MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MAY 2, 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 Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items.
· The Board met with Building Commissioner Don Torrico to review building items, as follows:
o Building Commissioner hours: Torrico advised that he has been working well in excess of 10 hours a week
o Germain building permit application: Application rejected for property at 3A Buckingham Lane
· Richard Piepho of 84 Beartown Mountain Road met with the Board regarding the repair of a culvert near his property.
· School Representative Rick Mielke met with the Board regarding the formation of an Education Committee to address the question of school choice; it was noted that of 75 students in the district, 33 “choice out” to another school district. There will be a meeting on May 3 between the state auditors and the Select Boards and Finance Committees of the member towns to address fairness issues.
· Melissa Jette of Berkshire Regional Planning Commission met with the Board to discuss the maintenance of the new catch basins at the public boat ramp at Lake Buel. The Massachusetts Highway Department is willing to maintain the catch basins, but the Town will be responsible for maintaining the three chambers. The Lake Buel Restoration/Preservation District will pay 10% of the maintenance costs. Unfortunately, the article to fund the Town’s maintenance costs was not included on the Warrant of the Annual Town Meeting. Sylbert advised that a Warrant Article is no guarantee, since it would have to be passed annually; however, the maintenance costs could be
added to the Highway Department budget. The Board indicated its willingness to issue a general letter stating the Town’s commitment in this regard.
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items. Forbes submitted the proposed equipment and gravel bids.
· The Board met with a group of citizens to discuss the repair of Fairview Road. Present for the meeting were the following: Stanley Ross of the Finance Committee, Rob Hoogs, Roger Tryon, Janet Cathcart, Janet and Hillel Maximon, Larry Klein, Monica and Terry
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Webb, and Eric Montgomery. The group presented a letter with 66 citizen signatures
outlining the issues that need to be considered and prioritized.
Storch: It is not the Board’s intention to blacktop roads.
Webb: The April 11 meeting on Fairview Road offered only blacktopping as the solution.
Sylbert: Zoning bylaws would effectively set policy on the kind of roads that the Town wants.
Hoogs: Factors that need to be considered in road design include safety issues, width, road use; gravel roads may be preferable but require more maintenance. There should be additional engineering studies of possible drainage solutions.
Miller: There should be a second study and another public hearing before determining what option to adopt.
Hillel Maximon: Fairview Road requires immediate maintenance.
Sylbert: In theory, everyone is onboard regarding the installation and maintenance of catch basins and culverts.
Tryon: The road fill should cost approximately $30,000, not $500,000.
Storch: The Board will invite Rob Hoogs to join in the meeting with the consulting engineer to ensure that citizen concerns are included in the additional study.
· Janet Cathcart addressed the Board on the subject of Planning Board membership, asking that no appointment be made to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Joyce Scheffey. The Board responded that the Planning Board has not made any appointment recommendations to fill the vacancy. Cathcart also questioned the timing of placing the Agenda and the Minutes on the Town’s website; the Board agreed to post the Agenda for the following week immediately after the Monday meeting.
· The Board queried Administrative Assistant Bonnie Tedder about the pickup of batteries and recycled motor oil at the Transfer Station. Tedder advised that a recycling grant has been obtained from the Center for Ecological Technology (CET) in the form of bins, kitchen composters, and signage; Tedder is also applying for the next round of funding for the award of rain barrels.
· Chuck Mielke inquired about the status of the proposed Education Committee; he was advised that no appointments would be made until after the Town Election on May 7.
· It was moved by Selectman Sylbert and unanimously voted to amend the motion passed at the Select Board meeting of March 7, 2005, as follows:
1. Since the current engineer’s report is being submitted on the basis of using a minimum amount of oil and stone, a second proposal should be obtained from an engineering firm that will outline how the Town can maintain Fairview Road as a gravel road.
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2. The funds for the second study will come from the Fiscal Year 2006 Highway Department budget.
3. When both engineering reports have been obtained, a public hearing will be scheduled in this regard.
· Selectman Storch reported on his onsite inspection of Town roads conducted with the Operations Director on April 28. Storch stated that in his opinion, the Highway Department could use a fourth fulltime employee.
· On the recommendation of Town Counsel, the Board signed a Maintenance Agreement with the Massachusetts Highway Department for the River Road Bridge.
· The Board met with Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier to prepare for the Annual Town Meeting on May 7.
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed.
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of April 25, 2005, were approved as written.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12:25 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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