There were approximately 30 attendees in person and via Zoom.
1. Chair Jamie Minacci opened the meeting reading a statement first read in August about recording, identifying speakers, and speaking in the SB meeting.
2. Chair announced a Prop 2 1/2 override will be necessary to vote in the affirmative on the new high school. Superintendent Peter Dillon explained there would be two votes at a Special Town Meeting. Select Board member Jorja Marsden explained how important it was for everyone to understand the two votes. There will be further discussion and explanations. In the meantime, Dillon explained the override voted on by the Great Barrington, West Stockbridge and Stockbridge Select Boards was necessary just to go forward with the November 4th meeting. Dillon added Great Barrington and West Stockbridge had already voted in the affirmative. Stockbridge SB voted in the affirmative unanimously.
3. Between 7 and 9 Main Street, work was required to provide power to 7 Main — approved.
4. Entertainment license for Berkshire Botanical Garden — Harvest Festival — October 11 and 12. Approved
5. According to the Chair, Nancy Mills was the only person who sought a seat on the “250th Committee.” SB member Marsden suggested that the SB reach out and invite the library and other town institutions to join in and send a member
6. Town Administrator Michael Canales requested $25,000 to hire a Project Manager (PM) for the proposed new fire house “from step one.” Although it is required by law to have a PM for projects over $1.5million during construction (step two), Canales explained he wants a PM for step one which is the apparently the feasibility study. SB approved unanimously.
There were questions from the floor about cost and location of the new fore house– no answers yet.
7. Canales wanted to hire Preservation Inc for fabrication of the Revolutionary War Memorial. Marsden wanted to make clear that there will not be two stones as once proposed, but all militia members would be listed alphabetically on one stone whether Stockbridge Munsee or what they once called “the English.” Also Canales mentioned a dedication on July 4th although alternate dates had been suggested. Marsden wanted it known that she is working with Preservation Inc at St Paul’s and Canales reminded everyone they have done then work at the cemetery. SB approved their involvement.
8. Canales updated the SB on projects:
a. The boat ramp will be repaired by the state and regulations, for example, no swimming or picnicking will be enforced
b. Mass DOT will be blacktopping Rte. 183 in 2026 “before Tanglewood and after The Josh Billings Run Aground
9. Minacci and Cardillo then spent time explaining their take on issues raised:
a. About reading the suggested announcement at beginning of each meeting. The Chair explained the Mass Attorney General’s Office received a complaint (apparently against the Stockbridge Board of Assessors) that the BOA did not let the public know that the meetings are recorded. The AG Office determined it did constitute a violation of the Open Meeting Law, and as is common, suggested a correction for the violation. The correction was reading a statement at the beginning of the meeting to make clear it is recorded.
b. Cardillo reported that Stockbridge is not required by law to post Zoom recordings on CTSBTV and it costs money to do so. Cardillo also said public comment was always allowed when items were on the agenda. There was polite pushback on that assertion. One attendee noting she had been told she could not speak but could email her comment in.
c. Marsden said public comment was important
d. There was discussion about whether or not someone who wished to speak was required to give name and address to speak.
e. Anita Schwerner gave a closing remark about the importance of allowing and in fact promoting free speech at this time when it is being threatened.
f. With limits of 2 minutes per speaker and 10 minutes total of meeting time, and an understanding the SB will not answer questions or enter into a dialogue, the measure passed.
Adjourned
Editor’s note: 1. Proposition 2 1/2 is a Massachusetts law passed in 1980 that limits the amount of property tax revenue a municipality can raise each year. The tax levy a city or town can collect cannot increase by more than 2.5% over the previous year’s levy limit. 2. It is common that the corrective statement for an Open Meeting Law is read by the chair of the offending committee, commission or board once. 3. Lee responded and a SU reader consulted Lenox and Great Barrington meeting recordings on CTSBTV. See Reader to Reader. 4. There is no law, but at Town Meeting it was voted to do so, and Patrick White while a SB member put money in the budget to cover costs.
