Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 3/17/14
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, David Driscoll, Stanley Ross, Wendy Germain, Steve Weisz, Dan Moriarity, Don Clawson and Eugene Bounous
The board met with the Finance Committee to review the following with regards to the FY15 budget:
1. The free cash paperwork was sent to the state on the evening of the 13th.
2. There is a meeting scheduled for tomorrow at 4pm with the Treasurer to discuss her FY15 budget request and some concerns that the Board and other departments have with the Treasurer’s Office.
3. There is a meeting scheduled for March 27th at 4:30pm with the Finance Committee, Treasurer, Accountant, Select Board and Barbara Gauthier to discuss town finances.
4. There were questions on whether there would be a payment on the grader due in FY15 since we have not yet received the grader and a VIN which according to Don Clawson is what we need to take out a loan. M. Noe reached Maynard on the phone later in the meeting and he confirmed that the grader has been built and we are just waiting for it to be shipped. All of the loan paperwork should be completed in the next 2 – 3 weeks. The amount on the warrant right now is an estimate and can be amended on the town meeting floor if necessary.
5. Muriel reviewed the unrestricted local aid number received in an email from Senator Downing’s office. The Board asked that M. Noe send a copy of the email to Barbara Gauthier to see if she could help make sense of the email and if the monies noted in the email are a part of our cherry sheet.
6. The Finance Committee reported on their meeting with Chief Tryon and Mike Johnson regarding the fire department and Council on Aging respectively. The additional monies requested for the COA is to cover increased fees and dues for the 2 organizations that they belong to. Wayne noted that if he had requested the money last year and wasn’t given it but still managed to pay his dues, could the same be done this year. The increase to the fire department is to cover supplies, fuel, maintenance on the vehicles, etc. It was also recommended by the Chief and Mike that money should be added to the budget to purchase a defibrillator like we have in the town hall and 2 boxes to cover the beach and pavilion at approximately $2,000. This increase will be added to the defibrillator special
article.
7. The Finance Committee was asked again to follow up with the library to confirm that the increase to his budget is to cover salaries.
8. Wayne reported that he has spoken with Chief Backhaus since last week’s meeting and the Chief isn’t sure that waiting another year to replace the cruiser is the best option and felt that he has the support of the townspeople that emergency vehicles should be as up to date as possible. Chief Backhaus also feels strongly that the 2nd half of the recommended salary increases for the Chief and Sergeant be given. Scott reiterated that he is not in favor of giving the additional increases to the Chief and Sergeant and Muriel stated for the record that she is strongly in favor of giving them. Muriel felt that it was should be pointed out that the Executive Secretary receives a higher salary than does the Sergeant who puts his life on the line each day but it was rebutted that the
2 positions are not comparable and that the Executive Secretary has been here for going on 10 years and the Sergeant has only been here for 4 years. Wayne and Scott did not feel that this would be a fair argument to make on the town meeting floor and would create an animosity between employees that is unnecessary. Dan requested that the ECAC be invited to a Select Board meeting to discuss the raises they recommended. Wayne felt that this would muddy the waters more as this committee is only advisory to the Finance Committee and Select Board and we have already received their recommendation which is now being discussed.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. David Driscoll came in regarding the upcoming RT 23 project and his home located at 402 Main Rd. He is concerned with water coming from the existing culvert that is creating a “sinkhole” in his yard. He would like the Town to put in something that could stop the runoff such as trap rock or something like that. The Board questioned the location of where the “sinkhole” is occurring in relation to the culvert (it is on Mr. Driscoll’s property, not in the right of way). Maynard asked M. Noe to relay to the Select Board that he spoke with Mr. Driscoll last week and agreed to make a site visit once the snow has melted. Mr. Driscoll was also concerned about the leaning tree near the culvert.
2. Wendy Germain and Steve Weisz came in to discuss the following with the Board:
a. Muriel stated that the work done to date by the Monterey2020 has been fantastic however their focus to date is not what the Select Board envisioned for dealing with the financials for the ongoing and upcoming town projects. The Board is envisioning more of a task force to deal with the following: to find the best pathway to achieve all of the goals of each of the town projects (the school, library, community center and the Bidwell House) within Town. It was noted that the Bidwell House is not a town owned building however everyone feels that it’s continued operations are vital to the community.
b. Muriel said that the Monterey2020 is more than welcome to hold their meeting that was already advertised here this weekend however going forward they should be held elsewhere (Wayne disagreed) so that it is not interpreted to be a Select Board/Town sanctioned committee. However the Board is fully in favor of the task force that will soon be appointed keeping the Monterey2020 group in the loop.
c. Steven and Wendy requested that the Select Board give them a statement to read at Saturday’s meeting letting them know the focus that the Board is taking.
3. Eugene Bounous came in to state that he is willing to donate property on his land at 31 Main Rd for a dog park. The Board referred him to Julio Rodriguez who is on the Parks Commission and spearheading this proposed project. He did state that he knows one of his abutters would object to this proposal.
4. The Board signed a notice of waiver of first refusal option regarding the sale of 46 Harmon Rd which was under Chapter 61.
5. The Board signed a letter to King Information Systems regarding the invoice we received for their sales consultation notifying them that we will not be paying it.
6. The Board agreed to sign the letter of intent to participate in the Berkshire County regional household hazardous waste collection program for FY15.
7. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. A copy of a letter from the Sheffield Board of Selectmen to the SBRSD School Committee requesting that the school committee please reconsider closure of the Monterey School.
b. A breakdown from CHP on how the funds we donate to them are used.
8. Executive Secretary’s weekly report was reviewed.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 11:40am
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Executive Secretary
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
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