Editorial

Editorial: We the People

I am not sure why, but we are expected to say something profound at holiday time. From Thanksgiving to Chanukah to Christmas and New Year’s Eve we are supposed to think up, polish up, and roll out our very best thoughts. Okay here goes.

Reports of the division in this country are greatly exaggerated.

We all look at Rockwell paintings and love what we see — a community at Christmastime – a family around the Thanksgiving dinner table — children’s baseball. We look and our hearts swell. It is what we all want; the things we are thankful for — health, a happy family, good friends, and a caring community.

When a friend was sick, a neighbor brought her soup. She returned the tureen washed and filled with flowers from her garden. The majority is nice. The majority appreciates simple kindness.

A child saw a dollar bill float out of a woman’s pocket. The child picked it up, tugged her sleeve, and returned the dollar. The majority teaches its children to be decent.

I received a letter saying I was wrong when I wrote, “we are the majority.” The writer assumed I was a Democrat and I meant Democrats are the majority. He said the majority of voters are Independents. He was right in his conclusion and wrong in his assumption. I am a registered Independent. Even so, I did not mean Independents. I meant decent people are the majority.

We appreciate kindness; it is what makes us happy. We need decency; it is what we understand. We engage in debate and eschew violence. We are drawn to kindly folk and repel the nasty. We are not so divided as reported; we agree on the basics.

Sometimes decent folks lose. People come among us who make wrong-doing look attractive. People so preoccupied with caring about themselves that they have no time to care about others. People who bully us and tell us it is okay to bully others. We know that’s wrong. We know if cruelty is rationalized against “them” today, it can be rationalized against “us” tomorrow.

We don’t always stand firm and stare down the bully. As children we may cower or cry. As adults, we may walk away and say, “it’s not worth it”. Still, we know right from wrong. We dislike harsh division and recognize the dividers. We were all taught the same playground rules – play nice, share, no name-calling, don’t hit — reports of the division in this country are greatly exaggerated.

by Carole Owens, Managing Editor

Editorial

SU Alert!

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) is seeking input from county residents on the 2024 Berkshire County Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The RTP is a 20-year horizon planning document that outlines transportation challenges and priorities for the Berkshires. Updating the document is important as it allows the region to remain eligible to receive much needed federal transportation dollars.

Can you help us spread the word about the RTP Community Survey and RTP Mapping Tool?

We would greatly appreciate if you would be able to print and hang the attached flyers at Town Hall or other public venues like the post office or a community center. We may have already dropped some off in person, as well. If you have a town newsletter or announcements page, please share the links (below) in those outlets. We hope that you and town staff will also take the survey between now and December 31st.

Best regards,

Nick Russo

RTP Community Survey (open thru 12/31/22):  https://www.surveymonkey.com/survey

RTP Mapping tool: https://berkshire.maps.arcgis.com/apps/CrowdsourceReporter/index.html?appid=51afbc759a934a24b27e6971da50c1ee

BRPC information page: https://www.berkshireplanning.org/initiatives/RTP

News

SU FYI

Tis the Season! Add one more to your gift list. The Town is collecting for Gifts for Our Kids — ages infant — 16 years. Drop off at Town Offices.

Tuesday Club of Stockbridge is collecting for female vets at Soldier On — drop off at Tuesday Club meeting December 13 at Congregational Church or call/email Carole Owens

Berkshire Agricultural Venture (BAV) — Starting February 1 — Market Match, a nutrition incentive program that doubles customers’ SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) at participating farmers markets. When a shopper uses SNAP dollars at the farmers’ market, they receive an equal amount in match tokens for free! BAV’s Market Match Fund enables a $1-for-$1 match up to $30, giving shoppers $60 to spend on local, SNAP eligible foods including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, baked goods, maple syrup, honey, and edible seeds & plants. Market Match programs at farmers markets benefit SNAP shoppers AND local farmers – it’s a win-win!

News

Events

1. Stockbridge’s Big Weekend returns —

Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce presents Christmas on Main Street. Check Chamber web site for times and events

2. Stockbridge Library —

Family fun and children’s events December 3 and 4

3. Congregational Church —

Saturday December 3 10am – 3pm The Women’s Service League of the First Congregational Church of Stockbridge is holding its annual Holly Fair at 4 Main Street, Stockbridge. It features baked goods, Christmas greens, crafts, Santa Claus, Grandma’s Attic, more – fun for the whole family! All proceeds to charity.

