Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 8/18/08
Meeting Opened at: 4:00pm
Select Board Members Present: Wayne Burkhart, Chairperson, Scott Jenssen and Jon Sylbert
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Sue Protheroe for the Monterey News, Robert Lazzarini (ZBA and Board of Assessors), Barbara Swann (Town Clerk), Maggie Barkin and Michele Miller
The board met with Inter-Departmental Secretary, Melissa Noe to review the following items:
1. Weekly reports for the last 2 weeks were reviewed.
a. M. Noe expressed her concerns about comments that have been made to her regarding her availability. The Board expressed that they have no problem with M. Noe’s hours (which were set and approved by the Board) and her availability and that they are very appreciative of the advance notice she gives the Board when requesting to take a personal or vacation day.
b. M. Noe informed the Board of the bat (the flying kind) that was found in the upstairs bathroom in the toilet. Its removal was taken care of by our Highway Department crew.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. The minutes from 8.4.08 & 8.11.08 were approved as written.
2. Mail was reviewed.
3. Town warrants were signed.
4. Documents left by Pat Mielke, Treasurer were signed and taken by the Town Clerk. Barbara Swann, Town Clerk also brought in documents regarding the September primary elections for the Board to sign.
5. Robert Lazzarini came in to discuss the following with the Board:
a. Update on the recent meeting with a software company that has the ability to put the Assessor’s maps online. This company also has a program entitled “Total Permit” which allows permits to be applied for online but is still in the design stages. The Board asked the Inter-Departmental Secretary’s opinion on the permitting portion as she attended the initial meeting for the Building Department and with regards to Transfer Station Stickers. M. Noe did not feel that it would be worthwhile for Monterey at this time due to several fees that would be assessed in addition to the permit fee to the resident for the convenience
of using a credit card (a percentage of the permit fee must be paid to the credit card company and then there is a flat fee to the software company for hosting the data). The company offered to let Monterey be a beta tester for a program designed to meet a small town’s needs. The Select Board wants to discuss the permitting portion with the Building Commissioner prior to giving the Assessor’s the ok.
b. Post Office ZBA application: the Board is concerned about the potential parking problem that the variance might create if it’s approved. The project will cause 2 ½ parking spaces to be lost and an issue with the postal service delivery truck backing into traffic twice a day. S. Jenssen suggested that the Post Office should be moved to a better location and J. Sylbert suggested that with this application it may be the time for the Board to get involved and begin discussions about using other town owned properties for municipal purposes. R. Lazzarini suggested that a committee should be formed to make recommendations regarding
parking. The ZBA hearing will be held on Wednesday, August 27th. The Board wrote a memo to the ZBA asking that the hearing be continued until the Select Board can form a committee to determine the impact on the Town of Monterey.
6. Maggie Barkin, resident of Main Rd, Monterey came in to follow up with the Board on her landscaping request between the Town Hall and her home which abuts Greene Park. No surveyed plans have been found to determine the actual property lines. M. Forbes made a site visit today and didn’t have a problem with the plants to be planted and their proposed location. Ms. Barkin asked if the Tree Wardens budget could cover the planting costs (the Board agreed if the plants were planted on the Town’s property). The Board will notify the Parks Commission to inform them of the plans to close the gap between the properties. A letter
will be sent to Roger Tryon letting him know that the Board has approved the plantings on the property.
7. Michele Miller, resident of Harmon Rd came in to make a formal complaint regarding the bridge on New Marlboro Rd and the planks that are splintered and sticking straight up. M. Noe informed the Board that she also made a formal complaint via an email to M. Forbes regarding this about a week ago out of concern of the planks popping a tire on someone’s vehicle. The Board sent a memo to M. Forbes stating that they’d like to discuss the problem and potential solutions at next week’s meeting.
8. The Board called and left a message for Leroy Thorpe, Chair of the Parks Commission regarding 2 wasp nests that are on one of the playground pieces. Linda Thorpe said she’d pass the message along and rope off the equipment until it can be sprayed.
9. The Board reviewed the email from CET regarding a grant and they are interested in the rain barrels and recycling bins, M. Noe will fill out the online response form to the best of her ability and forward it to M. Forbes to complete.
10. The Board received another business reward through Verizon and agreed to give this one to D. Torrico, Building Commissioner as a thank you for all of his efforts.
11. A call was made to KSA-MASS and a message was left for the owners, Marc or Christine White regarding the rumor that they are intending to host weddings on-site (one as soon as 2 weeks from today). The Town wanted to make Marc White aware that if alcohol is to be served they will need to apply for a liquor license and if food is to be served the caterer will need to apply for a food services permit with the Board of Health. The Board is also concerned with the fact they are planning on hosting events beyond the camp use without having met the compliance of the open permits still out there with the Building Commissioner and Board of Health.
12. The Board discussed the meeting held last week with G. Backhaus and M. Forbes and their disappointment with the Select Board changing their status from “member” to “advisory member” on the Employee Compensation Committee. The Board still feels strongly that employees sitting on the Committee and making recommendations on their own salaries is a direct conflict of interest. The Board agreed that the employees can help with the research of comparable positions in surrounding towns. The Board is going to contact Jeremia Pollard, Town Counsel to ask if having employees sit on this committee is a conflict of interest.
13. The Board agreed that M. Forbes should lock in to Brown Oil’s heating oil price.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 6:00pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Inter-Departmental Secretary
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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