Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 6/14/17
Meeting Opened at: 9am
Select Board Members Present: Steve Weisz, Chairperson, Carol Edelman and Kenneth Basler
Also in attendance: Peter Chait, Cliff Weiss, Meagan Duffy, Terry Walker, Shawn Tryon, Ray Tryon
Miscellaneous Items Reviewed:
- The Board reviewed an email from the Finance Committee as well as the research regarding their issues noted.
a. The Board approved the request to transfer $1896.83 from the salt and sand account to the Tree Warden’s expenses.
b. The Finance Committee is requesting time cards for the overtime hours and the minutes containing the approval by the Chief Administrative Officer (the Select Board). After speaking with DOR it was confirmed that this is not necessary as the Board declared a snow emergency on March 22, 2017 which legally allows the town to overspend the snow & ice accounts. The Director of Operations approved the overtime and the Board signed the warrants containing those payrolls.
c. The Finance Committee feels that the snow & ice removal amount reported for FY16 (last year) was incorrect and is instructing the Accountant to make corrections when reporting for FY17. After speaking with DOR this is water under the bridge and changes for FY16 cannot be made in the FY17 reports and to make any changes to last year’s reports would require DOR unlocking the reports and would have zero impact on anything.
d. The Finance Committee is refusing to approve any internal transfers allowed under MGL Chapter 44 Section 31B with approval of 2/3 of the Select Board and 2/3 of the Finance Committee. They are instructing the Board to add them to the scheduled special town meeting and request transfers from free cash. As of today the Board has decided not to add these to the special town meeting warrant.
e. The Finance Committee had issues with the following accounts that have gone over printing expenses (due to more town meetings than usual), fire calls (this is always an unknown), Fire Department & Utilities (M. Noe needs to follow up with the Chief as it’s believed several items were incorrectly charged to this account in the early part of the FY), New transfer station and public lighting which has gone over due to rising costs of electricity.
f. The Board was concerned with the timing and the way the issues were raised and thought this could’ve been handled with joint meetings and discussions between the Board, Finance Committee and Accountant.
- Steve followed up with Baystate Accounting and determined that there had been a misunderstanding with our process and they are willing to contract for Accounting and Treasurer Services for this remainder of this year and next. The Board also discussed the fact that a resume for Treasurer with municipal experience has been received. A meeting will be scheduled with Baystate and an interview scheduled with the recent applicant.
- The Town Clerk provided the Board with the bond documents for the library.
- The Town Clerk informed the Board of the public records request received for campaign financial documents which could not be found. After speaking with Town Counsel on how to handle the matter a certified letter was sent to the 5 previous town clerks inquiring if they have these records in their possession; 1 response was received.
- The Board agreed to hire Meagan Duffy as a temporary Assistant Town Clerk at a rate of $12/hour.
- Terry Walker informed the Board that we will need to hold a public hearing for the MassWorks grant we are applying for.
- Cliff Weiss, member of the Municipal Light Plant for Monterey came in to discuss a letter to be sent to Secretary Ash requesting that Fiber Connect be revetted. Carol recused herself from this conversation due to a conflict of interest. The letter was signed by Steve and Kenn.
- Dennis Lynch came in with grant paperwork for the Board to sign.
- The Board continued discussion about the options for repairing the Curtis Rd Bridge. Kenn is proposing an article go on the special town meeting warrant for $100k from stabilization to temporarily repair it until we can find a permanent solution which may include receiving grant monies.
- Kenn informed the Board that he is working on a Memorandum of Understanding between the town and library trustees.
- Kenn reported that Town Counsel attended the hearing in Boston for the Hume v Planning Board appeal. Negotiations are in progress which will involve the Planning Board dropping the conditions set.
- The Board signed the June 30th special town meeting warrant.
- Warrants were signed.
- Minutes from 6/12/17 were approved.
- The Board accepted Dennis Lynch’s resignation from the Conservation Commission effective June 30th.
- Metals bin: Kenn has been working with Valley roll-off on a rental fee for the container and reimbursement for metals returned.
- Kenn has submitted several grants totaling approximately $28,000 for the transfer station. One is a grant for a rigid plastics container.
- Shawn Tryon came in to discuss the following:
a. The person interested in applying for a fill in spot at the Transfer Station needs to submit a letter of interest so the Board can meet and interview him. It was also suggested that Ben Pac should be offered the position first.
b. Dam inspection (Brewer’s Pond): The dam is in good shape but is going to require more maintenance which may require a special article next year to establish the grass better, brush area needs to be grubbed out and grass planted, spots need to be excavated out, stone apron needs to be freshened up, replace the valve gasket and adding another canoe rack as canoes cannot be left on the dam.
c. Cleaning of drainage ways and culverts is in progress.
- Administrative Assistant’s weekly report was reviewed.
- Police Chief’s weekly report was reviewed.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 11:43am
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Administrative Assistant
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
Town Clerk
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