COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
To one of the constables of the Town of Stockbridge in said county.
GREETINGS:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town, qualified to vote in Town affairs, to meet at the
Stockbridge Town Offices
50 Main Street
Stockbridge, MA 01262
in Stockbridge on Monday, May 19, 2025 at 6:30 o’clock in the evening Eastern Daylight Time, to wit:
ARTICLE 1. To choose all Town Officers necessary to be chosen at the Annual Town Meeting, other than those to be chosen by ballot, or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 2. To hear the report of any Town Officer or Committee, and to see if the Town will vote to accept all printed reports, or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 3. To see if the Town will vote to fix the salary and compensation of all elected officers of the Town as provided by Chapter 41, Section 108 of the Massachusetts General Laws as amended: Moderator, Select Board, and Board of Assessors, and to raise and appropriate a sum of money therefor, or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds such sums of money necessary for the operation of the several departments in the Town for the ensuing year for the purposes outlined in Exhibit 1; or to take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money as the Town’s assessed share of the FY’26 budget for the Berkshire Hills Regional School District, or take any other action in relation thereto. (expected request $ 4,084,874)
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money as the Town’s assessed share toward the Berkshire Hills Regional School District’s capital cost of constructing the new school buildings, or take any other action in relation thereto. (expected request $4,473)
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of monies from the OPEB Fund established under General Laws Chapter 32B, Section 20 for the payment of retiree health insurance costs and that such amount shall be transferred to the city/town’s annual budget for retiree health insurance, or take any other action relative thereto. (expected request $155,142)
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of G.L. c.44, 54(b) to allow Town trust funds to be invested in accordance with G.L. c.203C, the so-called “Prudent Investment Rule”, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to adopt the “Specialized Energy Code” for the purpose of regulating the design and construction of buildings for the effective use of energy and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, pursuant to the entirety of 225 CMR 22 and 23 including Appendices RC and CC, including future editions, amendments, or modifications thereto, with an effective date of January 1, 2026, a copy of which is on file with the Town Clerk, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will accept General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22I, which authorizes an annual increase in the amount of the exemption granted under General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22, Clause 22A, Clause 22B, Clause 22C, Clause 22E and Clause 22F by the percentage increase in the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous year as determined by the Commissioner of Revenue, to be effective for applicable exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2025, or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will accept General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22J, which authorizes an annual increase in the amount of the exemption granted under General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22, Clause 22A, Clause 22B, Clause 22C, Clause 22E and Clause 22F by 100% of the personal exemption amount, subject to the conditions in Clause 22J, to be effective for applicable exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2025, or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaws by:
(1) striking from the Amended Use Table 4.11, A – Principal Uses Districts, Section 4.4; and
(2) adding under the Amended Use Table 4.11, B – Accessory Uses, Section 1.1 to read as printed in Exhibit 2; and
(3) adding a new section 6.32 Accessory Dwelling Units to read as printed in Exhibit 2;
or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will vote to transfer and appropriate a sum of money from available certified free cash for the following specified projects or take any action in relation thereto.
1. transfer and appropriate $50,000 for the purpose of funding a Breathing Air Compressor with 4 Bottle Cascade System for the Stockbridge Fire Department
2. transfer and appropriate $10,141 for the purpose of funding Stockbridge’s share of the Tri-Town Health move in FY2025
3. transfer and appropriate $288,000 for the purpose of purchasing a Type 1 Ambulance
4. transfer and appropriate $30,000 for the purpose of reconstruction and repairs of the Town Offices roof.
5. transfer and appropriate $50,000 for the purpose of funding a feasibility study for a possible new fire station
6. transfer and appropriate $60,000 for the purpose of funding a pickleball/skating rink at the Stockbridge Town Hall parks and recreation fields
7. transfer and appropriate $33,500 for the purpose of funding a revolutionary war memorial
8. transfer and appropriate $25,000 for the purpose of funding for the 250th anniversary of the county on July 4th, 2026
9. transfer and appropriate $10,000 for the purpose of funding the replacement of a 40-yard straight wall dumpster at the transfer station
10. transfer and appropriate $80,000 for the purpose of tuition and transportation to Taconic High School for its Career Exploratory Program
11. transfer and appropriate $15,000 for the purpose of funding Clickers for use at Town Meetings
12. transfer and appropriate $15,000 for the purpose of funding Engineering and Architectural building envelop survey for Town Offices
13. transfer and appropriate $15,000 for the purpose of funding Radar Feedback Speed Signs for the Stockbridge Police Department
14. transfer and appropriate $16,000 for the purpose of funding a new flag pole at the Stockbridge Town Offices
15. transfer and appropriate $72,000 for the purpose of funding a Hybrid Police Cruiser for the Stockbridge Police Department
16. transfer and appropriate $200,000 for the purpose of funding the additional work repairing the copula on the Stockbridge Chime Tower
17. transfer and appropriate $50,000 for the purpose of funding a Retirement Payout Stabilization Fund for the payout of accrued sick leave and vacation time upon employee retirement
18. transfer and appropriate $814,632 to the general stabilization fund
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will vote to transfer and appropriate a sum of money from Sewer Available Surplus for the following specified projects, or take any action in relation thereto.
