MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF OCTOBER 4, 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 Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items. Backhaus advised that he is currently in the process of applying for two police grants, one for community policing, the other for auto safety (seat belts, speeding, DWI). In another matter, Backhaus advised that the report of two picnic benches being stolen from Bidwell Park was in error (see Minutes of September 27); the picnic benches were temporarily removed for maintenance and refinishing.
At 9:30 a.m. the Select Board, together with the Board of Assessors, conducted a classification hearing to obtain public input prior to establishing the percentage of the local tax levy to be borne by each class of property for Fiscal Year 2005. Present for the hearing was Board of Assessors chair Stanley Ross. Ross explained the current classification, which uses a factor of 1 for all five classifications, so that residential, commercial, industrial, open-space and personal-property classes all pay the same rate, based on full evaluation. Ross recommended no change from the current classification and that a Residential Factor of 1 be retained for all five classifications. It was so moved by Storch, seconded by Miller, and unanimously voted.
There was discussion of additional Board of Assessors items, including the preparation of new, digital maps. Also discussed was a property in Town that has come out of Chapter 61; the Board will contact Town Counsel regarding the Town’s right of first refusal when Chapter 61 properties are put up for sale.
Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Ray Tryon announced that the Monterey Fire Company will be host to a series of four classes on terrorism conducted at the Monterey Firehouse by the Massachusetts Firefighters Academy. The classes are open to all members of the public, and will be held on four successive Wednesdays: October 20, October 27, November 3, November 10, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Board met with Administrative Assistant Bonnie Tedder to review Town Office items. The Board prepared a checklist of items for which it would like weekly updates from Tedder (grants, Town website, GPS maps, procurements, sign-in sheet, telephone log, correspondence).
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of September 27, 2004, were approved as written.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12 noon).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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