- Chair Jamie Minacci announced that appointed seats to Boards, Commissions, and Committees will be filled on June 8, 2026. Anyone – whether you have an appointment now or are seeking one for the first time, should email the Select Board and express your interest. At the Select Board meeting on June 8 – the appointments will be made from those who expressed interest.
- The SB reviewed the suggestions from Town Administrator Michael Canales for new fees and fee increases. They are for permit requests for everything from signs to subdivisions. According to Canales the fees are intended to cover any costs and assure that the Town is “not subsidizing private endeavors.” Moved and passed as suggested.
- Canales suggested Lee and Stockbridge Councils on Aging merge by sharing a director. Katie Szwyd, Director, Stockbridge Council on Aging will become the Director of both Lee and Stockbridge Councils on Aging. Moved and passed. (See Editor’s Note)
- Anita Schwerner asked that the fees enacted and the list of appointed positions open be made available to the public. SU reprinted the list of fees for your convenience here. For the list of positions, click here
https://www.stockbridge-ma.gov/media/20581
Applications for Licenses and Permits Fees Alcohol Licenses (Applications for new licenses and to license amendments are available through the ABCC ( Alcohol Beverages Control Commission) website • Restaurant/General On Premises All Alcoholic $900 • Restaurant/General On Premises Beer & Wine $350 • Club All Alcoholic $500 • Package Store All Alcoholic $1,000 • Package Store Beer & Wine $500 There is a $100 processing fee for all liquor license amendments. Annual License Applications • Common Victualler (Retail, Restaurant) License $25 • B&B/Innholder’s License $25 • Entertainment License – Annual $10-$250 (Refer to License Fee Schedule) • Entertainment and Amusement License Policy Temporary License Applications • One Day Beer & Wine or All Alcoholic License $30 per day • One Day Entertainment $15 – $75 (Refer to License Fee Schedule) • Hawkers, Peddlers and Transient Vendors and Filming Permit $35 • Tag Sale $25 • Temporary Sign Permit free Curb Cut / Street Opening Permit Application $50 Special Permit 6.1.2 $200 and the cost of publication of notice and mailing costs. Applications must be delivered to the Town Clerk’s Office. Special Permit other than 6.1.2 $200 plus the cost of publication of notice and mailing costs. Applications must be delivered to the Town Clerk’s Office. ZBA Permit (Variance, Appeal…) $200 plus the cost of publication of notice and mailing costs. Applications must be delivered to the Town Clerk’s Office.
- Town Administrator review – high marks on financial matters, budget, debt management and planning. Lower marks on Human Resources – “difficult conversations” in HR. Out of a possible 45 (highest score) Canales received a 35. This is his first review in his years as Town Administrator and follows rather than precedes a new 5-year contract
- Town Administrator’s Report
- Shadow Brook needs work and an evaluation is underway. This evaluation is required to qualify for state grant for repair of waterways.
- Stockbridge received a state grant for paving RTE 183
- The costs of Larrywaug repairs is up to $600,000
- Boat Ramp is officially closed this month but some accommodation for some boats (SBSC mentioned there are boats on the lake).
- Salt Shed (at Transfer Station) cannot be repaired and will be replaced
- Horse Trough should be completed and returned this summer. (Vaugh Tower was ill but is now better – see SU FYI above)
- A citizen came in with an item to discuss. From her house, she can see the wetlands by the Industrial Park and has observed much trash being thrown into the wetlands. She and her neighbors have picked up some, but the amount is beyond them now. She asked at the Transfer Station and was now asking the SB to whom to report this and how to get it cleaned up. The SB suggested she tell the Police and the Highway Department.
Editor’s note: A decade ago, in 2016, then-Representative Smitty Pignatelli put forward the Community Compact. It proposed, as a cost saving devise, shared services in education, public works, public safety, and human services. It also allowed Lee, Lenox, and Stockbridge to share a town administrator. However, when a vote in Stockbridge was required to proceed, it was voted down. Lee and Lenox did share a Town Administrator for a while, but it failed, and Lee backed out of the arrangement and hired their own Town Administrator. Under our current Town Administrator, this plan is being enacted. This time it is from the bottom up not the top down – sharing a Town Administrator is not mentioned – however education (Berkshire Hills Regional School District), public works (Building Inspector), public safety (fire and EMT) and Human Services (Tri-town Health and now Council on Aging) have merged and the suggestion is to merge more. A vote of the Town Meeting be required before; why isn’t it before Town Meetin for a vote this time? TM is the legislative branch of our government (the purse) and certainly the basis of all these mergers is spoken about as a cost saving measures.
