MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 13, 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.
In attendance for the meeting: George Emmons of the Monterey News
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items. There was discussion of the outstanding Town Hall renovation items requiring completion, including the windows and refinishing the hardwood floors. Chairman Sylbert will contact architect David Bixby in this regard. In other business, there was a wide-ranging discussion of Fairview Road and the engineering study of the road currently being conducted (see Minutes of August 30).
· The Board met with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items. There was discussion of the automated telephone answering system; Backhaus will change the message for all incoming calls.
· The Board met with Building Commissioner Don Torrico to discuss several items as follows:
o Torrico’s recent meeting with the Planning Board regarding Town bylaws and zoning bylaws that may require correction; the Planning Board will present its findings to the Select Board in this regard
o Relocation of Torrico’s office space: Torrico reported that the basement office space has not been cleaned out and there are continuing water and drainage problems that make the space unacceptable. The Board agreed that the moisture problems must be solved and the space upgraded and made presentable and contacted Operations Director Forbes in this regard; additionally, the Assessors will be asked to remove all their files from the basement
o Purchase of a computer for the Building Commissioner office: the Board will instruct the Administrative Assistant to place the order
· The Board met with Fred Chapman in response to its request that he prepare a list of subsidized housing that might be recognized by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development as affordable housing (defined as “80% of the regional median of household income”). It was noted that such housing must be owned by the municipality, by a nonprofit, or by a housing authority, and cannot be privately owned. Chapman outlined the rental units at Gould Farm that could qualify for purposes of state certification; the Board will meet with the executive director of Gould Farm in this regard. Other possibilities include the
Wilson-McLaughlin
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 2 - SEPTEMBER 13, 2004
property and the Bally Gally house, which are owned by the Town. There was discussion of the possibility of establishing a nonprofit housing authority.
· The Board received notification from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue certifying that the amount of available funds or “free cash” as of July 1, 2004, for the Town of Monterey is $197,114.
· The Board met with Administrative Assistant Bonnie Tedder to discuss the following items:
o Purchase of a computer for the Building Commissioner
o New mail distribution unit for Town Hall: Operations Director Maynard Forbes will build a mailbox unit
o Town Hall basement cleanup
o Procurement: The Board agrees that all procurement is to be handled by the Administrative Assistant/Procurement Officer. Tedder will prepare an instructional sheet for distribution to Town departments in this regard
o Evaluation of Wilson-McLaughlin property and property behind the Monterey Firehouse
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed.
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of August 30, 2004, were approved as written.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12:20 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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