MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 20, 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, as follows:
Erosion problems at Harmon Brook on New Marlboro Road: May require installation of a culvert
Fairview Road
Highway Department truck: Accessories will be delivered shortly
Oshkosh truck: Will be ready, with accessories, by December 1
The Board met with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items. Backhaus reported that the new police cruiser will be available shortly. There was discussion of storing Assessor records in the basement area currently held by the Police Department; it was noted, however, that the Board does not approve storage of Town records in the basement. There was additional discussion of using the main floor records room; Forbes advised that in order to preserve the integrity of Town records, all electrical devices, including the computer-system server, must be removed from the records room.
Stanley Ross, chair of the Board of Assessors, asked that the Board schedule a joint public hearing with the Assessors to establish the percentage of the local tax levy to be borne by each class of property for Fiscal Year 2005. The hearing was set for Monday, October 4, at 9:30 a.m. at the Town Hall.
The Board conducted an onsite inspection of the Town Hall basement, together with Operations Director Forbes and Police Chief Backhaus, to determine what needs to be done in order to establish a basement office for the Building Commissioner and provide storage space. Sylbert prepared a schedule for basement repairs, including the installation of dehumidifiers and moving of file cabinets and storage items.
Dick Tryon of New Marlboro Road met with the Board to discuss the degeneration of roadside maple trees and presented the Board with a list of 119 maple trees located along various hard-surfaced roads that are either dead or in advanced stress, including 20 trees on Main Road. Tryon stated the opinion that the trees seem to be dying at a faster rate in the past several years since the Highway Department has increased the use of road salt. Tryon noted that most of the dead and distressed trees are on the low side of the road; Tryon also noted that he did not survey trees on dirt roads, since
these roads receive a sand-salt mixture. Tryon asked that the Board address this issue before the winter snow and sand season. The Board responded that the Highway Department road mix has changed and that less salt is being used; the Board also recommended that trees be marked and the Tree Warden meet with the Operations Director Forbes. Selectpersons Storch and Miller volunteered to meet with the Tree Warden for an onsite inspection in order to survey and mark the trees involved.
The Board met with Building Commissioner Don Torrico to review building items, as follows:
New building regulations, effective November 2004
Printing of numbered building permit forms
Public access to building department records
Building Commissioner office space in Town Hall basement
Gutter problem on Town Hall roof
At 11 a.m. the Board met with Wilson/McLaughlin Committee members Joe Baker, Gige O’Connell, Shirley Olds, and Lew Scheffey. The following items were discussed:
On the committee’s recommendation, it was moved by Michael Storch, seconded by Michèle Miller, and unanimously voted to appoint Susan Sellew and Evelyn Vallianos to the Wilson/McLaughlin Committee for a term expiring June 30, 2005
The committee does not have a budget with Town funds. The Board recommended that the committee submit an Article for inclusion on the Warrant of the next Annual Town Meeting. Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier joined the discussion to outline Town funding for maintaining the property
Fee paid to Hebert Realty for rental of Bally Gally
Possibility of a “historic house” designation
List of legal questions to be answered with regard to Edith Wilson’s Last Will and Testament: Board will contact Town Counsel and ask that he make himself available for consultation with the committee
Opportunities for grant funding
Next meeting of the Select Board and the Wilson/McLaughlin Committee will be Monday, October 25, 2004, at 10:30 a.m.
Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed.
The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
The Minutes of September 13, 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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