Editorial

Editorial: Changing Times

On August 1, 2024, both the Massachusetts House and Senate passed a final version of the Affordable Homes Act (AHA). It provides an historic $5billion plus for housing. In addition, policy changes seek to minimize obstructions to housing production including superseding local zoning bylaws when necessary. The policy changes as well as the amount of money have the potential to change the housing landscape statewide.

Some policy changes are a permission structure. For example, the Residential Tax Exemption (RTE) can now exceed 35% and go as high as 50%. However, the municipality retains the right to adopt RTE and to decide at what level. As another example, within the legislation, Berkshire County towns can be is designated “seasonal communities” (resort area). The designation will impact eligibility and funding. A seasonal community (resort) may acquire year-round housing occupancy restrictions for rental or other housing; acquire and develop housing units with preference for public employees that are necessary to the health and safety of maintaining a year-round community. These may include teachers, public works employees, and seasonal workers. 

Other policy changes are not choices; they are state regulations that supersede local zoning bylaws. For example: Lee just passed a bylaw limiting the building of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to full-time residents only. However, the new bill allows ADUs to be built by-right. That removes any restriction placed by the local government. Lee’s local bylaw will be overridden by the AHA and allow all property owners to build ADUs — full-time residents, part-time residents, and non-resident investors. Also, AHA allows the building of tiny houses on tiny lots.

All the new policies — permissions and restrictions — in the AHA leave much work for our own Planning Board (PB) to do in response. 

First, to read and digest AHA and the numerous changes. Compare state overrides with current local bylaws and determine what changed for Stockbridge. Then, in a public session, share the elements and potential impacts with the public. Finally determine if there are any elements that we should take advantage of and any we should counteract. 

The AHA is 180 pages of policies and grants meant to create change and it will. We should manage change as well as we can. 

We urge the PB: this is not the time to limit meetings. This is the time to work on our behalf. 

At the July 2, 2024 Planning Board meeting, the chair suggested that PB meet only as needed. We implore the Planning Board to reconsider. These are rapidly and significantly changing times. Stockbridge needs an informed and active PB.

SU consistently recognizes and thanks the volunteers that serve this Town. Amazing that there are almost 100. We are so lucky to have each and every one. People thinking about what is best for Stockbridge and giving their time on our behalf. We sincerely understand if it becomes a burden and would always whole-heartedly thank and never judge anyone who thought it was too much and wanted to step down. 

The Affordable Home Act is one of three that propose new policies statewide to meet housing shortages and climate change. The other two will likely pass next term. New policies in all three are intended to reshape our communities to meet the challenges. Again and again, folks write to SU hoping to protect and maintain the character of this community. Can we? That challenge is now at our doorstep. Don’t step away — step up — and thank you to all.

by Carole Owens, Executive Editor

News

SU FYI

1. From: Dawn Odell Lemon, Program Manager, Berkshire Community Development

On Thursday, July 25th Gov. Maura Healey announced some $39 million in Community Development Block Grant awards to 65 communities. Among the awardees: Great Barrington, Egremont and Stockbridge: $1,375,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 16 housing units. The next step is the procurement process. We are continuing to accept pre-applications and are hopeful that we can start up (provide Full Applications) to all residents who have filled out a pre-application form before Thanksgiving.

Editor’s note: To date there are 57 applications — 33 from Egremont, 21 from Stockbridge, and 3 from Great Barrington

2. Tri-Town Health Department, James J. Wilusz, RS, TTHD Executive Director and Charles Kenny, MD, SBPHC Medical Director

Reminder of COVID Safety Protocols

The Tri-Town Health Department (TTHD) and Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative (SBPHC) have noticed a recent uptick of positive COVID cases in several south county towns in the last month. With the summer swing in full effect, there are a lot of ways to be exposed to viruses during vacations, travel, camps and other fun summer activities!

Keep yourself and your family from getting sick this summer and fall by following these tips on how to stay healthy:

Wash your hands and maintain good hygiene. Good habits are always the first defense for COVID, flu and other illnesses.

Get tested for COVID before and after travelling or after you feel that you may have been exposed. Free test kits are available at Tri-Town Health Department and other BOH offices in the region. 

