Select Board Meeting Minutes 4/4/23

Joint Meeting of the Select Board and Finance Committee

Minutes of the meeting 4/4/23

Meeting Date: Wednesday April 4, 2023

Meeting Opened at 1:00 pm

Select Board members present: Justin Makuc, Chair, Scott Jenssen

Select Board members present remotely: Susan Cooper

Finance Committee members present: Frank Abbott, Michele Miller, Chair, Ilene Marcus

Also Present: Gary Pratt, Laura Rodriguez

Also present remotely: Denise Allard, Mark

Call to order 1:00pm

1. Review FY24 proposed budget

Justin said that traditionally the members of the Select Board and Finance Committee vote on each of the special money articles, particularly if anyone had any questions or concerns regarding any of the articles. 

Susan asked if the opiate settlement monies for FY23 would affect anything on the FY24 budget.  Justin explained that due to the class action lawsuit against opioid companies, the Town received $1,863 in FY23, and will receive $1,166 in FY24, with total funds received to be $9,385 by 2031.  Susan explained that Tri Town was asking all of the Towns to put the funds into a pool for the Southern Berkshire Health Collaborative. Ilene said that she thought they should use the settlement money to decrease the budget liability for the Town, perhaps by applying the monies to the ambulance fees.  Justin said that the money was recommended to go towards rural recovery resources.  Susan said that the funds were from opioids and were recommended to go to a center that specifically deals with Opioid addiction, prevention, and recovery, and that this follows the guidelines established by the settlement. 

Justin asked if there were any questions with the Operating Budget.  The Finance Committee inquired about two lines: Litigation Fees and Town Counsel Retainer. Justin said they would be combining the two lines and renaming it “Legal Fees and Expenses.”  Justin suggested we review each special article to see if there are any further questions or discussion.  Michele listed items she said she would like a better understanding of: the stabilization fund allocation appropriation, Fire Company Capital improvements, resurfacing the ballpark, and the med 9 vehicle.  Justin clarified that they are taking two old special articles totaling about $50k and placing those funds into the general stabilization fund, rather than transferring Free Cash.  Michele inquired about the $30k special article for the Fire Company capital improvements, and Justin clarified that these funds go towards the Fire Company and not the Fire Department.  Justin reported that there is currently $60k in unspent Fire Company capital improvement special articles (from the last two years), which would increase to $90k if another $30k is added this year.  Frank expressed concerns about the $30k being awarded to the Fire Company since it would be for a building that is not owned by the Town.  Frank recommended checking with Town Counsel and the Accountant regarding giving money to a non-profit.  Justin listed the projects that would be paid for by these funds, according to a list provided by the Fire Company, including: the bay floor, finish siding, finishing the basement, apron for engine base, roof, and finishing the kitchen. Justin suggested he consult with the Accountant and Town Counsel on this item, and the Finance Committee agreed that he should. Justin will ask questions raised at today’s meeting and report back next week.  

Michele said that she believed the playground funding should be cut back in order to help pay for the ballpark.  Justin said that if the Finance Committee was not in agreement, then the item could be removed from the Warrant.  Scott said that the ballpark needed the funding.  Justin asked if the Finance Committee would like to remove the ballfield from being paid for with free cash.  Michele and Scott requested to remove the ballpark from free cash.  Susan said she would like the ballpark to remain on the Warrant with free cash funding.  Justin reiterated the vote for the Warrant, with the Finance Committee supporting the ballpark renovation being paid for with Free Cash 2-1, and the Select Board supporting the ballpark 2-1.  Scott said that he and Michele should be able to explain to Town Meeting their reasoning for not being in support of using free cash for the ballpark, but being in support of funding the ballpark in a different manner. 

Michele inquired about the Med 9 vehicle.  Justin said the Fire Chief was requesting $129,000 for a new SUV medical vehicle ($89,000), and to be able to take the brush truck bed off of the current vehicle and place it onto the current cab and chassis of Rescue 9 (estimated $40,000).  The Finance Committee and the Select Board were in support of the $129,000 for the Fire Company for a new special article.  Justin reported that last year the Town was approved to borrow $160,000 to purchase an F550 style truck, which is expected to arrive in June of 2023 and the Town will take out a 6 month note to pay for it.  Justin reviewed the remaining Fire Department funding requests.  Justin said a set of battery powered hydraulic rescue tools would fit better into the new vehicle than the current tools that are powered with a gas engine.  Upon purchasing new battery powered hydraulic rescue tools, the old one would be auctioned off.  There was no further discussion on the Fire Department requests. 

Justin noted that last week the Feasibility Study was removed.  Justin said that the current wording of the Town Hall repair request was “to pay for the repairs and maintenance at the Town Hall”. 

Justin said he was not in support of the new Police Cruiser.  Susan and Scott were in favor of the cruiser.  Frank is not in favor of the cruiser at this time.  Michele and Ilene were in favor of the cruiser.  The new Police Cruiser will go on the Warrant as supported 2-1 by the Select Board and 2-1 by the Finance Committee. Justin reported that all of the money items other than the ball field and the Police Cruiser were going to go on the Warrant as supported by the Select Board 3-0, and supported by the Finance Committee 3-0. 

Michele moved that the Finance Committee adjourn their meeting at 1:53pm.  Call a vote:  Ilene-yes, Michele-yes, Frank-yes. 

