Select Board Meeting Minutes 8/14/19

Minutes of the meeting of 8/14/19

Meeting Opened at: 9:05am

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

Also in attendance: Berkshire Record reporter Evan Triantafilidis, Robert Markel, Peter Chait, Julio Rodriguez

The Board met with Robert Markel to discuss the possibility of hiring him as a consultant for 1 to 2 months to mentor the Administrative Assistant and help all the departments and us in finding the best way forward for the town.  Robert will send his resume and monetary requirements for the Board to review. 

Miscellaneous Items Reviewed:

1. Warrants were signed.
2. Julio Rodriguez, Chair of the Parks Commission came in to discuss the following:
   1. Basketball court – After 1 ½ years of issues with the flex court, Don agreed with Julio that there is a safety issue and made a motion that the court be locked immediately and that the tiles be removed.  The motion was seconded, fully discussed, and unanimously approved.  There was also a request to move the benches from inside the court to outside as they interfere with play. This was also approved.
   2. Baseball field – Julio reported that the contractors will be continuing their work on the clay and leveling of the play area.  The summer baseball crew has offered to help keep the field maintained over the summer months (keeping it raked and free of weeds).
   3. Julio asked the Board to look at the draft notice that will be hung at the water vessel storage racks.  Counsel has been consulted and recommended a minimum 4 week time frame prior to removing any abandoned vessels.  The board agreed that made sense.
3. Auction – Kenn has spoken with the Building Inspector and Don Torrico will be writing a summary for the auctioneers to make the properties more marketable.  The school house will also be added to the list of properties.  M. Noe will follow up with the auctioneers.
4. Select Board representation at the school consolidation meetings – Don will attend and represent the Monterey Select Board.
5. Temporary Town Administrator – this discussion will be tabled to a future meeting.
6. Accountant and Treasurer:
   1. Reference calls have been made.
   2. Baystate’s invoices for accounting services:  There was concern about the large number of hours we have been invoiced for since July 1.  The auditors have confirmed that the accountant has more work between the months of June and September due to year end reporting and entering into the new fiscal year.  M. Noe was asked to compare this year’s invoices with those from last year at this time to see if the work rates are comparable.
7. Select Board and Administrative Assistant roles: The Board reviewed the draft created by Kenn and discussed areas that will need further work.  Steve will send his version today and this item will be continued to the next meeting.
8. Minutes from 7/31 & 8/7/19 were approved.
9. M. Noe provided the Board with the “to do” list from Berkshire Regional Planning Commission on the items left to complete on the Green Communities Grant/Designation.  This will be discussed next week.
10. The Board approved the revision made to the grant proposal form.
11. The Board signed the letter to the Berkshire Hills Regional School Committee regarding their support of the continued discussion to expand the education opportunities.
12. At the request of the Police Chief, Kenn signed the Memorandum of Understanding from the Town of Gt. Barrington to use the Gt. Barrington Lock-up and Breath Testing equipment for FY20.
13. The Board approved the quote for insurance for the Monterey school building.
14. Mail was reviewed.

A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 11:09am

Submitted by:

Melissa Noe, Administrative Assistant

Approved by:

Monterey Select Board

cc: Website (www.montereyma.gov)

Select Board Members

Minutes Book

Town Clerk