Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 10/6/14
Meeting Opened at: 9am
Select Board Members Present: Scott Jenssen and Kenn Basler
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: David Riland for the Monterey News, David Driscoll, Ray Tryon, Chief Backhaus, Dan Lavin of Harper’s Payroll, Suzanne Wickham of Universal Payroll and Don Torrico
The board met with Chief of Police, Gareth Backhaus to review the following:
1. Weekly report was reviewed.
2. Oktoberfest: The FWMH are working with the Police and Director of Operations regarding a parking plan. An officer will be present to direct traffic.
3. Staffing update: one officer has been in a motorcycle accident and cannot return to work until December, another officer is going to school and is working less hours, one officer will be retiring in November and another officer may be getting a full time job. Chief Backhaus has someone in mind to interview and appoint who he will have come in at the next meeting.
4. Chief Backhaus asked that Jack Elliott be appointed on a for a 6 month probationary period as a part time officer. A motion was made to appoint Jack Elliott for 6 months. The motion was seconded and passed.
The board met with Director of Operations, Shawn Tryon to review the following:
1. Shawn asked if the Board needed him present at tonight’s meeting at the schoolhouse; at this point the Board did not feel that he did.
2. Bally Gally; the tenant has requested that the duct work be cleaned. Shawn has gotten a quote for $1,200 to clean the ducts and an additional $200 to fix the vents. The Board asked Shawn to get one more quote and then to go ahead and have the issue fixed. M. Noe reminded the Board and Shawn that there is still some money left in the Berkshire Housing Grant Fund that can be used for repairs/maintenance/upgrades of town buildings.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. David Driscoll of 402 Main Rd came in to ask the Board if he can repair the culvert that is on his land; the Board stated that he would need to speak with the Director of Operations to make sure it won’t create any issues for the Town. He also mentioned that he’d like the town to cut down a dead tree that is on his property there.
2. The Board approved the final version of the survey to be sent out to the townspeople regarding the services at the town hall and availability of those services. M. Noe will start getting ready to mail them out.
3. Dan Lavin of Harper’s Payroll came in to make a presentation to the Board regarding moving the payroll responsibilities to an outside company. Harper’s estimates that the annual charges to completely handle payroll would be $3,057.58. The only responsibility that the Treasurer would still be responsible for would be to fund the account to cover payroll after the warrants have been signed. Each department could enter their online hours each week instead of having to wait for the Treasurer to be available to do this.
4. The Board was called outside to the Jamie’s Court project site. They were informed that construction has run into some issues which may cost anywhere from $6,000 - $10,000 more than what the private donations raised total. Work will proceed as far as they can to make the area safe until either the private group can raise the additional funds or until it can be place on a town meeting warrant to see if the town will approve payment of.
5. Suzanne Wickham from Universal Payroll also made a presentation to the Board to handle our payroll responsibilities. Her quote ranged anywhere from $53 – $76/week depending on how many checks were being processed.
6. The Board agreed to keep the rent at $1,000/month for Bally Gally. M. Noe will send out the notice to vacate or renew lease agreement.
7. The Board approved a beer and wine permit for the Friends of Wilson McLaughlin House’s Oktoberfest event this weekend.
8. The Board discussed an issue that came up regarding the Drag O Ween event a local is having at the pavilion. Because they are charging an admission fee (which was unknown when the office was asked if permits were necessary), it requires an event permit issued by the Select Board which is governed by MGL Chapter 140 Section 181. The Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Officer had issues that the proper emergency lighting isn’t currently in the pavilion. If it is a place of assembly (which it is but it has never been inspected by Don) it requires emergency lighting and exit lights. Don also questioned whether or not fire extinguishers were present. The Board will make sure the fire dept requests an inspection yearly going forward for the firehouse and pavilion. Without
the proper lighting the fire department who owns the building would be liable should any accidents occur. The Select Board is responsible for issuing an entertainment permit. Emily was called in to discuss the issues above (this is an event she is putting on). Emily stated that the show would be from 8 – 11pm. There are concerns that anything after 10pm could be an issue to the neighbors and would be cause for a disturbing the peace complaint. The Board agreed to issue the entertainment permit with the condition that 2 firemen must be present with flashlights to direct people out and that the event is must be over by 11pm. The Board will notify the police dept that they have issued a permit that goes beyond the normal 10pm disturbing the peace cutoff.
9. Kenn inquired why Monterey wasn’t involved in the consortium to received reduced electrical rates (there was an article in the Eagle over the weekend). For us to participate would’ve required town meeting approval. Kenn asked if Scott and/or Melissa remembered anything like this coming before the Board about a year ago; Scott vaguely did, M. Noe did not.
10. Don updated the Board on his visit to the Monterey School last week and plans on attending the meeting there tonight.
11. The Board made the following reappointments Don Fitzgerald as the Alternate Inspector of Buildings/Alternate Building Commission for 2 years, Michal Johnson to the Council on Aging for 3 years and Fiona DeRis to the ECAC for 8 months.
12. Kenn is going to send a note to the Treasurer that her recent absences are unacceptable. Kenn would like to discuss when the full Board is present changing the Treasurer position from elected to appointed.
13. Swap shop: Kenn would like to figure out a way to appoint Beth Parks for a nominal fee (a couple thousand dollars) for a time period of 6 months to clean up the swap shack and come up with some plans to keep it moving in the right direction. Scott agreed that something needs to be done up there. Kenn is proposing 6 – 8 hours/week at minimum wage. Scott suggested that the Finance Committee be consulted on this before any decision was made.
14. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. Notice to proceed with the RT 23 project from MASSDOT
15. Administrative Assistant’s weekly report was reviewed.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 11:57am
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Administrative Assistant
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
Town Clerk
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