Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 5/16/11
Meeting Opened at: 7:00pm
Select Board Members Present: Wayne Burkhart, Chairperson, Scott Jenssen and Jonathan Sylbert
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Sue Protheroe for the Monterey News, Maggie Leonard, Michael Storch and Larry Klein (Planning Board)
The board reviewed Director of Operations, Maynard Forbes’ weekly report for the week ending 5/14/11 which included:
1. Checking roads and cleaning culverts on Fairview due to a beaver issue.
2. Grade Cronk, Chestnut Hill, Fairview, Beartown, Art School and Griswold Roads.
3. Recycling demo in Chatham, NY
4. Pick up blacktop and patch holes on RT 23
5. New gasoline storage container installed in shop.
6. Repair coverall on 2005 – 550 and service this truck.
7. Paint stop lines.
8. Materials ordered for Main Rd strap grant project.
9. Chapter 90 reimbursement delivered to Lenox DOT.
10. Wilson House driveway and parking lot.
11. Bid quantities for Berkshire Regional Purchasing.
12. Bids for equipment, gravel, stone and transfer station.
The board reviewed Police Chief, Gareth Backhaus’ weekly report for 5/9-5/15/11 which included:
Calls:
1. Investigating three cedar posts and six rails stolen from the parking lot at Steadman Pond on 5/5/11.
2. Building check on Tyringham Rd.
3. Assisted with a Section 12. x 2
4. Assisted a party lost in the woods on Harmon Rd.
5. Loose dogs on Tyringham Rd.
6. Assisted with a lockout.
False Alarms:
1. Main Rd x 2
2. Tyringham Rd.
3. Hupi Rd
Abandoned 911 calls:
1. Main Rd. x 2
Traffic stops: 3
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. Maggie Leonard of the Monterey News came in to discuss the following with the Board:
a. She commended the Board on a job well done at the town meeting.
b. Jon stated that he wanted everyone to understand that there are 2 sides to understand on special permits and variances.
c. Maggie will be preparing the Monterey News article regarding the town meeting and she wanted to clarify a few things on the school budget issues. She confirmed that the capital bond request was for $3million and was defeated by Sheffield and New Marlborough approved it at their town meeting but defeated it at their elections on the ballot; it needed a unanimous 5 town approval. The operating and transportation budget was denied by Sheffield at their town meeting and on the ballot and New Marlborough passed it at their town meeting but their override failed. Monterey passed both articles (the bond and budget). If the school committee comes back with another bond, Monterey will not need to hold another meeting to approve it if it is less than $3million. If the school
committee states that they can’t modify the operating budget and sends the same one back to the voters, Monterey again will not need to revote as it has already been passed.
2. Larry Klein came in to discuss the 2 articles on the warrant that were for radios for the Highway and Fire Departments. he had argued at town meeting that there may be federal money to help pay for this and since town meeting he’s done some research and found that there is FEMA money ($48 million) that is distributed across all states. He’s heard through BRPC that North Adams has applied for this and received the monies for these radio upgrades. Larry provided a printout of the program and the Board asked M. Noe to look into it.
3. The Board discussed the WMH driveway project and the cost estimates received from Maynard as requested last week. Wayne felt that there was already a plan made and the monies were approved and why are we changing the plan. Jon said all he was suggesting was to eliminate the parking area because there isn’t a demand for it with its current use of a community garden. Wayne felt there was a design/idea of the future of the property and it needed some infrastructure. Jon stated he never was in favor of spending $25k on a driveway for that property and he felt that the town approved funds up to $25k which didn’t mean that the entire amount needed to be spent. Michael Storch commented that he felt the town voted for the $25k because they didn’t really know what it was
they were voting for and currently it would be a road to nowhere. Jon stated that despite whatever conversations took place between Maynard and Wayne, Maynard’s recent mail to the Board stated that he didn’t feel that anyone was using the property (except a private garden) and we shouldn’t be doing anything at all but if we were going to do something it should be appropriate to the current usage and 50ft of driveway would be sufficient. Jon and Scott both agreed that the needed funds haven’t been able to be raised for the proposed use of a community center and it doesn’t make sense to “put the cart before the horse” and put a driveway in for a center that hasn’t had the appropriate funds raised to move forward. Jon suggested doing the driveway in stages. The Board pulled up the email from Maynard with the equipment rental rates to review.
A motion was made to install the driveway and circle but hold off on the 450 sq ft of parking. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. Wayne will speak to Maynard tomorrow.
4. Wayne stated that the Montgomery’s are complaining that the Highway Dept. is making Fairview Rd to high again and he’s eating out their stone walls. Maynard stated he hasn’t added any gravel in the last 2 years so how could he make the road higher. The Montgomery’s have requested an on-site meeting and Maynard wants some or all of the Board to attend with him. A possible meeting will take place on Wed.
5. The Board reviewed the TIP project evaluation scores provided by BRPC and where the RT 23 project falls. Michael Storch suggested that police should be placed at both ends of RT 23 with scales to weigh the trucks to determine if they are too heavy for our roads. Michael stated that when he attended a meeting in Boston with Maynard regarding this project he learned that truckers have to adhere to the weight guidelines for all of RT 23 that the State owns and the same should apply to Monterey’s portion.
6. The minutes from 5.9.11 were approved as amended.
7. Warrants were signed. The $175 payment to Ray Tryon was questioned; this is for set up for the town meeting.
8. Scott asked about Kyp Wasiuk’s suggestion at town meeting to make the Fire Department’s expenses more transparent. The Fire Company is a not for profit corporation but some things are paid for by the town such as maintenance and utilities. It is a co-operation right now between the town and Fire Department. The Board felt that Kyp might have been looking for more transparency on the Fire Department’s financial side. Some concerns have been raised to the Board about the different rates paid to the firemen and officers and whether or not the Assistant Fire Chief was being paid for fire duties while acting as the Director of Operations for the Town. Jon spoke to Shawn about this who said he would explain this to all the firemen at their next meeting. Shawn stated
to Jon that he told the Fire Dept. that he was open to any opinions and suggestions to change the current system if anyone felt it was unfair. Scott wanted to go on record that he wasn’t trying to “rabble rouse” he was just conveying the concerns he’s heard from the public.
9. Inter-Departmental Secretary’s weekly report reviewed. Amended time off request was approved.
10. Scott stated that the Memorial Day budget should’ve been increased as new flags need to be purchased at approximately $150. The Board approved purchasing the flags and if they go over in the Memorial Day line item the excess would be paid from Select Board expenses.
11. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. A motion was made to sign the letter of support for the MBI grant which was seconded and unanimously approved. It will be faxed tomorrow.
b. The 2011-2012 Operating and Transportation Budget Recertified Assessments and Payment Schedule ($13,818,892). It appears that the school is resubmitting an identical budget as was turned down by Sheffield and New Marlborough.
c. An email from Lynn Webster, Monterey School Teacher inquiring about the rules of the Memorial Parade and how involved they could get. The Board felt that floats were fine with a possible theme to the armed services would be acceptable.
d. An email from Bob Lazzarini regarding the upcoming revision of the zoning bylaws and when the “Bylaw Revision Advisors”, Mark Bobrowski and the Board can meet. He’s requesting 4 meetings and suggested a mix of Saturday late mornings and weekday meetings. The Board did not agree with having Saturday meetings and felt that early weekday evening meeting were acceptable. It was agreed that the Planning Board was the nucleus of the meetings and should chair any meetings but the Select Board would be happy to host the meetings.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 8:17pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Inter-Departmental Secretary via audio recording
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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