Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 9/15/14
Meeting Opened at: 9am
Select Board Members Present: Wayne Burkhart, Chairperson, Scott Jenssen and Kenn Basler
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: David Riland for the Monterey News, Richard Tryon, Roger Tryon, Rudy Gero, Chief Backhaus, Julio & Pat Rodriguez, Stanley Ross, Ray Tryon and Shawn Tryon
The board met with Chief of Police, Gareth Backhaus to review the following:
1. Weekly report was reviewed.
2. Police detail policy: The Board was curious as to what the policy is for details, how they are funded, assigned, etc. The Chief stated that there isn’t any cost to the town for any details unless it’s a highway project (and that money usually comes from state money) or a tree warden project would come from the tree warden’s budget. An invoice is sent to the company paying for the detail and once it’s paid it’s submitted to the Treasurer and the officer is then paid; it’s cash in cash out and there is a 10% fee added on for processing. Officers are assigned to details through a rotating list with the full time officer getting first refusal (the Chief stated this is a standard policy amongst police departments). Sergeant Johnson handles everything to do
with details from assigning them to submitting the deposits and payroll for it. Roger Tryon stated that when he was Tree Warden he was never charged for a detail and was concerned with why this has changed; the Chief stated it was easier to do it this way than to argue with Roger about what is supposed to happen. Chief Backhaus stated that whenever there is a time to save the town money on a detail for a town project he will do the best he can. Roger questioned why the officer on duty can’t handle the daytime details because that would leave no one available to answer any emergency calls that come in. Richard Tryon had issues with the details be given to the Police Department and feels that it should be given to regular working folk. The Board is going to look into it but is sure that any detail wage would be around the $40 detail rate for a certified flagger because a town project would fall under prevailing wages. Chief Backhaus stated
that when an Officer provides the detail, cars tend to be more respectful, slow down and drive more safely when they see someone in uniform. Roger asked why an officer that works only 2 hours on a detail is paid for 4 hours and if he works 5 hours he gets paid for a full day (this does not apply to town projects). Chief Backhaus stated that this is a department policy that all departments use and when an officer is needed from another town they expect the same detail policies; the Board had some concerns about this. Rudy Gero asked why Sergeant Johnson takes the SUV vehicle to all details using the town’s gas to run the car and if any other officer working a detail would be allowed to use it when they are covering a detail. The Chief made it clear that the Department doesn’t seek out detail projects; the company that needs a detail officer calls and makes an official request through the police line. Kenn requested a regular spreadsheet be
provided to the Board with the number of details, who worked them, how long the detail was and what company was paying for it. There was discussion about why the highway crew members aren’t included in the detail rotation to share the wealth; it is because they are working for the town highway department on town jobs and it was noted that the Police Department isn’t called in to share the overtime money that the highway guys get for plowing in the winter.
3. Richard Tryon inquired how much vacation time is offered to the Police Chief; he currently earns 4 weeks as per the town bylaws regarding time off.
4. Kenn commented that the Select Board does not want to micromanage the Police Department but they are interested in saving money whenever possible.
5. Regarding a noise ordinance/bylaw: Chief Backhaus stated that the complaints are generally centered around the camps and therefore a noise ordinance/bylaw isn’t necessary adding more restraints to other activities in town. Chief Backhaus suggested that the Town should look into amending the bylaws regarding the operation of camps and this may help alleviate the issues occurring.
The board met with Director of Operations, Shawn Tryon to review the following:
1. The work has begun on Jamie’s Court. Small adjustments are being made to the plan.
2. Shawn is aware of the work that needs to be done at the dam behind the library and hopes to start working on it when the drawdown of Lake Garfield occurs. Shawn will check into where the FEMA money is that the Board was told was paying for this project.
3. Shawn will be attending a conference on salt usage on October 28th and invited any of the Board members interested to attend with him.
4. The attendant’s shack has been ordered and should be here within 3-4 weeks.
5. Next week the Board will be meeting with Shawn to discuss the operations at the Transfer Station in more depth. The Board asked Shawn to give it some thought before next week about whether or not it might be a better solution to have a town employee running the dump rather than a contracted employee.
6. The Board discussed the pole hearing proposal presented last week and asked for his opinion. He said both proposals have pros and cons. The Board feels that of the 2 proposals the Sandisfield Rd one is the better of the 2 as there is more of a chance of building out there than there is on Cronk Rd; Shawn agreed.
7. Shawn made a site visit to West Rd and stated that it is washed at most 6 inches in spots but felt that any high-profile emergency vehicle would be able to make it up the road. He did state that the Association or owner of that road should consider making improvements. The road association that met with the Board a few weeks ago will be notified of this.
8. Roads and Machinery Committee: Shawn is not in favor of a committee of this nature and stated that this is why we have a capital plan which should be adjusted as the Board sees fit not a committee. The Board agreed.
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. Julio Rodriguez requested that Ray Tryon be appointed to the Veteran’s Memorial Committee. A motion was made to appoint Ray Tryon to a 2 year term to the Veteran’s Memorial Committee. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
2. Pat Rodriguez stated she’d like to reopen the conversations to propose a dog park at the Community Center which would require a special permit. Kenn is opposed to the town providing any money for the operation and/or maintenance of a future dog park but would support a self sustaining park something similar to the community garden.
3. The Select Board approved the 1st article for the “Select Board Corner” to be submitted to the Monterey News.
4. Vendor warrants were signed. The Board had an issue with the bill submitted by the Town Clerk for detail officers used at the recent primary election. Emily stated that the State pays for 3 hours of the detail bill but the rest of it is the responsibility of the town and comes out of her election budget. The State requires that an officer be present at the elections but they do not pay it. It is also required that an officer be present with the ballots before and after the elections as they cannot be left alone, so the actual time frame for the detail is 16 hours not 12.
5. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. Resignation from Betty Pixley from the Conservation Commission effective September 10th.
b. Letter from the Solar Guild about solar projects. The Board asked M. Noe to have them come meet with the Board to provide an analysis for Monterey.
6. Administrative Assistant’s weekly report was reviewed.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 11:13am
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Administrative Assistant
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
Town Clerk
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