Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 2/4/13
Meeting Opened at: 9am
Select Board Members Present: Scott Jenssen (arrived at 9:20am), Chairperson, Muriel Lazzarini (left at 12:20pm) and Wayne Burkhart
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Dan Moriarity, Chief Backhaus, Maynard Forbes, Mari Enoch, Mary Makuc, Michael Banner, Deborah Mielke and Linda Thorpe
The board met with Director of Operations, Maynard Forbes’ to review the following:
1. Transfer Station update: there is a mandate. Maynard explained that the Transfer Station is registered as a polluter because of runoff that travels toward the river. If you cover the Transfer Station it would no longer be a polluter as the cover would prevent the materials from the elements. Copies of supporting documentation were provided to the Board members. Scott inquired about replacing/fixing the swap shack. Maynard stated that if the Transfer Station upgrade occurs then it will be replaced during this process but if that doesn’t happen it will need to be looked at sooner. This will only go out to bid if it goes on the warrant. Maynard will try to get an estimate so that the Board can decide if they want to put it on the warrant for this year.
2. Library dam update: the Town has received grant money from the damage done by Hurricane Irene and the Highway Crew will begin repairs in the spring.
3. Flagpole repair: the rope needs to be replaced, the crew will rent a lift from Taylor Rental and repair it sometime this week or next.
4. A warrant item for a camera was questioned. Maynard explained that it is a surveillance camera that is going to be installed at the Transfer Station and Highway Garage. There have been issues with people dumping gasoline into the oil barrels which affects the collection price (goes up from $200 to $900 a barrel).
5. Wayne provided a drawing of the banner that Gould Farm would like to hang across Main Rd which is 36” x 216” in size.
6. Maynard informed the Board of an upcoming meeting with the local Highway Superintendents and the Secretary of Transportation. The Board offered to assist in any way they can.
The board met with Police Chief, Gareth Backhaus to review the following:
1. Missing person call on Gould Rd – person returned home while police were searching.
2. DMV on Blue Hill Rd
3. Medical call on Beartown Mtn Rd.
4. MVA on Pixley Rd
5. Well being check on Preyer Fiske.
The board met with Stanley Ross and Dan Moriarty of the Finance Committee to review the following items:
- The FY14 budget requests were reviewed.
- Mari Enoch came in to inquire how the Board and Finance Committee are planning to proceed with regards to building a new Monterey School. It was suggested that a preliminary vote should be presented to the Town to see if the Town approves going forward with designing and looking into building a new school. Everyone agreed to look into the best way and the appropriate venue to determine the amount of support in Town for the project.
- Stan stated that $430,000 (approximately) is what the town has in certified free cash.
- The request for $4,500 for an Assistant Town Treasurer was discussed (Pat noted on her request that this was to cover vacations and be a back-up, there wasn’t any notations or discussions of additional work that require hiring another person). Most present did not feel it was necessary for a permanent Assistant Town Treasurer appointment. The thought was that an assistant could be helpful to cover absences however the cost to pay an assistant should be paid from the Treasurer salary and in turn the Treasurer wouldn’t be paid when absent. Scott suggested lowering the $4,500 to $1,500 which is around what was approved for an Assistant Town Clerk and that it is the elected person’s job to figure out how to get the job done when vacations and such arise, until the Board can meet with Pat and discuss this
further. Everyone felt that was fair. Lowering the salary of the Treasurer position was also discussed if the current Treasurer will not be running again which would be justified seeing as a new person would have less experience and this is what has been done in the past with other similar situations.
- Members of the WMH Committee came in to announce that since the last annual town meeting they have raised $31,000 from private contributions. Eric Pedersen has volunteered to be the General Contractor and advise the Committee. A propane tank is also being donated for the property. Recently the lead inspector met with Joe Baker and there isn’t as much to be removed as they had originally thought. The Committee is looking to request to raise and appropriate $30,100 on this year’s annual town meeting warrant to begin Phase II. Once the building is open to the public the WMH will run the administrative side of scheduling use of the building through volunteers. Muriel brought up the possibility of a school structure on the property and Mary and Michael both stated that the Committee is in
favor of it. The Committee will provide the correct wording to the Board as soon as possible. Mary came back later in the meeting to clarify a few comments made during the meeting.