1. Colonial Power to discuss aggregation pricing renewal (2pm)

Mark and Denise from Colonial Power group introduced themselves.  Mark said that they were there to discuss the Town of Monterey’s municipal aggregation program, which is the supply side of the electricity bill.  Mark reported that they currently have a contract with Dynergy which runs until November 2023 at 9.95 cents per KWH.  Mark discussed the terms of the next contract.  Mark described the 13 communities in Berkshire County that banded together to obtain this contract.  Mark reviewed and explained the pricing and decisions Melissa will need the ok to approve the new contract.  Mark reported that on April 11^th they will be delivering their final pricing, which must be acted upon quickly.  There must be a consensus on the supplier and the term of the contract.  Mark described the options for the lengths of the contract.  He noted that the rate for supplier one, the lowest price offered, would be 14.097 cents per KWH for 24 months, which would be a forty percent increase.  Mark discussed likely changes in the power market. 

Mark discussed the Mass Class products.  He said the consensus is to try and keep it local in the Berkshires, but reminded the Select Board that there must be consistency amongst the 13 communities in Berkshire County.  He discussed opt out options, green options, and said that the decision will need to be made by April 11^th.  Seventeen towns will need to agree to this.  Susan asked about the longest-term contract.  Mark reported that the longest term is 36 months, but supplier one did not bid on this; however, supplier number two’s bid was 14.554.  Mark said that anyone can opt out of this product at any time and return their service to National Grid.  The Town just needs a product and a plan.  Scott asked what the seventeen towns must agree upon, and Mark reported that they just must agree to the terms and the supplier.  Susan said she would be in favor of a three-year contract.  Justin said he is favorable to a three-year term.  Susan said that they would attempt to take the 36-month contract; however, if the other towns were in favor of the 24-month contract then Monterey would move forward with the 24 month contract instead. 

1. Request from Board of Health regarding Opioid Settlement Funds allocation

Gary Pratt from Rural Recovery Resources introduced himself and said that the Monterey Board of Health recommends to the Select Board that the opiods settlement funds be allocated to the South County Rural Recovery Center.Gary said that they opened the Recovery Center last year and they provide services to all fourteen towns in Southern Berkshire County.They provide services to individuals affected by substance abuse.Gary reported that their services are at no cost to the user, and they are a peer-to-peer support service.Scott asked about how much of the funding goes towards administrative tasks.Gary described the Center’s current grant funding and plans for ongoing funding.Their current yearly budget includes $180,000 for the four full-time employees, and the center’s operation.Susan asked how many individuals have been served since opening.Gary reported that between September and February they saw 207 visitors of which 72 returned.

Susan asked Laura and Gary to provide an argument for giving the funds to Rural Recovery vs putting them towards ambulance services.Gary read that the funds should be used for addressing the misuse and abuse of opioid products, to treat or mitigate use of opioid related disorders, or other alleged effects including those injured as a result from the opioid epidemic. Gary said that if the Select Board leans towards using the funds for an ambulance expenditure, then to be sure that is an allowable expenditure.Justin asked if the center has a long-term plan to exist sustainably.Gary said that was the plan, and this would be part of the long-term sustainability.Justin and Susan agreed that this would be an appropriate use of funds.Justin said they will reach out to the accountant to ensure that the wording was acceptable.Justin made a motion to add the Option A to the Town Meeting Warrant contingent upon the Accountant’s approval.  Susan seconded.  Call a vote: Justin-yes, Susan-yes, Scott-yes. 

1. Earth Removal Permit renewal: Tryon Construction

Scott made a motion to accept the Earth Removal Permit renewal for Tryon Construction.  Susan seconded.  Call a vote: Justin-yes, Susan-yes, Scott-yes. 

1. Highway 4 appointment: Jack Donovan

Justin moved to appoint Jack Donovan to a Highway 4 position for an indefinite appointment.Scott seconded.  Call a vote: Justin-yes, Susan-yes, Scott-yes. 

1. Town Meeting Warrant

Justin said they will add the opioid article to the Warrant.  He identified a few formatting changes for the zoning bylaw change, the Department of Municipal inspections, and the unreasonable noise bylaw.  The Select Board discussed the Town owned land surrounding the Curtis Road bridge construction. Susan recommended having a copy of the maps at Town Meeting.  Justin said they will discuss the Fire Company capital improvement special article during the next meeting.  Scott inquired about dog kennels regarding the noise bylaw.  Susan said that the bylaw will give the Police an option to intervene. 

1. Unanticipated business

There was no unanticipated business. 

1. Comments & questions from the public

No comments or questions from the public. 

1. Approve minutes of 3/22/23 and 3/29/23

The Select Board reviewed the minutes from 3/22/23.Justin moved to approve the minutes from 3/22/23 as amended.  Susan seconded.  Call a vote: Susan-yes, Justin-yes, Scott abstained. 

Justin made a motion to adjourn the Select Board meeting.Scott Seconded.Call a vote: Susan-yes, Scott-yes, Justin- yes.Meeting adjourned at 2:57pm.

Documents used at the meeting:

1. Earth Removal Permit renewal: Tryon Construction
2. Letter from South County Rural Recovery Center regarding opioid settlement funds
3. Colonial Power aggregation pricing tables