Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 1/30/12
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, BJ Johnson and Anne Marie Enoch
The board reviewed Director of Operations, Maynard Forbes’ weekly report for the week ending 1/28/12 which included:
1. Salt roads on Monday (morning & night), sand dirt roads on Monday (morning & night), Sand bus route and all dirt roads on Tuesday morning, salt at 3, 6 & 9pm Thursday and salt at 12:30 & 5am, & 6pm Friday and salt at 2 & 6am and 1pm on Friday.
2. Replace plow blades on 2011 – 550 and the Oshkosh, replace sander chain on 4500, repair rear lights on Oshkosh and wash all trucks.
3. Burn brush pile.
4. Take the pickup to Cheshire to have window fixed.
The board reviewed Police Chief, Gareth Backhaus’ weekly report for 1/23 – 1/29/12 which included:
Calls:
1. Assisted with a medical on Main Rd
2. Complaint received of disturbing phone calls on Main Rd.
3. House checks on Mt Hunger, Beartown Mtn (x2), Art School and Hupi Rds
4. Lockout on Main Rd
5. Summons served on Fairview Rd (x2)
6. Assisted a citizen on Main Rd
7. Well being check on Blue Hill Rd
8. Building checks on Main Rd
False Alarms:
1. Hupi Rd
Abandoned 911 calls:
Swann Rd
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. Anne Marie Enoch came in on behalf of herself and also the “Save our Schools SOS Committee” to discuss the following three things:
a. There is some confusion on which town Select Boards have requested a level funded budget of the school and she wanted to confirm that the current Monterey Select Board was in fact requesting a level funded budget from the school. Scott stated he was unable to comment on it at this time and Wayne stated he was not at any meeting where Monterey requested this and he did not agree to this but was unsure if Jon had while he was still on the Board. Wayne stated he does not recall ever having voted as a Board to present that request to the school as a request from Monterey. Anne Marie requested that a letter be sent to the school committee clarifying their position on the matter since the school committee’s current opinion is that the request is coming from all 5 member towns.
b. She inquired if since Jon’s resignation there was going to be another representative attending the meetings for Monterey. Wayne will be at the meeting on Thursday and is hoping to attend the one this Wednesday as well.
c. She personally felt that we were at a stalemate and felt that plan “a” had been a bond that was defeated, plan “b” is the current proposal to close the outlying schools and she’s hoping that the Town of Monterey can put forward some effort into coming up with a plan “c” which might be an acceptable solution to everyone so that we don’t find ourselves in the same position next year. The Board stated they have had discussions in executive sessions about possible lease options and other building alternatives. She requested some leadership from our Select Board with the school committee in coming up with a solution acceptable to everyone. Scott requested that the S.O.S. Committee attempt to create more participation/enrollment for the
outlying schools. ~He felt that if they can sell the good these schools do, it would be difficult to close them with an increase of pupils attending them.
2. BJ Johnson of Gould Farm came in to discuss Gould Farm’s 100th anniversary that they will be celebrating in 2013. They are planning to have an event every month (not always in Monterey) during 2013. Some events still in the planning stages are a woman’s golf tournament, a 5K race and a Thanksgiving dinner/weekend at their Boston facility. BJ wanted to know if Monterey would be interested in planning an event for example at the end of the 5k race, such as a picnic and/or awards ceremony and if interested who would be the person to work with. The Board suggested starting with the Monterey Cultural Council, Fire Chief and possibly the Monterey Parks Commission.
3. The minutes from 1.23.12 were approved as amended.
4. The Executive Session minutes from 3/8 & 12/13/10 were approved as written.
5. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. Letter from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Dept of Veteran’s Services regarding a training session.
b. Copy of a letter to Harrison Design Assoc. from Donald Torrico notifying Mr. Harrison of violations found at an August 15, 2011 site visit.
c. An invoice from the Brien Center for free care delivered to Monterey residents this fiscal year. The invoice was for $1,100 and the town approved $1,082 for FY12. Their letter states that 46 people in Monterey were provided counseling and treatment sessions. The Board approved paying what was allocated, $1,082.
d. Quarterly report from the FWMH.
e. A letter from Timothy Murray, Lieutenant Governor stating that Monterey was a shining example of the kind of partnership necessary to achieve shared goals with respect to the recently completed Reclamation and drainage work on RT 23 that used STRAP grant monies. The project was completed both on time and on budget.
f. The Board approved sending a letter of support to Chairmen Downing and Keenan on increasing the cap set in Massachusetts solar net-metering; Acts SB1664 and HB1776. The letter will be written and sent by M. Noe tomorrow.
6. Inter-Departmental Secretary’s weekly report reviewed which included questions for the Board:
a. She inquired if the Board would approve M. Noe applying for a town credit card to have in case of emergencies to purchase such items as postage, etc when getting a check is not possible due to the Accountant or Treasurer being on vacation or something like that. The Board unanimously approved this
b. She asked for Wayne to clarify/correct the correct address with Jamie Cahillane for the waste district, he will handle this tomorrow.
c. M. Noe asked permission to spend $995.00 from line item # 197 “Computer Software and Supplies” to upgrade the current website. $1600 of the $4000 available has been spent to date. The Board was in favor of the upgrade and approved the request to spend the $995.
7. The Board stated they were informed that the Town Clerk, Linda Thorpe will not be running for re-election this year with regards to the Town Clerk position.
8. The Board made a motion to adopt the Statewide Public Safety Mutual Aid Law (GL C. 40 §4J) that was enacted in 2010. The motion was seconded and approved. The agreement was signed and copies will be distributed to MEMA, the Fire Chief, Maynard Forbes and the Police Chief.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 7:20pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Inter-Departmental Secretary via audio recording
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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