MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MARCH 1, 2004
The regular weekly meeting of the Monterey Select Board was opened at 8:30 a.m. with members Peter S. Brown (Chair), Jonathan Sylbert and Michèle Miller all present.
· In attendance for the meeting: Michael Storch of Art School Road
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items.
· The Board met with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items.
· The Board conducted a lengthy meeting with Chris Blair, chair of the Conservation Commission, to review further modifications to regulations and map of the Scenic Mountain Act. Also present were Muriel Lazzarini, Rob Hoogs, Janet Cathcart, and Linda Hebert. There was further discussion of what areas are to be included in the “steep slope” classification, which the map shows as anything above 1500 ft. Lazzarini thanked Blair for providing the group of interested citizens with copies of all changes being considered; she outlined items that are still of concern:
1. delineation of steep-slope areas
2. definition of ridgelines
3. “already permitted projects” should be dated as of the date of acceptance of the new regulations by the Select Board, not the date of the original vote by the Town
4. role of Conservation Commission in determining septic fields
5. an additional public hearing should be held if the map elevations change
Hoogs stated the need for clarity in identifying the delineation of steep-slope areas, analogous to the way in which Wetlands areas are identified. Blair stated that the burden is on the permit applicant to make such identification, and the Board agreed; Hoogs responded that there appears to be a jurisdictional problem with regard to said identification and called for a clearer method of delineation. Hoogs addressed the question of existing septic systems, asking that these be exempted from the Scenic Mountains Act. The parties agreed that all projects that have already been permitted should be allowed to go forward. The Board stated that it was prepared to move forward with approving the regulations once the ridgeline definition and sleep-slope delineation are changed.
o The Board announced the appointments of Gareth Backhaus and Maynard Forbes as the Town’s representatives on the Regional Hazard Mitigation Team, newly created by Berkshire Regional Planning Commission to aid Berkshire Communities in
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 2 - MARCH 1, 2004
developing regional and local Hazard Mitigation Plans. These plans will help local communities identify high-risk areas and chronic problem areas where damage occurs from natural hazards, such as floods, hurricanes and severe storms. BRPC has received a grant from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to aid Berkshire communities in developing Hazard Mitigation Plans, which will make them eligible for two important FEMA mitigation grant funds.
· On the recommendation of the Solid Waste Committee, the Board voted unanimously to appoint Joyce Brown as an Alternate Member to the Southern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District for a term expiring June 30, 2005. In another matter, the Board declined to take action on the Solid Waste Committee’s recommendation that Administrative Assistant Bonnie Tedder be appointed as a committee member. The Board noted that Tedder already functions as the committee’s coordinator in her job as Administrative Assistant.
· The Board discussed the purchase of furniture for the Town Hall addition.
· The Board reviewed Highway Department salary requests for FY 2004-05. The Board will continue its review on Monday, March 8, at 8 a.m.
· The Board met with Administrative Assistant Bonnie Tedder to review Town Hall items. The Board asked that a computer list be prepared of all townspeople who have purchased stickers for the Town’s Disposal Area.
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed.
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of February 23, 2004, were approved as written.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12:40 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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