Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 2/9/09
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, Joel Schick (LCC), Dianna Downing (LCC), Rodney Palmer (Public Boat Ramp Committee), Kenn Basler, Gerry Shapiro (WMH Committee), Brian Puntin (Public Boat Ramp Committee), Cynthia Weber (WMH Committee), Joe Baker (WMH Committee), Gige O’Connell (WMH Committee), Shirley Olds (WMH Committee) and Evelyn Vallianos (WMH Committee)
The board met with the Director of Highways, Maynard Forbes and reviewed the following items:
1. W. Burkhart asked M. Forbes to remove the dead Maple tree just beyond the transfer station. He also let him know of 2 others that he’s not sure if they are on town property or on Gould Farm property; M. Forbes will check them out.
2. Weekly report was reviewed.
3. The 93 Mack Truck R – Series package to accept bids to sell it was reviewed and approved. March 9th is the tentative date to open the bids, ads will be placed in the local newspapers. Minimum bid will be $12,000.
4. J. Sylbert asked if there was anymore pushing back that could be done on the dirt roads; M. Forbes stated it’s still pretty hard but the crew is working on it.
5. A resident questioned why large trucks were allowed to use little Hupi Rd and it was suggested that signs should be posted not allowing large trucks as another car can not pass at the same time. Forbes will post a “no thru trucks” sign on both ends.
6. The crew cold patched some of the pot holes around town.
7. The Board and M. Forbes discussed Mr. Aloisi’s upcoming visit to Berkshire County. An invitation is going to be extended to Mr. Aloisi to come see and discuss our salt shed needs.
8. The new truck is working well.
The board met with Inter-Departmental Secretary, Melissa Noe to review the following items:
1. Weekly report was reviewed.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. The minutes from 2.2.09 were approved as written.
2. Mail was reviewed:
a. Resignation from Chandler Crawford from the Parks Commission was received.
3. Joel Schick and Dianna Downing of the Local Cultural Council came in to recommend an appointment to the Local Cultural Council and to discuss the appointment process. Another question raised was the amount of seats the LCC can have, currently there are 8 and it was confirmed that a Local Cultural Council can have up to 22. Interested appointments should be made in writing to the Select Board, the Board will then make the appointment(s) and then the appointees can be sworn in by the Town Clerk. Joel recommended 3 people that they’d like appointed to the LCC (letters will be sent once mailing addresses are provided). A motion was made to appoint Kit Patten, Susan Johnson and Wendy Jensen, the motion was seconded and unanimously approved. The Massachusetts Cultural Council was
also called to confirm that it should be three year terms for a maximum of two years and not two year terms for a maximum of three terms as the appointment list had stated.
4. Memos from Christine Regan, Business Administrator for SBRSD were reviewed.
5. The Special Town Meeting the Planning Board has requested has been set for Thursday, April 2nd at 7pm. M. Noe will notify the Planning Board members of the date. A use request form has been submitted to the Firehouse.
6. The Board approved color choice #252 for the FY10’s transfer station stickers.
7. A letter was written to the Chair of the School Committee and cc’d to all school committee members, the superintendent and surrounding town select boards.
8. The Board reviewed the quotes received from Berkshire Graphics on replacing the current office copier. The Board had additional questions and requested that the Town Accountant attend the next meeting to review what’s been spent to date out of the Town Office expense account.
9. Kenn Basler came in to give an update on the status of the Monterey General Store and the fundraising efforts to date. There has been approximately $16,000 raised in scrip and more in low interest loans. Kenn has begun to purchase new equipment that is already lowering his electric bill. There will be an article in the March Monterey News with more information. Kenn expressed what a great community Monterey is.
10. Members of the Public Boat Ramp Committee met with the Board to review the final outcome of the Foresight Land Services survey. Foresight is scheduled to meet with Town Counsel who will then advise the Town how to proceed. A new additional option has come up and the Board presented it to the Committee to review. The Board requested that the Committee review and research the new option.
11. Members of the Wilson McLaughlin House Committee met with the Board to discuss the following:
a. Since the probate court decision came down the Committee has gotten estimates to fix up Edith’s house to open it to the public. The proposed project is much smaller than the previous Community Center proposal and will utilize the existing building versus building a new one. The Architect has been working with the Building Inspector to determine what would be required under the building code. A local contractor has been asked to give an estimate for the main floor only; this came in at $81,000 (ballpark and includes a worst case scenario estimate for replacing the heating system). Rob Hoogs has been asked for an estimate to update the septic system; approx. $20,000. The Committee is assuming that the town will honor their previous
agreement to maintain the driveway and landscaping. The Committee is looking to proceed and is in the process of putting together a building permit application. The roof needs to be replaced and will be first on the list of things to be done. After that fundraising will begin. The Committee would like to rework the lease agreement due to a smaller scale of work or a present a new memorandum of understanding. W. Burkhart asked about the operating costs and if that has been taken into consideration. The Committee is under the assumption that once the upgrades have been made that it would be managed and run by the Town. Parking needs were questioned. The building could accommodate 49 people. The current lease was reviewed and it was determined that if it was to be modified, the Select Board will need to understand the responsibilities to the town and the taxpayers. The Committee is going to talk it over and come up with some
ideas and will meet with the Board again in a few weeks. The Board wants to know what the Committee’s visions are and what they are going to cost.
b. The auctioning of the paintings and rugs was discussed. No one was crazy about this idea but a new home needs to be found as the owners of the items current locations do not want them in their homes anymore. Gige thought that the Bidwell House may want to house the rugs. If the roof is fixed at the EWH the rugs and paintings could be stored there. Cynthia suggested that the Historical Commission may also be interested in having a few in their buildings. The Committee will follow up with the Bidwell House and Historical Commission.
c. Joe asked if the Board would be amenable to waiving the building permit fee for the application process; the Board agreed. M. Noe will let D. Torrico know.
12. The Board asked M. Noe to follow up and confirm with Town Counsel on questions they had on the Board of Registrar’s Clerk position and the Assistant Town Clerk appointing authority.
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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