Chair Matt Boudreau opened the meeting by sharing that farmers in our area are receiving notice that funds granted through the United States Department of Agriculture are now frozen for 90 days or longer. The farmers applied for initiatives, spent the money, and reimbursement is being withheld. Moreover, the Stockbridge Farmer’s Market may be negatively impacted if Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is cut.

Town Administrator Michael Canales and Highway Superintendent Hugh Page joined the meeting.

Arbor Day and “Tree City”

Arbor Day is April 25, 2025, but Stockbridge may select another day to celebrate. AFC considered April 23 or 24.

Being named a Tree City requires fulfilling certain criteria: having an Annual Arbor Day celebration, having a tree bylaw, having a designated board, and having a tree-planting plan. AFC qualifies as the designated board. Page has a tree log as required. The planting plan will be reviewed by Page and AFC and specific trees will be identified as the most advantageous trees to plant. Canales will write the required Town proclamation. The other requirements are satisfied so it appears Stockbridge can receive the designation this year or next. It helps a municipality qualify for certain grants.

Hugh Page mentioned the removal and replanting of trees along Main Street which are stressed from being planted incorrectly.

Farmers’ Markets

Berkshire Botanical Garden presented their plan for a Farmers’ Market on Mondays 3pm – 6pm. It has taken advantage of being on a bus route, and opening when campers are picked up by parents who may shop. It also precedes Music Monday (See Events in this issue) The Town Farmers’ Market, at Town Offices on Wednesdays, is now 3 years old. Farmers expressed that they are pleased about the profits they make. The Town does not charge fees for the booths but will charge beginning next year. It is well situated along Main Street to attract customers.

It begins at 4pm because office workers leave at that time. That is a double bonus – when they leave, the parking lot empties, and they may shop before they leave. Parking is an issue but using the basketball court is being investigated. To date it is food only – no crafts. That discussion will continue.

Boudreau thanked Stuart Kelso for the excellent job he has done establishing the market and shepherding it annually over the 3 years.

AFC wanted to “keep an eye” on the portion of the application for a special permit submitted by 37 Interlaken for 17 acres of “farmland”. The plan is to cut down many trees for a “farm” without any specifics about type of farm – vegetable, fruit grove, poultry, dairy, or grains – and no explanation of the necessity for so large an area as 17 acres

The Chair iterated that AFC may have to apply to the Town for funds if SNAP is defunded.

Notes from the Board of Assessors (BOA), March 3, 2025, Hybrid meeting. 

1. The Assessors will sign the FY25 Real Estate Abatement Certificate 
2. BOA will review the motor vehicle abatement applications.
   Both are done in an Executive Session to ensure privacy. 
3. Rollback tax and Right of First Refusal for the land owned by the Moffat Family Nominee Trust – to Chapter 61 land on Interlaken Crossroad. Then Roll-back tax has been calculated. (See Editor’s note) 
4. Right of First Refusal: While Planning Board apparently has no role, both it and BOA can comment.
   The decision is at the discretion of the Select Board (SB) The SB has 120 days from the filing of the Right of First Refusal and notification made to review and decide if it wishes to exercise its right and purchase the land. SB can order an independent appraisal to be performed. SB should review at a public meeting, entertain comments, and then decide. Citizens, BOA, PB and others can submit opinions/comments. 
5. Equalized Valuation (EQV) finalized for 2024 by the Department of Revenue (DOR). All 351 Massachusetts municipalities have a valuation. EQV is the estimated value of taxable property. The relative EQV in each municipality is the basis for the amount of state money allocated to municipalities for libraries, schools, school construction, and also to determine the debt limit. Our EQV is 1 billion 352 million up 42 million. Any town can question the calculation itself or the final EQV. 
6. BOA will review remainder of real estate exemption applications. 
7. There is a new disabled veterans’ exemption established by the “Hero Act.” 
8. Discussion of the Board of Assessors Stipend.
   Background: There are 7 elected boards in Stockbridge – Select Board, Planning Board, Board of Health, Board of Assessors, the Housing Authority, Water and Sewer, and Parks and Recreation.
   For the first time, the Planning Board requested a $500 annual stipend for each member. In the course of discussion, it was noted that BOA members receive $4000 per member. The decision to grant all members of all elected boards $500 per member which reduced the BOA stipend from $4000 to $500. Only one other elected board, the SB, received as much or more per member. The SB exempted itself from the vote.
   Town Assessor Michael Blay expressed outrage and called the decision “hasty, ill-conceived, and done with no knowledge [of what the Assessors do].” Blay asked Select Board member Chuck Cardillo if the decision was final. Cardillo said it was not and invited Blay to submit a report to the SB about the duties and requirements for someone to serve on the BOA.
   BOA member Doug Goudey called the decision “retaliatory” for the BOA’s consistent resistance to endorsing the Residential Tax Exemption. He added, “D.C. comes here.” Pitney shared that he wrote a personal note to Select Board member Patrick White expressing his disappointment and saying it was not the way things were done in Stockbridge. Evidently referring to the surprise action with no discussion with, or ‘heads-up” to BOA. White replied to Pitney that his concern was relate to the rising cost of health insurance. None of the BOA members have Town health insurance. (See Editor’s note.)
   Goudey wanted to take the opportunity to urge “Pat and Mike” [White and Town Administrator Michael Canales] to be careful about subcontracting certain services for two reasons – confidentiality and keeping good jobs in our village. Vote to enter Executive Session

Editor’s note: 

1. Chapter 61 is the Forestland Taxation Act. It requires municipalities to reduce assessments of forest land when a landowner is enrolled in and observes the Chapter 61 program requirements. Chapter 61 enables landowners to realize the value of the current use of the land in exchange for a ten year commitment to leave the land undeveloped and grow only forest products which could include – wood, timber and Christmas trees. 
2. Rollback taxes are a type of property tax that is imposed when a property’s use changes. They are based on the difference between the property’s previous value and new tax value based on the changed use. 
3. Relationship between stipends for elected board and Town Health Insurance – apparently, every elected member of a board qualifies for Town health insurance if their stipend is $4000 or more. To address that concern, one option would be to lower the BOA members stipend by $1 to $3999 not by $3500 to $500. Another would be to ask elected members of the BOA to waive their right to Town health insurance. All three members of the SB receive a stipend which is greater that $4000 and all are on Town health insurance.

Notes from the Historical Commission, March 3, 2025, Hybrid meeting.

On behalf of Kate and Hans Morris, attorney Nick Arienti asked for a finding that could enable his clients to tear down a structure in order to preserve a larger and older structure.

It was found that the goat shed attached to an historically significant barn could be torn off because “it would not substantially alter a significant historic building [the barn].” There was brief discussion about the ‘Berkshire Cottage” on the Desisto property (37 Interlaken)and concern that front façade preservation with a new hotel built behind was not in the spirit of preservation. However, Chair Carl Sprague said it was his understanding that there was almost nothing left of the historic interior or its former architectural detail.