MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF AUGUST 23, 2004
The regular weekly meeting of the Monterey Select Board was opened at 8:30 a.m. with members Jonathan Sylbert (Chair), Michèle Miller, and Michael Storch all present.
· Fire Chief Ray Tryon met with the Board to discuss the contract with Berkshire Fireworks for LakeFest. Tryon advised that Beartown Mountain Road must be closed upon the arrival of fireworks at the site (approx. 3 p.m.); the Board indicated that traffic will be rerouted onto Hupi Road. Additionally, an onsite attendant will be required to safeguard the fireworks; the Board will pay a Fire Department member to provide that service. The Board asked Operations Director Maynard Forbes and Police Chief Gareth Backhaus to provide road barriers and manage the closing of Beartown Mountain Road and, later, Tyringham Road. There was also discussion of
parking procedures.
· 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 met with LakeFest Coordinator Janet Cathcart to discuss final details for LakeFest, as follows:
o Contract with Berkshire Fireworks
o Closing of Beartown Mountain Road and Tyringham Road
o Expense reimbursements to Town Treasurer
· Town Clerk Barbara Swann met with the Board to discuss the recent request by a local television station for public access to detailed information regarding Town employees. Swann stated that there is an exemption for public safety personnel, such as members of the Police and Fire Departments; information about such personnel falls under non-public, not public records. Regarding appointed Town officers and employees, names of department heads may be provided, but it is not necessary to provide either home addresses or the names of department members. Regarding elected Town officers, all names are to be provided, but not home addresses. In other business,
there was discussion of document storage at Town Hall. Swann recommended off-site storage in a vault. The Board advised that it will investigate the issue of securing Town records.
· Muriel Lazzarini of Main Road inquired about several items, as follows:
o Proposed school district bond refinancing: The proposal to refinance the bond for a 30-year term would extend the Town’s commitment to 2034. The Board is
opposed to the proposal, and will so instruct its school district representative. Additionally, two of the Board members will attend the school district meeting on August 26
o Master Plan: the Board will contact Fred Chapman, who is preparing a list of the Town’s subsidized housing that might be recognized by the state
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 2 - AUGUST 23, 2004
o “Community Conversation”: The Board will follow up possibilities for funding through grants
· The Board received no bids for truck equipment for the Highway Department; said bids were scheduled to have been opened at 11 a.m.
· Janet Cathcart met briefly with the Board to follow up on the Town’s contract with Berkshire Fireworks. Selectman Sylbert contacted Berkshire Fireworks on the telephone to resolve the final changes in contract wording.
· Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier met with the Board to discuss several items. The Board approved an increase to $70 per week for cleaning Town Offices but rejected a support contract payment to the Network Administrator.
· The Board announced that it will conduct an evening Select Board meeting at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month; the schedule of Monday morning meetings remains unchanged.
· The Board met with Building Commissioner Don Torrico to review outstanding building items. Torrico expressed concern that building applications are coming before the Conservation Commission in which the measurement from the mean high water mark to the proposed project appears not to have been definitively verified. The Board will contact the Conservation Commission for clarification in this regard.
· The Board received a telephone call from School District Representative Rick Mielke, who advised that the information received by the Board about the proposed bond issue is in error (see above) and that Monterey’s commitment in fact ends in 2010, not 2034. The Board will confirm these details at the August 26 school district meeting.
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed.
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of August 16, 2004, were approved as written.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12:25 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
| 
