Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 4/9/07
Meeting Opened at: 8:30am
Select Board Members Present: Michael Storch, Chairperson, Wayne Burkhart and Jonathan Sylbert
The board met with the Director of Highways, Maynard Forbes and reviewed the following items:
1. Weekly report reviewed.
2. A bill for $400 was received for an elevator inspection from the state. M. Forbes was under the impression that fees were waived for municipalities. M. Forbes spoke with someone at the office and was informed that everyone was charged. M. Forbes suggested that one of the board members speak with Representative Smitty Pignatelli. The board decided to first write a letter to the elevator company that sent the bill.
3. Tree branches from the storm last month were cleaned up.
4. State Police asked the highway department to salt last week as they felt the roads were icy; the highway crew obliged their request but did not find any ice.
5. Crosswalk signs were put back out in the center of town.
6. The electric company will move the light at the shed so that it isn’t shining directly on the road, shining in the drivers’ eyes that are approaching that direction.
7. J. Sylbert questioned why the transfer station wasn’t open yesterday, since the attendant commented to M. Storch on Saturday that he would be open.
8. M. Forbes presented a grant for the firehouse that needs to be signed by the board.
The board met with Police Chief, Gareth Backhaus to review the following items:
1. The recommendations from Town Counsel and the Mass Chief’s Attorney regarding the citizen petition submitted were discussed. The way Chapter 41 Section 97 and 97A reads is that the Chief is responsible for directing his people but the Select Board can write policies for the department.
2. The new speed trailer acquired through a police grant was put out in the center of town this weekend.
3. False alarms at Wellman Rd, Swann Rd and at the Roadside Grill.
4. Lockout on New Marlboro Rd.
5. DMV on Tyringham Rd.
9:30 – 10:30am Finalize and sign warrant
Also present: D. Moriarity of the Finance Committee, D. Mielke, Chairperson of the Finance Committee, D. Mielke of the School Committee and Town Accountant Barbara Gauthier
1. J. Sylbert stated that he was informed by someone that had watched the Sheffield Selectman’s meeting tape that the Board of Selectman made a decision at their 4.2.07 meeting regarding the school district’s operating budget that would impact the town’s budget dramatically. See correspondence received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education “Guidance for Regional School Districts”, Letter from the Sheffield Board of Selectmen dated April 3, 2007 and correspondence from Murphy, Lamere & Murphy, P.C. dated April 6, 2007. The Select Board will be meeting with the 5 towns tomorrow at 4pm at the
Sheffield Town Hall.
2. D. Moriarity asked about the Citizen Petition and whether or not this was the proper format/venue to submit this request. It was explained that as long as there are 10 resident signatures on the petition it has to be put on the town meeting warrant but it is non-binding. J. Sylbert noted that part of the problem is that there is inadequate parking in town and that’s an issue that needs to be addressed.
3. D. Moriarity asked that everyone send him electronically any documents that they would like to be part of his presentation at the Town Meeting. He also asked that a member of the library trustees come to the informational town meeting.
The board met with Town Accountant, Barbara Gauthier to review the following items:
1. Since next Monday is a holiday the warrants for the week ending 4.13.07 will be ready on Tuesday 4.17.07.
2. B. Gauthier asked the board how to handle a bill received from the Town Clerk’s office to reprint 150 copies of the Town Zoning Bylaws at Kwik Print for $319.00. She questioned paying the bill since there are items on the warrant that would change the bylaws if approved and if an electronic copy were to be provided to the Inter-Departmental Secretary they could be posted on the town website and printed by anyone at their convenience at no charge. W. Burkhart stated that he felt that the Town Clerk shouldn’t be responsible for printing these books that the Planning Board should be. The board agreed that it wasn’t an approved
purchase and instructed B. Gauthier to first check with M. Leonard to be sure she didn’t ask for them to be printed. A letter requesting electronic copies of the 2 bylaw books was sent to the Town Clerk.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. The board discussed the recent correspondence from the Sheffield Board of Selectman regarding the school operating budget and recent events.
2. B. Puntin came in to talk about public boat access for Lake Garfield. He thinks that mooring may be an option and he will speak with D. Amidon about that. The Select Board explained that a proposal was brought in to put a launch on the north side of the tubes but this did not go over well with the person believed to own the property. The board was reminded that there was a meeting held here some time ago (approx. 6 years ago) with the access board and at that time there was discussion as to who really owned that property and it was inferred by the access board that the actual owner is not the owner of record listed (town counsel is
researching the title and deed). The board confirmed that it is a Great Pond but the entire small part of the lake and beach are owned and controlled by the town. Potential parking areas/issues were also discussed. The board will set up a night meeting to discuss this further with all interested parties.
3. The board was reminded that Monday the 16th is a holiday and the town hall will be closed and no meetings will be held.
4. The warrant was finalized, signed and given to the Town Clerk.
5. R. Tryon came in to comment on the effectiveness of the speed sign that is currently located in the center of town.
6. Town Counsel faxed over the article wording for an amendment to the town bylaws by adding section 1.1 to ARTICLE 1. Town Meeting to include the procedure for approving the minutes taken. After discussing the situation the board felt that since all other boards have a procedure to approve their meeting minutes, there weren’t any negative repercussions to adding this to the warrant and unanimously approved adding the article.
The meeting adjourned at: 12:18pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe
Inter-Departmental Secretary
Town of Monterey
cc: Website
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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