Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 2/8/10
Meeting Opened at: 4:00pm
Select Board Members Present: Scott Jenssen (arrived at 4:20), Chairperson, Jon Sylbert and Wayne Burkhart
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Sue Protheroe for the Monterey News, Michael Storch (Finance Committee), Kenneth Basler, Stanley Ross (Finance Committee), Raymond Tryon (Fire Chief), Monica Webb and Steven Pullen
The board met with Town Accountant, Barbara Gauthier to review the following items:
1. Warrants were signed.
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 2.1.10 were approved as written.
2. The Board held a hearing for a new application applied for under MGL c.138 for an all alcoholic beverage store license at 448 Main Rd (Scott Jenssen was not present for the hearing). No abutters or members of the public were present to oppose the issuance of the license. A motion was made by Wayne Burkhart to close the hearing as there were no public comments or objections. The motion was seconded by Jonathan Sylbert and therefore unanimously approved. Another motion was made to grant the license, the motion was seconded and unanimously approved by the members present (Jonathan Sylbert and Wayne Burkhart).
3. Stanley Ross and Michael Storch of the Finance Committee, Barbara Gauthier, Town Accountant and the Board discussed the following FY11 budget items:
a. The Select Board was unaware that the Highway Department was requesting a new Ford F550 cab & chassis for $92,000. The Finance Committee provided the Select Board with the budget requests. M. Forbes’ request states that the 2000 F550 truck will be replaced. The 2005 will now become the backup truck. J. Sylbert noted that Monterey is the only Town that spends more money on their roads (Public Works and Facilities total budget) than their schools. Jon and Michael both felt that the trucks we currently have should be run longer. Jon stated that Monterey is probably going to need an override within the next 2 years if we continue to replace trucks every 7 years and due to the school’s operating budget. The Finance Committee stated that the
current schedule should be modified if the replacement timeframes don’t currently suit Monterey’s needs and this needs to be explained to the Director of Operations by the Select Board. B. Gauthier also stated that we really need to find out when the fire trucks are going to be replaced; according to the schedule it looks like it would be in 2013. M. Storch stated that if the replacement truck weren’t approved, it was likely that the maintenance budget would need to go up $15,000 to cover repairs to the trucks currently owned by the Town. M. Storch noted that 70% of our budget is paid by 2nd homeowner’s who can’t vote at town meeting and they appreciate the clear roads and would most likely support the purchase of the new truck. Scott asked what the specs on the truck were and if there were items that could be downgraded or excluded; M. Forbes will be asked to provide this to the Board. B. Gauthier stated that
if the truck is purchased it shouldn’t be a debt exclusion. For now it will be left on the spreadsheet as a special article.
b. It was requested that there be an article on the town meeting warrant to vote to put a 5 year moratorium on giving reduction in taxes/property values to 61B applicants. 61B applicants receive significant reductions in taxes and property valuations on as little as a 5 acre continuous parcel.
c. Salt Shed: $71,000 was added as a special article to begin construction of the salt shed (approval to borrow this money was approved at a previous town meeting). Stan recommended that the loan for the salt shed should be longer than 5 years (which is what the Treasure provided with regards to payments and amortization). Barb disagreed because you don’t know if you will be borrowing or financing other items during that extra time frame.
d. Revolving Fund for the Building Inspector: This wouldn’t add any money to the budget; any funds that come in would be paid out of this account but the account should be created to deal with any additional time spent on inspecting camps beyond the normal hours of the Building Department.
e. Raises: If a 3% raise were given to the 6 full time select board appointed employees (Highway Department (4), Police Chief and Inter-Departmental Secretary) the increase would be $8,583 (less than $0.02 added to the tax rate). Wayne questioned what the rest of the country was getting for COLA. Michael stated that Social Security isn’t getting a COLA, why should the employees.
f. Stan spoke to Pat Mielke about setting up a meeting with MIIA to discuss insurance as well as soliciting quotes from other insurance vendors. Pat has heard that health insurance will be increased by approximately 9% but this has not been confirmed. For budgeting purposes the Board estimated a 9% increase. Nothing is known on bonds and insurance and if there will be an increase or not. A meeting is being scheduled with MIIA, the Finance Committee and Pat for March.
g. Tree Warden: The Tree Warden requested a $9,260 increase ($3,150 of it would be a new line item “Tree Warden Salary”. The Finance Committee questioned what the Highway Department would be giving up for the Tree Warden to assume these new responsibilities. With the Tree Warden’s requested increase the Highway Department zeroed out the tree removal line item. No one had an issue with the Tree Warden now receiving a salary and felt that if his responsibilities were to be increased to take care of items other than planting trees, he should be paid for his time and this is allowed under MGL c.87 §2. The Tree Warden and Director of Operations did speak on the issue and came up with the new proposal together.
h. Library: The Finance Committee noted that the library has seen a large increase in usage and therefore they support any requests made for an increase in their budget.
i. Town Clerk Expenses: The Clerk requested a $350 increase and Barbara noted that she has only spent $662 of her expenses so far. The Finance Committee wanted to level fund her. Last year the previous Town Clerk left $1,300 of the $4,650 allotted for expenses. Both the Fin Comm and Select Board agreed to level fund it for this year.
j. The Select Board and Finance Committee cut the Animal Control Officer expenses to $500. Both Boards talked about zeroing out the salary but refrained until further discussions could be had with the Board of Health, ACO and Police Department. No budget requests were received from the ACO (they were mailed to her address on file). The Board questioned why they were mailed when she has an internal mailbox; it was noted that this box isn’t checked on a regular basis.
k. Conversations ensued around whether or not the Cemetery Mowing should be put out to bid. Steven Pullen of the Cemetery Committee stated that this is the last year of a 3 year contract. The Boards stated that the cemetery mowing contract should not be for 3 years, any municipal contracts can only be for 1 year with an option to extend.
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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