Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 11/8/10
Meeting Opened at: 7:00pm
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, Michael Storch, Dr. Singleton (SBRSD Superintendent), Bruce Turner (SBRSD Business Manager) and Steven Pullen (Accountant)
The board reviewed Director of Operations, Maynard Forbes’ weekly report for the week ending 11/6/10 which included:
1. Checking beaver ponds and culverts.
2. Blowing leaves off the roads.
3. Putting up snow fence.
4. Repairing the 4500 sander and the 550 sander.
5. Replacing lights at the town hall (porch and flagpole).
6. Main Rd project.
7. Showing the Bally Gally tenants another apt to use while kitchen is under construction.
8. Showing plow route to the relief plow operator.
9. Checking Lake Garfield water level.
The board reviewed Police Chief, Gareth Backhaus’ weekly report for 10/25 – 11/8/10 which included:
Calls:
1. MVA on Main Rd.
2. Bring 2008 cruiser to MHQ for transmission repair.
3. Missing dog on Fairview Rd.
4. MVA at Main and Corashire Rd.
5. Removed trapped raccoon from transfer station dumpster.
6. MVA on Main Rd.
7. Assisted a citizen on Main Rd.
8. Tree across wires on Tyringham Rd., Fairview Rd and Hupi Rd.
9. Suspicious activity reported on Pixley Rd. The incident was reported as “mail fraud”
10. Assisted with a medical call on Main Rd.
False Alarms:
1. Bidwell Rd.
2. Woodland Dr.
3. Hupi Woods Circle (2)
4. Art School Rd
The board met with Town Accountant, Steven Pullen to review the following items:
1. Warrants were signed.
2. The Board reviewed the compensation paid fiscal year to date to the firemen. $17,050 has been spent on call pay and about $10,000 has been spent on education. This is out of a total of $60,000 available. The Board felt that the Select Board and Finance Committee should send them a letter.
3. Steve Pullen’s been working with Jim Podolak at the DOR and has finished the Schedule A.
4. Steve Pullen informed the Board that he will be on vacation for 3 weeks this winter. He stated that his absence will affect any OT due to the highway and the library staff hours to be paid and that payroll will need to be handed in for 3 weeks in advance and no vendors will be paid during this time. He felt that his books would be clean for preparing the budget.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. The minutes from 11.1.10 were approved as written.
2. Inter-Departmental Secretary’s weekly report reviewed.
3. The Board signed the ZBA application for the special permit to add a dog park on the WMH property. Wayne will attend the hearing as the representative for the Board and they agreed that town counsel should also be present.
4. Jon stated that there was an article in the Berkshire Eagle recently stating that Mt. Wilcox granted access for 3 small towers for wi-fi, Wi-Spring being one of the companies.
5. Michael Storch noted that he reviewed the “Budgeting 101” information sent by the Massachusetts Finance Committee/Massachusetts Municipal Association and he’s in conversations with the rest of the Finance Committee to get a head start on the FY12 budget requests. Michael stated that Melissa Noe (who he noted has been terrific) is assisting him with the schedule and paperwork.
6. Dr. Singleton and Bruce Turner from the SBRSD came in to speak with the Board regarding the following:
a. A town meeting packet, the “Presentation of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District FY11 Budget” was distributed, as well as a 2010-11 Staff Roster, Mission and Goal Statements and a FY12 Budget Development Calendar. (Documents are available to view at the town hall).
b. Michael stated that the one concern they have is that the special ed and 504 numbers are running about 25% of the student population right now and this is not expected to diminish. Some of these students are choiced in students because SBRSD has an exceptional special ed program.
c. Another concern is that the ARRA money is expected to dry up this year.
d. Bruce and Michael thanked the Board for their part n helping to obtain grant money to make upgrades to heating and lighting at the school.
e. Union negotiations for salaries are scheduled to begin in Feb.
f. There will be a five town’s meeting coming up, date TBD.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 8:00pm; The persons scheduled for 7:30 were late and the meeting was reopened at 8:05pm. Another motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 8:45pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Inter-Departmental Secretary via audio recording
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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