Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 8/3/15
Meeting Opened at: 4:15pm
Select Board Members Present: Scott Jenssen, Chairperson, Kenn Basler and Steve Weisz
Also in attendance for parts of the meeting: Jacob Edelman for the Monterey News and Shawn Tryon
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. A meeting will be scheduled for next Monday at 9am with any interested parties and the Berkshire Record reporter to discuss the Monterey School.
2. Steve reported that there was a very productive meeting this morning with representatives of Hume, neighbors, Maggie Leonard and himself regarding programming, upcoming projects, use of amplification, etc. Hume is researching other options for creating another access road.
3. It has been confirmed that on the 19th of August there will be a meeting with Hume, Shawn, Steve and a member of Florida Tower Partners to review the possibility of constructing a second cell tower in town.
4. Steve is working on the paperwork with the credit card company govpaynet to get the system set up to use in town hall and at the transfer station. Counsel did review the contract and his only issue was that it was a 5 year contract however Steve felt comfortable since there is a 30 day out clause that allows the town to cancel for any reason.
5. Kenn reported that the transfer station has been very busy but there is still an issue with construction debris and he feels that we should limit the dumping of construction debris to pickup trucks. There is also an issue with the dumping of electronics and the Board should consider adding fees to dispose of these items.
6. Summerfest booth: Kenn has spoken with Gould Farm, the Bidwell House and the library and they are all interested in giving literature, it is still unclear who will be manning it. The Lake Garfield Association is also interested. It was suggested that we should also reach out to the camps in Monterey.
7. The teambuilding event scheduled for last Wednesday was cancelled due to lack of interest/attendance. The problem solving/conflict resolution meeting set up through the Employee Assistance Program for the 17th of August was discussed. Steve felt that some sort of informal event is important as it was suggested by both the Town Hall Structure Advisory Committee and Joe Kellogg and it has been proven that getting together in a different environment than work with your coworkers, especially ones that may not deal well with each other day to day has positive impacts. He reiterated that he really feels it is something the Board should do. Scott didn’t feel that there was a way to make people like each other within the town hall and to force people to congregate together and
fake it wouldn’t be useful. Scott did say that an important first step is that the Board as elected officials need to set a good example, stop being condescending and lead with a superior attitude and be more patient with the employees and elected officials; if this were to happen the dynamics in town hall may slowly change for the better. It was decided that the event on the 17th will be cancelled and Steve will try to arrange another informal get together for whoever would like to attend.
8. The Board discussed the recent multiple absences of the Town Accountant. A memo will be sent to him.
9. Mari has requested that a financial meeting be set up between the Accountant, Treasurer, Assessors and Tax Collector with regards to reconciling the books and verifying everyone’s final numbers. She is concerned that the Treasurer and Accountant are just taking her numbers as fact and may not actually be reconciling them to their own. A meeting is planned for this Wednesday.
10. Grant Writer update: Steve reported that the state has advised us that MGL Chapter 44, Section 70 requires a town meeting vote and the approval of the Selectmen to enter into such a contract. The GL also states that payments for services under such contracts may be made from the reimbursements or revenues recovered as a result of the services performed without appropriation of such revenues, therefore payment would be made directly from the grant account.
11. Kenn will be meeting with counsel to review the bidding requirements for the New Marlboro bridge and will also discuss with him if there are any other ways to change certain elected officials to appointed without having the position remain elected for one more term if approved at town meeting and the town election. (Currently if this were to pass at the next meeting and town election the Treasurer position would remain elected for 3 more years as the seat is up this year and someone will need to be on the ballot should this article not pass).
12. Community Compact Program application: Kenn reported that he was upset the M. Noe had submitted the application prior to the Board being able to discuss whether they wanted to add additional items besides the shared school services. M. Noe explained that it was a misunderstanding – she will contact the state to see if there is anything that can be done to allow us to modify our current application.
13. Blackboard Connect conversation: Kenn will talk to the Chief about the name and changing it to something more comprehensive so that when people go to the website they will understand that this is an opt-in reverse 911 notification system.
14. Scott reported that he followed up with Don Torrico and Maggie Leonard regarding the signs at Hume and everything has been properly permitted.
15. Scott also reported that someone complained to him at the transfer station over the weekend about the officer on the detail on Main Rd paying more attention to his cell phone than to directing traffic.
16. The Board discussed the reason for Maggie Leonard and Mr. Gelwan’s appointment with the Board next Monday. It is believed that Mr. Gelwan is upset with a horse barn being constructed on Mt Hunger Rd and feels that he should’ve been personally notified during the process so he could’ve made objections. He is also upset with a public records request filed in November of last year that he feels was not fulfilled properly. It was noted that Mr. Gelwan was provided with the documents requested that were available and that existed at the time of his request, he has since filed another request which was fulfilled today.
17. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. Letter from Gail Heath advising that she does not want to be reappointed as an election worker.
b. Letter from MassFiscal.org informing the town that much of the legislation Governor Baker needs to reform the MBTA has passed.
18. The Board signed the petition for approval of the Community Choice Power Supply Aggregation Plan which Colonial Power will present at our upcoming hearing.
19. Police Chief’s weekly report was reviewed.
20. Administrative Assistant’s weekly report was reviewed.
21. Warrants were signed.
The board met with Director of Operations, Shawn Tryon to review the following:
1. Shawn will be using about $21,500 of Chapter 90 funds (of which we have close to a half million) to purchase a used wood chipper (new ones start at about $55,000). Scott inquired if there would be any certifications or trainings required to operate the chipper. Shawn stated that John Fields has offered to give training. The Board agreed that if this piece of equipment is something the highway department really needs and will assist in making operations more efficient, they support the purchase. A motion was made to use $21,500 of Chapter 90 funds to purchase a chipper. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. The Chapter 90 paperwork was signed.
2. Road review/future projects: 2 sections on Tyringham Rd are going downhill and will need to be redone, a piece on Hupi Rd, a section on New Marlboro Rd will need to be reclaimed and redone.
3. Shawn’s vacation request was approved; Rich will be in charge for that week.
4. Shawn reported that 700 people were served at the steak roast.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 6:21pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Administrative Assistant
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
Town Clerk
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