MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 8, 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.
· The Board met with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items, including a discussion of what constitutes “probable cause” for stopping motor vehicles. In other business, there was discussion of the Town’s computer network and Internet access for the Building Commissioner’s new office.
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items.
· The Board met with Stanley Ross, chair of the Board of Assessors, and Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier to discuss several items, as follows:
o Maps and records: Hiring of a company to update the Assessors’ records and Town maps
o Tax rate: Ross advised that the new tax rate will be set at $6.56. There was discussion of rising property assessments and a subsequent falling tax rate
o Tax abatements for members of the Monterey Fire Department
o Tax classification hearing: The Board signed the Department of Revenue Tax Classification Allocation form, attesting to the action taken at the public hearing on October 4, 2004, that established the percentage of the local tax levy to be borne by each class of property for Fiscal Year 2005 [see Minutes of October 4, 2004]
· The Board met with Building Commissioner Don Torrico to review building department items.
· Town Clerk Barbara Swann submitted information regarding proposed Town acceptance of amendments to M.G.L. Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 41C—Property Tax Exemptions for Seniors
· Shirley Olds presented a letter to the Board from the Wilson–McLaughlin House Committee stating that it will concentrate its activities on specific oversight of the preserving and stabilizing of the Wilson/McLaughlin house for community purposes and surveying the land as to the appropriate municipal and/or recreational purposes. The committee is in the process of developing plans to present to the public for possible uses of the building; the committee is also consulting with the Parks Department for input on recreational land development. However, the committee is not prepared to undertake responsibility for school and affordable housing planning for the
Town but would be willing to cooperate with any committee to be established to explore these subjects. The Board concurred that it is not the committee’s responsibility to consider the use for school or affordable housing.
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 2 - NOVEMBER 8, 2004
· At 10 a.m. a public hearing was conducted on the petition of Massachusetts Electric Company and Verizon New England Inc. for the installation of one (1) jointly owned pole on Bidwell Road (to be numbered E/12-02, T/12-01). Present for the hearing: Don Nutting of Massachusetts Electric, Janet Cathcart (an abutter), and Robert and June Rochedieu (abutters). Nutting answered several questions from the Board and the abutters. There being no objections, the Board voted to approve the petition and signed the order. In another matter, Nutting will look into moving the poles on New Marlborough Road and Eton Road, as previously discussed with Mr.
Cruz.
· The Board met with Walter Cudnohufsky and Mollie Babize of Walter Cudnohufsky Associates Inc. of Ashfield, Mass., to discuss a land use survey of three Town properties (the Wilson/McLaughlin property on New Marlboro Road, the old golf course property behind the Monterey Firehouse, and the Monterey School property). Cudnohufsky and Babize will submit a list of tasks to be done, plus a general timetable, for the Board’s consideration.
· At 11 a.m. the Board opened sealed bids for the sale of the Highway Department’s 1997 Ford F-350 truck. Present for the bid opening: Operations Director Maynard Forbes, Ray Tryon, and Walter Nourse of Sheffield. Two bids were received, as follows:
1. Maintenance Man Inc. of Hinsdale…………………………$5000
2. Walter Nourse of Sheffield…………………………………$7800
It was recommended by Forbes, moved by Storch, seconded by Miller, and unanimously voted to accept the bid of Walter Nourse of Sheffield at the bid price of $7800.
· Fire Chief Ray Tryon consulted with the Board regarding compensation of Monterey firefighters and medical personnel in lieu of real estate tax exemptions, as approved under Article 14 at the Annual Town Meeting on May 1, 2004. The Board assured Tryon that firefighters would receive their tax rebates for FY 2003-04 with no gap.
· The Board responded to a telephone request from Lieutenant Carney of the Lee State Police Barracks for a meeting by referring him to Police Chief Gareth Backhaus.
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed. The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of November 1, 2004, were approved as written.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12:15 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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