MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF AUGUST 15, 2005
The regular weekly meeting of the Monterey Select Board was opened at 8:30 a.m. with members Michèle Miller (Chair), Michael Storch, and Jonathan Sylbert 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 Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items, as follows:
o River Road bridge: Bids to be opened October 4
o Mowing: Forbes submitted a cost summary for all Town mowing (cemeteries, parks, Town Beach and dam, etc.)
o Fairview Road: Request for updated proposal from Guerton Elkerton
o New employee: Job description
o Blue Hill Road blacktop: Board signed Project Request for state funding
o Street signs for private roads: Emergency Management Director Ray Tryon recommended that the standard for all street signs marking private roads be made uniform
o 911 house numbers: Board authorized a public notice requiring all homeowners to post a 911 house number, which must be visible from the road. Beginning October 1, 2005, the Town will enforce the Town Bylaw requiring a fine for noncompliance with this regulation
· The Board met with Town Secretary Melissa Noe to review Town Office items
· Conservation Commission chair Chris Blair met with the Board regarding the following items:
o Lake Garfield drawdown: Proper filing
o Tree planting: State money for planting on Mount Hunger
o Dam repair: Special Article for Town Meeting
o Watershed: “No fertilizer” rider to be attached to all ZBA and Conservation Commission restrictions on watershed areas
· At 9:30 a.m. the Board met with Michael E. Garrold, a Senior Account Executive with Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA), to review the Town’s insurance. Garrold outlined the MIIA program, its history and scope, and addressed questions of the Town’s coverage. Board requested more regular meetings with MIIA’s representative in order to keep current with insurance issues. There was discussion of the rising costs of health insurance for Town employees and how best to address these costs. The Board challenged Garrold to respond to lower insurance quotes offered by a competitor and stated that it is
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 2 - AUGUST 15, 2005
looking for a 10% discount in the Town’s costs for this year. Garrold responded that he will present the request for a 10% discount to MIIA. There was considerable discussion regarding MIIA discounts and what savings, if any, might be available to the Town. The Board questioned the worth of the
rebate program.
· The Board met with Fran Wishnick and Peter Wyers of Gould Farm. Wyers offered his services in performing historical research at the Wilson-McLaughlin house and asked the Board’s authorization to enter upon the property; the Board reviewed the scope of Wyers’ investigations and granted him permission to use his metal detector at the property. In another matter, Wishnick conveyed the thanks of the Gould Farm community for repaving Gould Road.
· At 10:30 a.m. the Board met with members of Wilson McLaughlin House Committee in order to review the 501C3 lease. Present for the meeting were the following members: Shirley Olds, Joe Baker, Gige O’Connell, Gerry Shapiro.
· Dennis Lynch of Heron Pond Park presented himself to the Board and offered his grant-writing experience to the Town. The Board welcomed his offer and referred him to the Wilson McLaughlin House Committee in this regard.
· The Board consulted with Town Clerk Barbara Swann on several items, as follows:
o Wording for Town Bylaw under Chapter 61A
o Letter to the Governor regarding the return of the Massachusetts National Guard from Iraq; the letter has been sent
o Town Records: Grant to hire an archivist
o Certification of Board signatures on Town Treasurer bank note
· Maggie Leonard, chair of the Planning Board, was present to advise the Board that she will be unable to attend the All-Boards Meeting. In other business, Miller suggested that the Planning Board consider dividing its meetings into segments so that the board sets aside time at each meeting to devote to planning issues.
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed.
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of August 8, 2005, were approved as corrected.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12:05 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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