4. Norman Rockwell Museum —

Best Day Ever! Holidays & Celebrations

Family Fun, Storytelling, and Art-Making Activities inspired by The 365 Days of Eloise: My Book of Holidays at 11am and 2pm. Activities accompany the exhibit “The Life and Art of Hilary Knight” through March 12.

Guided Tours of Rockwell’s Holiday Works Daily at 11am & 2pm Reserve space and pay for tour ($10 non-members) @NRM.org

5. Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce —

Recreation of Norman Rockwell’s famous painting “Home For Christmas”. Sunday, December 4, Main Street, Stockbridge

6. Berkshire Botanical Garden —

Holiday Marketplace, December 3-4, 10am – 4pm, wreaths, holiday plants, gift items, and children’s craft table

Meditative Workshop “The Quieting” December 3, 4 – 5pm, an hour of meditation with Sandrine Harris

Bundle Dying Textile Class December 10, 10am – 1pm

News

Notes from the Planning Board (PB), November 15, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Kate Fletcher, Chair
• Wayne Slosek
• Marie Raftery
• Lis Wheeler
• Gary Pitney
• Carl Sprague and Nancy Socha via Zoom
• Jennifer Carmichael, Secretary

1. Minutes approved as written
2. Reopen Public Hearing for special permit to build 900 ft driveway
   1. Attorney Nick Arienti and Marc Volk, Foresight Land Services, on behalf of 4 Stone Ridge
   2. A revised plan submitted that included no construction within 200 feet of “no cut zone”, no disturbance of the “circle of stone”
   3. Abutter Henry Kirchdorfer did not object to long driveway.
   4. Sprague wanted it clear that this does not undermine bylaw that allows driveways of 500 ft maximum
   5. Approved with “a declaration of restrictions” per Town Counsel: no disturbance of land beyond what was approved, file plans with Fisheries and Wildlife.
3. White Pines discussion
   1. At the invitation of the Select Board (SB), the Planning Board (PB) considered a request from White Pines: that the Building Inspector may approve additions up to 500 sq. ft. without a special permit (500 sq. ft. = a space 20 ft. x 25 ft.)
   2. On behalf of White Pines, Attorney Martin asked that the Building Inspector be given power to approve addition up to 500 sq. ft. and therefore avoid the special permit process. He said the Condominium requirements, including architectural review and Board review, are sufficient.
   3. Wheeler wanted to be sure the addition would be exterior (a deck or porch) not interior living space or converted to interior living space later
   4. Chair’s concerns included the massive additional square footage at White Pines if everyone added a deck. (62 units x 500 sq ft = 31,000 sq ft)
   5. Martin assured her not every unit would want or could have a deck and some already had one so closer to 40 units.
   6. Chair replied that even if 40 units x 500 = 20,000 sq ft. Chair was also concerned about proximity to lake and concurred with Wheeler that decks and porches can become rooms
   7. The limits of the septic field would limit additional interior spaces
   8. Jennifer Carmichael, Assistant to the Building Inspector said there are no setbacks at White Pines. Martin added all the condo requirements make special permit redundant
   9. Sprague said special permit process not onerous and did not see reason to alter the traditional process for one neighborhood
   10. Chair called for vote — 4 against, 3 for — the PB will recommend to the SB not to approve White Pines request
4. Sign Bylaw draft — voted to approve and send to SB for inclusion in Town Warrant
5. Socha wanted to place the following on a future agenda
   1. To discuss Lake and Pond Overlay District (LPOD) and determine if LPOD should remain with PB, be transferred to the Conservation Commission (ConCom), or be considered by both
   2. To invite the Berkshire Regional Planning Consultant in to discuss her work on Town’s Open Space Bylaw on agenda (tabled by Chair earlier)
6. More than one member noticed “devastation” presumably from blasting on private lakeside property across from the causeway. Members were asked to go to causeway and take note

Meeting adjourned

News

Notes from Board of Assessors, November 17, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Gary Pitney, Chair
• Doug Goudey
• Tom Stokes
• Michael Blay, Town Assessor
• Tammy Toupence, secretary
• Blay reported the following:

