Below are the minutes from the Select Board meeting of July 19. Due to a previous commitment, the Savoy Mountain News did not have anyone in attendance.

The Select Board Meeting for July 19, 2005 was called to order at 7:08pm. Select Board members in attendance, Peter Kelleher, Chair, Emile Mazur, and Rita Pierce. The meeting was attended by eleven additional town members. Minutes from the July 5, 2005 meeting were read and accepted as amended.
Ray LaBonte and Peter Kelleher had a brief disagreement about the way the Highway Report was prepared. Peter thought the report was childish and not appropriate for this meeting. Peter asked Ray to read the report and he refused. Stephanie Vidmosko, who was taking the minutes, turned off the tape recorder before leaving the meeting in a display of disgust; therefore, there is a gap in the recording. Peter read the portion of the report that contained facts and did not read Ray’s comments or opinions. Emile and Rita refused to initial the report as a protest that Peter did not read the entire report as written. The meeting was moved forward as Ray described the problem he has with road repairs when new construction of homes take place on sections of roads that have been unused and unmaintained for many years. Ray said the town needs to address the issue of discontinuance of roads. Emile explained the issue has been tabled in the past because the Select Board could not find the resources to complete this task. Emile stated the lawyer had told him when the town discontinues maintenance of roads, the road becomes a private way and goes back to land owners who abut the road. As a private way, the landowner who wishes to reactivate a road must improve it to current standards, and then the town takes it over again. Ray would like these discontinued many roads immediately. Emile explained that it takes a 2/3 town vote at a town meeting to do this. Emile suggested it be decided at a later time whether or not the issue is handled by the Select Board, Planning Board or Zoning Board. Ray raised issues regarding the Savoy Mountain News reporting of comments made during the Select Board Meeting of July 5, 2005. Ray didn’t think the article was very accurate. He felt the Select Board Minutes differed from what the News published. Portions of the article were read by Ray. Ray continued to comment on the lack of action from the Select Board regarding the pre-union agreement between the Town and the Highway Department. He stated the agreement did not finalize so the men sought assistance from the union. He stated the intent of the union contract was to take the pre-union contract and have it become the union contract. Peter asked Ray to focus on his purpose of his concerns for the article in the paper. Ray wanted to address the News article statements and ask to have the comments clarified. The editors of the paper were not present at this meeting. The ability of the Select Board to decide on contract details became a concern for Ray. Early on in the contract negotiations, Ray stated the Select Board held the position that the Town’s people had to decide on the contract details. Ray asked why the News article now states the Select Board makes the decision on the contract. Peter explained that when Alan, Emile and Rita first talked about an agreement, a lengthy one was written up and presented to the Highway Department. Peter pointed out that when he began on the Board in the spring of 2004, Emile pushed heavily to get that agreement signed and there was a refusal from the highway department to sign it. Emile did not know why it was not signed, but felt it was not a refusal to sign. Peter offered his recollection of what took place: The agreement between the Select Board and the Highway department was not signed due to the union stepping in and taking the place of the Highway Department’s role in the negotiations. Ray stated they have only signed one agreement, which is the one prior to the pre-union contract. Emile confirmed this and stated the Select Board told them to work under the first agreement until the second could be finalized. Peter noted that this is when he started on the Board. Since then, the union contract has been the focus. Ray moved on to the discussion on his raise of 10% and his men not receiving the same raise. Emile stated the town’s people gave a 10% raise to all. Ray asked for clarification on why the men didn’t get the raise.
Peter explained the Town Counsel gave advice and the Select Board is following that advice. At the town meeting, the town’s people levied or appropriated up to 10% and it’s the Select Board’s discretion of how much of that 10% will be given as a raise. It was agreed that the explanation of the process at the Town Meeting was unclear. Peter explained that the Select Board did not have a clear understanding of how this worked at that time. The issue of the School Committee granting raises to school employees was explained by Peter in that the School Committee governs the school, not the Select Board, by law. Ray asked why in a Finance Committee meeting in early 2005 it was agreed that he should get a 20% raise and the News article stated Peter felt Ray should only get a 5% raise. Peter explained it was not the amount of the raise he questioned. It was the manner in which the 10% raise was presented to the Town for a vote. Ray presented a clarification on the sick and vacation time buyback of $8,000. He explained that it is a compensation worked out years ago to avoid a cash raise to the men. Ray completed his questions.
The Select Board has not heard from Town Counsel on the Adams Road culverts in the Tower 51 road project. The question regarding private contractors installing them is the issue. Ray announced the highway department has $141,000 to repair Adams Road. The highway department will start at the Adams town line and work back into Savoy until money runs out. Emile will negotiate price for fuel with Berkshire Retail Purchasing group. A report has been received from the State Bridge Inspectors about Black Brook Bridge. The bridge is sound, but work needs to be done to see that is stays that way. Peter asked Ray to talk over the report and determine what can be done by his department. Ray stated there is nothing he can do. Peter asked that it be discussed at a later time. Mike Canales, Clarksburg Town Administrator, spoke to the Select Board about his position in Clarksburg and what he hoped to be able to do for Savoy. The Select Board will continue discussion about a Town Administrator for Savoy.
A brief discussion about an audit for the town accounting was held. Beverly Cooper felt she would like to have an audit since she is starting new in the position. Peter checked with Joe Boudreau and was told unless the town had more than $500,000 in grants, it was not necessary to have an audit. The cost for an audit will be about $8,000. It was decided to take no action on an audit at this time.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:56pm. from Select Board

Editors Note: Regarding Mr. Labonte’s accusations about the Savoy Mountain News inaccuracies, I have already clarified to Ray Labonte that all meetings I attend are tape recorded by me to ensure their accuracy, whether the reader agrees or not is another matter. The selectmen tape record as well and then write the minutes from the recording every week. Since the minutes are an official record, the entire meeting is not recorded verbatim; therefore our reporting is more detailed