Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 4/26/10
Meeting Opened at: 4:00pm
Select Board Members Present: Scott Jenssen, Chairperson and Jon Sylbert
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Sue Protheroe for the Monterey News, Stanley Ross (Finance Committee), Richard and Marianne Jaffee, Donald Torrico (Building Commissioner), Michael Storch (Finance Committee) and Peter Vallianos
The board met with Director of Operations, Maynard Forbes to review the following items:
1. The Board spoke with M. Forbes about fixing the fence at the town beach.
2. The pole barn should be taken down and the beginning of the salt shed construction should begin next week.
3. The flagpole light has been fixed.
4. The picnic table at the dam is rotted and needs to be replaced. M. Forbes will remove it. The Board asked M. Noe to contact the Parks Department and ask them if they would replace it.
5. The crew has been busy with prepping the site for the new salt shed.
6. S. Jenssen stated that while at the transfer station on Sunday he notice that it’s in shambles and asked if the attendant or someone could straighten it up. It was suggested that the swap shop isn’t technically part of the transfer station and that the Solid Waste Committee should be responsible for manning it with volunteers or using someone from the senior tax program to work it. M. Noe will write a letter to the Solid Waste Committee regarding this. If seniors are interested in the senior tax program they should contact the Town Treasurer, Pat Mielke.
7. M.D. Amstead will be coming on Friday to fix the handrail.
8. The Board spoke to M. Forbes about installing a water fountain (drinking fountain) out back.
9. The stones on Fairview Rd were discussed.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. Warrants were signed.
2. Richard and Marianne Jaffee of Richard Chevrolet in Cheshire, CT. (also residents of Monterey) were present to present the Town with a check for $3500 from GM for costs incurred by the Town for repairs. He asked if there are any future problems with this particular truck to contact him directly first. M. Forbes noted that this was a great help as the truck was out of warranty. M. Forbes also noted how generous the Jaffee’s have been to the town, not just the highway department.
3. M. Noe’s weekly report was reviewed.
4. The Board asked M. Noe to contact Representative Pignatelli for a citation for Susan Anderson who is retiring this year.
5. Chief Backhaus was present to ask if it was ok to use some of the extra funds he has from the full time officer line item that wasn’t used when the position was vacant to replace the engine on the Trailblazer. The vehicle is in good condition otherwise and he felt it more fiscally responsible to replace the engine versus asking the town to purchase a new 4WD vehicle. The Finance Committee and the Select Board both agreed that this was a good idea and approved the request.
6. The Board stated that there have been several requests made to have the cruiser parked in front of the building versus on the side when an officer is in the building.
7. Donald Torrico and the Finance Committee met with the Board to discuss drafting an employment agreement which would state the terms and benefits of the position. Stan and Dan met with Don a few weeks ago and all were in agreement that a yearly contractual agreement was a good idea. The following terms were agreed upon:
a. The Building Commissioner job description was reviewed. It was asked if this would be the only employee agreement in existence. The Police Chief is the only other person that has a contract. It was also questioned if all the employees were appointed each year. The Highway Superintendent, Inter-Departmental Secretary, Police Department, Fire Department, Building Inspector and Accountant are all appointed by the Select Board. The Finance Committee will work with Don on drafting the contract.
b. On a separate note, M. Storch stated that years ago it was agreed that the basement was supposed to be renovated and really needs to be to remedy the mold issue and unfinished carpentry work.
8. Donald Torrico met with Town Counsel this morning about the proposed dog park and has determined that the current special permit for the WMH property would have to be reopened to allow the dog park use. A town meeting will also be necessary to rescind the original bylaw that bans dogs from all town parks or clarify which parks dogs are allowed at or not allowed at. Stan noted that the group in Egremont that constructed the dog park there raised their own money for fencing and going forward there is $1000/year on the budget to handle maintenance issues. Charlie Ferris and Dennis Downing have been made aware that if the dog park is approved it is not a matter of right at the moment to construct it.
9. Donald Torrico received a complaint about a contractor in town that has several containers and construction materials strewn about his property and it’s visible from the road. The complainant stated that she made the Building Inspector aware of this over a year ago and she has never received a response. Don stated that the bylaws state the he is the Building Commission but following up on these types of complaints are at the direction of the Select Board. Stan stated that the complainant has also come to the Assessors requesting that her assessment be reduced because her view of this mess lessens the value of her property. The property is located on a private road. The property in question is being used as a home occupation and Don stated that the materials and such should be
properly stored as required under the land use regulations. The Board agreed that Don should proceed with following up on the issue.
10. The Board and the Finance Committee discussed the SBRSD amendment article as well as the Wired West article.
11. Peter Vallianos came in at the request of the Select Board to discuss the proposed 2nd basketball court and donation of land from Nancy Torrico. There is a piece of land that the town thought was theirs but has determined that it’s not; Nancy is willing to gift that to the Town which will require a town meeting vote. The Board feels that if Nancy gave an easement instead of gifting any land would be easier. Peter Vallianos didn’t subscribe to the Board’s thinking on the easement. The Board discussed what part of the court would be considered a structure, is it the court itself or the basket/pole. It was noted that the current proposed location for this court is where the porta potty is currently located and where the softball and little league children
warm up. The Board also talked about an ideal location being on the triangle piece of land across from the beach or at the Wilson McLaughlin House.
12. D. Torrico noted that he’s been having printer issues and is unable to print building permits.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 5:42pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Inter-Departmental Secretary via tape recording
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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