Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 9/23/13
Meeting Opened at: 9am
Select Board Members Present: Muriel Lazzarini, Chairperson, Wayne Burkhart and Scott Jenssen
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Susan Gallant for the Monterey News, Maynard Forbes, Gareth Backhaus, Michael Johnson, Michael Banner and Stanley Ross
The board met with Director of Operations, Maynard Forbes’ to review the following:
1. Health insurance for new hire. Don Hopkins needs to have his coverage effective on his start date as his other insurance will run out but employees currently pay their contributions toward insurance one month in advance, his contributions would be toward November not October. Muriel felt that any new hires should be allowed to have their insurance right away and suggested that new hires from here on out should pay their contributions in “real-time” not one month in advance and should they leave their employment here the new hires would not be paid one month out as current employees are. Scott was concerned that there should be a probationary period for new hires and how would that effect insurance coverage. Maynard has given Don a 6 month probation period but that has no
relevance on his benefits. A motion was made to have employees hired after September 16, 2013 pay their insurance contributions for the current month instead of one month in advance. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
2. The Board followed up with Maynard regarding the Tree Warden and the complaint received regarding a dangerous branch hanging on Beartown Mtn Rd. Maynard stated that the Tree Warden needs a bucket truck to reach this and is planning on taking care of it when he has a bunch of jobs that require a bucket truck as he is charged by the day for rental of a bucket truck.
The board met with Police Chief, Gareth Backhaus to review the following:
1. Michael Banner of the WMH came in to discuss parking and traffic control for their Oktoberfest event in October.
2. Muriel asked if the Chief had any issues with the proposed new pricing policy for FY15 transfer station stickers. He had no issues.
3. Well being check which involved contacting 7 or 8 other police departments.
4. Medical call on Sandisfield Rd. x 2
5. Complaints regarding dirt bikes on personal property, some with damage. There have been several of these types of complaints recently and they appear to be from dirt bikes coming in from the State Park.
6. False alarms on Main Rd, Hupi Rd, Blue Hill Rd and Sylvan Rd
7. Well being check on Maple Ave generated by the West Stockbridge Police Dept. after finding an abandoned vehicle.
8. A wallet was turned in found near the library – returned to owner.
9. Wire down on Fairview Rd; turned out to be a phone wire which the highway department assisted with moving.
10. Two different roadside vegetable stands have had their money jars stolen – police are investigating.
11. Call from the Lynn police department regarding an abandoned motor vehicle – resident was from Monterey and notified of the situation.
12. Tree on wires on Harbour Lane.
13. Call from a resident in NY reporting someone on his property (he has live cameras on his property that detect motion). Police investigated and it was a serviceman that had permission to be there.
14. Suspicious activity on Mt Hunger Rd – this has been forwarded to the Health Department.
15. Muriel notified the Chief that she had Sergeant Johnson attend a Hampshire County Selectmen’s meeting while the Chief was on vacation as the agenda seemed appropriate for the Police Department to attend.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. The minutes from 9.16.13 were approved as written.
2. A motion was made to approve a one-day beer & wine permit for the Oktoberfest event at the WMH in October. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
3. Monterey Community School vision proposal – Muriel has added additional items since reviewing this last week in preparation for the meeting this Thursday.
4. Sergeant Johnson came in with a solution to prevent further damage to our flagpole out front (which was hit again). Mike is proposing granite pillars from A&A Memorials connected with anchor chains. The Board wanted more time to think about it and wanted to know how much it was going to cost and where the money was going to come from. Mike is going to ask several departments in town to contribute toward the cost of the granite.
5. Muriel informed the other members of an IRS issue in town. The IRS is claiming that the town did not file the 4th quarter taxes for 2012 and that there is a $4900 discrepancy with the employee withholding taxes for the 2nd quarter 2012 taxes. Town Counsel has been made aware of the issue and recommended speaking with the former Treasurer to find out what happened and to have her provide any documentation to the Board regarding this audit. Muriel spoke with Pat on Friday and Pat informed her that she and Bethany were coming in on Sunday (yesterday) to put together the packet of documents the IRS is requesting and there is a phone conference scheduled for today with Pat, Bethany and the IRS agent. Pat will keep the Board informed.
6. Scott called the State and left a message regarding the mercury levels in Lake Garfield and has not yet received a return call.
7. The Board continued to review the capital expense spreadsheet and Muriel is recommending removing entirely the boat for the fire department, moving the basement to 2 years out, the copier to next year, the C4500 and ¾ ton truck to next year to accommodate the possible construction of a new Monterey Community School. She also recommends moving the fire truck out 2 more years and the Police Cruiser 1 more year depending on the final estimate to construct a new school.
8. Wayne stated that Rudy Gero approached him regarding the Transfer Station Sticker Policies the Board was working on and felt that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee should be part of the conversation. M. Noe reminded Wayne that the Select Board deleted this committee back in FY10 as it was a non-active committee. Wayne will remind Rudy that this committee has not been in existence for quite some time and did not feel it was necessary to reinstate this committee at this time. The Board suggested that Rudy might consider participating in the district solid waste meetings.
9. Stanley Ross stated that on Saturday he was asked by Maryellen Brown to come in and assist her with finding all the issues and fixing accounts that are “out of whack” in the Accountant’s Office. After this there was a suggestion made to have a meeting with the Accountant, Treasurer, Assessors, and Select Board to really open up the lines of communication which have been non-existent for quite some time. The Assessor’s are trying to set a tax rate and really need a lot from the Accountant and the Accountant still needs to close the accounts but is waiting on information from the Treasurer’s Office. The Board asked M. Noe to arrange a meeting with the above-noted departments for next Monday. Stanley also commented that he did not feel the Auditor’s were
firm enough in advising the Board that there were areas that needed “cleaning up” in town when they performed their financial audit of the town’s books.
10. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. Invitation and agenda for the MMA selectmen fall conference.
b. Notice of public hearing and request for comments regarding an investigation by the Department of Public Utilities pursuant to Chapter 209 Section 51 of the Acts of 2012, An Act Relative to Competitively Priced Electricity in the Commonwealth, to establish a cost-based rate design for MA Elec Co. and Nantucket Electric d/b/a National Grid.
11. Warrants were signed.
12. Inter-Departmental Secretary’s weekly report reviewed.
a. M. Noe reminded the Board that the office will be closed on Friday while she attends the DLS seminar in Holyoke.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 10:45am
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Executive Secretary
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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