Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 4/25/11
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: Will Marsh for the Monterey News, Monica Webb, Cynthia Weber (Council on Aging), Fran Amidon (Council on Aging) and Michael Storch (Finance Committee)
The board met with Director of Operations, Maynard Forbes’ and reviewed his weekly report for 4/11-4/24/11 which included:
1. Checking roads and washing trucks.
2. Cleaning culverts on Fairview due to beaver problem.
3. Remove sander and plow on 2011 – 550, remove sander and plow on Kenworth, repair load cover on OshKosh and change OshKosh to summer mode.
4. Pick up tree on Gould/River Rd.
5. Pick up hot patch and repair holes on Main Rd.
6. Cut up and remove tree on Carrington-Battelle.
7. Grade Cronk Rd.
8. Move old sand pile, cribbing and move fill to back of site.
9. M. Forbes worked on FEMA reimbursement paperwork, Beartown Mtn Rd project, Main Rd Strap Grant.
10. M. Forbes met with FEMA in Tyringham.
11. M. Forbes met with Tryon Construction re: Strap Grant and Rt 23
12. Fire engines were taken for vehicle inspections.
13. MIIA driving training stimulator.
14. M. Forbes met with Okerstrom Lang re: Kurtz property on Main Rd
15. Tank removal at Wilson House.
M. Forbes came in to speak with the Board on the following:
1. Accepting the Strap Grant. A motion was made to accept the Strap Grant, which was seconded and approved. Jonathan signed the necessary paperwork. This grant will help repair certain sections of Rt 23 so that all of 23 is at the same level for the proposed repaving and reconstruction of Rt 23.
2. Jan 12th snowstorm; $25,497.68 in bills were submitted and we will receive ¾ back ($19,000 and change) from FEMA. This was a storm declared an emergency by the federal government. This money will go right into free cash.
3. M. Forbes gave copies of the RFP documents for the FY2012 Recycling Services and Operation of the Transfer Station. The RFP will be available to review on the town website under “Procurement”. The only changes made from previous years were changes to the wording on the responsibilities of the attendant and safety.
4. TIP list was reviewed. Maynard was upset that there is a project on there to fix a section of the Mass Pike, this is confusing since it is a toll road and the tolls should be used for repairs and maintenance not Chapter 90 money.
5. Michael Storch stated that there are still a number of dead trees on Tyringham Rd; M. Forbes referred him to the Tree Warden.
The board reviewed Police Chief, Gareth Backhaus’ weekly report for 4/11 – 4/24/11 which included:
Calls:
1. Assisted a citizen on Blue Hill Rd with a repeated complaint x 2
2. Responded to a disturbance on Main Rd.
3. Assisted with a lockout on Mt Hunger Rd.
4. Assisted a citizen on Pine St.
5. Responded to a disturbance on Laurel Banks. Complainant stated that his neighbor was trying to demolish his deck located on a piece of property he claims to have a right of way on. Police informed the neighbor she would need to stop the demolition and get a court order before she could continue to demolish the structure as this was a civil matter.
6. Well being check on New Marlboro Rd.
7. Provided traffic control on Main Rd for a delivery of equipment.
8. The Chief attended the Animal Control Officer seminar at Holyoke Community College.
9. Assisted citizens with a disturbance at the Post Office.
10. No trespass order served on Fairview Rd.
11. Assisted citizen with questions about a no trespass order.
False Alarms:
1. Town Hall
2. Stevens Lake
3. Main Rd
4. Stevens Lake Way
5. Eaton Rd.
Traffic stops: 9
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. The minutes from 4.11.11 were approved as written.