1. The five-year RE-Val is complete and Stockbridge received final certification from Commonwealth as of November 14 (See Ed. Notes)
2. Now the Tax Classification hearing can take place as required. It will be tonight (11/17) at 6:30. Tax Classification document prepared by Assessor attached
3. As required by law, the tax rate will be set, and the following items will be considered by the SB at the Hearing:
   1. Single payer tax rate or split tax rate
   2. Exemptions considered: the Small Commercial Exemption (SCE), the Residential Tax Exemption (RTE) and Open Space Exemption.
4. The Board of Assessors voted to recommend the single payer rate and voted against recommending RTE and SCE — Open Space non-applicable. The Chair added, no recommendation for RTE “this year”
5. The “new growth” in Stockbridge was $9,110,425 — remarked as exceptional – $85,000 new tax dollars and increase in assessment of $150,000,000 therefore must keep tax rate low
6. Tax rate set at $8.14 down from $9.38 last year. Assessor characterized it as “Biggest dip ever.”
7. Assessor said tax bills will be higher for some, unchanged for others and lower for some because the tax rate lowered so much. In light of exceptional increase in valuations, the rate was lowered more than ever before. Assessor predicted a “happy tax bill.”
8. Assessor said can’t predict next year because this year Town had reserves “like free cash”. If valuations continue to go up and there are “massive” capital projects with less cash reserves, cannot predict what would happen
9. Berkshire Scenic Railway did not submit the answers to the Board’s questions by deadline. They apologized and said it is almost done. Board cannot consider the requested tax-exempt status yet. It will not be in time for tax bills but if they are granted tax exempt status then they can request tax abatement

Meeting adjourned

Editor’s notes: 1. Massachusetts law requires that all property be assessed annually at 100% of its full and fair cash value — the price a willing buyer would pay – and that reevaluation and recertification take place every five years in all MA communities. 2. Single payer — all properties pay the same tax rate; split rate — commercial and residential properties pay different rates 3. SCE and RTE are both tax shifts — SCE shifts some tax burden from residential to commercial properties by assigning different rate; RTE shifts some of the tax burden from primary to second homeowners NOT by assigning different rates but by reducing a % of the assessment. Both must be considered every year (thus the Chair added “this year”)

News

Notes from the Cultural Council, November 16, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Judith Wilkinson, Chair
• Maureen O’Hanlon
• Rena Zurofsky
• Barbara Cooperman, Terry Moor, Jane Englehofer via Zoom

1. There were 37 applications presented
2. The Council voted on each — yes, no, maybe
3. Chair reminded members that programs in Stockbridge takes precedence
4. Of the 31, 10 were Stockbridge programs
5. Of the remaining 21, 16 were approved for a total of 26 approved.
6. Town of Stockbridge granted the Cultural Council an additional $5000 for a total of $11,865 that they could award.
7. 10 Stockbridge programs were fully funded — Total — $6250
8. The 16 were awarded grants up to the total of $5615 remaining
9. All funds available were awarded. The funded programs will be announced by the Cultural Council at the appropriate time.

Meeting adjourned

News

Notes from the Tax Classification Hearing, November 17, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Patrick White, Chair, SB
• Chuck Cardillo, SB
• Jamie Minacci, SB
• Michael Blay Town Assessor
• Michael Canales, Town Administrator
• 37 people attended via Zoom
• Could not see those present in room — will name if they speak

Michael Blay, Town Assessor presented:

