Monterey Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 11/16/15
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: Jill Pajka for the Monterey News
Miscellaneous Select Board Items Reviewed:
1. Scott updated the other members on the most recent 5 town meeting with regards to the assessment issue and a possible solution. An outside attorney is being hired and a memorandum of understanding is being drafted.
2. Mail was reviewed which included:
a. Letter from the Sheffield Select Board requesting that the school committee review the FY16 budget again to find further reductions.
b. Letter from Superintendent Hastings acknowledging that the water has been shut off at the Monterey school building and has been winterized.
c. Letter from the New Marlborough Select Board to the school committee requesting a further in-depth and objective look at the budget to determine where additional cuts might be made.
d. Notification that $1,018.12 was received from DEP through the Waste Management Recycle America Alliance and MassDEP.
e. Notice of filing and public hearing from the department of public utilities.
3. The Board agreed to sign a 2 year guarantee proposal from MIIA (our insurance provider). This proposal offers a renewal proposal for FY17 and FY18 which would include a rate change of 0% for FY17 and no more than 2.5% for FY18 for our property/liability and worker’s compensation plans.
4. The Board discussed the current format of the minutes. Kenn feels that we have reached the lowest level of a form of minutes and that they are a book and encouraged Scott and Steve to look at other town’s minutes for comparison. [The Open Meeting Law states that, “minutes must state the date, time and place of the meeting, a list of the members present or absent, and the decisions made and actions taken including a record of all votes…While the minutes must include a summary of the discussions on each subject, a transcript is not required.”] A suggestion was made to hold on approving the minutes from last week and going forward the meetings will be recorded via audio and the written minutes will be more condensed (bullet pointed rather than narrative).
5. The Board signed the Community Center lease agreement.
6. Steve reported that the Hume board is still negotiating with the cell tower company.
7. Steve will resume set up of the credit card system once the Treasurer and Accountant have caught up.
8. Scott is going to prepare a first aid kit to be stored at the transfer station.
9. Kenn has concerns about the amount of construction debris still being brought to the transfer station and recommends that we switch to charging per pickup load versus per barrel, he will work on a new proposed list. He also proposed that the fee for mattresses be raised to $35 as that is what we are charged and couches should be $20.
10. Due to the holiday next week the meeting for the 23rd will be cancelled. The one scheduled agenda item will be rescheduled to the 30th.
11. The Board discussed the upcoming informational meeting that the Friends of Lake Garfield will be hosting regarding creating a new tax district.
12. Warrants were signed.
The board met with Town Accountant, Paul Lisi to review the following:
1. Paul was asked if there were any funds being carried forward for the Wilson McLaughlin House; Paul stated that there aren’t any carry forwards for FY16 as no one requested any other than the $200 for the moderator. The Board is the only authority that can instruct the Accountant to carry forward money. There are revolving funds that carried forward automatically.
2. Paul requested permission to by the cash book portion of the Softright software which is currently ½ price ($1,500). The Board suggested that if there is enough money and if Don Clawson is finished purchasing the computers to be rotated for the year then the computer software line item should be the account to use.
3. Kenn stated that he has spoken with DOT regarding the emergency nature of the culvert repair that was done and the use of Chapter 90 funds; Shawn and Kenn will continue the conversations with Kathy Stevens and will get Paul the documentation that he is requesting. Steve suggested that going forward some sort of procedural checklist should be implemented and followed whenever there is a large project to make sure that all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed. Scott concurred.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 5:45pm
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Administrative Assistant (via audio recording)
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
Town Clerk
Documents received at this meeting:
1. Sheffieldltr
2. Hastingsltr
3. NMltr
These are attached to the hard copy of the minutes located at town hall.
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