Select Board Meeting Minutes 1/12/22

Minutes of the meeting of 1/12/22

Meeting Opened at: 6:05pm (due to technical difficulties)

Select Board Members Present: Steve Weisz, Chair, Justin Makuc

Select Board Members absent: John Weingold

Also present: Hillel Maximon

Also present remotely: Don Coburn, Paula Hartstein, Stuart & Laura Litwin, Susan Cooper, Janet Jensen

Old Business

1. Caleb Stone, Southern Berkshire Volunteer Ambulance to discuss request for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies: Caleb was not present at 6pm so the Board agreed to return to this if Caleb showed up later.
2. Continue review of American Rescue Plan Act survey results: Steve inquired if anyone priced out building a pavilion on the Community Center property which was one of the suggestions; Melissa was asked to get numbers.  Melissa reported that Fiber Connect estimated about $270k to get the town as close to 100% connected as possible.  Justin would like to schedule a meeting where this is the only item on the agenda once we have all the information so the entire meeting can be devoted to this item, to allow for more public discussion and allowing for more time and thoughtful discussion by the Board.
3. Continue discussion on the draft public documents posting to Town website policy: A revised draft was distributed.  Steve wants to make sure that the policy provides for individuals that do not have access to the internet, or are not computer savvy. He suggested the bulletin board at town hall as an additional site to the state approved location (website).  A motion was made to approve the amended version with the change added tonight.  The motion was seconded and approved 2-0.
4. Continue discussion on Justin’s suggested edits to the agenda posting policy: A revised draft was distributed based on suggestions made last week.  A motion was made to approve the draft policy.  The motion was seconded and approved 2-0.

New Business

1. Town Administrator Items:
   1. Contacting Counsel; amend policy, specific contact requests
      1. A motion was made to approve the addition of “The Town Administrator shall be exempt from this provision providing she notifies the Board subsequently and provides the Select Board with copies of all correspondence” to the existing policy.  Justin understands since an exception was made for the Building Commissioner and feels that questions are very specific to his department, Justin does not see the need to make this exception as the Town Administrator and Select Board have a reasonable chain of communication and the policy allows for that as long as the Chair is notified.  The motion failed.
      2. Melissa has requested to contact counsel for 4 specific items for the Board of Health about vaccinations and use of taxpayer funds to a private not for profit.  The Board made the motion to allow this. Motion was seconded and approved 2-0.
   2. Budget item review general: The Board was given copies of the general items that they historically set the numbers for.  Steve would like more time to review and this will be added to next week’s agenda when the whole budget is discussed.
   3. Melissa reported that we were successful in receiving the MA Cybersecurity grant.
2. A motion was made to approve the amended minutes of 1/5/22.  The motion was seconded and approved 2-0.
3. Review mail and any correspondence to be sent/signed.  Steve said we can read these all but it boils down to the Finance Committee and Select Board are two Boards that try to work together. He recommends entering them into the record for public consumption and stress that the Select Board is striving to have both boards work together and avoid “he said/she said” which does not create any valuable material.  Justin agreed that the budget suggestions/comments will be taken up as a whole when the Boards meet jointly. 
   1. Wendy Germain resignation from Cultural Council.
   2. Jon Sylbert email dated 1/3/22.
   3. Michele Miller email dated 1/5/22.
   4. Jon Sylbert email dated 1/5/22: Justin added that if someone wants to say something to the Board they need to come in person or put it in writing to protect both the person communicating and the intermediary from accusations of words being twisted, etc. It is just a better way to do business to rely on the actual words of people, rather than hearsay. If the person is unwilling to put what they want to say to the Board directly before the Board at the meeting, or in writing with his name signed to the writing, it should not be brought before the Board.
   5. Jon Sylbert email dated 1/10/22.
4. Comments & questions from the public: none
5. Justin inquired on the procedure for approving executive session minutes.  The Board discussed the minutes of 10/4 and agreed that since that meeting’s substance is still part of an ongoing investigation they will not be released or approved until investigation has concluded as per Counsel and the Open Meeting Law. A motion was made to have Steve respond as the representative of the Board with the above response to the most recent request.  The motion was seconded and approved 2-0.

A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 7:05pm

Submitted by:

Melissa Noe, Town Administrator

Approved by:

Monterey Select Board

cc: Website (www.montereyma.gov)

Select Board Members

Minutes Book

Town Clerk

Any documents used in the meeting are listed below and are available by request at town hall.

1. Southern Berkshire Ambulance Request for ARPA funds
2. Draft public documents posting policy
3. Draft revisions to the agenda posting requirements
4. Wendy Germain resignation from Cultural Council.
5. Jon Sylbert email dated 1/3/22
6. Michele Miller email dated 1/5/22
7. Jon Sylbert email dated 1/5/22
8. Jon Sylbert email dated 1/10/22