Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 6/15/09
Meeting Opened at: 4:00pm
Select Board Members Present: Scott Jenssen, Chairperson, Jon Sylbert and Wayne Burkhart
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Sue Protheroe for the Monterey News, Kyle Pierce, Michael Storch (Finance Committee & Employee Compensation Committee), Linda Thorpe (Town Clerk) and Janet Cathcart (Employee Compensation Committee)
The board met with Police Chief, Gareth Backhaus to review the following items:
1. False alarm on Main Rd.
2. Assisted with loose cows on Steven’s Lake.
3. There was a disturbance at the pavilion during the property auction held on Saturday; the person had to be escorted out.
4. Accompanied a resident to her house to remove some personal items.
5. Assisted GBPD with a missing person search.
6. More noise complaints have been received from the same resident on Art School Rd. The resident also called the Chief to state that the facts being reported were inaccurate; the reports state she is calling 2-3 times a week and she wants it corrected that she is actually calling police dispatch to complain every night. Chief Backhaus reminded the Board that DEP made a site visit last year and did not find anything while they were there. The Art School Rd resident originally complained that it was a transformer making the noise but when National Grid put a new rubber pad under it and shut the transformer off, the resident still claimed to hear the noise. The Monterey News reporter offered to call the resident to correct the facts stated in the Monterey News. Everyone agreed that this
is not a police department issue and that the people responsible for looking into it (DEP) have responded to the resident and found nothing.
7. Kyle Pierce, resident on Lake Buel came in to discuss police patrolling at the Lake Buel boat ramp. She provided the Board with a handwritten copy of the rules that are posted on the sign at the boat ramp. She stated that when the ramp was installed in 1970, the residents were told it was strictly a boat ramp but this has not been the case. There was an issue a few weeks ago with a fire started under the conveyor belt for the weed wacker. The officer that responded told them to move the fire to a container which they did in the back of their truck while continuing to party. After a second call to the police an officer had them extinguish the fire and leave. Kyle stated that people come to picnic, fish, loiter, and congregate which are all illegal. Fishing derbies require
a permit issued through the state but the town is supposed to be notified. The boat launch is only to be used to launch boats. Kyle requested that there be a bigger police presence and enforcement of the rules. She also requested that the Select Board petition the Public Access Board to place another sign stating no parking beyond this point (she stated where it would be useful) and a no loitering sign. Chief Backhaus stated that the police are supposed to patrol the boat ramp every hour on the weekends and he will remind the other officers of this policy. Sue Protheroe requested that a “carry your own trash out” sign be placed there as well and Chief Backhaus suggested that a “no littering” sign with the posted fine for an offense might be more effective. Maynard Forbes noted that the water quality “hump” that was installed was supposed to be installed, inspected and cleaned out on a yearly basis by the Mass
Highway department and to date this has never been done. Maynard noted that because it hasn’t been cleaned out the water is just discharging back into the lake. A letter was written to the Public Access Board requesting signage.
The board met with Director of Operations, Maynard Forbes to review the following items:
1. Another complaint was received from H. Maximon on Beartown Mtn Rd about the storm clean up not being completed. M. Forbes stated there is one more day of work left on Beartown and if all goes well and no other emergencies present themselves, it will be completed this week.
2. The Board and M. Forbes reviewed a letter from an attorney representing residents in the Steven’s Lake development claiming that storm water drainage repair work that was done on Route 23 is going to cause a large volume of water to discharge onto his client’ properties at a high velocity. The attorney claims that the result of the work has a potential of causing serious damage to his clients’ land, homes, water supply and utilities to their homes. The attorney’s clients intend to hold the Town liable for any and all damages that may be suffered as a result of the work performed. M. Forbes has met with Town Counsel on the matter and reviewed his response with the Board. M. Forbes noted that the culvert/pipe in question was installed over 20 years ago. The
attorney has requested a meeting with the Board, DPW Superintendent, the Town’s engineer and representatives of his clients. The Board felt that Town Counsel should respond to the complainant’s letter.
3. Weekly report was reviewed.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. The minutes from 6.8.09 were approved as written.
2. After confirming with Monica Webb and Michael Storch it was concluded that there was no longer need for a Monterey Broadband Committee as Monterey has representation on the Southern Berkshire Technology Committee. The Committee has been disbanded.
3. The Board reviewed a set of plans from the group proposing to put a new basketball court behind the town hall to be dedicated in James Bogdanoff’s memory. The Board was not comfortable with the proposed location and the notes to keep the existing basketball court in addition to the new one and asked M. Noe to have one of the representatives to come in to discuss this further.
4. Janet Cathcart and Michael Storch, members of the Employee Compensation Committee were asked to come in to give their input on how to become more astute in the employee review process. A protocol should be established that the employees can be counted on. The Select Board noted that they only perform reviews with the Director of Operations, Police Chief, Inter-Departmental Secretary and Town Accountant. The employees of the Police Department and Highway Department should be evaluated by their respective managers and then reviewed with the Select Board. The Board needs to decide what the end purpose is of the evaluations; i.e., a pat on the back, merit raises, etc. The Board has not made these decisions yet. “Step charts” for positive evaluations were discussed.
Janet suggested that the standards set for the evaluations and its process need to be publicized so there isn’t an outcry at the town meeting when performance raises are given. Standards for new hires and where they come in on a pay scale need to be established. It was questioned how other towns implement their merit raises, pay scales, etc. It was also questioned as to whether or not there was a guideline for municipal employees set by the State. Wayne suggested that more research needed to be done. It was agreed that cost of living increases are to be across the board (same for everyone) and that the performance reviews should be to set or adjust goals and modify job descriptions according to the needs of the town and to define what’s expected of the employee/position.
5. Linda Thorpe, Town Clerk came in at the Board’s request to discuss sharing the duties of selling fishing and hunting licenses with the Inter-Departmental Secretary to fill the need of requests being made during the weekdays. Linda Thorpe stated that there are so few sold from her office that it wouldn’t be worth while. Linda Thorpe was reminded that since 2006 there have been approximately 45 requests (about 15 per year) that aren’t being fulfilled and the people are being sent elsewhere. Linda stated that there are 25 licenses in a book and her office is issued 2 books a year. Scott asked Linda if she would be increasing her hours at the town hall and Linda stated she will be sticking with the 4-6pm schedule on Wednesdays and 9:30 – 12:30pm for now. Linda
asked M. Noe if there are certain days or hours during the day that would be helpful to have the Town Clerk available in the office while she’s here. M. Noe agreed it would be helpful to have the Town Clerk here during the week (maybe 11-1) but could not say which day was a better option. The Board felt that if the town’s needs were being met with regards to issuing licenses for fishing and hunting then no change should be made but if they weren’t then maybe the duties should be shared. Someone also suggested that the Monterey General Store may want to apply to the Department of Fish and Game to sell licenses there. After some discussion, Linda declined to share the duties. The Board asked M. Noe to contact the Department of Fish and Game again to request an additional book be issued to her office.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 5:54pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Inter-Departmental Secretary
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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