Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 2/23/09
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, Robert Gauthier (Assessor), Stanley Ross (Assessor), Daniel Moriarity (Fin Comm), Robert Krupski (Plumbing Inspector), Rick Chase (Electrical Inspector), Jim Kern (Alternate Electrical Inspector) and Don Hopkins (Alternate Plumbing and Gas Inspector)
The board met with the Director of Highways, Maynard Forbes and reviewed the following items:
1. The Board reviewed an email compliant received from H. Maximon on Beartown Road regarding the storm yesterday and his opinion that there was a lack of plowing by the Town. M. Forbes suggested that Mr. Maximon drive through some surrounding Towns like New Marlborough and Tyringham to compare and see that all roads are bad during storms. He agreed that Fairview Rd was particularly difficult to maintain during Sunday’s storm but reminded everyone that it is a storm and people should whenever possible stay off the roads. M. Forbes stressed that we live in an area where roads are not going to be 100% clear and passable 100% of the time.
2. M. Forbes met with the FEMA/MEMA Core of Engineers about the December storm damage Monterey incurred. Monterey will be getting approximately $42,000 for the clean up that still needs to happen. The paperwork for the work already done hasn’t been submitted yet.
3. J. Sylbert stated that the phone line on Eaton Rd is on the ground and Verizon should be contacted. The Board asked M. Forbes for any complaints he has to contribute to the Department of Telecommunications that is debating opening an investigation into Verizon’s lack of service.
4. The Board signed the agreement to extend the fixed fuel option with Brown Oil under option B.
The board met with Building Inspector, Donald Torrico and reviewed the following items:
- D. Torrico provided the Board with some new departmental policies to become effective immediately.
- Primary Inspector -~The only individual who should request an inspection is the licensed individual who applied for the permit.~ Primary inspector is required to contact the building~commissioner if he cannot conduct an inspection or will be on leave.~Examples: Vacation, sickness, conflict of interest.
- Alternate Inspectors - Shall conduct inspections only after being contacted by the Primary Inspector or Building Commissioner.
- Compensation – No inspector will be compensated for his services nor should any invoice submittals be paid by the Town without the approval of the Building Commissioner.
- Building Permits: The yellow job site placard contains~remarks specific to the project.~ Read the remarks box before signing, some placards may be a "Foundation Only" permit and the correct permit may be elsewhere.~ It is important for the document to speak for itself so please sign and date the placard legibly if you have approved the work.~ Your initials on the sign- off are not sufficient.
- As a reminder all plumbing, gas and electrical permit applications and fees must be submitted directly to the Town Hall Inter-Departmental Secretary to be distributed to the appropriate inspector via email.
ii On electrical and plumbing/gas jobs that do not require a building permit, the original application (on file at the Town Hall) must be signed by the appropriate inspector when the job is completed.
- Mechanical Permit: 780 CMR requires a mechanical permit for all pressure vessels, HVAC systems and hydronic piping for some examples.~ Permits are required to be submitted to the building department as well as the electrical/plumbing/gas inspectors.~ The building official is required to review sizing, location, ventilation, energy code compliance and mechanical code compliance to name a few.~~You are required to~contact the building official if you believe an installation requires a permit issued under 780 CMR.
- Daily Log: It is important to document your inspections in a calendar or log book.~ Tracking your mileage at days end is also helpful on this document.~ An inspection form is available from our department to note non-compliant issues so that you and the licensed individual each have a copy.
- Mileage Reimbursement Form - Required to be submitted monthly to the Building Commissioner for approval who will then turn it over to the Accountant to be paid. For auditing purposes, attach your monthly inspection schedule for the auditor's review. Please note that your mileage reading should start and end at the Monterey Town line.
- Recordkeeping – All files are to be kept and stored at the town hall in the appropriate file located in the Building Department.
- The following recommendations were also made:
a. Raise the electrical inspection fee per inspection from $40 to $55. This rate would then be the same fee as the plumbing and gas inspections as well as re-inspections for plumbing, gas, electrical and building. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved this fee increase.
b. Create a separate budget line item “Alternate Inspectors” which would contain $500.00 to pay the alternate inspectors when they are required to perform inspections for the Plumbing & Gas Inspector, Building Inspector or Electrical Inspector. The Board discussed with the Building Commissioner what the “stipend” should be to the alternate when their services are required. The Building Commissioner and Inspectors all recommended that the per inspection “stipend” be $45.00 plus mileage. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved that an alternate be paid $45.00 per inspection plus mileage.
c. Continuing Education and Mileage Reimbursement: D. Torrico is going to come up with a realistic mileage figure and educational costs to determine if the current expense line items have enough in them.
- The Building Department requested that Town Counsel be asked if an inspector can be afforded the right to do work in the Town of Monterey as long as their work is inspected by the alternate. The Inspectors believe there is to be written permission given by the Select Board allowing this. D. Torrico believes that this needs to be a formal vote. M. Noe will ask Town Counsel tomorrow.