Stay at home if you are not feeling well then mask if you feel it’s appropriate to protect yourself or family members. Follow recommended CDC guidelines. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/prevention/index.html

Stay up to date on your vaccinations. SBPHC will be starting their fall clinics in early October with the updated formula of COVID vaccine plus senior and regular dose flu for everyone 6 months and older. For more information on vaccine clinics in South County, including how to get help with registration and request an in-home vaccine, please visit www.southernberkshirehealth.com. For more information on COVID 19 please visit www.tritownhealth.org, www.southernberkshirehealth.com and www.mass.gov. For general information about exposure, test kits, and vaccination access please contact your local Board of Health.

3: Check out the upcoming OLLI course that Michael Canales and Patrick White are teaching beginning in September 20: Understanding Local Government. https://berkshireolli.org/F101LocalGovernmentFall24.

News

Events

1. 32nd Annual Stockbridge Summer Arts & Crafts Show

Dates: Saturday, August 17 through Sunday, August 18, 2024 

Location: on the grounds of the Stockbridge Town Offices and Bidwell Park, 50 Main Street, Stockbridge, MA

Outdoor Show 

Sponsor: Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce 

Show Hours:
Saturday: August 17, 10am-5pm<
Sunday: August 18, 10am-4pm 

The 32nd Annual Stockbridge Summer Arts and Crafts show hosts over 85 jury-selected artists and crafters who will display their work ranging from paintings to ceramics, fiber ware to jewelry, sculpture to photography. We also have a variety of specialty food tents offering tacos, hand cut donuts, sandwiches, baked goods, beverages, vinegar, oils, jams, and seasonings. 

Admission: FREE

For show details, call 413-298-5200 or visit www.stockbridgechamber.org

2. COVID Vaccine Clinics — Pre-Registration is Open for South County 

The Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative (SBPHC) is ready for the upcoming respiratory illness season. The public health program at SBPHC is gearing up to make it easy South County residents to access the vaccines they need to stay healthy this fall and winter by offering pre-registration assistance for clinic appointments and by increasing awareness about our homebound vaccine program. SBPHC staff will be holding a no-cost clinic at the: 

Stockbridge Town Hall, November 21, 2024, from 1:30- 3:30 pm 

as part of a series of clinics being held throughout Southern Berkshire County during October, November and December. A full list of all these clinics can be found at www.southernberkshirehealth.com. In-home vaccinations are also available to people living in member towns who are homebound who call the office and request an appointment. 

You can register for your flu or COVID vaccine using one of these three easy methods: 

Go to https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/tritown and pick the desired clinic. 

Attend the pre-registration event being held at the Stockbridge COA at Town Hall on 

September 3, 2024, from 10:30- 11:30 am OR

Contact SBPHC staff at (413) 243-5540 x109 so that they can register you over the phone and/or set up an appointment for a person who is homebound.

Although the flu and COVID vaccinations are provided at no cost, we ask that you have your insurance card with you at the time of registration as well as the day of the clinic. This will reduce your wait time the day of your vaccine appointment. 

Our goal is to keep our communities protected this respiratory illness season by ensuring all community members have access to vaccines. Do your part by getting your vaccine appointment today!

3. Stockbridge Council on Aging has a full schedule — 

Mondays and Thursdays Yoga with Crystal 4PM/Gym

Tuesdays Bingo 12:45/Senior Center

Tuesdays Meals on wheels 11:30/Senior Center

Tuesdays and Thursdays Walking with Friends 10am/Gym

Wednesdays Chair Yoga 10am/Gym

4. The Laurel Hill Association presents the 171st Laurel Hill Day – August 24, 2024.

“Art in the Woods” 

Children’s program Carl Sprague and Julie Edmonds 1pm

Official program — Performances by Kate McGuire and the Stockbridge Festival Chorus 2pm

News

Board of Assessors, August 5, 2024, Hybrid

1. Utility appraisals complete, Both Berkshire Gas and National Grid went up in value (over $2million) which means more income for the Town.

2. Sales Analysis — Housing Sales analysis which is how we reach the median sales price for a home in Stockbridge

3. However, our Assessor, Michael Blay, tells SU, “I can only give you the average assessed value from last year for the single- family class. That number is $745,550.” (The average is the total of sales prices divided by the number of sales. The median is the middle where all are sales are where all other sales are above or below that number.)

4. Executive Session to determine extension of tax exempt statis for:

• Austen Riggs
• Kripalu Yoga
• Berkshire Scenic RR
• Bishop of Springfield
• Congregation of Marians

News

Sewer and Water Commission, August 6, cancelled

News

Agriculture and Forestry Commission (AFC), August 5, 2024, Hybrid

1. The Stockbridge Farmer’s Market is going well. Kudos to Stuart Kelso. At the end of the month the farmers will discuss extending the season.