1. Blay distributed an Assessor’s report
   1. The Tax Classification Hearing (TCH) is mandated by law. During the TCH, the Tax Rate is announced, Single payer tax rate or split tax rate is decided, and exemptions considered: the Small Commercial Exemption (SCE), the Residential Tax Exemption (RTE) and Open Space Exemption. The SB votes to take action or take no action on the exemptions
   2. Blay said the TCH is held after the public disclosure period is closed and the tax rate is set. However, Blay wanted everyone to know they can call anytime to ask about valuations
   3. Blay announced the new tax rate was set at $8.14
   4. The rate is down from last year ($9.38) and Blay said that was the “biggest dip” ever (down $1.24). Blay explained the rate went down so much because the valuations went up by an historic amount. If rate goes down when valuations go up, the resulting tax bills will not be uncomfortably high. In fact, at this lowered rate, Blay said, some tax bills will go down compared to last year.
   5. The levy is the amount to pay the bills of the Town and the rate is calculated to pay the levy. This year the levy is calculated at approx. $9.2million.
   6. Blay said, In order to lower the rate, Town lowered the Overlay Account and proposed to use “the cushion” (reserve funds including free cash) to pay for capital projects.
2. As in all past years, the SB decided upon the single-payer rate, and to “take no action” on the Small Commercial Exemption (SCE)
3. White opened the meeting to public comment on the Residential Tax Exemption (RTE)
   1. In answer to a question, White explained easiest way to determine if your tax bill will be higher or lower is to look at valuation. If the valuation is up more than 15% your tax bill will be higher
   2. Michael Roisman spoke in favor of RTE. He argued it was fair to shift a small amount of tax burden to second homeowners since second homeowners were responsible for the rise in valuation
   3. Candace Curry felt it was her civic duty, and felt good about paying RTE
   4. Shirley Miller was in favor of RTE so the Town could pay its bills including paying for capital projects (for example the millions for dredging and sewer expansion) from which all residents — primary and second homeowners – benefit
   5. Nick Nadorff wanted to know if the nonprofits in Town were paying anything in lieu of taxes. White said the nonprofits gave $70,000 in 2018 pre-COVID19 and $34,000 this year. White anticipated as nonprofits recuperate, they will reach the former giving level
   6. John Hart was pro-RTE but had a question about personal property tax (to be discussed at another time) He also asked Cardillo and Minacci to state why, at a previous meeting, they said they would never vote for RTE
   7. Josh Peyron said “no less expensive housing is available” because there are bidding wars between second homeowners, and small houses are torn down to build bigger more expensive ones
   8. Laura Dubester suggested we try RTE for a year, collect data and decide. She was concerned about capital projects down the road.
   9. A speaker said once passed it will never be reversed. Canales pointed out that, by law, RTE is considered every year and can be reversed at any time.
   10. Isabel Rose (Steve Rose), second homeowners, supported RTE as a vehicle for encouraging young families to buy in Stockbridge and building community.
   11. Someone said there were no signatures on the petition opposing RTE just a typed list of names
   12. Patty Caya wanted to correct the record — she used a Google program that generated a list of names that “virtually signed” her petition against RTE
   13. Jim Balfanz wanted to correct the record — the Finance Committee never voted against RTE however as a private citizen he opposes it
   14. Joe Newberg opposed RTE because it “demonizes” second homeowners
   15. Andrea Abramowitz opposed RTE because some second homeowners inherited their property, were not wealthy, and higher taxes could be a burden
4. No more hands were raised so White closed the public comment segment of the meeting and opened it to SB deliberations. White spoke in favor. Cardillo spoke against. Minacci declined to speak
   1. White spoke in favor of RTE as a way to build community — encourage purchase by young families and elderly to stay in their homes. He felt good laws are passed to encourage outcomes. “From Konkapot to Mary Flynn” they stood for the best interests of the Town. For example, Chapter 61, a tax exemption program, gives a tax break to those who preserve farm and forest land.
   2. Cardillo was opposed because he thought the Town would have to hire extra staff to implement RTE. He thought there were other better options to help the elderly. He thought some of the other options would NOT shift the burden. Finally, he was concerned raising the taxes of some would shift the burden to renters or businesses.
   3. SB voted to “take no action” on RTE this year.

Meeting adjourned

Editor’s Note: 1. SU has invited both SB members who spoke to submit their comments for inclusion in the next issue. 2. SU received criticism of SB for bringing up RTE at Tax Classification Hearing. Evidently there was some confusion when at an earlier SB meeting Cardillo and Minacci said they would never vote for RTE. White pointed out since a majority vote is required to pass RTE, that would kill the measure. However, it is the law that SB bring up RTE at the Tax Classification Hearing and earlier comments in no way relieved SB of the legal obligation

News

Notes from the Cemetery Commission, November 22, Hybrid meeting

1. Minutes — no quorum was present so no action could be taken
2. Strictly speaking the meeting should have ended since a quorum was not present. See Editor’s Note. However, they remained in session and discussed the current Bylaw and the establishment of policies.
3. One change discussed was that the Cemetery Commission be reduced from 9 members to 7 members so that a quorum is fewer people.

