MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 28, 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
· There was discussion of the All-Boards meeting of November 21 that reviewed the Town’s bylaws. The Board reviewed the Town Bylaws in anticipation of correcting inconsistencies and outdated items. The Board is considering changing the elected position of Tree Warden to an appointed and paid office, which would give the Board more oversight and place the position in the context of the Open Space Plan. The Board will elicit comments from the Tree Warden in this regard.
· The Board met with Town Secretary Melissa Noe to review Town Office items.
· The Board met with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items. There was discussion of changing the police road detail policy to require eight-hour minimum shifts, which would make the Monterey Police Department more competitive with area towns; the Board approved the change.
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items, as follows:
o Bid opening for work on River Road: Postponed to November 29
o Tree dam on Matt Carlson property: Board will advise property owner of liability
o Fencing behind Monterey Library: Board instructed Forbes to erect fencing for reasons of safety around the dam
· The Board met with Deborah D. Mielke, the Town’s representative on the school committee of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District. Mielke updated the Board on the status of contract negotiations. There was discussion of appointing Mielke to the Wilson/McLaughlin Scholarship Committee. The Town will again contact SBRSD School Superintendent Valerie Spriggs to request a resolution of several
concerns regarding the Monterey School, including grass mowing, snow removal, and the safety of the flagpole. It was noted that a private citizen had to do the snow shoveling at the school on Nov. 28.
· The Board met with Town Treasurer Pat Mielke and Assistant Town Clerk Linda Thorpe to discuss the following items:
o Employee handbook update
o Sexual harassment policy update
o Drug-free workplace policy
o Town bylaws on personnel policy (vacation and sick pay)
o Monthly meeting between Select Board and Town Treasurer: Select Board evening meeting, third Monday of each month
· The Board met with Town Clerk Barbara Swann to discuss procedures for updating the Town’s bylaws. Swann recommended a Special Town Meeting for this purpose. To change an elected office to an appointed office requires a public hearing 60 days
· Riccardo Boehm of the Monterey General Store met with the Board as a follow-up to his letter of November 22 regarding the pond behind the store that causes flooding in the basement whenever the pond is full. Boehm is concerned that the flooding may cause structural damage both to the store building and its septic system. In addition, since the brook has repeatedly flooded the area around the post office septic system, there is a possibility of contamination of the brook. The Board will consult with Operations Director Maynard Forbes about the possibility of periodic dredging of the pond to remedy the flooding problem.
· At 11:30 a.m. the Board voted unanimously to meet in executive session with Town Secretary Melissa Noe to discuss a personnel matter; the Board remained in executive session until 11:55 a.m., at which time the public meeting was resumed.
· The Board met with Building Commissioner Don Torrico to review building department items, as follows:
o Building Commissioner Meeting with Planning Board: Board suggested that Torrico meet with the full Planning Board, not just a representative, to be in compliance with the Open Meeting Law; Board also suggested that the Planning Board keep the Building Commissioner informed as projects are presented
o Subdivision Control: Oversight by Building Commissioner
o Building Permits: Torrico presented completed building permits with permit fees totaling more than $4000 for the period Oct. 26 – Nov. 28.
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed.
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of November 21, 2005, were approved as written.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12:20 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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