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Select Board
Minutes of the meeting of 11/14/18
Meeting Opened at: 9:05am
Select Board Members Present: Carol Edelman, Chairperson, Kenneth Basler and Donald Coburn
Also in attendance: Peter Chait, Terry Walker
Miscellaneous Items Reviewed:
- Carol reported that the Veteran’s Day ceremony on Sunday went very well and was well attended.
- Wendy Benjamin came in with the Massachusetts Cultural Council state contract for the Chair to sign. The contract was signed and will be mailed to the state this week.
- The Board discussed the state contract received from Hampshire Council of Governments for accounting and treasurer services with Baystate Municipal Accounting Group. A motion was made to send this to counsel for review which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- Library updates: Kenn met with counsel on this and has a call into the state library board and bond counsel. Kenn will update the Board once he has more information on whether the original article will need to be re-voted on at the next town meeting for the additional borrowing request the Library Trustees informed the Board of last week. The Library Trustees postponed their meeting to next week due to the holiday so Kenn will report back about change orders and the process going forward to keep the Select Board involved at the next Select Board meeting. Carol again suggested that it would be worthwhile to have the Library project manager attend an upcoming Select Board meeting.
- Website host changes: we have been informed that our current website host has employed technology advances which require us to update our site to incorporate new, more advanced core capabilities. This change requires a migration and training fee of $3,000 which can be spread out over 3 years. These changes must be made before April 30, 2019. The Board reviewed the 4 template options and unanimously agreed on the slideshow template, and to take advantage of spreading the cost out over 3 years.
- FY20 budget requests: The Board began reviewing the general government budget items. Discussion ensued surrounding proposed COLA and the Finance Committee’s recommendation to give 2% salary increases across the board. Don asked for the amount of the cost of living increase. Melissa noted that we usually follow the Social Security COLA which is set at 2.8% for 2019. Don raised the question of whether we should consider merit raises or use systems similar to those often used by boards of education. Kenn indicated that these ideas have not worked well before, and the matter was dropped.
- The Board reviewed and signed the Southern Berkshire Elderly Transportation Corp’s Memorandum of Understanding and Transportation Agreement for FY20.
- UMASS Collins Center proposal for a study of our system of government and further consideration of whether we should hire a Town Administrator. The Board discussed whether to send the proposal on to the Finance Committee to determine if we should proceed. Carol stated that the changes made in our financial offices has made a huge difference in the operations of town hall and felt this would be unnecessary at this time. Kenn stated that although he had committed himself at Town Meeting to have such a review, and that this review will need to be done at some point, with the current dysfunction among the Select Board it would not be useful or the right time. Kenn made a motion not to proceed with the proposal which was seconded. Carol agreed. Don did not agree and voted to proceed. The motion to not
proceed with the proposal passed 2 to 1.
- The Board reviewed the internet service provider contract with Fiber Connect for the Community Center. Carol recused herself from the conversation. The contract which is for 10 years for $0 each year was signed.
- Bally Gally: Don made a motion to ask a real estate broker to evaluate the rental property to determine if we are charging an appropriate rent. Kenn seconded the motion. Discussion ensued. Performing this evaluation doesn’t mean the rent would automatically be increased. Everyone agreed that the current tenants contribute to the community and that is taken into consideration when determining the rent. The motion passed and it was agreed to contact two - three local realtors.
- Terry Walker, Town Clerk came in to discuss Election Day and the two complaints filed with the state. Terry has called and emailed the state elections division, and no one has returned her inquiries on the status of the complaints. Kenn reported that he spoke with several election workers and all agreed that Terry ran a great election, but there were some problems that an officer could have assisted with. Don brought up Terry’s request to have an officer present at all future elections. The Board will support whatever Terry decides is necessary. It was agreed to have the Chief in on December 5th to confirm that an officer could be assigned at shift rate rather than detail rate for all elections. Kenn noted that the difference is cost to the town was substantial if detail rate was used
instead of regular shift rate. Terry also expressed concerns with safety and the size of her office. It was agreed to look into a dutch door for the office that would allow Terry to conduct business with the door partially closed. A motion was made to continue to hold all elections at Town Hall. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. The Board discussed Terry’s concerns with one of the election registrars with whom she had a negative interaction at the elections. Kenn will speak with the registrar before any further course of action is considered.
- Kenn reported that he attended the 5 town meeting with the RT57 coalition to find a different funding source for maintenance of this road. The meeting was well attended and everyone seemed to be in agreement about how to move forward and address this as a small town issue. Representative Pignatelli is looking at trying to institute waivers or caps for certain sized towns from prevailing wage requirements which are a real burden and prevent many projects from moving forward.
- Kenn met with Camp Hume yesterday to discuss the proposed cell tower, as the Hume board was going to be making a decision on the new proposed location to appease the abutter. The Hume board has approved the new location which will be discussed at the continued ZBA hearing tomorrow. Kenn expressed that the Board is very appreciative of all that Hume does for the town and Carol concurred.
- Carol reported that she attended the most recent Planning Board meeting 11/8/18 and she was surprised to learn that the Planning Board has already held its public hearings for the marijuana zoning. No residents attended those meetings, and they now have a proposed bylaw change to go on the next town meeting warrant.
- Warrants were signed.
- Don made a motion to approve the minutes he drafted for the meeting of October 24th stating his version was the most accurate of the 3 written. Carol disagreed with Don’s version and said she would not approve that version. Ken made a motion to release all 3 draft versions. Don said that since we had a tape of the meeting there was no excuse for not performing our public duty of approving at least one version. Although he asked for correction of any errors in his version, none of substance were made. Carol seconded Kenn’s motion. The motion was approved 2 to 1 with Don voting against.
- Mail was reviewed.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 11am
Submitted by:
Melissa Noe, Administrative Assistant
Full audio recording available at town hall
Approved by:
Monterey Select Board
Select Board Members
Minutes Book
Town Clerk
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