MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF AUGUST 9, 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 (Chair), Miller was Acting Chair.
In attendance for the meeting: George Emmons of the Monterey News
· The Board met with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items. The Board announced that it has been advised by the Executive Office of Public Safety that the Town’s Local Preparedness Grant Program application for funds under the Department of Homeland Security has been approved in the amount of $12,820. The monies will be used for the purchase of the following items:
1. backup generator for Town Hall
2. two mobile repeaters (one for the Police Department, one for the Fire Department)
3. a multi-gas detector for the Fire Department
· Building Commissioner Don Torrico met with the Board to review Building Department items. Torrico advised the Board that per state law, all smoke detectors connecting to an outside system require a permit from both the Fire Department and the Building Department.
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items. There was discussion of several items, including completion of Town Hall renovations and a review of fees for false alarms and alarm system permit renewals.
· Janet Cathcart, coordinator of LakeFest, met with the Board to request permission for the scheduled launch of an electric boat at the Town Beach during LakeFest; the request was approved.
· At 10:30 a.m. a public hearing was conducted on the petition of Massachusetts Electric Company and Verizon New England Inc. for joint pole locations and permission to lay and maintain underground cable on Hupi Road. Present for the hearing: Anthony Cruz of Massachusetts Electric. As per the objection of Operations Director Maynard Forbes, the Board asked that the stakes currently placed in the drainage ditch be moved back 3 ft. from the traveled way; Cruz stated that this would be done. There being no further objection, the Board voted to approve the petition and signed the order. In other business, Storch asked Cruz to repair holes left by the utility
company on New Marlboro Road and Eton Road and several other locations; Cruz agreed to comply with the request.
· Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier met with the Board to review the close of Fiscal Year 2003-04. Gauthier asked that a Special Town Meeting be scheduled in order to add money to the 2004-05 budget for the Building Commissioner and Town Counsel. Gauthier stated the opinion that the Building Commissioner’s salary of $30 an hour is too high.
· The Board scheduled a Special Town Meeting for Tuesday, September 14, at 7 p.m. to vote on the following items:
1. Increase Building Commissioner budget
2. Increase Town Counsel budget
3. Tax Collector compensating balance agreement
· The Board met with Leroy Thorpe, chair of the Parks Commission, to discuss the proper procedure for the bidding process. The Board asked that in the future the Parks Commission consult with the Procurement Officer before issuing or awarding any bids.
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed.
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of August 2, 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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