Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 7/2/12
Meeting Opened at: 9:04am
Select Board Members Present: Scott Jenssen, Chairperson, Muriel Lazzarini and Wayne Burkhart
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Stephen Pullen, Deborah Mielke, Robert Lazzarini and Donald Torrico
The board met with Town Accountant, Steven Pullen to review the following items:
1. Overage in the Fire Department budget was discussed (One member of the Finance Committee was present last week and did not see a reason why the Finance Committee wouldn’t approve a transfer from the reserve fund to cover it). 2/3 of the compensation & training line item was used for calls in FY12 and 1/3 for continuing education. The Board discussed not combining these items on the warrant and having them be separate line items.
2. Together the Board of Appeals & Planning Board are approximately $2,500 over their FY12 budgets.
3. The Tax Collector is over $2,000 (this was due to a delay in the Assessor’s Office in setting the tax rate).
4. There will be about $45,000 returned to free cash from the salt & sand budget.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. The Board reviewed additional information that Scott requested Melissa Noe research and compile for them. One of the items was the MGL job description for Clerks along with one job description from a neighboring town. Also included was an updated survey of hours and benefits offered (if any) to elected officials (specifically the Town Clerk since the Clerk is requesting insurance benefits). The Board reviewed the list of full time employees and employees/elected officials that could possibly be considered 20hour or more employees. The Board also discussed different splits for town/employee for different positions as well as new hires. The Board agreed that the first thing that needed to be determined was whether or not the Town Clerk position required 20 hours. Muriel stated
that she would like to see the Employee Compensation Committee research the pros and cons of making the Town Clerk position appointed in the future which would require a town meeting vote. None of the Board felt strongly about making this an appointed position but agreed it would be wise to learn more about its feasibility. In comparing Monterey to other towns based on population to determine if the position requires 20 or more hours regularly the Board focused on New Marlborough (pop. 1,350, hrs 20/week) and Egremont (pop. 1,034, hrs 5/week). The Board also had questions and concerns on the request to make the insurance effective retroactive to May 5th if it agreed to offer it. The Board determined the position required 20 hours as they could not prove a negative and information provided seemed to support it at 20 hours/week. The Board discussed that at a 90/10 split the benefit to the Clerk position would be more than her salary ($18k/year
for insurance for a $16k/year salary position). Based on that it was agreed that a 50/50 split would be fair. A motion was made to offer insurance to the elected position of the Town Clerk as per MGL requires for elected officials working more than 20 hours at a 50/50 town/employee split unless Town Counsel advises the Board that this is not a legal option. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. Debbie said that there is a lot of work required beyond the hours that you are open to the public. Debbie stated that she does all of the work from the office in Town Hall. She is also planning on coming in on Mondays while the Select Board meetings are happening to allow for more openness and conversation between the departments. The Board agreed that the eligibility to enroll is effective today, not retroactively. The Board did not rescind the vote from February of 2009 as that applies to elected officals working less than 20 hours not
being eligible for insurance.
2. Don Torrico, Building Commissioner came in to suggest that the Board not waive any fees for town owned properties as contractors then become more lax about the permitting process. The Board will take it into consideration Don’s recommendation to not waive the fees for any future town projects.
3. The Board inquired of Don if the Monterey General Store has applied for any building permits yet; he has not.
4. The minutes from 6.25.12 were approved as written.
5. Muriel recommended a number of names as possible candidates for the citizens on the Employee Compensation Committee.
6. Scott would like to have a conversation with the Police Chief regarding the large number of speeders coming through Monterey. They do not want to micromanage the department but they would like to see more patrolling and stopping of speeders. The Board would like to put something in the Monterey News as well reminding their residents and passers through to mind and respect the speed limits posted in Monterey.
7. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. A request from the Chief of Police & Harbormaster to send a letter to Dean Amidon thanking him for his many years as the Deputy Harbormaster but that the position is being eliminated. Any calls he receives should be forwarded to the Harbormaster at 528-1443 x225 or via police dispatch at 528-3211.
b. Email from Barbara Palmer regarding Tyringham Rd in Lee with an attached letter to the Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization requesting that they reconsider their decision to delay repairing Tyringham Rd. The Board will send a letter of support as well as a lot of our residents use that road as well.
c. Letter from Bruce Turner, Business Manager of SBRSD informing the Board that funds previously appropriated for the lighting efficiency project at the Sheffield campus was unable to be used as the District was unable to contract with the previous bidder. And therefore the funds were returned as Excess and Deficiency. The project has a commitment from National Grid but Towns in the District must decide if they will allow the $250,000 expenditure or ask their voters to approve this action by special town meeting. Approval by a 2/3rds vote of the member Towns passes the amended budget.
8. Warrants were signed.
9. The Board loved the Monterey Flag and approved ordering 250 of the small 12x18 flags to sell at Montereyfest.
10. Inter-Departmental Secretary’s weekly report reviewed.
11. At the recommendation of Fire Chief Tryon the Board made the following 1 year appointments to the Fire Department:
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 11:06am
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Inter-Departmental Secretary
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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