MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF AUGUST 22, 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 Building Commissioner Don Torrico to review building items. The new time slot for the weekly meeting with the Select Board will be Mondays at 9 a.m.
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items, as follows:
o Review of proposed “Process for Review and Acceptance of Highway Department Projects,” including a schedule for road maintenance and capital expenditures no later than March 1 of the preceding fiscal year; compliance with procurement and bid regulations
o Request for updated proposal for Fairview Road from Guerton Elkerton
o New time slot for the weekly meeting with the Select Board: Mondays at 8:45 a.m.
· The Board met with Town Secretary Melissa Noe to review Town Offices items, as follows:
o Grant-writing course
o Procedures for listing grants
o List of holidays
o Town Hall cleaning
o Organization of Town files
· Chris Blair, chair of the Conservation Commission, met with the Board regarding the hiring of an administrator to process building permit applications and administrative filings; the Conservation Commission will submit a proposed contract for such hiring, to be paid for by raising fees.
· At 9:50 a.m. the Board interviewed Ernie Lowell of Otis regarding computer consulting work; Lowell will submit a written proposal in this regard.
· The Board met with Chuck Mielke regarding maintenance of the Monterey School, including mowing and trash pickup. Mielke queried the Board regarding correction of Select Board Minutes.
· At 10 a.m. the Board met with Jesse Johnston of Monterey regarding computer consulting work; the Board asked Johnston to submit a written proposal for an annual budget for such work. There was additional discussion of computer training and equipment purchase.
· Building Commissioner Don Torrico met with the Board to discuss a possible loophole in the administration of the Town’s zoning bylaws; Torrico was instructed to contact Town Counsel in this regard.
· The Board met with Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier to discuss payment and budget items. Gauthier was instructed to separate Police Department computer-system billings from the regular computer maintenance budget.
· Paul Moulthrop of Practical Solutions of Great Barrington met with the Board regarding computer consulting work. Moulthrop has completed an assessment of the Town’s computer network, which includes six work stations and two laptops; the Board asked him to submit a written proposal for an annual budget for regular maintenance, emergency response work and staff training.
· On the recommendation of Laurily Epstein, chair of the Agricultural Commission, it was moved by Miller, seconded by Sylbert, and unanimously voted to appoint Brian Puntin and Carrie Petrik to the Agricultural Commission for a two-year term ending June 30, 2007.
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed.
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of August 15, 2005, were approved as written.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12:15 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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