Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 7/18/11
Meeting Opened at: 5:00pm
Select Board Members Present: Wayne Burkhart, Chairperson, Scott Jenssen and Jonathan Sylbert
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Maggie Leonard for the Monterey News, Monica Webb and Mickey Jervas
The board reviewed Director of Operations, Maynard Forbes’ weekly report for the week ending 7/16/11 which included:
1. Checking roads and beaver ponds. Clean out Sandisfield Rd with excavator and Brett Rd by hand.
2. Subdrains and ditches on Main Rd project.
3. Cut trees at Wilson House, driveway project and haul gravel
4. Remove trees to brush pile
5. Repair load cover on OshKosh
6. Meet with Select Board
7. Meet with Joe Baker; WMH driveway
8. Solicit bids for chimney repair at Bally Gally
9. Call from police regarding tree down on Swann Rd.
The board reviewed Police Chief, Gareth Backhaus’ weekly report for 7/11-7/17/11 which included:
Calls:
1. Complaint of harassing phone calls on Art School Rd. Complainant was advised to file an order with the courthouse and speak to Verizon regarding any suggestions they might have.
2. Assisted Otis PD
3. Complaint of a dog barking on Tyringham Rd; officer investigated but did not find a barking dog.
4. Suspicious activity reported on Sandisfield Rd.; officer investigated and did not find anything unusual.
5. Traffic control at the beach
6. While investigating the above at the beach; assisted with a domestic disturbance.
7. Attempted to serve a restraining order with GBPD
8. Loose boat reported on Lake Garfield.
9. Assisted a citizen at Tyringham and Buckingham.
10. Disabled MV on Main Rd
11. Complaints of shots being fired on Bidwell Rd; turned out to be fireworks, the location where they were being set off could not be found.
False Alarms:
1. Main Rd.
Citations Issued: 3
Traffic stops/verbal warnings: 17
New part time officer training this week
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. Monica Webb came in with updated paperwork for the Board to sign for the WiredWest lighting co-op. WiredWest recommends creating a department and appointing a manager. The Board voted the following:
a. Monica Webb has been designated as the manager of the Municipal Light Plant (MLP)
b. The MLP joined the WiredWest Communications Cooperative Corporation (WiredWest)
c. Monica Webb was designated as the delegate to WiredWest
d. Larry Klein was designated the alternate delegate to WiredWest
e. The manager is hereby authorized and directed to execute any and all documents necessary to effectuate the purposes of these votes; and
f. That any actions previously taken by the manager which are consistent with the purpose of these votes are hereby ratified and confirmed.
g. The signed documents will be given to the Town Clerk to certify.
2. Mickey Jervas came in to follow up on her June 13th visit regarding her road. She brought in pictures of the road and stated that nothing has been done to remedy the issue as of today. The Board suggested having a conversation with M. Forbes on increasing the work done on gravel roads to eliminate the need to keep repairing them. W. Burkhart will follow up with Maynard. Mickey also stated that she has heard that the town is still very congested on Saturday mornings and thought it might be a good idea to have the police directing traffic again.
3. The minutes from 7/11/11 were approved as written.
4. Warrants were signed.
5. Inter-Departmental Secretary’s weekly report reviewed.
a. M. Noe reminded the Board that there are 4 vacancies on the Council on Aging and according to the town bylaws the 4 members whose appointments just expired are no longer eligible to serve on the committee (our bylaws state you are limited to a 4 year term). In the last 6 years there has never been a meeting held by this committee. The Board suggested having Cynthia write an article for the Monterey News telling how great the COA is and that per our bylaws she can no longer serve on it but how important it is for people to join the committee.
b. M. Noe reminded the Board she will be in late tomorrow (by 9:30am).
6. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. Renewal notice for the MMA (Massachusetts Municipal Association). The Board approved the renewal.
b. A letter from Robert Kuhner of 138 Blue Hill Rd regarding significant erosion on his side of the road since the Town paved and put in drains on Blue Hill Rd. He stated this erosion has destroyed the vegetation and is ruining the tree and plant life. The Board asked M. Noe to give the documents to Maynard to handle and requested that he keep the Board informed on the matter.
c. A letter from the Chairpersons of the Sheffield and New Marlborough Select Boards to the Superintendent and Chair of the School Committee with suggestions on where cuts totaling $300,000 can be made in the school budget to be discussed at a meeting on the 21st. The suggestions included reductions in the following:
i. Staff, programs or expenses not critical to our student’s education.
ii. Staff, programs or expenses not supportive of the District’s core curriculum.
iii. Non-mandated staff, programs or expenses serving a limited number of students.
iv. Non-contract staff, programs or expenses.
v. New positions, non-union raises and/or transferred operating or transportation funds.
vi. Additional funds provided by the approved State budget.
7. M. Noe provided the Board with information from Senator Downing’s assistant regarding the specifications for designing a flag for Monterey. She also provided photos of surrounding town’s flags and gave suggestions on holding a design contest.
8. The Board signed a letter to the WMH requesting that they submit a schedule of their plans for the municipal use of the Wilson McLaughlin House with the stages of construction as well as a timetable of their fundraising goals for the above-mentioned purpose. The Board agreed that they want to hold a contest and would like more information on what surrounding towns have done with their contests. The Board agreed that a press release will be sent through Ben Downing’s office and announced in the Monterey News.
9. The Board was given a DRAFT of our employee handbook along with suggestions of items to add that other towns have in their books. The Board agreed that this needed to be updated and finalized.
10. The Board was given a comparison of surrounding town’s health insurance plans, co-pays, prescription costs, premiums and town/employee splits. The Board agreed M. Noe has provided enough information for the Board to start reviewing and comparing and then to meet and discuss with the current employees changes that can be made.
11. The Board agreed to eliminate the Employee Compensation Committee and “become” the committee themselves. The Board plans to open up more dialogue with the employees on benefits and compensation.
12. A motion was made to appoint Wayne Burkhart as the alternate to the BRPC. The motion was seconded and approved.
13. Maggie noted that at the next Planning Board meeting which will be at 5:30pm on 7/28, Mark Bobrowski will be there to meet with the PB and ZBA to talk about the bylaw revisions. She invited the Select Board to attend as well. Maggie noted that the fist meeting with Mark went well; Don Torrico was there and gave a lot of suggestion to have the bylaws have the same standards as the building code.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 6:20pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Inter-Departmental Secretary via audio recording
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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