Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 8/2/10
Meeting Opened at: 4:45pm
Select Board Members Present: Jonathan Sylbert, Chairperson, Wayne Burkhart, and Scott Jenssen
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Sue Protheroe for the Monterey News, Daniel Moriarity (Fin Comm), Michael Storch (Fin Comm), Stanley Ross (Fin Comm) and Gary Shaw (Parks Committee)
The board met with Director of Operations, Maynard Forbes to review the following items:
1. Salt shed should be paved tomorrow. Jon suggested having a “ribbon cutting” to show off the new storage area. Everyone agreed that this was a good idea.
2. Culvert on Fairview Rd had to be dug out; beavers plugged it up.
3. Maynard marked out where he and Joe Baker worked out a proposed entrance at the Wilson McLaughlin property. The proposed entrance would be off of RT 23 which has a lot of people concerned about the safety of cars leaving there, traveling on Main Rd and turning off of New Marlboro Rd. The WMH Committee doesn’t want the parking lot near the house. The Board will review the options at a later meeting since none are in agreeance on where the driveway should be.
4. Jon asked where we were on our capital schedule. M. Forbes gave a list of his plans for this year and next. He’ll bring in an updated schedule. Holes are currently being patched on RT 23. There will be culverts replaced on short Hupi (2) and one on Beartown.
5. Transfer station complaints received; M. Forbes has spoken with the attendant and it seems to be much cleaner up there.
6. Central A/C for the town hall offices: M. Forbes will get an estimate to see the approximate cost and if the Board wants to proceed. If it’s decided to go forward we’ll request 3 written bids from 3 vendors.
The board met with Town Accountant, Steven Pullen and members of the Finance Committee to review the following items:
1. Steve provided the Board with the analysis they requested of fire department calls and monies paid out per call. This also included education. The Board, Finance Committee and Steve discussed the options for covering the $16k the Fire Department went over in FY10. The Board asked the Committee if they were satisfied with the reports they received which stated that there were more calls, more men on average showing up to calls and there was an increase in firefighters joining the department.
Wayne questioned whether there was enough money in the FY11 budget should the Fire Department run into this issue again. Ray did not ask for an increase from FY10. The Finance Committee noted that when budget discussions ensued in February Ray did not want an increase and stated that $60k was enough.
The Finance Committee suggested that Ray should be spoken to about how he’s going to adjust his expenditures so that he doesn’t go over the allocated $60k again.
The Board, Finance Committee and Accountant agreed that a public meeting with the Fire Chief to discuss this was in order. The Board reviewed the pay sheets and noticed that the officers get paid an additional stipend in addition to the per call pay, totaling an extra $8,400/year for the officers even if no calls were responded to. The Board questioned if officer compensation was acceptable to a “volunteer” fire department. The Wed. night trainings were discussed. There were also questions on whether or not payment for these trainings was taxable.
The Finance Committee approved the transfer from the reserve fund. The Board requested the per firefighter pay for the last year from the Town Accountant.
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 7.26.10 were approved as written.
2. Warrants were signed.
3. The Board accepted Laurily Epstein’s resignation from the Monterey Cultural Council.
4. The Board reviewed the request for a one day special event alcohol permit for the Bidwell House Museum for an event on August 7th from 4-7pm. The permit was approved. The Board agreed to waive the fee for this permit.
5. The Board reviewed the amended town bylaws regarding no dogs being allowed at the town beach or town park. The Parks Commission is going to suggest an amendment that would prohibit dogs from the town beach and all town parks except as where designated that dogs are allowed. Wayne asked if Parks Commissions can make regulations instead of bylaws or if bylaws are needed as a backup to enforce the regulations (this will be looked into). Scott asked if the Parks Committee has any intention of covering/managing this property once it becomes a park; Gary seemed to feel that it would fall under their jurisdiction once it becomes a park. The Board suggested that the Parks Commission look up the MGL’s regarding forming parks commissions and their powers.
6. The Board discussed Sarah Hudson’s request last week, the board is still considering it.
7. The Board discussed the survey received from DCR; this will be reviewed next week and is due by Sept 3rd.
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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