Town Manager Michael Canales reported on the Children’s Chime Tower:
The mechanism for playing the music is fully repaired. Now the music can play “from apple blossom to frost on the pumpkin” as David Dudley Field envisioned when he donated the Tower.
The 170-year-old clock works are broken. Canales asked SB if he should pursue repairing the clock — an historic restoration – or replace the clock works with a modern electrical system that will allow the Town to program which hours the clock should strike.
Jamie Minacci and Chuck Cardillo did not support the clock striking the hours 24/7. Minacci suggested it only ring the hours between 8am and 5pm. The second option — a modern programable system – was approved. It may not have to go before Town Meeting if the money can be found in current budget.
There was opposition from abutters to the music playing every day 5-5:30pm, from “apple blossom to apple drop” that is Memorial Day to Labor Day as originally envisioned.
Since it is the Children’s Chime Tower, Minacci suggested the music be played on Saturday afternoon when the children are out of school. Bruce Blair reminded her that school is out every day during the summer. One attendee said perhaps the volume of the music can be turned down. Another remembered playing the chimes as a child and the thrill it was. Berkshire County conductor and music educator, Dr. Andrea Goodman, who will serve as the Stockbridge Children’s Chimes Coordinator, will meet with abutters and address their concerns.
Canales suggested that Tree Warden and Town Clerk be changed from elected to appointed positions: vote delayed until next meeting.
SB member Patrick White requested they discuss the budget. One item in the budget was discussed- Other Post Employment benefits (OPEB). OPEB is money set aside (by law) to fund a municipality’s obligations (see Editor’s note). There is $3.8 million in the fund now put aside by Stockbridge. The interest was $300,000 last year. Any Mass municipality, including Stockbridge, is permitted by law to draw once its OPEB obligation is over 80% funded. $3.8million is over 80%.
White wanted to discuss the budget with an eye to reducing tax rate — “every $90,000 reduces rate 1%” White asked if the SB should draw from OPEB in order to meet an employee benefit obligation and thereby reduce the tax rate and save the taxpayers money? The money paid in was all taxpayer money.
Cardillo and Minacci were opposed. Cardillo felt SB should wait for the joint meeting and do what the Finance Committee instructs. Minacci suggested waiting until it is 100% funded and then using the interest “to fix bridges” and meet other town obligations.
White also asked if SB could vote to reduce the Reserve Fund from $150,000 to $100,000 and save 1/2 point on tax rate in that way. He said every $90,000 saved, saves a point on the tax rate. Adding Stockbridge had never used the entire $150,000 in one year. Minacci said it was “okay the way it was.”
Editor’s note: According to Mass.gov, “The OPEB fund is a trust fund, that is managed by a trustee or board of trustees. The assets of the trust are held solely to meet the current and future liabilities of the governmental unit for group health insurance benefits for retirees and their dependents.” The OPEB Fund is not like “free cash” or a municipal savings account or reserve fund. Once a municipality deposits in the OPEB fund, it cannot access it or use it except as indicated by law.
According to Mass Association of Finance Committees, “A local Finance Committee, by tradition and statute, is a select group of citizens that advise each Town Meeting on the probity, practicality, and value of matters before the Meeting.” Because it is a committee of Town Meeting, not the SB, that is why traditionally, the Town Moderator appoints the members.
