Select Board Meeting Minutes 1/22/20

Minutes of the meeting of 1/22/20

Meeting Opened at: 9am

Select Board Members Present: Kenneth Basler, Chairperson, Donald Coburn and Steven Weisz

Also in attendance: Peter Chait, BJ Johnson, Adam Chait, Chris Blair, Mary McGurn, Steve Moore, Dennis Downing, Hillel Maximon

Miscellaneous Items Reviewed:

1. The Board reviewed the budget proposals that have been submitted to date:
   1. A memo will be drafted to the Fin Comm requesting a copy of the upcoming budget meeting schedules as nothing has been received to date for the smaller departments.
   2. Town Clerk’s proposed budget: Steve Weisz and Jon Sylbert met with the Clerk on Saturday.  The Clerk is proposing additional hours in her election account due to the national election, she is also requesting 3 additional town clerk office hours (from 15 to 18) as she states she is finding herself a bit behind in work.  The Board feels that the Clerk will need to meet with the full Board to discuss this request and to explain how the Assistant Clerk is being used before anything is approved.
   3. Steve reported that he and Jon also met with the assessors and the tax collector on Saturday.  The assessors have removed the $7,800 for an assistant to the principal assessor.  The tax collector is still waiting on the figure for her software.  The Board would like to meet with Don Clawson to understand the future plans for staffing.
   4. Library proposed budget:  With the change of the building size all the costs have increased.  The library would also like to increase the hours the library is open by 10/week at a cost of $12k (each additional hour is $1,200/yr).  Don supports this request.  Steve prefers phasing in additional hours over a time period.  Kenn thinks we need to look at this request in the context of the whole budget.  The library will be asked to come in and make their proposal to the Board as a whole.
   5. Don argued that our stabilization funds are disproportionately larger than most communities and what is recommended to keep by the Department of Revenue and that a conversation needs to be had on the matter and future spending needs.
   6. Don expressed that Monterey is very lucky that none of our departments have unionized and because of this we have an obligation to recognize our employees beyond the status quo of the same across the board cost of living increase given each year.  He feels that all employees are working very hard and we should be giving them raises accordingly.  He proposes a 5% increase (which would be an actual 3% raise above the proposed 2% cost of living increase).  He asked that Steve and Kenn give this some thought prior to discussing it further.
2. The Board met with Adam Chait or Fiber Connect to discuss the future of broadband in Monterey.  Don recapped his discussions with Michael Baldino, General Counsel for MBI (Massachusetts Broadband Institute).  Adam stated he has not heard anything from MBI since November, so he was not aware of the items Don discussed with Mr. Baldino.  The Board would like to discuss a positive way forward to get the job completed in Monterey.  Discussion ensued about how Monterey can assist in finalizing broadband in Monterey.  It was decided that the only way to move forward would be to invite MBI and Fiber connect to a sit down meeting to discuss the options available and anything that is halting progress.
3. M. Noe informed the board of a former employee that recently retired from the town and has now reached the age to join our Medex plan.  M. Noe asked the Board to vote on his eligibility to join the plan during open enrollment.  A motion was made to allow Lyman Thomson to enroll in the Medex plan during open enrollment.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
4. Minutes from 1/14/20 were approved.
5. A motion was made at the recommendation of Baily Boyd Associates to aloe The Resource, Inc (TRI) to process all mortgage subordinations for the Monterey housing rehabilitation program.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
6. M. Noe was given permission to leave early today to pick up the food and set up for the employee and volunteer appreciation dinner tonight.
7. Mail was reviewed.
   1. A request from the U.S. Census Bureau requesting the town to verify on the maps provided that our legal boundaries are depicted accurately.  It was agreed that this should be forwarded to the Board of Assessors to respond to.

A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 11:02am

Submitted by:

Melissa Noe, Administrative Assistant

Approved by:

Monterey Select Board

cc: Website (www.montereyma.gov)

Select Board Members

Minutes Book

Town Clerk

Any documents referred to in the minutes are available by request at town hall.