MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 13, 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
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items, as follows:
o Snow removal budget: Discussion of Highway Department overtime pay and need to declare a snow emergency
o Hiring of new employee: Board asked for a job description
o Fiscal Year 2007 budget planning: 6% salary increase across the board for Highway Department employees
o Capital expenditures: Salt shed (federal mandate); street signs on private roads
o Insurance claim re Transfer Station accident
o Lake Garfield drawdown
o Town records: Storch reported that approximately 60%-70% of Town records stored at Town Garage have been sorted through
· The Board met with Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier to review financial items, as follows:
o Snow removal budget: At Gauthier’s request, it was moved by Miller, seconded by Storch, and unanimously voted to declare a winter snow emergency, which will allow the accountant to go over the snow removal budget
o Fiscal Year 2007 budget planning
· The Board met with Building Commissioner Don Torrico to review building items, as follows:
o Griswold Road project: Requires Conservation Commission approval
o Fairview Road project: Torrico will check the permit
o Cathcart property: Board of Health deed restriction; Certificate of Occupancy has been granted for the accessory space
· The Board met with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items, as follows:
o Police officer schedules
o False alarms
o Police Department budget
o MEMA request: Board approved request for installation of radio transmitters in the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) shelter and antennas on the DCR fire tower located on the summit of Mt. Wilcox
· Muriel Lazzarini, chair of the Democratic Town Committee, notified the Board that the Monterey Democratic Party will hold a caucus on Saturday, March 11, 2006, at 10 a.m. at the Monterey Church of Christ Community Center. The purpose of the caucus will be to select and endorse candidates for Town offices.
· Fire Chief Ray Tryon met with the Board to discuss the proposed Fire Department budget, which was submitted to the Finance Committee. Tryon is asking for a $400 budget increase to cover the cost of additional inspections of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. In another matter, Storch asked if the Fire Department would be willing to return to the Town an appropriation of $5000, voted in 1982, to pay for firefighters’ clothing and fuel; Tryon responded that a vote of the corporation would be required. It was moved by Storch and unanimously voted that the Board approves:
o Establishment of a $25 fee for inspection of carbon monoxide detectors
o Increase fee for inspection of smoke detectors from $10 to $25
· The Board met with Town Secretary Melissa Noe regarding the following items:
· Selectwoman Miller reported on her recent meeting with the Planning Board.
· Roger Tryon was present to query the Board about the proposed plan for Fairview Road. The Board answered several questions but asked that Tryon attend the public hearing regarding Fairview Road, scheduled for April 10 at 7 p.m.
· The Board continued its budget-planning work with Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier.
· The Board scheduled a Town clean-up day for Saturday, April 22, coinciding with Earth Day.
· The Board signed a Letter of Intent to join the Southern Berkshire County Regional household hazardous waste collection program for FY 2007. The program consists of a combination of mini-site collections for oil and paint, as well as several one-day hazardous household waste collections. The estimated cost of participation is $1083.
· The Board noted for the record that the following property owner has received Interim Approval from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under the Chapter 91 Waterways Amnesty Authorization to maintain a dock on Lake Buel:
Steven Truta
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed.
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of February 6, 2006, were approved as corrected.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (11:45 a.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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