MONTEREY SELECT BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MAY 8, 2006
The regular weekly meeting of the Monterey Select Board was opened at 8:30 a.m. with members Michael Storch (Chair), Jonathan Sylbert, and Wayne Burkhart all present.
In attendance for the meeting: Town Secretary Melissa Noe; Laurily Epstein of the Monterey News.
· Town Clerk Barbara Swann was present to administer the oath of office to Wayne Burkhart, who was elected to the Select Board at the Annual Town Election on May 6, 2006, to a three-year term.
· It was moved by Sylbert, seconded by Burkhart, and unanimously voted to appoint Michael Storch as Select Board chair. Storch welcomed Burkhart as a new Selectman to the Board.
· The Board met with Director of Operations Maynard Forbes to review Highway Department items, as follows:
o Tree pickup for Tamarack
o Bally Gally: Installation of gas tank
o Sandisfield Road project
o Highway Department contracts
· Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier advised the Board of the receipt of $141,216 in Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) funds. Gauthier introduced Kevin Fox, who is performing an Audit of the Town’s general financial statements for 2005. Fox advised that the first draft of the audit should be available in approximately one month.
· The Board met with Building Commissioner Don Torrico to review building items, as follows:
o Clerical support from Town Secretary
o Building Office computer
o Gould Farm
o Responsibilities of homeowner-contractors, including a Workmen’s Compensation Affidavit
· The Board met with Chief Gareth Backhaus to review Police Department items, as follows:
o Disposal of suspected rabid wild animals by Police Department: Melissa Noe will report back on Board of Health protocol
o Security of Town Secretary office: Backhaus requested that locks be changed; Board approved request
o Overnight parking by trailers: Board will examine existing zoning bylaw
o Weekend speed control in the center of Town
o Parking issues in the center of Town
SELECT BOARD MINUTES - 2 - MAY 8, 2006
· It was moved by Storch, seconded by Sylbert, and unanimously voted to appoint Selectman Wayne Burkhart to the Berkshire Taconic Scholarship Committee.
· The Board met with Town Secretary Melissa Noe to review Town Office items, as follows:
o Cannon company representative will meet with Board on May 15 at 11 a.m. regarding copy machine lease
o Purchase of Photoshop software to allow photos to be posted on Town’s website
· Dick Tryon met with the Board to express his interest in being appointed to a salt and sand committee, stating that he supports the use of less salt on Town roads. Tryon claimed that his research several years ago showed that the Town uses 450 lbs. of salt per road mile; Storch stated that the research should be updated with current usage figures. Burkhart stated his support for the formation of a salt and sand committee.
· Leroy Thorpe, chair of the Parks Commission, met with the Board regarding the installation of a light by the basketball court. The Board is looking into the possibility of funding for a solar panel by the Center for Ecological Technology (CET).
· Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier met with the Board to discuss several financial items, including:
o Flood damage monies: Town has received a surplus of FEMA and MEMA funds, amounting to $41,044; the surplus will be placed in Free Cash
o Request for energy audit of Town Hall
o Instructions for signing Highway and Treasury Warrants later in the day
· Auditor Kevin Fox outlined for the Board the parameters of the audit currently under way and asked the Board for its particular concerns.
· Chuck Mielke was present to remind the Board of an upcoming meeting with the Education Committee on Monday, May 15, 2006, at 7 p.m. The Board advised that it meets on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m.
· The Board reported that the Highway Department will spread and seed the earth that was dumped behind the Town Hall by the Parks Commission; mowing will be performed under contract of the Parks Commission.
· The clerk was given instructions regarding correspondence.
· The Minutes of May 1, 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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