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Select Board Meeting Minutes 5/13/2020

Meeting date: 
Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Minutes of the meeting of 5/13/20

Meeting Opened at: 9am

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

Also in attendance: BJ Johnson, Roy Carwile, Julio Rodriguez, George Cain, Gareth Backhaus, Michelle Miller, Rebecca Wolin, Peter Chait, Dennis Lynch, Adam Chait, Jon Sylbert, Jim Wilusz

The following items were discussed:

  1. The Board of Health and the Police Chief were asked to attend the meeting to discuss enforcement of wearing masks and adhering to the closed signs at the beach, playground and basketball court. Discussion on the opening of public spaces and police involvement will be postponed to next week after we receive more guidance from the Governor.  The Board of Health is not interested in having the police issue fines but they would like to have the police assist in education and distribution of masks and educational materials that reinforce the governor’s order.  Both the Board of Health and Select Board support the police department assisting in educating when necessary.  The Board of Health will sign the necessary paperwork.
  2. Signage at the boat ramp: Discussion ensued about placing a sign for use of the boat ramp during COVID-19.  Jim thought that the state was placing signs.  Julio indicated that problems had not yet arisen at the boat ramp, and the issue of signage was carried to next week.
  3. Memorial Day and the Veteran’s Memorial:
    1. Parade:  Julio is suggesting that the parade be cancelled.  Final resolution of that issue will be determined after the Memorial Day Committee reports its views on the matter.
    2. Veteran’s Memorial celebration.  Julio is suggesting to hold it with 4 people and record it with the Police Chief’s assistance to be viewed online, the public will not be allowed onsite.  The Board will be ordering the wreaths.  Julio will work with the Chief to set this up.
  4. At 9:15 the Board addressed the 4 public hearing requests submitted by Fiber Connect (all pole petition documents were posted on the town website with the agenda):
    1. Petition for conduit, cable and fixtures along the backside of the guardrail with small junction boxes (between Brett Rd to the East and Stevens Lake Rd to the West):  A motion was made to approve this request.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
    2. Petition for pole & cable (RT23 West of National Grid Pole 140): A motion was made to approve this request.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
    3. Petition for pole & cable (RT23 West of National Grid Pole 121): A motion was made to approve this request.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
    4. Petition for telecom shelter and conduit locations (Fox Hill Rd):  The applicant did not discuss this possible location with the Select Board prior to submitting this petition therefore a motion was made to continue this hearing to next week to allow for time to discuss the proposal with Fiber Connect.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.  Dennis Lynch, property owner at 10 Heron Pond Park who expressed concerns about this structure being stored in a residential neighborhood while awaiting approval; he asked that this be addressed as well next week.  The Board will also make a site visit to the proposed location as well as where it is currently being stored.  A concern was raised by the Jon Sylbert about putting private property on public property without compensation to the town.
  5. The Board met with the Finance Committee to discuss the following:
    1. George asked that the Board request further clarification from town counsel (chapter and verse) to support his opinion that the finance committee does not get to dictate how the warrant is prepared and they (Fin Comm) can make their recommendation at the meeting.  Don made a motion to accept town counsel’s opinion as is.  Discussion ensued.  Jon Sylbert, member of the Finance Committee, suggested that they may need to hire their own attorney at the cost of $10k.  Jeremia will be asked to clarify his opinion.
    2. Town meeting: Kenn suggested that with the future uncertainties with regard to state funding and collection of taxes that on June 27th we hold a short town meeting to approve just the operating budget and hold a special town meeting in the fall to address the special articles (the state is allowing an extension of free cash that we would be able to use beyond June 30th).  The Board will wait on additional guidance from the state before making any final decisions on this.  The Board discussed reaching out to departments to request amended budgets for June which may be altered at a special town meeting in the fall.  The Boards will meet jointly at 10am next week.
  6. Town Administrator: This discussion will tabled.
  7. Don Coburn made a motion to amend the Finance Committee article to clarify the role of that committee in managing budget preparation and the presenting the budget for consideration by the town meeting.  The motion was not seconded and therefore failed.
  8. Minutes of 5/6 and 5/11/20 were approved.
  9. Jon asked if the town is sending out anything to encourage mail in voting.   Don assured him that the issue had been previously raised and that the Town Clerk is sending out a mailing to all registered voters with absentee ballot applications and early voting applications to encourage remote voting.
  10. Fire Department: Kenn noted that since the shift program has been reinstituted in a limited capacity to address COVID concerns there have been some concerns expressed by a few firemen that proper health precautions aren’t being taken.  The Fire Chief will be asked to provide the COVID-19 protocols they have put in place to ensure the safety of the firefighters participating in the program, which should be signed off on by our health agent. 
  11. Steve reported that he has spoken with AT&T about the weak tower signal complaints.  Steve is compiling data from folks receiving 1 bar or less that have AT&T as their provider along with their address to forward to AT&T to investigate further.
  12. Kenn asked if any of the Board members were interested in sitting for an on camera interview with a local tv station regarding broadband.  Steve suggested that Kenn do the interview.  Kenn asked if Don would do it, and Don agreed..
  13. Don provided an update on MBI: Michael Baldino has reported that MBI and Fiber Connect have reached a deal approved by MBI their board, which will be submitted to MassTech tomorrow for final approval.  It was agreed that the town will need to finalize its agreement with Fiber Connect.

 

A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 10:54am

 

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.