1. transfer and appropriate $125,000 for the purpose of funding various sewer main replacements
2. transfer and appropriate $25,000 for the purpose of funding pump station pumps overhaul
3. transfer and appropriate $30,500 for the purpose of funding half the cost of a hybrid half ton 4×4 pickup truck
4. transfer and appropriate $17,563 for the purpose of reducing the amount to be raised through sewer rates for the fiscal year 2026
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to transfer and appropriate a sum of money from Water Available Surplus for the following specified projects, or take any action in relation thereto.
1. transfer and appropriate $5,000 for the purpose of funding the replacement of the water plant loading dock exterior stairway.
2. transfer and appropriate $5,000 for the purpose of funding the Marian Father’s water storage tank cleaning
3. transfer and appropriate $30,500 for the purpose of funding half the cost of a hybrid half ton 4×4 pickup truck
4. transfer and appropriate $74,109 for the purpose of reducing the amount to be raised through water rates for the fiscal year 2026
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will act on the recommendations of the Community Preservation Committee on the Fiscal Year 2026 Community Preservation Budget and specified other projects and appropriate or reserve for later appropriation monies from community preservation fund annual revenues, specific reserves or other available funds for the administrative expenses of the Community Preservation Committee, the payment of debt service, the undertaking of community preservation projects and all other necessary and proper expenses for the year, or take any action in relation thereto
1. appropriate from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund balance a sum of $100,000 for affordable housing purposes to be used by the Town of Stockbridge for the funding of the Stockbridge Housing Trust.
2. appropriate from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund balance a sum of $76,744 for affordable housing purposes to be used by Construct reconstruction of siding and decks at Pine Woods.
3. appropriate from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund balance a sum of $32,300 for affordable housing purposes to be used by Stockbridge Housing Authority for replacement of damaged siding boards.
4. appropriate from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund balance a sum of $40,000 for historic preservation purposes to be used by the Norman Rockwell Museum for roof repairs to the Linwood House and Ice House.
5. appropriate from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund balance a sum of $90,000 for historic preservation purposes to be used by the Berkshire Waldorf High School for installation of a wheelchair ramp at the old town hall.
6. appropriate from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund balance a sum of $20,000 for historic preservation purposes to be used by the Town of Stockbridge Cemetery Commission for the restoration of the Historic Hearse House.
7. appropriate from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund balance a sum of $11,000 for historic preservation purposes to be used by the Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives for conservation of the oil painting of Agrippa Hull and a 1739 Plot Map of Town land allocations.
8. appropriate from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund balance a sum of $25,000 for open space/recreational purposes to be used by Chesterwood for restoration of the Studio Gardens.
9. appropriate from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund balance a sum of $5,000 for open space/recreational purposes to be used by the Stockbridge Housing Authority for raised flower beds.
10. appropriate from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund balance a sum of $33,500 for open space/recreational purposes to be used by the Town of Stockbridge for the creation of a Revolutionary War Monument.
11. appropriate from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund balance a sum of $22,500 for open space/recreational purposes to be used by the Town of Stockbridge for an Ice Glen Experience
12. appropriate from the Community Preservation Open Space Reserve balance a sum of $5,600 for open space/recreational purposes to be used by the Friends of Gould Meadows for work at Gould Meadows to preserve open space by removal of invasive species, tree, and garden work in order to enhance visitor experience and safety by installing benches, removing invasive plantings and planting native species on the stream edges.
13. appropriate from the Community Preservation Open Space Reserve balance a sum of $45,000 for open space/recreation purposes to be used by the Stockbridge Parks and Recreation Committee to create a covered shed to host concerts in the park.
14. appropriate from the Community Preservation Historic Preservation Reserve balance a sum of $20,000 for historic preservation purposes to be used by the Town of Stockbridge for restoration of the Elizabeth West Stone.
15. appropriate from the Community Preservation Undesignated Fund balance a sum of $15,000 for the FY26 CPC Administrative budget
16. reserve to the Historic Resources Reserve, the Community Housing Reserve, and the Open Space Reserve from Community Preservation anticipated FY’26 annual revenues, the minimum amounts required by M.G.L. c.44B, s.6. (expected request $38,897 per category)
ARTICLE 17. PETITION ARTICLE. We, the undersigned, qualified voters of the Town of Stockbridge, request that the select board include the article appearing below in the warrant for the annual town meeting of May 19, 2025:
“To see if the Town of Stockbridge should appropriate an amount not to exceed $600,000 from Free Cash for the purpose of exercising its Chapter 61 right to acquire the parcel for sale at 0 Interlaken Cross Rd. as described in the Middle District Berkshire County Registry of Deeds in Book 1347 Page 368.”
ARTICLE 18. PETITION ARTICLE. We, the undersigned, qualified voters of the town of Stockbridge, request that the select board include the Article appearing below in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeeting of May 19, 2025:
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaws as follows:
In 6.7 Surface Water Supply Protection Overlay District:
Section 6.7.1 Purpose, following the words, ‘upon the water quality of surface waters’, insert the words, ‘and groundwaters’.
Section 6.7.2 Description, following the words, ‘The SWSPOD shall include’, insert the words, ‘the recharge area of the aquifer connected to Lake Averic and’, or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 19. To transact any other business that may legally come before this meeting.
