Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 9/11/06
Meeting Opened at: 8:30am
Select Board Members Present: Michael Storch, Chairperson, Jonathan Sylbert, and Wayne Burkhart
Also in attendance for the meeting: Laurily Epstein for the Monterey News
The board met with the Director of Highways, Maynard Forbes and reviewed the following items:
1. Monterey is in the process of receiving an additional $55k in Chapter 90 money (money from the state for highway maintenance). M. Forbes would like to buy a small excavator. Right now we spend $4-5k a year to rent one when one is needed. J. Sylbert voiced his concern that buying capital equipment without Finance Committee and town-vote approval was politically unpalatable, but understood the advantage of having an excavator available for ditch work. W. Burkhart made a motion which was seconded by M. Storch to let M. Forbes continue to explore this option and come back with more details.
2. Jamie Cahillane from CET came in to discuss the Transfer Station Inspection that DEP now requires. Towns are allowed to have a 3rd party come in and perform a Transfer Station Inspection under 310 CMR 19. Monterey is part of Southern Berkshire Solid Waste District, the district has CET perform the inspections at the cost of the district and will advise the DEP of what they find. Mr. Cahillane will set up an inspection time when M. Forbes can be present.
3. DEP Municipal Recycling Grant Application is due the 15th of this month – Jamie Cahillane asked if we needed any further information. J. Cahillane will apply online through eDEP.
4. Rear brakes locked up and were burning on the Ford truck and it’s currently in the shop at Pete’s Ford for warranty service.
5. Electricians are working on the setup for the emergency generator and ballpark lighting.
6. Beaver activity has increased in all ponds and streams.
7. Sandisfield Rd construction will be finished this week; repaving the roadway over the new culverts.
8. Fairview Rd will be started next week if the Water Company problem doesn’t bump out this project.
The board met with Town Accountant, Barbara Gauthier to review the following items:
1. P.O. Box used for the server back up tapes; renewal notice was received, It was suggested that the tapes really aren’t secure in the PO box, The Town Secretary has been putting the tapes in the locked fireproof safe in her locked office (fire resistant safe class 350 – 1 hour). Practical Solutions will be consulted about off site servers for additional backup securityto supplement the tapes. J. Sylbert recommended that the daily backup tapes continue to be placed in the PO Box
2. Reviewed the FY06 end of year report.
3. B. Gauthier spoke with the Select Board about them holding the invoices for the insurance company. The Select Board stated the only thing they held were coverage pages and have never seen the invoices that B. Gauthier presented.
4. B. Gauthier has not received any reports for mileage from the Electrical and Plumbing Inspectors; a memo will be written to D. Torrico for him to follow up on this and remind them that these reimbursement requests need to be handed in on a monthly basis.
1.
The board met with Town Secretary, Melissa Noe to review the following items:
1. The Select Board reviewed the correspondence from the Ethics Commission regarding the Town Secretary’s title and how it should appear on next year’s town warrant avoiding the confusion from last year. A letter with the board’s recommendation to add her additional responsibilities to her title will be drafted and sent to Town Counsel to review along with a copy of the letter from the Ethics Commission.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. L. Thorpe came in to ask if a strip can be cut from the back woods into the ball field for the kids to go sledding in the winter; M. Storch asked that the request be put in writing and before the project is done that the area to be cut be staked out. The Park Commission has received complaints about the area near the River behind the playground and the fact that there is not a fence. L. Thorpe is requesting that the town install a 4foot fence. M. Storch recommended performing this project collaboratively between the Select Board and the Parks Commission. The Parks Commission will draw up a plan and present it to the Select
Board.
2. R. Palmer a Monterey Citizen came in to inquire about a town marker knocked down; G. Backhaus and M. Forbes stated that a car hit it and it’s going to be replaced.
3. The Select Board made the following appointments and a memo will be sent to the Town Clerk advising her of this newly formed advisory committee to the Select Board:
a. Dan Moriarity for 1 year to the Employee Compensation Advisory Committee
b. Maynard Forbes for 1 year to the Employee Compensation Advisory Committee
c. Gareth Backhaus for 1 year to the Employee Compensation Advisory Committee
d. Michael Storch for 1 year to the Employee Compensation Advisory Committee
4. The Assessors sent a memo to the Select Board recommending that the approximately $2500 associated with the implementation phase be charged against the funds appropriated at Town Meeting for Cadastral mapping. S. Ross came in to discuss the letter.
5. M. Storch spoke with the Town Clerk about the disapproval of Article 23 and that she is going to fill out the paperwork that came with the disapproval and will resubmit it to the Attorney General.
6. M. Leonard stopped in to let the Select Board know that M. Forbes will be attending this week’s Planning Board meeting (9/14/06 at 7pm) to discuss roads. On a separate issue as a member of the Monterey Community Center Committee, Maggie requested permission to use the property to hold an October gathering to keep the fundraising efforts for the community center fresh in everyone’s minds. She will return next week with more definitive plans.
7. The minutes from 8/21/06, 8/28/06 and the Saturday 8/26/06 2nd Homeowner’s Meeting were approved
8. The Select Board approved to continue it’s membership with STAR “Stand Together Act Responsibly” and will give the invoice to the Town Accountant to pay.
9. The Select Board reviewed the phone system requests submitted from the Town Accountant and Tax Collector – the Select Board will hold off on making any decisions until next week to see if any further requests come in from other town offices
10.
11:00 am Joint Pole Hearing
Don Nutting representative of National Grid appeared for the Joint Pole Hearing for poles and wires on Beartown Mtn Road starting at a point approximately 288 feet south from Hupi Rd. Michael Storch read aloud the petition. D. Nutting stated that the sketch has incorrect numbers on it and let the board know what the numbers should actually be and the board amended the paperwork. There will be minimal cutting of limbs. There were no objections and a motion was made by W. Burkhart to approve the petition and was seconded by J. Sylbert and unanimously approved. The petition paperwork was signed and returned to the board secretary to hand in to the Town Clerk.
The meeting adjourned at: 11:43pm
Melissa Noe, Town Secretary
Town of Monterey
cc: Website
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
| 
