MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MARCH 27, 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 Secretary Melissa Noe
· The Board met with Building Commissioner Don Torrico to review building items, as follows:
o Height restriction bylaw: Planning Board should address this issue; Board will first confer with the Fire Chief in this regard
o Letters to camps re permit renewals: Compliance with State Building Code, State Fire Code and regulations of the Board of Health
· The Board discussed building height restrictions with Fire Chief Ray Tryon, who advised that Fire Department equipment could not reach beyond 35 feet.
· The Board met with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items. As Emergency Management Director, Backhaus was asked to assume responsibility for the NIMS certification process for Town officials. There was discussion of the Police Department’s participation in the Town cleanup scheduled for Earth Day on Saturday, April 22. Backhaus will call Massachusetts Highway Department to ask for a
donation of trash bags.
· Joe Baker of the Wilson McLaughlin House Committee met with the Board to submit the committee’s quarterly written report, updating the Board on the committee’s activities, including fund raising. Baker advised that an inventory of hazardous materials on the Wilson property is being prepared. Baker inquired about the possibility of using an available computer belonging to the Finance Committee. It was moved by Miller, seconded by Storch, and unanimously voted that the Wilson McLaughlin House Committee be authorized to use the designated Finance Committee computer.
· The Board met with Debra Mielke of the Finance Committee and Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier to finalize the budget for the Annual Town Meeting Warrant, as follows:
o Salaries: Discussion of the protocol for increasing the salary of elected officials
o Mowing: Sylbert reported on the March 25 meeting regarding mowing that the Board conducted with members of the Cemetery Committee, the Parks
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 2 - MARCH 27, 2006
Commission, and the Library Trustees. The Select Board proposes that the responsibility for contracting for mowing be given to the Select Board; the Library Trustees disapproved the proposal, and a vote is pending by the Cemetery Committee and the Parks Commission
o Highway Department: Sylbert recommended that an additional employee not be budgeted for the Highway Department. Instead, the Operations Director’s responsibilities should be changed to include plowing and his salary should be increased by $2500; Mielke agreed on behalf of the Finance Committee. Miller stated her opposition to a 5%-10% salary increase, stating that the Operations Director should be more conservative in scheduling overtime by imposing a more conservative salt and sand policy. It was moved by Sylbert,
seconded by Storch, and voted that the Operations Director salary be increased by $2500 and that his job description be changed to include plowing; Miller abstained from the vote.
· Parks Commission chair Leroy Thorpe met with the Board to discuss replacement of the solar light at the ball field; Thorpe endorsed its replacement.
· Chuck Mielke of the Education Committee met with the Board to discuss several items, including a meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Hall. Mielke recommended that the office of School Committee Representative be elected rather than appointed. Mielke asked for a letter to the Massachusetts Department of Education advising them of what the Town’s committee is doing and asking for any assistance.
· Highway and Treasury Warrants were signed.
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of March 20, 2006, were approved as written.
· It was unanimously voted that the meeting be adjourned (12 p.m.).
Judith Kales, Clerk
Monterey Select Board
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