Editor’s Note: According to Mass General Law, a quorum is a simple majority of the members of the public body, unless otherwise provided in a general or special law, executive order or other authorizing provision. A quorum is the minimum number of voting members who must be present at a properly convened meeting in order to conduct business.

Perspective

About Our School Trip

This February several students from Monument Mountain Regional High School (MMRHS) will be headed on a week-long Service Trip down to an Orphanage in La Ureña, Dominican Republic. It is called “Dominica School and Orphanage,” a link is attached below to explore/validate it.

This trip has been occurring for several years under the direction of the Kisiel Family, residents of Great Barrington. This February will be our fifth trip!

In 2021, we lost affiliation with the school due to the pandemic and the COVID19 liabilities that it posed. With that said, we have struggled as a group with fundraising for the past two years. Fundraising is essential to the larger success of the trip.

Our fundraising goals encompass the following: ensuring scholarship opportunities for students who would like to attend but are not financially able, purchasing materials/resources for our work at the school and orphanage (we paint murals, woodwork, teach science/engineering classes with hands-on methods, etc.), and paying for buying checked bags for donating items directly to Dominica School and Orphanage.

Attached is the Dominica School and Orphanage website along with our GoFundMe link, which will be open accepting donations for the months leading up to the trip. Any amount is generous, and we are extremely appreciative!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email servicetripdr@gmail.com.

To donate GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/45fe2c24

To learn more about the school Website: https://www.dominicaschool.org.

Thank you for your help!

Editor’s Note: Tyler is a Senior at MMRHS

by Tyler Sprague

Perspective

Arborist Day, a Berkshire Tradition, set for Dec. 6

It’s now a tradition, begun 17 years ago by the Berkshire Botanical Garden. Each year, Berkshire arborists and tree specialists gather for Arborist Day, a day of community service, education and recreation.

This year’s Arborist Day will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 8:30 to 2:30 p.m., at Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington, Mass.

The day will include “several removals, tree plantings and a lot of pruning,” said Tom Ingersoll, of Ingersoll Land Care, in Sheffield.

About two dozen arborists from around the region are expected to attend. Ingersoll will give a presentation called “Pruning Shade Trees for Sustainability and Climate Change.” Participating arborists can earn continuing education units.

Typically, on Arborist Day, the volunteering tree companies and individuals deliver between $15,000 to $25,000 worth of pruning, removals and tree plantings, all within about five hours of work before lunch. That will be the case on Dec. 6 on the sprawling high school campus.

Arborist Day was the brainchild of Berkshire Botanical Garden’s former Director of Horticulture Dorthe Hviid, along with arborists Ron Yaple, Ken Gooch and Tom Ingersoll.

“In recognizing the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s need of professional attention, we reached out to our industry peers and created a tradition,” said Ingersoll. “After the first Arborist Day on the BBG campus, the group then reached out to other area non-profits, schools and museum properties to offer the services of as many as 25 professionals and their equipment.”

Over the years, Arborist Day has visited — and provided free tree service to — The Mount, the Norman Rockwell Museum, Construct’s Pine Woods Condominiums, The Bidwell House, Gould Farm, Brookside Manor, and Hebert Arboretum. This year will be the group’s second visit to Monument Mountain High School.

Arborist Day not only provides a time to work together, but it’s become a reunion of sorts where tree professionals reconnect with their peers to trade stories from the past season, discuss trade secrets, show off newly purchased equipment, and contemplate new challenges in the industry.

“Some 2,000 volunteer hours have been logged by Berkshire arborists as part of the tradition,” said Ingersoll.

Editor’s Note: Carroll is the Director of Communication at Berkshire Botanical Garden

by Felix Carroll

Perspective

Regional School District Planning Board (RSDPB)

Here is our most recent update on the work of the 8 Town RSDP:

Merger Model under Consideration: In April, the 8 Town Board voted (16 to 6) to continue to develop the merger model recommended by our research team — merging the Berkshire Hills Regional School District and the Southern Berkshire Regional School District into a single preK-12 district, maintaining the existing elementary and middle schools as they are, but creating a new merged 9-12 high school to be built on the Great Barrington campus.

