MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 15, 2004
The regular weekly meeting of the Monterey Select Board was opened at 8:30 a.m. with members Michèle Miller and Michael Storch present. In the absence of Jonathan Sylbert, Michèle Miller was Acting Chair.
· The Board met briefly with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items. Backhaus advised that the Police Department has been awarded a federal Traffic Enforcement Grant in the amount of $8,400.
· The Board met with Town Treasurer Pat Mielke and Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier. Mielke obtained the Board’s signatures on the promissory note to the Bank of Western Massachusetts in the amount of $288,521 for the purchase of the Highway Department Oshkosh truck and the Ford F-550 pickup truck; the loan was obtained at a very low interest rate of 2.28%. In another matter, there was discussion of back rental monies due from the tenants of the Bally Gally house; the Board instructed the Town Treasurer to write a letter requesting adherence to a payment schedule of rent due, with copy to the Select Board and Town Counsel.
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items. The Board signed the Certificate of Substantial Completion for the Town Hall construction and renovation. There was discussion of temperature control in the Town Hall basement.
· The Board met with Conservation Commission chair Chris Blair, who reported that the Scenic Mountains Act has been recorded with the Southern Berkshire Registry of Deeds and is now in effect. Blair will make sure that the media have been informed in this regard. In another matter, there was discussion of a proposed bylaw change for a 40-ft. setback from Town lakes.
· Town Clerk Barbara Swann presented the Board with information outlining various regulations and ordinances available for acceptance by the Town. It was moved by Miller, seconded by Storch, and unanimously voted to enact an ordinance prohibiting the display of political signs for longer than 30 days. In another matter, the Board reviewed the wording of a proposed article regarding the Town’s acceptance of property tax exemptions for seniors under MGL Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 41C. If approved at the Special Town Meeting, scheduled for December 11, 2004, notice of the exemption will be distributed with tax bills. The Board also approved the wording of a
proposed article adding a new section to the Town’s Bylaws that will protect Town roads from logging damage.
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 2 - NOVEMBER 15 , 2004
· The Board met with Building Commissioner Don Torrico to review building department items, including the following:
o Mileage reimbursements
o Title of Building Commissioner vs. Building Inspector
o Application for state variance for a single bathroom on the Town Hall main floor
o Building Department budget
On the recommendation of Torrico, it was moved by Miller, seconded by Storch, and unanimously voted to appoint Gary Danko of Lee as Alternate Building Inspector for a two-year term ending June 30, 2006.
· The Board announced that the Department of Agricultural Resources is considering the acquisition of 202 acres of land within the Town of Monterey for inclusion in the Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program as an Agricultural Preservation Restriction.
· The Board met with Administrative Assistant Bonnie Tedder to review Town Office items, as follows:
o Grant applications
o New printer for Select Board clerk
o Work for other boards and committees
o Gravel bids
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed.
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of November 8, 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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