At the same Town meeting, May 2022 — Select Board member Patrick White explained that Stockbridge had voted for the money to install Zoom equipment in two rooms in Town Offices so all meetings could be recorded. We put our money where our mouths were and made it clear we wanted transparency in all its forms. We invested in Zoom equipment; we fought for public comment; we subscribe to Stockbridge Updates and now we are fighting to post the Zoom meetings. The first issue of SU went to 200 people; today it reaches 87% of Stockbridge. The village has made it clear it wants transparency in all its forms. One writer to SU, who did not want to be identified, shared that his experience on the state and federal levels was consistent: government workers and elected officials don’t like transparency. Okay, but that means we continue to push for transparency.
Here are two examples.
When Chuck Cardillo said in the September 18, 2025, SB meeting, that the limit on spending for the celebration of America’s 250th birthday was $30,000. Let’s forgive an honest mistake.
At the May 2025 Town Meeting, the following expenditures were approved for the 250th celebration including a Revolutionary War monument:
$33,500 from Community Preservation for the monument
$33,500 from the Town matching the CPC grant for the $67,000 necessary for the monument
$25,000 from the Town for the celebration and parade on July 4th
$92,000 is the total amount allocated. Record corrected, moving on.
Maybe Chuck was referring to something else, but we can’t check because the meeting is not posted.
During the same SB meeting, Town Administrator Michael Canales requested $25,000 for a Project Manager for the new fire station. He supported the request saying that if there is a Project Manager “from step one” there would be a smoother transition.
Canales also mentioned that the Finance Committee had approved the expenditure – understandable. In an effort to save taxpayer money, the Finance Committee cut the project manager position out of the budget for the new building at the transfer station. The result was not good. Learning from a mistake, the Finance Committee now favors project managers — good decision — thank you.
What Canales did not explain is how there can be a project manager if there is no approved project. The only vote taken at Town Meeting was for $50,000 to conduct a feasibility study to decide if we should build a new fire station.
At first glance, during a feasibility study, the last person you want on board is the project manager. It is a safe bet that a project manager would find the proposal feasible since his/her future employment is reliant on approval of the project. We have no recording to consult to follow Canales’ reasoning, but thanks to the intrepid Anita Schwerner, we have a written exchange in which Canales explains his position. See Reader to Reader below.
Times are changing. Stockbridge can be a refuge from what is out there. If only we cut each other a break, follow the golden rule, if a mistake is made, assume we are all human. Words like misinformation and disinformation demean and divide. Labeling fact as opinion and opinion as lies silences and discredits our neighbors and friends. Let’s knock it off. We need each other.
SU offers both reporting and opinions — clearly marked. The opinions are those of staff and contributors. The staff and contributors are your friends and neighbors.
Want to check the facts and clarify the opinions? Get the meetings posted to CTSBTV so you can double check. If you have to insist — start insisting — it works and most important — in our form of government — we elect people to represent us. We hire people to follow what we and our elected officials vote for.
Carole Owens
Executive Editor