Carole,

Excellent! article … only the Main Gate is in Lenox … USPS reigns. Raising the money reminds me of sitting in the Red Lion Inn when the Commonwealth wanted to put a prison at Shadow Brook. Those at the table pledged vast amounts and vowed that it would not happen. It didn’t … Jane and Jack were at their very best.

John Beacco

Dear John.

You are so right — only the entrance to the Main Gate parking lot is in Lenox. You have great memories of Stockbridge – I hope you write more of them down – and thanks for your kind words.

Carole

To the Editor:

It is now time to take a very close look at CTSB or Community (access) Television (for the) Southern Berkshires. Why? Soon there will be a new contract negotiated agreed between Spectrum and the five towns it serves — Lee, Lenox, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, and Sheffield.

This contract effects CTSB. Its mission has been to provide local, governmental, televised information that is important to the residents of those towns.

CTSB provides an in-home service to those who are unable to attend meetings that are important to our towns and the neighborhoods within them. How? CTSB “attends”, with their video equipment, government meetings. CTSB broadcasts and archives what transpires during those meetings so the viewing public can make informed decisions when they attend town meetings and/or vote on issues at the ballot box that impact their communities and neighborhoods.

Folks, it’s an effective way to provide transparency in government. It provides access to our aging voting public many of whom are unable to attend the meetings in person. It helps second homeowners stay connected even when they are away.

Covid 19 ushered in the need for Government to continue to operate with the need of feedback from the public with concerns about issues before our elected and appointed boards, commissions, and committees. Enter ZOOM administered until now by CTSB.

Zoom allowed residents to attend public meetings and speak up if they wish. The recordings of the meeting on TV and the Internet allowed voters to stay informed. It gave abutters and others who might be impacted by a decision a way to speak either in favor or against the matter before the board. Was it a welcomed addition to the already daunting tasks these boards, committees, and commissions have to deal with? Yes, and unfortunately no. This “super transparency” added more minds and opinions to the already complicated caldron of operations of town’s government.

So, here’s the issue: Do we, in our, (thank God), democratic, Western Mass communities welcome in the technologies of the 21st century that Covid 19 brought to us, or do we return to Town Governments that do their jobs with no immediate scrutiny unless one is able to attend in person?

In my opinion, and as a member of a “scrutinized” and Zoomed Town Conservation Commission in Stockbridge say, the more transparency of town government and the more input from residents the better we all will be.

John Hart

Dear John,

Indeed, CTSB provides a public service that we all appreciate. Another reader joined the conversation and added ideas about CTSB’s value as follows….

Carole

You can see any meeting after it takes place. The videos create a full record of every meeting. This allows those who may be working second shift, traveling, ill, zooming a different meeting etc. to still see any meeting. Meeting minutes may sometimes be incomplete or not posted in a timely fashion. CTSB videos serve as a critical archive.

Bruce Blair

Thank you both.

Carole

Dear Carole,

Is there any way to have the sign announcing the entrance ACTUALLY placed at the entrance [to Town Beach] instead of close to someone’s private driveway??

Thanks.

Irene Bernstein

Dear Irene,

Hugh Page explained that this is Phase One. There is more to come. I am sure the sign will be moved as the restoration of Town Beach and Town Beach parking is completed. Be patient — they are doing a phenominal job.

Carole