2. Lisa Bozzuto discussed plans for the Forestry Event on October 19, 2024. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) awarded the privilege of hosting this event to Stockbridge. Lisa reported that it is shaping up well. The morning session from 8am to a break at 10 and then continuing until a box lunch will include introductions by the DCR and the AFC. A panel will discuss Fenn Farm — the acquisition by the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans and their conservation challenges. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A. After lunch there will be visits to Ice Glen, Gould Meadows, and the Berkshire Botanical Garden. Kampoosa Bog may be added. The event is free. Between the cider donuts and box lunches, no one will leave hungry, and it is a celebration of Stockbridge and all we preserved, nurtured, and love.

We are excited to announce that Stockbridge will host the 2024 Massachusetts Town Forest Conference! This FREE event is a unique opportunity to connect with professionals and volunteers dedicated to the stewardship of community forests. To register, please visit the 2024 Stockbridge Town Forest Event: Registration Form (google.com)

The Massachusetts Town Forest Conference is an exceptional annual gathering that brings together a diverse group of foresters, planners, arborists, conservation commission members, land trusts, nonprofit organizations, forest landowners, and more. The conference highlights local efforts to enhance the climate resilience of our community forests and emphasizes the crucial role town forests and open spaces play in maintaining our local ecosystems.

Mark Your Calendars:

• Date: October 19, 2024

• Location: Stockbridge Town Offices

This year’s conference will feature an engaging lineup of presentations, networking opportunities, and field tours that promise to be both informative and inspiring.

A Bit of History: The Town Forest Conference has deep roots dating back to 1928 when the Massachusetts Forestry Association organized the first meeting of town forest committees in Boston. These annual gatherings have consistently highlighted the practical importance of forestry management. In 2013, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) revived the conference to commemorate the centennial of the Town Forest Act of 1913. Supported by the Working Forest Initiative and the USDA Forest Service, the 2013 conference in Fitchburg featured a tour of the first town forest established under the 1913 law. This revival has since become a key event for communities to connect over the value of open space and active stewardship.

Since its revival, each Town Forest Conference has been tailored to its host community, celebrating local achievements and reinforcing the importance of community forests and active forestry practices.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Contact our own Lisa Bozzuto or Mike Downey, Forest Stewardship Coordinator & Service Forester, DCR

News

Just when you think no one is listening…

I ran into the principal percussionist from the BSO yesterday. Little did I know he plays golf at the country club. When I told him I was the one playing the chimes there he proceeded to give me an analysis of all the songs I play (only three keys, transferring octaves, which composers I like, etc.) Oh my gosh. Sometimes you don’t see anyone there and all of a sudden someone who knows a thing or two is really listening from the golf course! 

I invited him up of course. Hopefully I’ll get a photo of him there and we can use that for promo somehow. His name is William Hudgins.

Other than that, people who remember playing as children are coming up to see the “action”. Some of them are in their 60’s, many come from all over the county. Sometimes they start crying about being kicked out when they brought ice cream up or had messy hands, but mostly the memories are very poignant. The moral of the story is every day it’s something different. I could write a book about a 96-year-old woman who comes every single day and sits on a bench with her older daughter, son-in-law and nurse- rain or shine.

I have lots of kids who come up, but it’s usually because I ran into them or their parents during the day somewhere, or they are friends. If anyone tells you I don’t play well it’s because I am at that moment giving the kids a turn. Just saying…

When it comes time to give some sort of report to the town about all this, please let me know. The stories are amazing.

Editor’s note: Overseeing the project is Berkshire County conductor and music educator, Andrea Goodman. She plays at 5:30 p.m. between “apple blossom and the first frost on the pumpkin.” 

by Andrea Goodman

News

So Now We Are a Designated Resort — So What?

The ideas behind the seasonal community designation (resort) came from Nantucket and Cape Cod. The posited housing policies which might work in other parts of the state do not necessarily work in summer resort communities. They proposed policy changes tailored to resorts.

For example, in resort communities, lower priced or low-income housing sells to summer residents and investors as often as to the intended purchasers. We have witnessed this firsthand. Watched as lower priced houses are purchased by summer residents, razed, and bigger and more expensive houses built. Alternatively, lower-priced houses are purchased by investors and used as short-term rentals.

It follows that Nantucket and Cape Cod needed to build affordable housing earmarked specifically for town employees. It is vital that firemen, policemen, EMTs, and teachers can afford to live in the town. State law now stipulates that public funds cannot be used to create housing available for municipal employees only and not available to the public at large. AHA policy reforms allow it.