The board met with Fire Chief, Ray Tryon and reviewed the following items:
- Ray Tryon stated that he had a call from the Otis Ambulance Squad; they are talking about regionalizing the EMS and would like Monterey’s participation. There is a meeting scheduled for March 10th at 6pm and they would like a Select Board member present from Monterey. R. Tryon declined to give his opinion on what the Board should do. The Board asked why they should attend and R. Tryon stated that he was asked to deliver a message and was doing do. He suggested writing a letter to the Ambulance Squad in Otis if they aren’t interested and mention that they’ve already signed a commitment with the Southern Berkshire Volunteer Ambulance Squad (SBVAS). The Board unanimously agreed to continue with SBVAS and not join Otis as they felt there were more resources, training and experience
there. A letter will be sent to the Otis Ambulance Squad informing them of this decision.
The board met with Town Accountant, Barbara Gauthier to review the following items:
1. Warrants were signed.
2. The Board will recommend the following budget figures to the Finance Committee:
a. Select Board Elected & Expenses (122): $12,900 and $4,500 level funded
b. Town Reserve Fund (132): $30,000 level funded
c. Temporary Employee (124): lowered to $1 from $100, this has not been used in 5 years
d. Town Office (196): $30,000 level funded
e. Computer Supplies and Software (197) $5,000 level funded
f. School Capital (310): as of right now it is $155,830.34 down $13,138.66 from last year. The Operating is $884,455 as of right now down $44,562 from last year.
g. So. Berkshire Waste District (431): $3,129.00 level funded
h. Berkshire South (531): $2,000 down from $2,500
i. I Love Monterey (640): $500 level funded
j. Lakefest (964): $2,500 level funded
k. Memorial Day (692): $1,500 level funded
l. Stabilization (996): $50,000 level funded
m. Town Accountant (135): Barbara asked to be level funded at $16,000
n. Inter-Departmental Secretary (159): given a 3% COLA to $39,999.02 which was made an even $40,000
o. Highway Department personnel requests were given to M. Forbes to fill in at his request.
3. The Board reviewed the N.E. COLA (4%) and decided that the average and fair amount to give to employees this year would be 3%. Jon spoke with Gt. Barrington which is considering offering 3% to non-union employees and Egremont is considering giving 2% to their employees. The Board instructed M. Noe to change the figures on the FY10 budget spreadsheet for those departments that requested more than 3% in salary increases. D. Moriarity of the Finance Committee was present and requested that a copy of this spreadsheet be sent to him.
4. W. Burkhardt asked if he could put in for mileage reimbursement when he drives to meetings concerning the town. B. Gauthier answered yes and that it comes out of the Select Board expense line item.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. Stanley Ross and Robert Gauthier came in to have the Board sign the document needed from the classification hearing held on January 26th, 2009. The Board of Assessors are not sure yet but they believe that the new tax rate will be 5.21 per thousand up from 5.10 per thousand. The excess levy capacity is $193,660.84 according to the Assessors.
2. The Board discussed tonight’s special school committee meeting and the meeting scheduled for this Thursday. The Board expressed their concerns with the school committee hiring the interim superintendent without having a search for a permanent superintendent which should’ve been done at the end of a fiscal year not in the middle of an interim superintendent’s first budget negotiation.
3. The Board approved the 2.9.09 minutes as written.
4. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. Susan Sellew’s resignation from the Wilson McLaughlin House Committee.
b. Request from the Sheffield Kiwanis for a 2 mile stretch of road to be cleaned up on Sunday, April 5th. The Board decided that they’d like Rt 23 starting at the Hayloft Gallery to Curtis Rd done; M. Noe will contact the Kiwanis and let them know.
c. The Board signed the letter of intent to participate in the household hazardous waste collection program for the 2010 Fiscal Year.
5. The Board signed a memorandum of understanding with the Southern Berkshire Volunteer Ambulance Squad to provide primary emergency medical care and transport to the closest appropriate hospital for the Citizens of Monterey.
6. The Board reviewed the 4 quotes to purchase/lease a new copier. The Board agreed that the price was good and it would be appropriate to upgrade the machine but preferred to wait to purchase it until May at the request of the Town Accountant. M. Noe will call the company tomorrow and see if the price can be guaranteed until then.
7. Jon Sylbert and Scott Jenssen agreed to approve the Earth Removal Permit for Tryon Construction. W. Burkhart recused himself due to a conflict of interest.
8. The Board unanimously approved the purchase of a new laptop for the Building Department.
9. A motion was made to put the following policy into effect: “The Selectmen have determined that elected town officials who do not regularly work twenty hours per week will no longer be eligible for participation in the town’s group health insurance plan as of July 1, 2009, the beginning of the town’s next fiscal year and to rescind any prior votes and terminate any prior policies or determinations that provided coverage to elected town officials who do not regularly work 20 hours per week.” The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. A memo will be sent to the Town Accountant, Town Treasurer and those elected officials that this will affect.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 6:17pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Inter-Departmental Secretary
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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