Good morning Carole,
What started as an idea for Yale Hill has snowballed into trying to get lower speed limits for the whole town. How many people would like to see a 25 mph speed limit and how do we go about getting it done? Those are my questions for Stockbridge Updates. Could SU get the discussion going?
Here is some information from MA DOT: “Speed limits in thickly settled or business districts have the option to opt-in to MGL c. 90 § 17C, reducing the statutory speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph. MGL c. 90 § 17C defines a thickly settled or business district as “the territory contiguous to any way which is built up with structures devoted to business, or the territory contiguous to any way where dwelling houses are situated at such distances as will average less than two hundred feet between them for a distance of a quarter of a mile or over.”
MassDOT recommends that if a municipality opts-in to MGL c. 90 § 17C, that it does so on a city- or town-wide basis to avoid potential confusion for drivers. However, cities and towns do have the option to opt-in on a street-by-street basis. Once a municipality has opted-in to MGL c. 90 § 17C, it is required to notify MassDOT.
Thanks
Tom Farley
Dear Tom,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and I hope it generates discussion in the Town Square.
Carole
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Dear Carole,
At the last Stockbridge annual town meeting, we had a substitute moderator. The town may need another one in the future. What qualities should we look for in an ideal moderator?
Knowledge of proper procedure is a must. Town Meeting Time has been the standard. Fairness and impartiality are equally important. In overseeing the meeting, a moderator must not only be fair and impartial, but the audience must clearly sense that one person’s views are just as important as the next’s. Shy would-be speakers are easily discouraged if the moderator exhibits a discouraging look or tone of voice. A moderator must accommodate and not disparage those who say they could not hear something, through no fault of their own.
Of course, the moderator will have opinions, but these should be hidden. The moderator must not appear more encouraging to those who share those opinions, nor dismissive of those who wish to express the contrary. The moderator must be and appear to be neutral.
A long town meeting makes these duties more difficult, but the town meeting, even a long and tedious town meeting, belongs to the town, to all the men and women who live in the town. The town meeting does not belong to the moderator. The moderator must not forget that.
Teresa O’Brient
Anne Rabinowitz
Nina F. Ryan
Anita Schwerner
Julie Edmonds
Susie Hirshfield
Barbara Kenny
Dear All,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and I hope it generates discussion in the Town Square. The tenor of Town Meeting is as important as the content.
Carole Owens
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Hi Carole,
No problem. The gate will be installed on the new driveway at the water and wastewater treatment plants on Rt. 102.
Correction: Donnie Schneyer is the chair of water/sewer; you have Clint Schneyer in the article.
Thanks so much,
Michael P. Buffoni
Town of Stockbridge Water & Sewer Works
Dear Michael,
The Averic Road reference was a question (Averic?). Unfortunately, the query was left in the text rather than the correct information being acquired and inserted. Thank you for supplying it and pleased it was “no problem.”
Carole Owens
