Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 3/5/07
Meeting Opened at: 8:30am
Select Board Members Present: Michael Storch, Chairperson, Wayne Burkhart and Jonathan Sylbert
Also in attendance for the meeting: Maggie Leonard for the Monterey News
The board met with the Director of Highways, Maynard Forbes and reviewed the following items:
1. M. Forbes submitted the Highway Departments suggestions based on the recommendations for tree planting from the Tree Warden.
2. The highway crew was very busy this weekend with the sleet/freezing rain and snowstorms.
The board met with Building Inspector, Donald Torrico and reviewed the following items:
1. J. Sylbert is arranging a meeting at the Monterey School next Monday morning with the Building Commissioner, Fire Chief and Fred Finkle, Plant Supervisor of the Mt. Everett School District.
2. D. Torrico had questions regarding interpreting sections b & c under IV of the Monterey Zoning Bylaws.
3. B. Gauthier is having difficulty getting the mileage expense reports from the Electrical Inspector. D. Torrico noted that he will speak to N. Fredsall again. The board unanimously agreed to keep the actual mileage reimbursement and to require that it be submitted on a monthly basis.
The board met with Police Chief, Gareth Backhaus to review the following items:
1. Power outage on Friday in several spots in Monterey due to the ice storm and lines down.
2. Vehicle lockout.
3. False alarms on Brookmead Farm, Cronk Rd and Stephen’s Lake Way.
4. Report of a 5-month-old puppy lost on Cronk Rd, found later that day.
5. Abandoned 911 call on Woodland Dr. (dialing error)
6. Report of 2 snowmobiles that fell in Lake Garfield off of the point.
9:30am Budget Review:
D. Mielke and D. Moriarity of the Finance Committee and B. Gauthier, Town Accountant were present
1. The Social Security COLA is based on a calendar year and it is recommended at 3.3%. J. Sylbert researched the government CPI (Consumer Price Index) online during the meeting and found that the National CPI is 2.5% and the New England CPI is 3.6%. The Select Board recommended that they use 3% as the COLA across the board for all elected and appointed employees and the Finance Committee agreed.
2. Under Misc. Expenses, B. Gauthier asked that the Retiree Group Health be changed to $2000 as there will be a special article placed on the warrant to place it in a stabilization account just for this purpose based on our auditor’s recommendation.
3. Berkshire South requested a name change and $2500 for the FY08 budget. A representative for Berkshire South is willing to come in and explain the benefits offered with the use of these funds. J. Sylbert suggested making this a special article but B. Gauthier disagreed and explained why it’s better to keep it as is on the requested budget. D. Moriarity suggested having a representative from Berkshire South at the informational meeting and/or town meeting to defend the $1900 increase.
4. The ACO/Dog Officer’s budget request was questioned and Nora was called to clarify the medical expenses line item, if it’s for health insurance or for medical care for the animals. Nora clarified that the $167/month is for health insurance based on 3 towns. The Town Accountant suggested deferring the health insurance for another year. The Town Accountant was asked to review what was paid to the previous Animal Control Officer. Marty Clark was paid a salary of $1800.00 and expenses were $920.00 which he used $689.00 of for medical. Marty worked for a total of 5 towns. The Select Board needs to decide their policy
on paying health insurance for the part time ACO. The Finance Committee and Select Board recommended to raise her salary and lower her expenses and take out the health insurance line item. The Select Board agreed that this position would not be offered health insurance.
5. All budget requests have been submitted.
6. At resident D. Amidon’s request the Finance Committee and Select Board are going to research the Transportation Bond and contact State Senator, Ben Downing about assistance through this bond with building the government required salt shed.
7. D. Moriarity questioned R. Tryon as to why the dry hydrant line item was removed from the budget. He stated that he has submitted 2 certified letters requesting a dry hydrant at Lake Buel and has not received a response to date. R. Tryon stated he never received these letters and that he was not installing anymore as they do not work and that in addition to the money not being utilized is why it was removed from the budget.
The board met with Town Accountant, Barbara Gauthier to review the following items:
1. The board reviewed the bill from Andrus Power Solutions and will subtract that and the Highway Dept Bill from the balance owed to Cardan for the work done outside to the pole.
2. The tax abatement special article for the elderly submitted by the Town Treasurer was reviewed. The Town Treasurer will come in on the 12th to answer any questions the Select Board or Finance Committee may have.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. The minutes from 2.12.07 & 2.26.07 were approved as amended.
2. The Select Board reviewed the response from Town Counsel with regards to the Town Meeting minutes and whose responsibility it is to take them. Town Counsel responded that under MGL Chapter 41, §15, “The town clerk shall record all votes passed at town meetings held during his term of office…” The select board noted that based on this the minutes should not include a commentary only the votes. Town Counsel suggested that since there is no specific process for approval of the minutes that the town minutes should be limited to amendments and votes only and that they be approved by the moderator and the Select Board and that
while not a statutory requirement, it could be adopted as a bylaw of the Town.
3. The board set the deadline for citizen petitions to be submitted for the town meeting warrant as Monday, April 2nd by 11am.
4. R. Tryon notified the board that the Berkshire County Fire Chiefs Association has hired a grant writer and Monterey is going to need 2 items; airpacs (SCBA’s) and turnout gear.
5. D. Amidon came into discuss the proposal that came in for a public boat ramp near the beach and how far the board has gone with it. The board informed Mr. Amidon that the board has asked Town Counsel to research the deed on the particular piece of property. Mr. Amidon stated that he objects to a public boat ramp being placed there as it would ruin his private beach and that this land is in a family trust. Mr. Amidon asked if the town was planning on taking this by eminent domain and the board stated that this option has not been mentioned during any discussions. J. Sylbert stated that he would not approve of taking this land by eminent
domain. W. Burkhart asked the Amidon’s if they had any alternate suggestions for access to the lake and to submit them to the board.
6. Republican Committee Select Board nominee, S. Jennsen came into the meeting to request 15-20 minutes of each board members time to speak with them about their Select Board experiences.
7. R. Tryon notified the board that 4 members of the Monterey Fire Company just graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighter Academy; Matthew McMahon, Dan Hammill, David Hammill and Del Martin.
8. N. Fredsall, Monterey Electrical Inspector came in to discuss the mileage reimbursement and how it’s difficult for him to keep track of accurate mileage and he was requesting that it just be added into his salary. The board asked him to submit an actual mileage on a monthly basis.
The meeting adjourned at: 12:20pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe
Inter-Departmental Secretary
Town of Monterey
cc: Website
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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