MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 1, 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 Building Commissioner Don Torrico to review building items, as follows:
o Gould Farm building violation: Torrico will call the State Building Inspector
o Sylvan Road building violation
o Problem with Building Commissioner mail disappearing: The Board authorized the installation of a mail slot on the commissioner’s office door
o New basement office: Still requires Internet access, keys, lighting
o Recommendation for appointment as Alternate Building Commissioner
· Fire Chief Ray Tryon submitted a breakdown of Fire Department grants received in 2004, as follows:
1. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service: $3500 (Town share: $350); monies will be used for 3000 ft. of forestry hose with nozzles and assorted fittings
2. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management (DEM): $3992 (Town share: $1996); monies will be used for a portable pump, two chain saws, and a portable Foldatank
3. U.S. Department of Homeland Security: $48,520 (Town share: $4852); monies will be used for a high-pressure fill station, a fire alarm system, a diesel exhaust removal system, and a fixed station generator
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items, as follows:
o Repair of Fairview Road: There was discussion of oiling and sanding the roadbed, grading and maintenance, but no agreement was reached among Board members on how to proceed
o Lake Garfield drawdown: Forbes disputed claims that the Commonwealth requires the lake to be drawn down by September 15 (see Minutes of October 25, 2004); Forbes stated that the drawdown is to be conducted in October. Ray Tryon, a former member of the Conservation Commission, stated that the drawdown has traditionally commenced on October 1 and been completed by October 15. According to a Conservation Commission letter, the entire issue must be revisited before the 2005 drawdown
o Town Hall thermostats: The Board authorized the purchase and installation of setback thermostats with locks
· 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 three (3) jointly owned poles on Mount Hunger Road to serve a new residential development (to be numbered E/26, E/27
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 2 - NOVEMBER 1 , 2004
and E/28). Present for the hearing: Anthony Cruz of Massachusetts Electric and Sandra Hayne (an abutter) of Mount Hunger Road. There being no objections, the Board voted to approve the petition and signed the order.
· Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier met briefly with the Board to discuss Assessors mapping bills.
· The Board met briefly with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items.
· The Board met with Scott Roberts of Fuss & O’Neill to discuss the Town’s GIS maps. Present for the meeting were Assessors Stanley Ross, Bob Gauthier and Riccardo Boehm. No map updates or training of Town officials have taken place since 2000. Ross recommended that all updates of maps be made by Fuss & O’Neill, not by Town officials even if trained. Roberts outlined the
level of accuracy that can realistically be achieved with updated maps. Roberts stated that once the inventory has been updated, there can be a linkage of documents, such as maps with deeds. There is no State funding available for mapping at the present time, but that situation may change in the future. The Board asked that Fuss & O’Neill submit its estimate for the completion of updating Town maps.
· The Board met with Nancy Braxton of Conway School of Landscape Design of Conway, Massachusetts, to discuss the preparation of a land use study for two Town properties, the Wilson/McLaughlin property on New Marlboro Road and the old golf course property behind the Monterey Firehouse. The Conway School takes on several land use or master plan projects each academic year as part of its master’s degree program. The Board will study the materials that Braxton presented and perhaps meet again with her in this regard.
· The Board met with Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier to discuss the following items:
o Short Warrant Sheets: The Board asked for the inclusion of additional information
o Special Town Meeting: The Board set a tentative date of Saturday, December 11, 2004, at 10 a.m. at the Town Hall
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of October 25, 2004, were approved as written.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12:05 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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