Select Board Meeting Minutes 2/19/2020

Minutes of the meeting of 2/19/20

Meeting Opened at: 9am

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

Also in attendance:  David Eisenthal, Mickey Jervas, Mark Makuc, Jon Sylbert, George Cain, Rebecca Wolin, John Weingold, Adam Chait, Janet Jensen, Paul Depreter, Steve Moore, Peter Chait, Gareth Backhaus, Shawn Tryon, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Randon Ziegler, Jim Hunt, Hillel Maximon

The following items were discussed:

1. The Board met with David Eisenthal of Unibank to discuss future borrowing options.  We have $1,535,460 worth of notes that mature in November for the library.  Once the final grant payment has been received we will be looking at approximately $1.1 million to finance.  David will have options to us mid-March.
2. The Board discussed the request from Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to remove 287 diseased trees along Brett, Swann and Blue Hill Rds.  The trees are not in the town right of way but do propose a future issue.  The Board approved Kenn reaching out to DCR before the letter is signed to confirm that abutters will be notified.
3. The Board met with members of the Finance Committee to discuss the following:
   1. The Board reminded the Finance Committee again that all budget email communications must be sent to the entire Board and the Administrative Assistant.
   2. Discussion was held about the departments we are still waiting to receive FY21 requests from.  Rebecca will follow up with the Parks, Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Community Center, and the Council on Aging.
   3. IT Audit:  Jon received a quote of $2,750 (he will forward this to everyone), Melissa Noe received a quote of $250.  The Select Board will review the proposals and make a final decision at a later date.
   4. Library’s request for extra hours: Concerns around the proposal, number of hours, monetary impact and how it should be placed on the annual meeting warrant were discussed.  A motion was made by Don to add in 7 hours rather than 10.  There was no second and the motion failed. A motion was made by Steve to add 5 hours and study the population data and phase in an increase in future years based on the usage data.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.  George made a motion to accept the Select Board’s motion that was approved.  The motion was not seconded and failed.  Jon made a motion to recommend 5 extra hours to the line item for the library.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.  Rebecca noted that this will be a 20% increase to the library’s budget.
   5. Raises:  Don distributed a spreadsheet he asked M. Noe to work on that estimates the projected cost to the town to offer a 1.5% raise on top of the 2% COLA as well as an additional 3% raise on top of the 2% COLA.  Jon passed out a 15 year spreadsheet of salaries and impacts of salaries from FY05 to FY20.  Jon argued that without a policy for giving raises it is just “willy-nilly” while also admitting that Monterey needs to remain competitive with the other towns.
   6. Health insurance: Don made a motion to table any discussions on insurance until next year.  The motion was not seconded and failed. It was agreed that the Board will need to review all the information and make a decision as to if there will be any changes and how drastic they are if at all.  Don suggested that an insurance policy committee be created early in the year to review the options available for FY22.  The Finance Committee requested that the Board ask BHG (Berkshire Health Group) to the March 4^th meeting to make a presentation.  The Board notified the Finance Committee that the decision to determine the town/employee split falls under the jurisdiction of the Select Board.
   7. M. Noe & Shawn Tryon informed the Finance Committee that they were unable to find a lower estimate to make the elevator repairs necessary after a failed inspection by the state.  The Finance Committee unanimously approved a transfer from the reserve fund to town office in the amount of $15,736.
4. Minutes of 2/5/20 were approved.
5. Warrants were signed.
6. Mail was reviewed

At 9:30am a pole hearing was held for a request filed by Fiber Connect located on Beartown Mountain Rd.  This pole request was withdrawn as the pole was replaced by the utility company.

At 9:40am a pole hearing was held for a request filed by Fiber Connect located on New Marlboro Rd.  Steve Moore, a direct abutter noted that he did not receive an abutter notification; the assessor software had a glitch when the list of abutters was generated.  Adam Chait reviewed the proposal.

A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 11:34am

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.