2. Warrants were signed. Steve provided the Board with updated reports as well.
3. Inter-Departmental Secretary’s weekly report reviewed. Time off request was approved.
4. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. A copy of the action filed in Berkshire Superior Court by Charles Ferris seeking to annul the decision of the Monterey Zoning Board of Appeals dated March 30, 2011. Charles appealed as our agent and the Board discussed this as is it is not true; Charles is not an agent, representative or designated attorney for the Town of Monterey. Wayne suggested talking to Charlie but Jon and Scott felt that Charlie made a decision on behalf of the Town without first getting permission from the Select Board. Jon stated the only question is does the Town of Monterey (listed as the complainant) want to be involved. Jon stated that if the Town was going to appeal we would’ve used our own Town Counsel (it was agreed at a previous SB meeting to not appeal the decision made by the
ZBA). Jon called Charles during the meeting and left him a message regarding the Board’s concerns with his appeal. The Board (minus Wayne) signed a letter requesting that Charles Ferris withdraw his action as he has no standing to act as the designated attorney, agent or representative of the Town of Monterey as he stated in his complaint.
b. Letter from MIIA (the town’s insurer) denying the request of J. Scheffey to reimburse her for personal care expenses due to a fall at the transfer station. The town’s insurance only allows out of pocket medical expenses with a limit of $10,000 to be reimbursed and this situation did not have any out of pocket medical expenses.
c. The Board approved the bill from Kwik Print for the annual and special town meeting warrants of $634.00 which comes out of the Printing and Stationary account. (line # 158)
5. Jonathan asked M. Noe to remind the Parks Department that Greene Park is getting busier on the weekends and evenings and the porta potty should be brought back. The Board also suggested that it should be installed each year no later than April 15th each year.
6. Monica Webb met with the Board to discuss the following:
a. Notification from BRPC and CEDS who are seeking public comments on the draft 2011 Berkshire Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. M. Webb will provide a guide to help respond to the request. The Board will respond by the due date of May 16th.
b. Articles on the warrant for WiredWest.
c. WiredWest will be applying for a planning grant and will need letters from all the towns in support of the application with input, which is due May 18th. M. Webb will email a draft letter for the Board to sign.
7. Cynthia Weber & Fran Amidon met with the Board to discuss the following:
a. Elderly Transportation: Cynthia met with the SBETC who is requesting a 25% increase in fees from each town. We have an available balance right now and Cynthia has suggested that we offer some of the available money to the SBETC this year to help. To give them additional funds above and beyond what we’ve paid we need a request in writing which would serve as an invoice. Cynthia and Fran are suggesting that Monterey give them $5000 additional for FY11. Cynthia will get the invoice and submit it to Steve Pullen. None of this is on the warrant as it is money that comes from the State.
8. At the request of Linda Thorpe, Town Clerk the following appointments were made:
a. Election Clerk, 1 yr, Linda Thorpe
b. Election Clerk, Deputy, 1 yr, John Bodnar
c. Election Inspectors, 1 yr each: Ruth Champigny, Norma Champigny and Barbara Tryon
d. Election Inspector, Deputy, 1 yr, Estella Bodnar
e. Election Warden, 1 yr, Raymond Tryon
f. Election Warden, Deputy, 1 yr, Joel Schick and
g. Registrars of Voters, 3 yrs each: Rosemary McAllister and Fran Amidon
9. S. Jenssen asked that a notice be put in the Monterey News asking for interested parties to help with the Memorial Day festivities to contact the Select Board at townmont@verizon.net with your availability and what you are available to help with. Scott is having some issues organizing interested people right now.
10. Jon gave Michael Storch (Finance Committee Chair) a list of the projects slated to be billed by the school committee under the 3 million dollar bond:
a. $699,000 and change for technology upgrades (computers, hardwiring, building infrastructure improvement, etc), $200,000 TAC-PAC, Building Improvements of 1 million dollars for Mt Everett, $500,00 for New Marlborough and $312,000 for Egremont.
b. The list is more extensive and is available by request through the School Committee.
11. The Board reviewed the sticker choices for the FY12 transfer station sticker and agreed to let M. Noe choose the style although it was noted that current style of the sticker going on the outside might be easier as several new cars have tinted windows and the inside clear sticker might not be as visible. The Board agreed to keep all the fees and policies the same. The Board also agreed to continue the policy of having the license number on the sticker match the car it is on.
12. The Board requested that 40 copies of the warrant be printed and available for the Finance Committee’s informational meeting on Friday.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 8:35pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Inter-Departmental Secretary via audio recording
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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