Enrollment trends: The enrollment trends: October enrollment numbers show a decline at Mt. Everett High School from the year before, dropping from 180 to 165 students across grades 9-12 (8%). At Monument Mountain, the one-year enrollment decline in the high school was 5.3%, dropping from 511 students to 484.

Work Planned for the Early Winter 2022: Our three areas of primary focus now are: educational visioning, the drafting of an 8 Town regional school district agreement, and a more in-depth transportation study.

Our educational visioning will involve faculty/staff, students, community members, employers, and parents. The goal is to consider options for how a combined 8-town district would deliver educational programming, create opportunities for the two districts to learn more about each other; and build a shared sense of ownership.

Our plan is to begin with two groups: one for the high school and a second focused on the expanded Career Vocational Technical Education and Career Pathways (CVTE) programs that a merged district could offer.

Funding the Work: Our earlier state funding had to be expended by June 30, 2022. No funds were earmarked in the most recent budget cycle specifically for regionalization and so we have sought other funding sources. We have received a $50,000 grant for the educational visioning work from the Barr Foundation, and, with additional support from BERK12, we now have sufficient funds to continue our work through 2022. In late August, we had asked each of our 8 towns and 2 school districts to authorize up to $15,000 to fund our work through June 2023 to the extent needed. As of this update, the Towns of Sheffield, Alford, and West Stockbridge have provided that authorization, and the remaining towns have either placed the request on their respective special town meeting warrants or tabled the request.

Timeline: We are targeting January/February for a board vote on a recommendation to the Selectboards of the 8 Towns, and, if the vote is to recommend merger, the question will be put to the voters at the annual meetings in May/June 2023.

Editor’s Note: Lucy Prashker is the Chair of the Regional School District Planning Board

by Lucy Prashker

Perspective

Cat and Dog Fountain: What’s New?

While the Cat and Dog have been off-site for work on a mold and recasting, town employees Hugh Page, Mike Buffoni and Tony Campetti have been busy in the past two weeks preparing the fountain basin site. It became clear in the spring when we dug down along the side of the basin that crumbling brick was all that likely supported the basin. We had hoped to find something better in place, but the deteriorated brick support probably explains the cracked basin that has not held water for many years.

The Fountain Committee next worked under the excellent direction of Dana Bixby Architecture who worked with Hugh and Mike to arrive at a plan for the basin. Much has been done to prepare the site for a new basin that will be poured next spring — the old concrete basin was removed along with the brick cobble, wooden molds have been built and filled with concrete to support the fountain and capstones. The Fountain Committee extends its sincere gratitude to Hugh, Mike and Tony for their dedication and work on this project — it was a pleasure to see their evident care for the Town’s beloved Cat and Dog Fountain.

Editor’s Note: The Fountain Committee also includes Kate Fletcher, Carl Sprague, Bob Jones and GeGe Kingston

by Kate Fletcher

Perspective

Paying the Bills

A taxing jurisdiction imposes taxes to pay for something. Stockbridge real estate taxes, with other sources of income, pay the cost of running the Town.

The amount raised is the amount needed. The tax rate is calculated to raise that amount. The most important step in setting the tax rate is determining the amount needed. What do we include in that amount and what do we defer when determining the amount?

The Town has millions in reserve accounts to offset costs. At Town Meeting (TM), we vote on the expenditures only but also on how to pay for them. For items not in the operating budget, we vote to borrow or to use funds transferred from those reserve accounts.

According to the Assessor the tax rate was reduced “more than ever before”. When the Assessor said, “…taking out of reserves like free cash, [makes] this year ‘s tax rate good. We can’t predict next year”, the Assessor was explaining the process this year and sounding an alarm for the future. Hopefully, everyone is listening. Here’s why…

We know the valuations will continue to go up because we know the 2022 sales on which they are based. When values go up, the rate must go down. A flat budget helps, but Stockbridge will not have a flat budget. Stockbridge has very significant increases in capital costs that we know are coming — the new school, sewer repair and expansion, dredging and more. What we select to include in the budget determines the amount to be raised from taxes and other revenue sources. That amount determines the tax rate.