As our population shifts from 30% summer residents or fewer to 60% and climbing, we are following Nantucket where the median priced home is $3million — no, that’s not a typo. Their problems are ours now or will be very soon. The state recognized that and designated us a seasonal community (resort).

The language of the real estate transfer fee policy in AHA calls for “a threshold of $1 million or the median home price in a county, whichever is greater.” That allows the governor to state that the fee applies to high-dollar transactions only. It also means most sales in most towns will not be affected. Our median price is just below $1million but may not be for long. 

All these things require first knowing about them. Then evaluating what they mean for Stockbridge, and finally acting to preserve and protect our community.

For those who want to grow the middle class, to return the village to what it was — family-oriented, with our new designation, the state has determined that ship has sailed. Maybe, maybe not. We won’t know until we educate ourselves and consider the implications.

by Carole Owens

Perspective

From the Desk of Michael Canales, Town Administrator

The Town of Stockbridge is nearing the final stage of drafting a comprehensive Digital Equity Plan in collaboration with the neighboring communities of Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Sheffield, and West Stockbridge. This plan, once completed, will enable access to federal and state funding aimed at addressing the digital needs of our community, including enhancing computer skills, providing affordable devices, and ensuring online safety.

The development of this plan has been informed by input from many full-time residents through a statewide survey distributed earlier this year. However, for those who may have been out of town and missed the survey, we encourage you to participate by August 20th. Your input is crucial to ensuring that the digital needs of all Stockbridge residents are fully represented.

For more information and to take the survey, please visit click here:

https://mbicx.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bxTlMGFVF8KjigC

Temporary Closure of Transfer Station for Compactor Replacement: Monday, August 19 — Wednesday August 21. The Stockbridge Transfer Station will be temporarily closed from Monday, August 19 through Wednesday, August 21. This closure is necessary to facilitate the replacement of the compactor. During this time, the Transfer Station will be fully secured to ensure a safe and secure worksite for the installation team. We understand the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we complete these essential upgrades.

The Transfer Station will reopen and resume regular operations on Thursday, August 22, 2024.

Perspective

GE Clean Up

Our neighbors over on the Hudson have far more experience dealing with General Electric, the Environmental Protection Agency, and removal of PCBs from their river going back 20 years since dredging began on one of the nation’s largest Superfund sites. A long-time advocacy group with expert consultation, Scenic Hudson.org, has recently released a report estimating that the contamination has done more than 11 billion dollars in economic and environmental damage.

The EPA’s latest draft for its Third Five-Year Report on the result of GE’s Hudson dredging work shows show that PCBs in sediment and fish tissue from their samples have only somewhat declined. The fishing advisory: “Take No Fish — Eat No Fish.”

The EPA has asked for more time to study its test results showing that PCB’s remain in the dredged areas of the upper Hudson. To their credit they will hold public hearings. They will report back in 2025. Twenty years and three reviews later they apparently do not comprehend their own results. Scenic Hudson’s expert team estimates another 10 billion dollar’s worth of new dredging is needed.

In the meantime, I have talked with area residents who would rather GE not dredge the Housatonic at all. To many, it makes no sense to stir up the toxins and remove only some. We all know the river will never be perfectly free of PCBs and the Hudson shows it. But GE can do better. They have the money. Revenues of approximately $64 billion and profits that exceeded 7 billion last year prove it.

Thermal desorption is a process that heats and destroys toxic poison compounds like PCBs. It has been used to clean up Agent Orange in Southeast Asian rivers with a ninety-five per cent effective rate. Its byproduct is clean toasted sludge. It has apparently been dismissed by the EPA and GE in our situation. This almost certainly involves money. But this is an argument that is tough to buy. GE has thought nothing of spending many millions on attorneys to manage their accountability.

GE says it is here to “build, move, power, and cure the world”. The EPA says it is here to “protect human health and the environment”. Time to apply these principles to the Hudson and Housatonic Rivers. Time to cut back on the attorneys and bump up the scientists. Time to do the right thing.

by Bruce Blair

Perspective

Writing the EMS Business Plan

This week, I’m helping two wonderful EMS professionals write their business plan. This is the first step to put the pieces in place to get an EMS training initiative launched. 

These first responders want to create an organization to help train the next generation of EMS staff in Berkshire County. Our goal is to have a draft of the plan ready within several weeks. It’s a tall order, but this one is important to me on a personal level. 

