MILLINOCKET – Thanks to a new directive from the Department of Homeland Security, Town Council members must complete a basic educational course in disaster management for the town to continue to qualify for some federal funding, Fire Chief Wayne Campbell says.

Campbell told the council during its meeting Thursday that the basic course in disaster management, known as IS 700, is available through the Internet or at the fire station. It should take no more than 30 minutes to complete, and councilors are welcome to take it at the station, he said.

The directive and the National Incident Management System emanate from the lack of consistency among municipalities nationwide regarding disaster management programs, Campbell said.

Its goal is to create consistency among disaster responders that, among other things, will produce consistent standards by which grant or loan applications can be judged.

The council must take the course by Jan. 1 for Millinocket to qualify for funding next year, he said. Council Chairman Wallace Paul promised the council’s cooperation.

“We’ll be down to see you,” Paul said.

In other council news:

. An expected cash shortfall this fall will cause the town to seek a tax anticipation note for the first time in six years, Town Manager Eugene Conlogue said.

Defined as a short-term debt obligation issued by a state or municipal government in anticipation of future tax collections, the note will help Millinocket offset an erosion in its undesignated fund balance caused by the fund’s use to help finance the 2008-09 budget, Conlogue said.

If the note is used, it would be the first time in more than seven years that such a note actually provided funds, Conlogue said.

The note would not necessarily signal a looming budgetary shortfall or imbalance, merely a temporary lack of cash on hand that Conlogue expected would be remedied by the issue of tax bills in November.

As part of the discussion of this, resident “Money” McGibbon recommended that councilors take a workshop to better understand insurance, including policies and procedures regarding its oversight. The former councilor said she knew from experience that much council business revolves around understanding it.

“You hate to see anybody new coming in [to the council] and they don’t know what you’re doing half the time,” McGibbon said.

. The council voted 7-0 to award K and M Motors of Millinocket a $30,500 contract to buy the town a new 2009 GMC 1-ton utility truck for the Public Works Department. Katahdin Motors of Millinocket was the only other bidder. It offered a 2008 Chevrolet for $36,483, Conlogue said.

The truck will replace an older and much-used model the town took out of service more than a year ago. The town opted to delay the contract a year to save money. The purchase includes all the tools public works uses, including a plow and radio system.

The budget set for the purchase a year ago was $35,000, eliciting council comments that the bidding system worked well.

nsambides@bangordailynews.net

794-8215