Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 4/11/16
Meeting Opened at: 8:40am
Select Board Members Present: Scott Jenssen, Chairperson, Kenn Basler, and Steve Weisz
Also in attendance: Stephen Moore for the Monterey News, Carol Edelman, Shawn Tryon, BJ Johnson, Cliff Weiss, Monica Webb, Ben Pac, Barbara Gauthier, Beth Parks, Don Clawson, Stan Ross and Ray Tryon
The Board met with Director of Operations/Fire Chief, Shawn Tryon to review the following:
1. We have not heard back from counsel yet on the lease wording – this will be postponed until the next meeting.
2. The demo fire truck will be here this Friday. This is a 2013 with approximately 47,000 miles. Shawn confirmed that there isn’t a title so it will be sold as new and the Treasurer confirmed that it will not affect the loan rates.
The Board met with Monica Webb, WiredWest representative to review the following:
1. Lack of progress in building out a broadband network.
2. The state is pushing for towns to work independently which will be more costly.
3. Monica suggests that the draft resolution she sent should be signed and sent to the Governor’s Office. The Board will review it, make any necessary modifications and send it out as soon as possible.
The Board met with the Finance Committee to review the following:
1. Stan Ross feels that an error is being made by eliminating the actual cost for a Town Administrator plus benefits; they suggest putting the salary ($35,000) and cost of benefits ($23,000) back into the budget. The Finance Committee agreed unanimously. Scott argued that 2/3 of the Board is in agreement that we need a Town Administrator however they eliminated the salary to be more fiscally responsible as it is going to be a lengthy process to hire a Town Administrator and the Board didn’t want to tax the town on funds that may not be immediately used. After much discussion the Select Board agreed to put the salary and benefits for a TA back into the proposed budget.
2. Kenn has spoken with other haulers and is now proposing that we do not make any cuts to the hours of the transfer station so the line item for the part time employees will go up to $35,124 (2 attendants on Wed, Sat and Sun plus the swap shack attendant with a 2% COLA for all 3) and lowering the operations to $85,000 as we have really got a good handle on what is being dumped there.
3. The Finance Committee doesn’t understand the outside consultant revolving account being created to which the Accountant’s explanation was read and discussed.
4. Kenn wanted to continue the discussion with regards to the Finance Committee’s request for $1,500 to hire a clerk. Kenn suggested that this be lowered to $1,000.
5. Town Counsel has confirmed that the school committee’s budget can only be accepted or rejected in whole. The Finance Committee has already unanimously voted to reject the budget. A motion was made by the Select Board to reject the school committee’s budget for FY17. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
Miscellaneous Items Reviewed:
1. The Board reviewed the proposed text seeking members to join the Broadband Search Committee. Cliff Weiss and BJ Johnson are interested in being on the committee. The article will be placed in the May Monterey News.
2. Ben Pac and Beth Parks, employees of the transfer station came in to discuss the changes to go into effect May 1 (a letter was also submitted). They understand change is inevitable however they feel that they should be a part of the discussions when changes are proposed. It was agreed that non-profits are not exempt from having to pay for bulky waste; a letter will be sent out to all the agencies in town notifying them of this policy. They have concerns with the policy to only allow demo debris to be dumped on Sundays; they suggest allowing on all days it’s open but not allow contractors to dump. Kenn explained the reasoning behind limiting demo debris to only Sundays. After much discussion it was agreed to prohibit contactors from dumping demo debris but limit it for now to
Sundays only. With regards to the cut in hours the Board will be discussing later another option that will not make any changes.
3. Minutes from 4/4 & 4/8/16 were approved.
4. Administrative Assistant’s weekly report was reviewed.
5. The Chief’s weekly report was reviewed. The Board is going to request that the Chief start including dates and times for incidents reported.
At 11:45am the Board discussed the need to go into executive session under MGL Chapter 30A Section 21 #1. Roll call was taken, all were present. The Board voted that they will not return to an open session.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the public portion of the meeting at: 11:45am
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Administrative Assistant
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
Town Clerk
Documents reviewed at this meeting (attached to hard copy of minutes at town hall):
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