You see, 15 years ago I got a pretty tough cancer diagnosis. I was being treated at Mass General for cancer that had spread to my brain, spinal cord, and heart. Between chemo, I’d come out here and my wonderful dad would take care of me, along with my awesome sister, who spent a week or two a month traveling out here to help me from her home in Los Angeles. The doctors told me if they didn’t get it all, I’d be dead in six months, that I should get my affairs in order. Lucky for me they did!

Chemo is fraught with peril, as you become susceptible to infections due to impacts on your immune system. Sure enough, I was out here recuperating and I caught something. I woke up, if you can call it that, with a 104° fever. My family rushed me to the emergency room, and in consultation with the doctors at Mass. General, the decision was made to transport me back in Boston. One of the local ambulance services strapped me in and drove me to Boston. I even helped them with directions on Storrow Drive to Mass. General while staring at the top of the ambulance! 

I lived to write another day.

For me, it’s a pay-it-forward thing. Helping these folks with their business plan is the least I can do, after what they and folks like them did for me 15 years ago: maybe they helped saved my life. Like our first responders do for countless others day after day, year after year. Thank you for your service. We’re all relying on you.

by Patrick White

The Last Word

Reader to Reader

Dear Readers,

Sadly, we have received several communications that state the same problem: 

“I stopped receiving your Stockbridge Updates and I’m sad. Hopefully I can get back on your email list.” 

First and most important, anytime you did not receive Stockbridge Updates, go to www.stockbridgeupdates.com and in the upper right corner add your name and email again.

2. You can read the issue you missed and any back issue from the very first issue.

3. We are doing everything on our end to prevent this but as often as not it is your server that has decided to block SU.

4. There is a way to instruct your server to “always allow” SU. It varies from server to server so I can’t tell you exactly how. Use your “Help” button.

Thank you for reading SU. Thank you very much for missing it when it didn’t come. The Internet is like a living thing constantly changing. We are so lucky to have so many subscribers that we can get blocked. We are doing everything we can think of to get to your inbox. Keep letting us know when it fails, and we will try something else.

Thank you, Carole

To the Editor:

The comment in the August 1 issue of Stockbridge Updates “Once more the meeting was cancelled” references a Planning Board meeting that was never scheduled in the first place. The implication that the PB is shirking its responsibilities is inaccurate and does not comport with objective journalism. 

At the July 2 meeting of the PB, the board voted 5 to 1 to schedule meetings on a need-be basis with the understanding that business would be consolidated when possible, never delayed. Vice Chair Gary Pitney, who could not attend the meeting, agreed with this approach. The Select Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Finance Committee and Historic Preservation Committee all meet on a need-be basis.

The Planning Board has specific duties that involve the review of requests, applications, plans and bylaws as required by our zoning bylaws. This process, which requires a thorough understanding of the bylaws and attention to details, often involves site visits and when needed, input from town counsel. While this kind of scrutiny is a lot to ask of a volunteer board like ours, without it, Stockbridge will not be well served. A well-functioning board needs to be mindful of making good use of everyone’s time. Flexibility in scheduling aligns with my own interest in attracting capable members to the board — something that I believe benefits both the board and our community.

Kate Fletcher, Chair, Stockbridge Planning Board

To the editor:

I am writing to give my full support to Patrick White running for state representative the 3rd Berkshire District.

As a recently retired public health doctor who has dedicated his career to assuring that quality healthcare is available and accessible to all, I found Patrick White to have the insight and awareness of this very complex crisis we face in Berkshire County.

In speaking with Patrick on several occasions, I found him to be thoughtful, intelligent, and honest about the role state government can play in helping to address this crisis. He understands that recruitment must come with retention of healthcare practitioners. To attract and retain practitioners to the rural communities of the Berkshires, we must consider their families, affordable housing, loan forgiveness in exchange for a time commitment. Perhaps, we must work with medical schools to engage with future practitioners, providing insight into the practice opportunities of rural medicine in primary care, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and geriatric medicine.

In addition, Patrick opened up the discussion to include first responders from the various towns throughout the Berkshires as a key link with practitioners in rural communities.

Patrick White has demonstrated to me that he understands this issue and all its complexities, asking insightful and intelligent questions, ready to build realistic solutions with all the stakeholders.

We need the type of critical thinking and demonstrated abilities that Patrick White has to represent the rural communities of western Massachusetts in Boston on this and many other critical issues.

Timothy G Wighton, M.D., Dr.PH, Otis