Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 10/11/17
Meeting Opened at: 9am
Select Board Members Present: Steve Weisz, Chairperson and Kenneth Basler
Also in attendance: Dennis Lynch, Shawn Tryon, Julio Rodriguez, Justin Cole, Kay Purcell
Miscellaneous Items Reviewed:
- Dennis Lynch, grant writer came in to discuss the 2017 Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant with the Board. There is a local match of $3,750 required (some cash and mostly staff time). A motion was made to sign the necessary letter of intent.
- Julio Rodriguez came in to report that the Parks Department will be working on fixing the trails around the dam at Brewer Pond.
- Kay Purcell and Julio Rodriguez of the Council on Aging to discuss the following:
a. Increasing membership from 5 to 7. This will require a town meeting vote to amend the town bylaw.
b. Showing films – there is a cost of $200 for the necessary license. The COA is proposing to show films a few times a month in the town hall meeting room.
c. FY19 – the Southern Berkshire Elderly Transportation is requesting double what our assessment have been in the past due to an increase in the number of people using the service and the number of rides ($4,850 which will eat up the COA grant we receive). Kenn offered to work with the COA on investigating future ways to address transportation issues.
d. Senior tax abatement – Kay reported that the Town of New Marlborough uses 18 people – we have not had the same interest despite posting jobs available here. We are open to using any seniors interested.
e. Senior housing – The COA is proposing using the land behind the firehouse to construct up to 6 units and are seeking guidance on how to begin the process. It was suggested to talk with Construct in Gt. Barrington which is in the process of building a similar unit there.
- Steve suggested asking Charter to come meet with the Board and the Broadband Committee together to discuss their new proposal. Kenn wanted a detailed proposal from Charter before scheduling a meeting, once a proposal is received a meeting will be scheduled.
- The Board met with Justin Cole of Baystate Municipal Accounting (BMA) to review the following:
a. Working on FY17 items that affect setting the tax rate – Justin will be meeting with the Assessors following this meeting.
b. Monthly reports are going out today.
c. BMA has been working with the library to make adjustments to their chart of accounts.
d. Payroll codes are still being cleaned up.
e. BMA is working directly with Unibank on the items needed for the library bond.
f. The Select Board reiterated that they fully support the work that BMA has been doing.
- The Board discussed a welcome letter to announce the hiring of Sergeant Fahey for the November Monterey News. Kenn and M. Noe will work on finalizing it.
- The Board met with Shawn Tryon, Director of Operations to discuss the following:
a. Update on the repair and repave of the town hall parking area.
b. Working on getting estimates for lighting at the Community Center for the driveway.
c. Shawn is requesting an onsite meeting with the FWMH and the Board to discuss the future parking alterations to be made.
d. LED street light conversion – we are going to give the go ahead to retrofit all of the streetlamps with the 30w which is equivalent to the wattage currently there. After discussion it was agreed find out if changes could be made after and to see what the lumens of the lights in Gt. Barrington are.
e. The new truck has been delivered – Shawn is working on transferring the equipment from the old truck.
f. MassWorks Grant – We were not awarded anything in the first round but there will be multiple rounds.
g. Curtis Rd Bridge – Shawn has been in touch with MassDOT and has all the information to request the waiver on the weight limit for the town trucks.
h. Shawn is working on the estimates Carol requested for the school.
i. Kenn asked Shawn to take a look at the bridge on New Marlboro Rd. near the town line – he thinks the approach may need some attention.
j. Met with BETA a pavement management company that can log all our roads, help with capital planning and inventories. Total cost is $12,600 and Chapter 90 monies can be used. The Board supported this.
k. Shawn suggested that the Board should put an article in the next Monterey News applauding the work Valley has been doing to help us get out tonnage and hauling costs down. Kenn will write something.
l. Transfer station: Shawn wanted to confirm that there will be enough funds in the budget to install the roof rakes, purchase a snowblower and repair/install the garage doors. Kenn confirmed that we have received grant monies and with the tonnages going down there will be sufficient funds to cover these purchases.
- Warrants were signed.
- Minutes from 10/4/17 were approved.
- 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: 11:15am
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Administrative Assistant
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
Town Clerk
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