Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 9/21/15
Meeting Opened at: 4:26pm
Select Board Members Present: Kenn Basler and Steve Weisz
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Gareth Backhaus, Paul Lisi and Sue Funk
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. Maryellen Brown’s resignation from the Council on Aging.
2. Counsel has responded that he confirms his opinion to Kenn that the Board can establish a protocol for the supervision of Tryon Construction by the highway~foreman, and that in all matters relating to those contracts, the foreman does not report to Shawn and instead~reports to an assigned member of the Board.~ This differs from advice given at a previous meeting, namely, that the contractor report to the Board, but upon further review, that scenario would be unmanageable in terms of logistics.~ Shawn should still make his disclosure, and the protocol should be established therein and filed.
3. Counsel also provided the following which was requested at a previous meeting: The recall election procedures are not established through Massachusetts general law, this would have to set out~in our town charter, pursuant to G.L. c. 43B, section 11.~ The recall election procedure would not be effective until after the election following the charter amendment.
4. Counsel also provided the following with regards to section 21A: Regarding the procedures for allowing members of a board to appoint its own members, G.L. c. 268A, section 21A, which prohibits such appointments "shall not apply to a member of a town commission or board, if such appointment or election has first been approved at an annual town meeting of the town."~ I don't remember the article that I viewed the day that I was there, but I believe that the article achieved this, although it may be a belt and suspenders approach to go ahead and cite the statute.~ There is also c. 41, section 4A, which allows for appointment of board members to other positions, provided that the salary is set and approved by town meeting.
5. The minutes from 9/10, 9/11 (2) and 9/14/15 were approved with minor amendments.
6. A letter was signed to provide to the banks requesting to add Sue Funk as a signer on all the accounts and to remove Bethany Mielke and Pat Mielke as signers.
7. The Accountant and Treasurer were asked to come in to talk about the email they sent out regarding new deadlines for warrant submittals. The Board suggested that a meeting should be set up with all the departments that it affects for a Q&A before any changes are made. Sue and Paul will be available Monday of next week at 5:30pm for anyone interested in discussing any concerns they might have and they will send an email to this effect. Changing back to Softright for payroll was discussed. The Accountant will be handling payroll.
8. The bridge for New Marlboro Rd has been ordered and will be delivered in about 3 weeks and the culvert for Main Rd has also been ordered and should be delivered in 2 weeks. It is expected that the culvert will be addressed first. The town has received approval to use Chapter 90 funds for the culvert replacement.
9. The Board voted to go with the 10.4 rate currently being offered through the electrical aggregation. Notifications will be sent directly to National Grid customers and everyone will have the choice to opt out.
10. The lake summit meeting that was scheduled for the 30th of September will need to be rescheduled (February has been suggested as an alternate date) as some of the parties that wanted to attend will not be available until then.
11. The Transfer Station Managers have requested a meeting with the Board and the Director of Operations to discuss the current workings and suggestions they have for the new transfer station. This meeting will be schedule for next Monday at 4:15pm.
12. The Board discussed the OML complaint that has been filed by the Town Clerk which Steve commented was completely unfounded.
13. A motion was made to formally request from the Clerk a list of all the individuals that have not yet been sworn in so the Board may follow up. The motion was seconded and passed. The Board will also notify Jen that the Town Moderator has sworn in the Town Accountant and Town Treasurer as per MGL Chapter 41 Section 107 and is requesting that she process the necessary paperwork.
14. Beth Parks was reappointed through June 30th as the Transfer Station Swap Shack Attendant at the continued rate of $200/month.
15. Warrants were signed.
The board met with Chief of Police, Gareth Backhaus to review the following:
1. Weekly report was reviewed.
2. Keeping the existing cruiser: The Chief would like a firm decision on whether or not this is the direction that the Board would like to move in. The positives to keeping it are there are many places to use it, the part timers would be able to use this vehicle, the trade in value is only $1,600, it could be used in locations around town as a deterrent. The Chief also reminded the Board that a great deal of money has been used to “fix it up”, recently. A motion was made to keep the cruiser with the caveat that no major repairs are to be made to it. The motion was seconded and passed.
3. The Chief was asked about the possibility of purchasing additional solar powered speed units. He doesn’t have the money to purchase them this year but can look into it for next year.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 6pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Administrative Assistant
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
Town Clerk
Documents received at this meeting:
1. Brownresignation
2. OMLcomplaint
These are attached to the hard copy of the minutes located at town hall.
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