Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 6/11/12
Meeting Opened at: 9am
Select Board Members Present: Scott Jenssen, Chairperson, Muriel Lazzarini and Wayne Burkhart
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Cheryl Zellman Fitpatrick, Tika Snyder, Maryellen Brown, Linda Thorpe, Deborah Mielke and Chief Backhaus
The board met with Director of Operations, Maynard Forbes’ to review the following:
1. The Board reviewed with Maynard the 3 quotes received for Phase 1 of the HVAC installation at the Town Hall. Maynard recommended accepting LePrevost’s quote as it was the lowest. A motion was made to accept Maynard’s recommendation of Leprevost. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. The Board signed the contract and Maynard will fax it over to LePrevost this morning.
2. The power outage yesterday was caused by a downed tree near Butternut.
3. This Wednesday RT 23 will be closed (traffic will be detoured on Bidwell Rd) while the Highway Department installs a culvert. The work will be done in one day and the funds will come out of Highway Capital.
4. Maynard stated that Chapter 90 money will be used to pave Beartown Mtn Rd. The Highway Department began prep work last week. More culvert replacements will happen in late July, early August. Around the first of September the whole road will be ground up and repaved.
5. Grader: After 3 ½ weeks, its back from being repaired. This machine is 23 years old and will need to be replaced soon.
6. The alarm system for the Town Hall & Highway Department is being switched to a new company as the company we currently use is going out of business.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. Members of the Monterey School Study Committee were present at the Board’s request to discuss the following:
a. Collecting information to determine costs of updating the current building, renovating a building or constructing a new building.
b. Maryellen provided the census information (projected enrollment, current enrollment, etc) and the Building Study done by EDM in FY07 for the whole school district. The Board asked her to hold on to it to review with the committee.
c. They were reminded that their meetings will need to be posted and open to the public.
d. Wayne has spoken with Joe Baker, member of the Wilson McLaughlin House Committee and he is flexible in working with this committee to determine if the WMH property may be an alternate location for the Monterey School in a possible multi use configuration.
2. The FY11 Annual Town Report is now available at the Town Hall.
3. Deborah Mielke, Town Clerk came in to follow up on health insurance benefits for part time town officials. The Board reviewed the memo sent in 2009 which stated: The Selectmen have determined that elected town officials who do not regularly work twenty hours per week will no longer be eligible for participation in the town’s group health insurance plan as of July 1, 2009, the beginning of the town’s next fiscal year and have rescinded any prior votes and terminated any prior policies or determinations that provided coverage to elected town officials who do not regularly work 20 hours per week. Debbie had an issue with this and stated that she can certainly document 20 hours of work each week. The Board inquired if Debbie’s office was posted open for 20 hours. The
Board is going to inquire with Town Counsel on how the 20 hours needs to be calculated (if it has to be posted, open office hours for 20hours each week or if it is just 20 total hours documented through office hours and other work) and if the policy/split can be different for full time employees and part time elected officials if the current vote were to be rescinded or reversed. We’ll also inquire as to if the policy legally has to be changed and if it is changed will it have to be offered to anyone working 20 hours or more or is it restricted to just elected officials.
4. Deborah Mielke stated that articles 3, 4 & 5 from the 2009 Town Meetings were all approved by the Attorney General’s office; she will provide copies of the approvals to M. Noe for the website. Article 6 was approved with an exception and she needs to follow up on that. She is also still checking on items from the 2010 & 2011 meetings.
5. Employee Compensation Committee: Muriel suggested that employees if they want to participate they should be non-voting members. Wayne felt that this committee should be able to vote on what they recommend to the Finance Committee and Select Board, but understand that they would not be a policy making committee. All the final decisions would either be made by the Select Board or Town Meeting as is required by law in some cases. It was agreed that this committee should be comprised of 3 employees, possibly one Finance Committee Member, one Select Board Member (Muriel volunteered for this) and at least one citizen.
6. Postage Meter: Muriel followed up on comments made by S. Pullen last week that the postage meter would be unavailable for use by everyone because it is currently located in M. Noe’s office. M. Noe is more than happy and willing to run through any mail that needs postage for any department and bring it to the post office for them if they just slip the mail through the “inbox” to her office. This was a satisfactory solution to the Board.
7. M. Noe provided the Board with an email from Pam Kocher of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance that stated since Monterey does not have any employee unions the recent Municipal Health Reform Act doesn’t apply to us.
8. Mike Johnson of the Council on Aging came in to let the Board know that they have approximately $3,000 in state funds which need to be spent before July 1. Mike is interested in setting up a Senior Wii Bowling league for the fall and he is looking to purchase a projector, a Wii with extra remotes and a projector screen for approximately $2,100. This projector could also be used for other purposes/departments. The use of the Wii wouldn’t be limited to bowling; golf, tennis etc are other options, currently there is only a national senior Wii bowling league. The Board approved the expense unanimously. Mike is also looking into starting a Chair Yoga program for the seniors.
9. Linda Thorpe came in as a member of the Cemetery Committee to inquire as to who made the complaint regarding the length of the branches at the Veteran’s Memorial (Muriel did not want to say) and to state that the Cemetery Committee contractor will take a look at it. Linda asked the Board to appoint Donald Clawson to fill the remaining term of Thomas Haugh on the Cemetery Committee. A motion was made to appoint Donald Clawson to fill the remainder of Thomas Haugh’s term which was seconded and unanimously approved.
10. The Board inquired with Chief Backhaus about the non-functioning speed sign at the Monterey School. The Chief has ordered a new power supply (which was blown during a recent storm).
11. The Chief provided an updated copy of his annual contract for the Board to sign. The on-call pay benefit was added to the contract.
12. The Board inquired as to whether or not the Monterey General Store had applied for any operating permits yet; to date he has not. The Board also asked M. Noe to gather more information on the Special Event/One Day Alcohol Permits with regards to what makes it an event that requires a permit.
13. The Board will send a letter to Senator Downing and Representative Pignatelli requesting an update on the mitigation of Lake Buel.
14. The minutes from 6.4.12 were approved as written.
15. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. Updated copies of the DRAFT employee handbook/personnel policy that combines the current 1993 version and suggested changes/additions/deletions were distributed.
b. Town Counsel’s response on the legality of the Board purchasing Monterey flags to donate to the WMH to sell and keep the profits for above and beyond the cost to make them. He replied that they can do it but it is a grey area.
16. Warrants were signed.
17. Inter-Departmental Secretary’s weekly report reviewed.
18. The Board voted unanimously to make the following appointments for the terms noted per the recommendation of the Building Commissioner, Donald Torrico:
Alternate Inspector of Bldgs/Alternate Bldg Commissioner |
2 years |
Thomas |
Race |
Local Inspector |
2 years |
Gary |
Danko |
Gas Inspector |
2 years |
Robert |
Krupski |
Plumbing Inspector |
2 years |
Robert |
Krupski |
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 11:15am
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Inter-Departmental Secretary
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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