- Fire Dept expenses and compensation were discussed. It was noted that the itemized bills the Board requested still have not been received. The $8,000 additional being requested for expenses was not justified. The additional money for compensation is to cover the rising number of medical calls the department is receiving. Chief Tryon will be in next week to discuss everything further.
- The Board would like more justification behind the requested increase to the machinery and tools line item for the Highway Dept.
- Deborah Mielke stated that there are a primary (April) and an election (June) that will occur in this FY that the Town did not have. This will be about $2,000 and will have to come from the Reserve Fund.
- Police Cruiser request: Chief Backhaus has met with the Finance Committee and has described the vehicle being proposed to replace the current 4WD. The Finance Committee recommends not taking out a loan for this and paying for it directly.
- The boat being requested – the boat we currently have will be sold and everyone agreed that we will probably get a fair amount for it and all felt that the Fire Dept should try to sell it now so that they can let the taxpayer’s know at town meeting how much they received for it.
- Muriel wants to increase the town counsel expenses. She justified the increase for necessary additional legal advice on matters that Town Counsel doesn’t handle as well as any lawsuits that may arise. This line item is currently at $1,500 and it was recommended to raise it to $2,500.
- The Town Accountant salary was discussed and whether it should be lowered or level funded seeing as a new Accountant is being hired and will not have the same experience. It was agreed to level fund later in the meeting.
- Stan stated that he understands the Board will be discussing changing the Town Clerk position from an elected position to an appointed one and he wanted the Board to know that he is in favor of the Board looking to make the Town Clerk position an appointed position instead of elected and he would also like to see the Treasurer become an appointed position as well.
- M. Noe was asked to survey the surrounding towns as we usually do for all departments to find out how their firemen are paid and how much. Wayne added that when surveying one of the questions should be whether or not their FD responds to medical calls. Options on how to reduce the number of firemen responding to calls when not necessary really comes down to the Chief determining when there are enough people on scene and radioing that no further emergency personnel are needed. The Board will discuss this more with Chief Tryon next week.
- The Finance Committee will come back to speak with the Board when some of the numbers we are waiting on have been received.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. The minutes from 1.28.13 were put on hold for amendments. These will be looked at again next week.
2. Dan Moriarty provided maps from CT Male to the Board which he had forgotten to bring last week.
3. The Board discussed the applicants for the Accountant position. Steve recommended that the position should be flexible and stated that the job only takes 8 – 10 hours per week and it’s not necessary to have the new person be in the office two days per week as he was required to be. There are certain times of the year that may require more time than others. He noted that the payroll week is Sun – Sat. The Board unanimously agreed that Jennifer Goewey would be the best candidate for the position. A motion was made to offer the position to Jennifer Goewey at the salary of $14,560/year and does not include any benefits. Wayne seconded to motion. The motion passed unanimously. She will be asked to come in next week if she accepts the position to review
the particulars.
4. Town Clerk vacancy: After having some time to review MGL and Town Counsel’s opinions on the matter, Muriel offered her opinion on filling the vacancy. Muriel stated she has changed her mind on wanting to change it from elected to appointed and is in favor of Linda Thorpe being appointed as the Clerk to run the Town Meeting and elections and to have the remainder of the term be on the ballot for someone to run for the position. She suggested appointing Barbara Swann as the Assistant Town Clerk to assist Linda just for the Town Meeting and elections. The rest of the Board was in favor of appointing Linda after Debbie’s last day (April 1) but had some concerns with appointing Barbara Swann. Linda Thorpe joined the meeting to announce that Emily Johnson will be running for
the position and she is comfortable with appointing her as the Assistant after April 1st as well as teaching her how to run town meeting and the elections until a candidate is chosen on May 7th. Linda suggested rather than appointing Barbara Swann just asking for her guidance would be better.
5. Deborah Mielke came in to inform the Board that the elections division has filed legislation to allow municipalities to combine their local elections to be on the same day as the April 30th primaries which would make it prior to Town Meeting. Debbie recommends keeping things as they are and having the two elections remain separate to avoid any confusion. Wayne and Scott agreed (Muriel had to leave and was not present to weigh in).
6. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. SBA documents/information from Bruce Turner, SBRSD Business Administrator.
7. Warrants were signed.
8. Inter-Departmental Secretary’s weekly report reviewed.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 12:30pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Inter-Departmental Secretary
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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