Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 1/17/12
Meeting Opened at: 6:00pm
Select Board Members Present: Wayne Burkhart, Chairperson and Scott Jenssen
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Maggie Leonard for the Monterey News, David Scribner for the Berkshire Record and Linda Thorpe, Town Clerk
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. A letter from Jonathan Sylbert tendering his resignation as a Select Board member dated January 12, 2012. The letter stated that he felt he could no longer function as an effective leader at town hall. The Select Board stated that they wish Jon good wishes. A signed copy of the resignation letter was given to the Town Clerk.
2. Linda Thorpe, Town Clerk stated that it is legal for the Select Board to proceed until the annual elections in May with only 2 members or they may choose to have a special election which could be done as soon as 21 days from tomorrow. Linda recommended that since we are so close to the annual town elections, the Select Board continue with only 2 members until May. Nomination timeframes that would need to be met were discussed. Ballots would need to be made up and printed. Wayne stated that this just happened in Otis recently and it took them approximately 4 months to get everything in order to have the special election which would put us at right about the annual town meeting. Linda stated that a special election could cost the town around $1500 - $2000. If only one Select
Board member is present for the signing of warrants, the Town Clerk is allowed to step in and provide the second signature and approval. A special town meeting to elect a third member could be requested by a petition of at least 141 voters but this would need to be submitted to the Town Clerk prior to January 26th. Having considered all of the options and costs, laws and time restrictions, a motion was made to forgo calling a special election and proceed with a 2 member Select Board until the annual elections in May as per the MGL’s the Town Clerk reviewed (see Clerk for specific chapters and sections). The motion was seconded and unanimously approved as the best option for the town.
3. The Board confirmed that their meeting next week will start early at 5:30pm and will end at 7pm (or sooner) so that the Southern Berkshire School Committee may have a public hearing at 7pm to discuss their recommendation to close the 3 outlying elementary schools.
4. The Board discussed the current meeting start time and whether or not it should be kept at the 6pm which was a change that Jon had requested. Scott stated he’d like to see the meetings return to the times they were held when he was elected which was at 8am. Both Scott and Wayne were ok with moving to a 4pm or 9am time. It was noted that one of the reasons (beside personal obligations) that Jon had wanted the meetings moved to the evenings was to encourage public participation but it was agreed that in the last year and a half since the change the public attendance seemed to stay at about the same level as before. The Board is leaning toward moving the meetings back to 9am so that the Police Chief, Accountant, Inter-Departmental Secretary and Director of Operations can participate
more with the Board and so that communications/efficiency with those departments will be increased. The Board decided to hold off on making any changes to the meeting time and asked Melissa to request public comments on the change from those she encounters.
5. Monterey Flag; Linda provided the Board with the history of the town seal, when it was submitted, when it was accepted and voted on at town meeting and when it was approved by the state as our official seal. The Board discussed the top 3 submissions and agreed that while all were good the overwhelming response was that the official town seal (which is slightly different than that of one of the submissions that used parts of the seal) should be the official town flag. M. Noe will get a file to be sent to a company that can design the flag per our specs to match the seal used on town vehicles and town signs.
6. David Scribner of the Berkshire Record asked what the story was with Jon resigning and the Board suggested that he call Jon directly to ask him, which David responded that he has tried with no response from Jon.
7. The minutes from 1.9.12 were approved with a few minor clarifications.
8. Warrants were signed.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 4:55pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Inter-Departmental Secretary
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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