MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2005
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: Laurily Epstein of the Monterey News
· The Board met with Building Commissioner Don Torrico to review building items, as follows:
o Unpermitted Building Violation: Certified letter has been sent
o Germain property on Point Road (9 Buckingham Lane): Retaining wall for septic system, requiring ZBA hearing and a meeting with the Conservation Commission; the Board will consult informally with the Conservation Commission in this regard
· Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier distributed financial reports to the Board and arranged for the signing of next week’s Warrants, when the Board does not meet because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
· The Board met with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items, as follows:
o Truck rollover accident on Fairview Road: There was discussion with Backhaus and Operations Director Maynard Forbes regarding the imposition of weight limits on the road. The Board asked Forbes to advise on the procedure for imposing such limits.
o Alarm system permit fee: The Board approved Backhaus’ request to reduce the permit fee from $50 to $25
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items, as follows:
o Town Hall:
· Request that entrances and exits be cleared of snow
· Installation of thermostat locks
o Winter road maintenance: The Board congratulated Forbes on the excellent work by the Highway Department in keeping Town roads plowed, sanded and salted during recent winter snowstorms. Forbes reported on a reduction in the amount of sand and salt used (by 175 tons) as of December 31, 2004
o River Road: Forbes outlined what has been done to the road and advised that residents are satisfied with the road’s condition
o Bally Gally: Mold problem
In another matter, the Board queried Maynard Forbes, as Assistant Fire Chief, regarding the costly long distance telephone service used by the Fire Department.
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 2 - JANUARY 10, 2005
· Conservation Commission chair Chris Blair met with the Board regarding several items, as follows:
o Steep slope clearing on Main Road (north side between Brett Road and Route 57)
o Germain property on Point Road (see above)
· Fire Chief Ray Tryon met with the Board to report on Fire Department expenditures to date.
· The Board met with Finance Committee members Stanley Ross and Debra B. Mielke to discuss several items, as follows:
o Clerical help for Building Commissioner: The Board consulted with the committee regarding the hiring of a clerk to assist the Building Commissioner for approximately two hours a week
o Budget requests for Fiscal Year 2006: The committee will shortly be distributing budget requests to Town departments and will require detailed information for said requests
o Town budget preparation: Discussion of the committee’s primary responsibility in budget preparation
In another matter, the Board requested that the Board of Assessors provide a list of all Chapter 61A properties in Town; Stanley Ross, chair of the Board of Assessors, agreed to provide such a list.
· Ken Basler, proprietor of the Monterey General Store, offered the use of the store’s bulletin board in order to foster more communication with townspeople. The Board gratefully accepted the offer, stating that it is interested in expanding media sources for the dissemination of information about Town government. There was discussion of establishing a computer terminal at the store with a link to the Town website. Basler also questioned the possibility of evening rather than morning Select Board meetings; the Board responded that public attendance at its one evening meeting per month is very low.
· The Board scheduled an All-Boards Meeting for Monday, February 14, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The Finance Committee will be asked to make a presentation at the meeting.
· The Board met with Administrative Assistant Bonnie Tedder to review items, as follows:
o e-mail addresses: Board requested that Tedder prepare a database of e-mail addresses of Town Officers and Committee members in time for the distribution of notice of the All- Boards Meeting scheduled for Monday, February 14, at 7 p.m.
o DSL: Tedder advised that under a new state mandate, Verizon may shortly be offering DSL service in Town
o GIS software: Free GIS software is available through Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed.
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 3 - JANUARY 10, 2005
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of January 3, 2005, were approved as written.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12:10 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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