MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 6, 2006
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
· Town Clerk Barbara Swann was present at the Board’s request, together with Town Secretary Melissa Noe, for a prescheduled Executive Session. Miller stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss personnel relations. Swann refused to discuss that subject, stating that she had been summoned under false pretenses and was only willing to discuss employee retirement benefits.
· Fire Chief Ray Tryon advised that the NIMS training session has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 8, at 6 p.m. at the Monterey Firehouse. Sylbert stated that training is also available online for elected Town officials.
· The Board met with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items, as follows:
o Replacement of second police cruiser: Backhaus advised that the Town’s second police cruiser has been retired because of front-end rust problems. Backhaus reported that Richard and Marianne Jaffe of Richard Chevrolet of Cheshire, Connecticut, (a second homeowner in Monterey) have donated a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer; the Board unanimously voted to accept said vehicle and wrote a letter of thanks to the Jaffes.
o Firearms Records Bureau: Installation of an automated system for registering firearms.
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items, as follows:
o Bally Gally heating system: Two installation quotes have been received; Board instructed Forbes to secure a third quote and stated its preference for a gas-fired rather than an oil-burning furnace
o New Marlboro Road: Highway Department can haul away brush and trees removed from stream; Conservation Commission is in charge of resolving the problem
· The Board met with Daniel Moriarty, Kenneth Bassler, and William Johnson, members of the newly constituted Building Department Committee; also present was Building Commissioner Don Torrico. The committee’s goal is to analyze and evaluate the work of the Building Department and formulate conclusions regarding the appropriate budget for that work. The committee’s conclusions will be
presented prior to the Annual Town Meeting to support the 2007 fiscal budget request
for the Building Commissioner. Minutes of the committee’s meetings and interview notes will be submitted to Town Secretary Melissa Noe for posting on the Town’s website. Torrico was asked to provide copies of building permits and a list of builders who have gone through the process.
· The Board met with Finance Committee members Daniel Moriarty and Debra B. Mielke; also present was Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier. Items under discussion were as follows:
o Budget requests: Very few have been received; e-mail reminders will be sent
o Fire Inspector certification: Fire Chief Ray Tryon was queried and responded that there is no certification required for the fire inspector
o Cost of dam repair: Board is pursuing the availability of FEMA funding
o Phone bills: Board is working on integration of the system
o Tree removal budget
o Proposition 2 ½ override: Meeting set for Monday, March 20, at 7 p.m.
· Maggie Leonard, chair of the Planning Board, met with the Board to report on the following:
o Master Plan: Planning Board has met with Rob Hoogs and has been advised of what needs to be done
o Planning Board Minutes: Paper copies in Minutes book are now up-to-date; Town website will be updated with electronic version
o Planning Board meeting: Miller will attend the next meeting of the Planning Board in order to discuss the question of consultations with Town Counsel
· Dick Tryon met with the Board to query the Board regarding the dam repair. The Board outlined the steps it has undertaken to secure FEMA funds. Tryon was dissatisfied with the Board’s response and said that he would take the matter up with the Conservation Commission.
· The Board met with Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier to work on FY 2006-07 budget requests.
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed. The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence. The Minutes of January 30, 2006, were approved as corrected.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12:20 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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