The combination of ever rising valuations, and ever rising costs will make it close to impossible to keep the tax rate down as much as this year’s historic low. The choice will be between higher tax bills or eliminating some costs.

We need to be ready. We need quality discussions; we don’t need slogans, threats, or emotion-laden, misleading arguments. For example, all tax deferrals, abatements, and exemptions are paid for by everyone else — by shifting to other taxpayers or by the Overlay Account — because we must raise the amount needed to pay the bills.

Like it or not, Stockbridge is changing. We must meet the challenge and adopt the best laws because the best laws drive the desired outcomes. The charm and health of Stockbridge is no accident. As SB Chair White said, “we were blessed with wise engaged folks for almost 300 years — from Konkapot to Miss Mary Flynn.” We need to be as wise and engaged as they were so our future is bright.

by Carole Owens

Analysis

Reader to Reader

Carole —

My wife and I hiked up to the semi-circular memorial bench above the Rostrum a few weeks ago and met Verne Tower, who was nearly done with his summer-long work to restore the bench. He said he also built the amphitheater at Turn Park and worked on many of the other stone monuments and features in and around Stockbridge. What a treasure! Have you ever interviewed and written about him? It would make a great article about both a dedicated local craftsman and local history.

Art Kreiger

Thank you, Carole – at least now I think I know what is going on in the village even if I’m not

sure of all the details. YOU DO A GREAT JOB FOR US ALL.

Again, thank you, Mary Balle

Dear Updates:

Has Stockbridge been slipping away in the second home era? Many working middle- and upper- middle class people lived here 50 years ago. GE and the mills still gave people such opportunities. The market forces that brought the sweeping change of second home dominance were not a choice we made.

Affordable housing is a goal we have already met per state law and we are one of only a few towns in the county in compliance on this. Second homes do not count in this calculation. The census shows us that children still live here, we are not entirely a town of aging, retired residents. But we are now a town of limited access for those with average means, regardless of age, as market forces threaten to overbuild expensive homes and even resorts in town and may ultimately drive some of us out.

Addressing this without destroying the town’s aesthetic character is the challenge. As Nina Ryan has said, the impact of scale is important. I think it’s the most critical factor. Address the preservation of balance in all things, natural, historic, cultural — and housing. The developer-friendly building by-law that the town’s pro-development folks spent two years and thousands of taxpayer dollars pushing was defeated because, in the rush to build and make money, nobody on the development side would acknowledge the “impact of scale” such a law would create. It was about profits. Profits are neither good nor bad. Until somebody kills the goose that lays the golden egg.

Preserving the balance of livability and heritage can be tough. That heritage includes a unique combination of qualities. We are stewards passing through. America is down to a handful of towns like Stockbridge. The very qualities that make these towns unique make them vulnerable. Keeping at least of few of them intact goes way beyond NIMBY-ism. Long ago, some pretty thoughtful and respected Stockbridge residents created our “green necklace” 2 and 4 acre zoning concept, based on existing density and Olmstead’s design principles, to preserve the balance of our one-of-a kind setting and our future needs. But people forget…

Social engineering the housing market here may make some outside development group wealthy on cluster housing. The cruise-ship-on-a-hillside look works for some. Or maybe there’s another way. With only 29% of residents voting, a lot more people need to get involved in this discussion.

Bruce Blair

To the Editor,

I think your opening letter [Editorial: All About Us] was very well put.

You’re a voice of reason in a room full of noise. Well done!

Tom Farley

To the Editor:

I just finished viewing the November 15th Planning Board meeting, regarding the requested approval process from the Select Board for a recommendation regarding the White Pines property. Amazing that some members failed to recognize that what the decision really amounted to was giving the Building Inspector, who is employed by our town and is noted for following the regulations, the discretion to decide on plans submitted by the homeowners, who initially have to go through a rigorous approval process from their HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, to be able to proceed.

Our building inspector is fully capable of representing the town in a professionally technical capacity and the Planning Board should have acknowledged and accepted that simple fact — especially when the added requirement of approval by the homeowner’s association is a prerequisite for him to even consider it.

The Board voted 4 to 3 against the recommendation. A Stunning vote after wasting so much time on something that should have been a simple matter. Simply amazing.

Please note: I write this as a personal letter and not as a member of any town committee or board.

Jim Balfanz