new SQL program, the town “self-hosts” with its own hardware equipment. With ASP, DeLong said, “We would just connect to their equipment.” The cost of replacing the current aging town-owned equipment would run between $45,000 and $50,000, DeLong quoted. There is also a difference in the three-year technical support and maintenance contracts provided by the two firms. A continued contract with Munis would cost $49,000 for the first year (including the $15,000 software upgrade), $29,500 for the second year and $30,900 for the third year. The ASP proposal calls for a cost of $40,000 in year one, $36,000 for year two and $36,000 for the third and final year of the contract. DeLong told selectmen that the technical support provided
by Munis “is excellent.” “It’s a very sophisticated system,” he continued, “We’re paying to get that quality service.” Assistant Town Administrator Dana Call, who also serves as the town’s Finance Director, echoed DeLong’s opinion that the software needs to be upgraded, saying, “You gotta keep up to keep it moving smoothly.” Town Administrator David Sullivan said, “My office has no issues with Munis.” “I don’t feel it would be sound business practice to change (firms) at this point,” he added.
Although there was further discussion on the issue, no final decision was reached on DeLong’s proposal on how to handle the software situation.
Also, according to DeLong, a number of PC workstations need to be replaced throughout numerous town departments. DeLong said he tries to replace 10 of the total 40 computers on an annual basis. The average age of the existing computers, however, is about six years. As for those that will not be replaced in the near future, additional maintenance will likely be required, he said. Currently, DeLong’s proposal calls for the replacement of six PC workstations during 2012; four less than he would recommend if the economy were on firmer footing. The major question DeLong asked selectmen was whether or not
any new PCs should be purchased outright or leased over a five-year period. Leasing is “a good way to spread out the cost,” he said. “I’d like to replace all 40 of them (at the same time),” he said. “That’s the only way to get a (volume) discount.” Selectmen did not vote on whether or not to buy or lease any new PC workstations for town operations. The issue will be brought up again at one of the upcoming budget sessions; the final one of which will be held on December 19.
Celebrating Colonial Times at PES
by Karen Plumley Fourth grade students at Pelham Elementary School (PES)
enjoyed Colonial Day on Tuesday, November 22, during two sessions - one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Children rotated among the eight classrooms and experienced what kids in colonial times did for chores and fun. Many colonial activities were in progress throughout the day, including sewing, quilting, feather pen- and-ink writing, making a cup-and-ball game and playing various children’s board games. In Mrs. George’s class, children designed their own quilt
square. Kids designed their squares on paper with colored pencils and handed them in at the end of the session. The designs were intricate and varied. According to George, she will be incorporating all of the squares into a huge fourth grade quilt and display it proudly in the common area.
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In Mrs. Greenwood’s class, kids got to play Nine Man Morris, a game of skill that requires players to get three colored stones in a row (a mill) on a fabric board while preventing their opponents from doing the same. Forming a mill allows the player to take one of the opponent’s stone. The game ends when an opponent has less than three stones left, at which point the other player wins. Kids in Mrs. Byrne’s Colonial Day session were given a needle and thread, and a piece of fabric and shown how to make their own beanbags. After sewing two sides (with the third side folded), the students filled their bags with dry beans; then they sewed up the last side. The beanbags were a make-and-take activity and turned out to be a Colonial Day favorite.
Te boys get ready to sew during the Colonial Day program at Pelham Elementary School on Tuesday, November 22. Around the table from left: Derek Crowley, Ben Plumley, Matt Jozokos, Jack MacLean, Christopher Druding and Eddie Shlimon.
Fourth grader Eddie Shlimon sews a beanbag during Colonial Day at Pelham Elementary on Tuesday morning.
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*Rates are based on owner occupied property and are subject to change without notice. Rate is based on 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on the rate and term indicated assuming a down payment of 20%. Please note that Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is
978-372-7731
978-372-7731
Haverhill, MA 978-372-7731
*Rates are based on owner occupied property and are subject to change without notice. Rate is based on 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on the rate and term indicated assuming a down payment of 20%. Please note that Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is required on all loans with LTV’s greater than 80%. If an escrow account is required or requested, the actual monthly payment will also include amounts of real estate taxes and/or PMI, if applicable. The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single Family-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan limits are available upon request. Call to speak to a Loan Offi cer. All loans are subject to the Bank’s credit standards. The APR is based on a loan of $180,000; please call for a personalized quote.
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Member FDIC Member DIF
The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single Family-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; a Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan The APR is based on a loan of $180,000; please call The APR is based on a loan of $180,000; please call
(PMI) is required on all loans with LTV’s greater than 80%. L Officer. Af aln escrow account r applicable.
limits are
limits are available upon request. Call t credit standards.
Member FDIC Member DIF
Member FDIC Member DIF
Member FDIC Member DIF
The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single F mily-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; limits are available upon request. Call to speak to a Loan Officer. All loans are subject to the Bank’s credit standards.
credit standards.
vailable upon request. Call to speak to a Lo The APR i
based on a loan of $180,000; please call
speak to a Loan Officer. All lo ns a e subject to the Bank’s for a personalized quote.
for a personalized quote. The APR is based on a loan of $180,000; please cal
oan Officer. All loans are subjec is required or for a personalized quote.
loans are subject to th te Bank’s nd/or PMI, if
on 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on the rate and plicable.
(PMI) is required on all loans with LTV’s greater than 80%. reques ed, the actual monthl
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978-372-7731
term indicated assuming a down payment of 20%. Please note that Private Mortgage Insurance *Rates areq based on owner occupied property and are subject to cha Inge without notices. R iaste r iesd baseed
on 0 points, $9.66 monthly P & I per $1,000. The monthly P & I per $1,000 are based on th rate and all i
*R tes are based on owner occupied property nd are subject to change wi hout notice. Rate is based require uirq ord or
603-329-7333
Hampstead, NH 603-329-7333
603-329-7333 603-329-7333
If an escrow account
Three Family-$645,300; and Four Family-$801,950. Additional rates for loans that exceed the loan requested, the actual monthly payment will also include amoun Its olf real estate taxes and/or PMI, if
The maximum loan limits are as follows: Single Family-$417,000; Two Family-$533,850; If an escrow account
for a personalized quote.
payment will also include amounts of real es ate taxes and/or PMI, if is required or
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Fourth grade teacher Rebecca George is dressed in colonial garb as she collects quilt squares from her students at the Colonial Day celebration at PES on Tuesday morning.
Salem, NH 603-893-3588
603-893-3588 603-893-3588
603-893-3588 603-893-3588
Purchase or Refinance at APR*
10 Year Owner Occupied 10 Year Owner Occupied
10 Year Owner O cupied 10 Year Owner Occupied
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Purchase or Refinance at APR*
978-372-7731
Purchase or Refinance at APR*
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Purchase or Refinance at APR*
Pelham Elementary fourth graders Ava Owens and Abbie Patchen play Nine Man Morris—a popular game during colonial times - during Colonial Day on Tuesday, November 22.
603-329-7333
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Photos by Karen Plumley
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