MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MARCH 28, 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
· Fran Huberman of Hupi Road was present to state her interest in serving on an Education Committee and outlined several areas of concern, including the lack of communication between school and parents and between school and the Town. The Board thanked Huberman for her interest in serving on the committee and encouraged her to call School Superintendent Valerie Spriggs directly with any specific concerns.
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items, as follows:
o Salt shed: Forbes supplied the Board with a copy of EPA regulations that cover the Town's application for a permit to pollute, filed March 2004 for the salt shed and the transfer station
o Fairview Road: Forbes presented the engineer's preliminary plan for road drainage and advised that no engineer will be present at the public meeting on April 11. Storch asked that a written summary be prepared to accompany the drawings. The Board reviewed the drawings and queried Forbes about the plan's execution.
o River Road Bridge: Forbes advised that the cost of the bridge has increased on the State's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) list, from $400,000 to $1.3 million
· Conservation Commission chair Chris Blair met with the Board regarding proposed zoning bylaw changes; the Board advised Blair to first meet with the Planning Board in this regard. The Board invited the Conservation Commission to attend the April 11 public meeting on Fairview Road.
· Chuck Mielke met briefly with the Board to ask about the formation of an Education Committee.
· The Board met with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items, including the investigation of a break-in off Route 23.
· The Board met in closed session from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. with Operations Director Maynard Forbes and Finance Committee members Stanley Ross and Debra B. Mielke to discuss a personnel item.
· Deborah D. Mielke was present to advise the Board of her interest in appointment as the Town's representative on the School Committee.
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 2 - MARCH 28, 2005
· Kenn Basler offered posting space to the Town on the bulletin board at the Monterey General Store.
· The Board reviewed additional Highway Department budget items with Operations Director Maynard Forbes and Finance Committee members Stanley Ross, Dan Moriarty and Debra B. Mielke, as follows:
o Purchase of a loader: Moriarty stated that the committee does not have enough information on the cost of a new loader and the trade-in value of the old loader; Moriarty suggested that the equipment be put to bid to obtain more specific information; Forbes advised that the loader will be bid in April, within 30 days of the Annual Town Meeting. Miller asked that Forbes provide additional information on the condition and value of the old loader. There was discussion of the schedule for equipment replacement
o Salt shed: Sylbert suggested that this item be tabled for one year, pending receipt of the permit to pollute
o Town Garage windows: Forbes will obtain three quotes for the cost of window replacement
o Informational meeting for Annual Town Meeting: Friday, April 22, 7 p.m.
o Transfer Station: Present was Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier, who suggested a budget of $80,000; there was discussion of several procedural items, including the fees charged for large-item disposal and hours of operation
o Building Commissioner salary: Present was Building Commissioner Don Torrico. Ross queried Torrico on the increase in clerical help, from two hours to three hours a week; Torrico stated that there is a considerable amount of ongoing "catch-up" work to reorganize department records. Ross proposed an annual salary of $15,000 ($300 a week); Torrico stated that he is currently working approximately 13 hours a week, including a considerable amount of research time. Sylbert proposed a budget of $16,900 for the building department ($15,600 salary, plus $1,300 for clerical help); Torrico agreed to said amount but requested an additional amount for travel expenses. The Board agreed to a separate line item for expenses in the amount of $400.
o Administrative Assistant: A salary of $37,000 will be split among three positions: Town Office Secretary/Procurement Officer ($28,000), Board of Health clerk ($4500), and Zoning Board of Appeals clerk ($4500). Town Offices be open for 35 hours a week.
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed. The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of March 21, 2005, were approved as corrected.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (1 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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