Select Board Meeting Minutes 1/11/23

Minutes of the meeting 1/11/23

Meeting Date: Wednesday January 11, 2023

Select Board members present: Justin Makuc, Susan Cooper, Scott Jenssen

Also present: Melissa Noe, Laurie McArthur (SB secretary)

Also present remotely: Don Coburn

Meeting opened at 6:00pm

Old Business                                                       

1. Draft Police Chief contract with comments from Chief and his counsel

The Select Board reviewed each of the sections of the Draft Police Chief Contract and discussed requested changes made by the Police Chief and his Counsel.  Justin will send the contract back to Donna to review the requested changes and recommendations made by the Select Board. 

1. Request to increase Conservation Commission agent pay rate; Conservation Commission fees

The Select Board discussed the Conservation Commission agent pay rate and it was determined that if the agent is paid out of the revolving fund, then the Select Board has to approve the rate; however, once the agent is paid out of the Operating Budget the Conservation Commission will set the rate of pay.

Justin will ask the Finance Committee if they can add this to the agenda for the joint meeting in order to make a decision on the requested raise. 

1. Draft Capital Planning Policy and Procedures

The Select Board discussed changes that they made during their review of the Draft of the Capital Planning Policy and Procedures.  The Select Board will review this with the Finance Committee next week during the joint meeting. 

New Business

1. Town Administrator items
   1. Review of “Other” and “General Government” recommended budgets for FY24

The Town Administrator presented and discussed each of the various departments and categories listed in the “Other” and “General Government” recommended budgets, including the expended budgets in FY22, the appropriated budged for FY23, and the requested budget for FY24.  The Town Administrator and the Select Board discussed modifications for the FY24 recommended budget, exploring how some positions and hour requirements have changed.  The electricity and heating categories will be discussed with the Finance Committee.  The Select Board discussed the stipend for the constable position, and agreed to keep the stipend including 3.8 percent COLA increase to the 2024 requested budget.  

1. Discuss a Proposition 2 ½ underride ballot question

Justin presented the Select Board with information pertaining to the Proposition 2 ½ underride ballot for Board to review and discuss at a later date after more progress has been made on the operating budget. 

Correspondence, minutes, public comment

1. Review mail & correspondence

None.

1. Approve minutes of 12/21/22, 1/3/23, and 1/4/23

The Select Board reviewed the minutes from 12/21/22. Justin made a motion to approve the minutes from 12/21/22 as amended. Susan seconded.  Call a vote- Justin- yes, Susan yes, Scott- yes.

The Select Board reviewed the minutes from 1/3/23. Justin made a motion to approve the minutes from 1/3/23 as amended.  Susan seconded.  Call a vote- Justin- yes, Susan yes, Scott abstained.

The Select Board reviewed the minutes from 1/4/23.  Justin made a motion to approve the minutes from 1/4/23 as amended.  Susan seconded.  Call a vote- Justin- yes, Susan yes, Scott- yes.

1. Unanticipated business

Susan contacted the Massachusetts Municipal Association and found out that they do not have a list serve to communicate with other towns through the MMA and recommended that the Town Administrator reach out to the small towns group of which she is a part and Town Counsel reach out to other Counsel through legal organization channels. 

Justin obtained and shared a list of properties owned by the Town and the Board discussed the properties. This will be added to a future agenda if the Board wishes to consider selling or otherwise managing any of the properties.

Susan said that the Town Administrators’ first annual review is coming up and she said that she wanted to discuss the procedural process for this review.  She contacted Gt. Barrington to find out about their process and shared this information, along with a copy of their procedural review with the Select Board members.

1. Comments & questions from the public

There were no comments or questions from the public.

Justin made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Susan seconded.  Call a vote: Susan- yes, Scott- yes, Justin- yes.  Meeting adjourned at 7:53pm

Documents used at the meeting

1. Draft Police Chief contract
2. “Other” and “General Government” recommended budget