Select Board Meeting Minutes 3/25/2020

Minutes of the meeting of 3/25/20

Meeting Opened at: 9am

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

Also in attendance remotely: George Cain, Jon Sylbert, Rebecca Wolin, Dennis Lynch, Shawn Tryon, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Gareth Backhaus

The Board and Finance Committee discussed the following FY21 budget items:

1. The Finance Committee agrees that the employees should be put at the front of the budget and agree to a 3.5% increase (2% COLA and 1.5% raise) contingent upon all employees going to a 75/25 split on the health insurance.
2. The Finance Committee is in favor of maximizing the use of stabilization funds and free cash to lower the tax impact as much as possible.  They feel that leaving a balance of $500k-600k in stabilization is still healthy for Monterey and what the future may hold.
3. Two members of the Finance Committee have changed their mind and recommend purchasing only 1 of the Freightliner M2’s that the highway department has requested, Jon still supports purchasing both with stabilization funds; the Select Board unanimously agrees on the purchase but wants to use some free cash so that stabilization remains above $500,000 to protect bond rating.
4. It was agreed that if the economy gets worse and cuts need to be made to the budget as it is proposed now that each department will be responsible for deciding what they can eliminate to lower costs in the first instance.
5. Employee insurance splits: The four employees affected by the proposed split change responded to the Board and have all agreed to go to 75/25 providing that the negative impact on their salaries will be made whole and that the Select Board agrees to include them in all future discussions regarding pay and benefits as well as to task the new Town Administrator with reviewing the compensation and benefit package as a whole with the surrounding towns and Southern Berkshire Regional School District.  A motion was made to change the insurance split for all employees beginning July 1, 2020 to 75/25, and that any employee’s whose salary will be impacted will have the difference made up in their salaries.  The motion was seconded and passed 2 – 1 with Don voting no.
6. Truck proposal: Don made a motion to purchase the 2 trucks and a combination of stabilization and free cash to pay for them.  The motion was seconded and passed 2 -1 with Steve voting no because he felt uneasy about the impact of COVID-19 on the town’s future finances.  George made a motion to purchase 1 truck from stabilization and put off the second truck until next year.  Rebecca seconded the motion.  The motion passed 2 -1 with Jon voting no.  This will be placed on the warrant as a purchase of 2 trucks and the voters will decide on town meeting floor.
7. Borrowing/notes/bonds: interest rates are rising and it appears that we may have to continue with 1 year notes.  This conversation will continue at a future meeting.
8. The final joint meeting will be on Wednesday, April 1^st at 4:30pm to review the budget one last time.

The following items were discussed:

1. Loan subordination request: After reviewing Alice Boyd’s recommendation a motion was made to approve the loan subordination request.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
2. The Board unanimously approved the 604b grant proposal from Dennis Lynch, at a cost not to exceed 60 hours.  This grant will fund the evaluation and conceptual design of best management practice for Lake Garfield to mitigate storm water pollutants.
3. Records access officer: A motion was made to not accept Terry’s resignation and to have Kenn speak with the Clerk about this.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.  A second motion was made to appoint Melissa Noe as an additional Records Access Officer.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
4. Employee health proposal response:  The Board reviewed with the 4 employees affected what was voted on earlier in the meeting (all employees going to 75/25 and those impacted negatively would see the difference made up in their salaries), the Fin Comm and Select Board have also unanimously agreed to a 3.5% increase in addition for FY21.  The Board agreed that the items the employees requested as part of their agreeing to the split change will be addressed at the next meeting.
5. Town Administrator job description.  This conversation will be continued to next week after everyone has had a chance to come up with a job description.
6. Town meeting and elections:  The Board discussed whether or not the annual town meeting and election should be postponed due to the COVID-19 precautions the state recommends.  Guidance on postponing town meeting has not yet been approved by the senate.  It was suggested to wait until next week’s meeting to make any decisions so that the Board has enough time to study the laws and speak with counsel.
7. Memorial Day festivities:  The Board proposed speaking with the committee about the need to potentially cancel this year.  Kenn was asked to reach out to Mary Makuc, Chair of the parade committee to discuss further.
8. Jon Sylbert has requested to be reimbursed for future mileage to the school committee meetings in Stockbridge.  The request was unanimously approved.
9. Steve reported that the AT&T tower on Chestnut Hill is currently under calibration (FCC requirement) and they are reporting that it will be live in April.  Kenn stated that it should be a priority for AT&T to get this on immediately, that April is too late considering the current COVID-19 circumstances.
10. Kenn asked if anyone was aware of any actions being taken by the Council on Aging to check in on our elderly population.  It was suggested that Steve reach out to the Chair of the Council on Aging to speak about this and if they need any help doing so.

A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 10:37am

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.