2025: Amid the uncomfortable summer days, there were some beautiful ones. On one perfect evening, I strolled along Elm and Main Streets. I ran into good friends and nodding acquaintances, and I learned a few things.
One after another, they told me they felt uneasy as if something were wrong in Stockbridge. It seemed as if too many people were quitting. It seemed as if too many felt shushed and closed out. It seemed as if the citizenry were considered an obstruction to governing. This is a New England village, not an urban capital, our representatives live next door or across the street, and yet it seemed difficult to communicate with them.
Are we suffering from a string of unforced errors or are we mirroring national politics? A former Police Chief warned, “everything that’s out there comes here, it just takes longer.” Has it now arrived? Maybe, but in Stockbridge we usually can work things out, talk them over, test a theory, pick a plan.
Walking and talking, Stockbridge folk seemed the same – for every complaint verbalized, they had a possible solution. For every bit of finger pointing, they were willing to step up themselves. There is some consensus that we have usually weak boards. Put in a charitable light, perhaps some who care have stepped in to fill the void. Unfortunately, it also tilted the organization a bit. If you hang a heavier ornament on a mobile with a lot of lighter ones – it tilts.
As we considered the problem, folks did have ideas about solutions. They suggested we write job descriptions for both elected and employed folks to show what they do, what somebody else is supposed to do,” and how they dovetail.
How about performance evaluations,” one womea asked, “not to judge harshly but to work together to draw boundaries and make expectations clear.”:
How about public comment – new ideas in the mix from citizens – could be a good thing.
What about a declaration that we are all working together so nobody is uneasy about publicly declaring when a mistake is made.
As for SU, we have said it all before, nothing new here. Remember the Golden Rule. Remember in discussion, every person deserves a dignified response. Never close off discussion – it just makes folks mad and that’s not the most propitious starting point.
Oh, and listen, on one of those perfect Stockbridge summer evenings – get out and walk around Elm and Main Streets, you will meet the best people.
Carole Owens
Executive Editor
