Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 3/12/07
Meeting Opened at: 8:30am
Select Board Members Present: Michael Storch, Chairperson, Wayne Burkhart and Jonathan Sylbert
8:30am – 8:50am
P. Mielke, Treasurer came in to discuss the MIIA town insurance rates for the upcoming fiscal year and the elderly tax abatement special article. P. Mielke will ask our MIIA representative to come in to speak with the board.
P. Mielke advised the board that the health insurance premium is only expected to raise 8 ½% for Monterey.
Senior Citizen Tax Abatement Program Special Article; the board asked how many Monterey citizens would actually qualify for the program, that number is unknown at the moment. P. Mielke explained how the parameters would be set and how the volunteers would be chosen. It would initially be set up for 3 years.
The board met with the Director of Highways, Maynard Forbes and reviewed the following items:
1. Weekly report was reviewed.
2. M. Forbes brought in documents that refer to the Clean Water Act and that municipalities were exempt until 2003 and at that time M. Forbes sent in a NOI asking for a permit to discharge on the side of the garage. The Clean Water Act wants “no exposure”. Section 3.2 notes the additional requirements for salt sheds. The board will write a letter stating that we are still waiting for our permit and are looking for the timeframes that things need to be completed.
3. M. Storch asked about the need for the town to purchase a chipper if in fact the DEP does stop the issuing of burning permits.
The board met with Building Inspector, Donald Torrico and reviewed the following items:
1. A written complaint was received from the owners of the Art School Rd Inn regarding comments made in the Monterey News (which is not associated with the Town of Monterey) and reports given to the board by the Building Inspector. Two separate letters were written; one to the Select Board and a different letter to the Building Commissioner. The board asked if there has been any construction work done at this residence without a permit and D. Torrico confirmed that there have been illegal/non-permitted projects performed at this location in the past. In the letter the owner states that they never had an ad online stating that their Inn could
hold events up to 10 people (which was what prompted the Board of Health to require an inspection), D. Torrico did provide the board with a copy of the ad that was online stating that they were advertising events at their Inn for up to10 people. D. Torrico confirmed that there was a local plumber that claims they were not paid but D. Torrico noted that the plumber also was negligent in applying for a permit to do the plumbing work and as D. Torrico understands it, this is why the owners are holding payment. D. Torrico stated that the responsibility ultimately always falls on the owner of record unless there is a permit with a Construction Supervisor or Home Improvement Contractor listed. J. Sylbert recommended that the board’s response should indicate that she is quoting from the Monterey News, which is not affliated with the town, and include copies of the Select Board minutes where this property was discussed and a copy of the original online advertisement
that prompted the inspection from the Board of Health and Building Department, the remaining board members agreed and a letter with enclosures will be sent today. The board recommended that the Building Department respond to the codes and issues referred to in the letter to his department.
2. D. Torrico asked the Select Board to set a policy and set a fee for review (to cover time spent on the project) for Building Permit applications that are submitted that do not end up going forward or that are rejected due to zoning issues. D. Torrico suggested a permit review fee of $55.00. The board discussed this and the issue is a bit complicated and will be continued to a later date. M. Noe has been asked to call surround town building departments to see how they handle similar situations.
3. D. Torrico requested that the town purchase a copy of the FEMA floodplain maps for the Building Department. M. Noe will work on ordering a copy.
4. The board and D. Torrico discussed the Wiring Inspector’s proposal of a separate line item to cover an alternate inspector when N. Fredsall is out of town. The board unanimously voted against this change and agreed that any alternate inspections should come out of the existing Wiring Inspector’s budget.
The board met with Police Chief, Gareth Backhaus to review the following items:
1. 2 false alarm calls on Cronk Rd.
2. Assisted with MV in Gt. Barrington.
3. Abandoned 911 call on Prescott Lane.
4. Alarm call on Main Rd.
5. J. Sylbert asked about the 2nd Police Officer position and the survey that the Compensation Committee sent out. He wanted to double check that the 2nd full time officer was within the salary range of surrounding towns, which the committee confirmed that this position is.
The board met with Town Accountant, Barbara Gauthier to review the following items:
1. J. Baker called about the photo contest the Local Cultural Council was running and whether the Select Board can sponsor a gift to the winner or not. B. Gauthier responded that the board can sponsor a gift/prize as long as it comes from an appropriated account like the “I Love Monterey Day” budget.
2. B. Gauthier presented a budget comparison for FY07 (actual) and FY08 (proposed) to the board. The budget proposal increase for the town is approximately 30-40%, the remainder of the increase is from the school district. It’s important to stress that the town will not be touching any of the override money that was approved at last year’s town meeting.
3. Two weeks of payroll warrants were signed as the Town Treasurer will be on vacation next week.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. The minutes from 3.5.07 were approved as amended.
2. The board read a proposal for an elderly tax abatement special article, a motion was made to put it on the Town Meeting Warrant, which was seconded and approved unanimously.
3. L. Thorpe, Chair of the Parks Commission asked the board’s permission to apply for a matching grant to purchase a Big Belly Cordless Compaction System to compact solid waste at the beach. The matching funds would come out of the Parks Commission budget. The board signed a letter approving the grant application and hand delivered it to L. Thorpe.
4. J. Cathcart came in to discuss drawdown and putting money in the budget to cover any additional expenses that may be incurred as indicated in an email from ENSR.
5. W. Burkhart recused himself due to a conflict of interest; the remaining board members voted and unanimously approved the Earth Removal Permit renewal application for Tryon Construction.
6. M. Storch met with Eliza Crescentini, Executive Director of Berkshire South regarding attending the town’s annual meeting on May 5, 2007 to discuss the large proposed budget increase request and she agreed to attend.
7. M. Storch offered his services to the board after he’s no longer a member of the board to further help the town get Cell Phone Service in addition to helping the rest of the town get high speed internet access. The remaining members agreed and would appreciate the help.
8. Georgeann Escher came in with questions about her dock permit she received from the State and about subdividing her property on Sylvan Rd. The board referred her to the Planning Board about subdividing and the Building Department and Conservation Commission regarding building a dock.
9. The board signed the HHWSteering Committee letter of intent to participate and will mail it today.
10. The board discussed the proposed area options for the Berkshire Connect Grant. The board agreed on the Fairview Rd/Main Rd/Blue Hill Rd/Beartown Mountain Rd loop.
The meeting adjourned at: 12:15pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe
Inter-Departmental Secretary
Town of Monterey
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