MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MARCH 14, 2005
The regular weekly meeting of the Monterey Select Board was opened at 8:30 a.m. with members Jonathan Sylbert (Chair) and Michèle Miller present. Selectman Michael Storch was absent from the meeting.
In attendance for the meeting: Laurily Epstein of the Monterey News
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items as follows:
o Road salt: Forbes described a new kind of salt being used on Town roads
o Town equipment: Town trucks have been fixed and are back on the road
o New Marlboro Road bridge: The bridge has been painted and is ready for installation
Selectwoman Miller read the text of a motion that rescinds the motion voted at the March 7 meeting calling for a second engineering study of Fairview Road. Miller stated that the vote should be rescinded because the Board had not conferred with the Finance Committee nor requested additional funds for a new engineering study of the road; she asked that a public meeting be scheduled to discuss Fairview Road before engaging a firm to perform any engineering study. Miller’s motion will be entered and voted on at a later date. It was then moved by Miller and voted to schedule a public meeting for Monday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. to accept input on Fairview Road.
· The Board met with Building Commissioner Don Torrico to review building items, as follows:
o Weekly meeting with Select Board: Torrico requested a specific time slot to meet with the Board and was advised to be present at 8:30 a.m. for this purpose. Miller asked that the Board be prompt in its weekly meeting with Torrico and not keep him waiting
o Germaine lawsuit: Discussion regarding property on Buckingham Lane
o Building Permits issued: Goethese, for property at 4 Tyringham Road
o Building Commissioner computer: Referred to Police Chief Gareth Backhaus
o Basement office lighting: Referred to Operations Director Forbes
· Barbara Dahlman of Tyringham Road inquiry about the availability of the Bally Gally house for rental as affordable housing. The Board will contact Town Counsel and try to expedite the process of placing a deed restriction in this regard.
· LakeFest Coordinator Janet Cathcart met with the Board to set the date for LakeFest. The event was scheduled for Saturday, August 13, with a rain date of Sunday, August 14.
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 2 - MARCH 14, 2005
· The Board met with School Representative Rick Mielke to discuss several items, as follows:
o Meeting with School Superintendent Valerie Spriggs: Scheduled for Monday, March 21, at 11 a.m.
o Education Committee: The Board will seek townspeople interested in serving on an Education Committee to evaluate and research the educational possibilities and needs of the community, including a survey of all parents to determine the educational choices for their children
o School Budget: The Board asked Mielke to abstain from voting on the school budget, stating that the budgetary process has been seriously deficient; Mielke agreed to abstain
· The Board met with Finance Committee members Stanley Ross, Dan Moriarty, and Debra Mielke to discuss the following items:
o Town Secretary position: Discussion of whether the Town needs a full-time secretary/administrative assistant; Select Board is rewriting the job description of Town Secretary, based on 30 hours per week. Discussion of secretary’s employment by other Town boards and committees; Finance Committee will seek revised budgets from these boards to include clerical expenses
o Building Commissioner: Finance Committee will not support a salary increase for the Building Commissioner and pointed out that the requested clerical help will perform many of the commissioner’s administrative functions. The Board asked that the commissioner’s salary be paid for 10 hours a week at $28 an hour, plus travel expenses, plus salary for clerical help as requested
o Highway Department budget: Finance Committee questioned the request for building a salt shed. The committee will ask for a breakdown of several of the Highway Department budget requests. There was discussion of the Operations Director’s salary
o Computer: Finance Committee advised that its computer is nonfunctional and asked permission for the purchase of a new laptop; request approved by Select Board
o Overhead projector: Finance Committee stated the need for an overhead projector for use at public meetings, such as the informational meeting for the Annual Town Meeting scheduled for April 22; there was discussion of renting this item
· The Board met with Administrative Assistant Bonnie Tedder to discuss the proposed change in job description and salary. The Board wants to separate her job from the work performed for other Town boards and has asked the Finance Committee to adjust those budgets accordingly. Tedder pointed out that she performs regular work for the ZBA and the Board of Health but only the Conservation Commission pays separately for her services; additionally, she has performed work for the Finance Committee and Board of Assessors. Tedder is currently working 35 hours a week (8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), plus extra hours for the ZBA and Board of Health. The Finance Committee joined
the discussion; Ross asked that the Board make a final determination regarding the secretary’s job description and the number of hours required. The Finance Committee will meet again with the Board next week in this regard. There was further discussion with Tedder regarding her duties.
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 3 - MARCH 14, 2005
· Riccardo Boehm presented himself to the Board to indicate his interest in appointment to the Planning Board; the Board advised that there are vacancies on that Board but must first receive recommendations from the Planning Board for any appointments
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of March 7, 2005, were approved as written.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12:35 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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