Neighbors of the 34-acre property on Glendale Middle Road offered to the Town as a gift by Hans and Kate Morris attended the meeting. Chair Ranne Warner rearranged the order of the agenda to hear them first. They were long-time residents of Glendale Middle and Castle Roads who had questions, concerns, and suggestions to offer.
The Chair, members of AHT, and Michael Canales, Town Administrator, explained: offer of the land was made and accepted conditional upon due diligence, that is, the Town will hire experts to evaluate the land and determine if it is buildable. They evaluate many factors including road access and wetlands. The Town must accept or decline by May1, 2024.
If the land is not buildable, the Town could accept the gift and designate the 34 acres open space. If buildable, in the second step, expert consultants would consider the optimal number and siting of the houses. Acceptance of the gift as open space or building lot is subject to approval at Town Meeting in May.
The neighbors were concerned about access, traffic, number of houses to be built, water and sewer capacity, disturbing/destruction of wildlife habitat, and more. The answer to each comment or question was to wait for the due diligence report in April.
The second agenda item was a suggestion by Patrick White that AHT apply to Community Preservation Committee (CPC) for money to remove impediments preventing housing repairs. White suggested $50,000 from CPC with a $25,000 AHT match for a fund of $75,000.
Through Berkshire County Action Coalition, funds are available to assist in housing repairs, however, even if the residents qualify, the work cannot be done if there are impediments such as asbestos. (See Editor’s note for explanation of the program)
White second suggestion was to ask CPC to put an amount in its Undesignated Category for use in developing the Glendale Middle Road property if it is buildable.
Upon hearing that CPC will have over one million dollars this year as opposed to the usual $300,000, the suggestion changed to AHT asking CPC for an amount between $100,000 and $400,000 be given to AHT not designated for anything specific but available for anything that may come up.
Carole Owens joined the conversation at that point and said CPC had not operated that way in the past. CPC has given a specific amount to cover the cost of a specific program, need, or request. CPC monitors and determines the money was used for the purpose proposed.
Mark Mills suggested AHT was asking CPC to change.
White reminded the committee that CPC does not award money but suggests awards to the Town Meeting for their approval.
Editor’s note: 1. Since 1979, BCAC has weatherized over 7,000 homes in Berkshire County with the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). This program, paid for with a combination of Federal and Utility Company funding, is designed to save customers heating dollars by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes and apartments. BCAC provides a complete technical analysis of the property and a prioritized scope of work. Qualified contractors are then given a work order to perform the permanent weatherization work to high standards. Eligible work includes insulation for attics, walls, floors, and heating system pipes or ducts. Also eligible are weather-stripping, air sealing, and minor repairs related to saving energy. In some cases, heating systems are repaired or replaced through BCAC’s heating service program. All work is typically performed without cost to the homeowner or tenant.
The program is available to most people who are eligible for the Federal Fuel Assistance program. All qualified Fuel Assistance applicants are automatically referred for an energy assessment after their application has been approved. Priority is given to households with elderly or handicapped individuals and with children aged 6 or less and “high energy users”.
Electricity savings programs are also available to qualified households. Measures may include installing higher efficiency light bulbs and replacing energy glutton refrigerators or freezers.
2. Impediment Remediation Fund
Low-income homeowners qualify for opportunities to improve their homes in areas of weatherization, energy efficiency, and heating systems repairs and replacement.
The town is working with Bailey Boyd, a specialist in CDBG, and has applied for the FY2025 CDBG round with Great Barrington.
In the meanwhile, according to BCAC, Stockbridge has at least 35 income-eligible applicants. However there cannot be impediments such as:
- knob and tube wiring
- vermiculite
- storage/hoarding issues that need to be cleaned out to access the property
- asbestos removal around heating equipment
- replacement of leaking oil tanks
- mold remediation
Out of ARPA funds, $35,000 was allocated in 2023.It is expened and White suggested AHT with CPC allocate more
3. Department of Housing and Community Development Pursuant to Chapter 121D of the Massachusetts General Laws states, a local housing trust allows municipalities (and the Trust itself) to collect funds for affordable housing and to segregate them out of the general municipal budget into a trust fund and use the funds for local initiatives to create and preserve affordable housing.
AHT is subject to laws and best practices, but funds moved from CPC to AHT are then “distinct funds…to support the preservation and production of affordable housing and increase opportunities for families and individuals to access decent, affordable homes.”
If CPC chooses to leave the same $100,000 – $400,000 in the CPC Undesignated category, then the money, subject to approval by Town Meeting, is available for historic preservation, or open space, or housing as needed. Funds awarded to AHT “segregate them out of the general municipal budget into a trust fund.”
