Editorial

A History Lesson

The original Great Estate Bylaw focused on the Stockbridge trio — preservation of low density, open space, and our history, that is, saving the great houses built in America’s Gilded Age (Berkshire Cottages).

The second bylaw, called the Cottage Era Estate Adaptive Reuse or Rehabilitation Bylaw, had a similar focus and was approved at the 2002 Town Meeting. It promoted restoration of Elm Court with 18 guest rooms and a center for social functions, and a restaurant in the restored carriage barn.

In 2012, Travaasa Destinations, poised to purchase Elm Court, proposed a leisure resort and hotel with 90 rooms — 15 in Elm Court and 75 in a 3-4 story new build. They needed an exception from the 35 ft. height limit, allowing a new building of 46-56 feet. The focus had shifted from preservation to development.

Steve Shatz told Travaasa they had two choices: seek a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals or write a new bylaw. Shatz added, “It would be helpful to know what types of things need to be altered or changed in order to get this project done.”

In May 2013, the new bylaw, alternatively called the Cottage Era Estate Bylaw and the Resort Bylaw, passed at Town Meeting. The result of this congenial, supportive process? Nothing. Travaasa never put a shovel in the ground. Eight years later, the property is for sale.

In 2009, Patrick Sheehan purchased the 300+ acre Beckwithshire estate, “a one family dwelling built during the Gilded Age.” (The former Desisto School)

In 2016, Sheehan announced his plan to develop the property. The Bylaw passed in 2013 was inadequate to his needs. In 2017, Sheehan proposed a new bylaw that allowed substantially more density. It also proposed a significant departure from standard practice by removing the special permitting authority from the Select Board and giving it to the Planning Board. It was sharply focused on development and not preservation or low-density development.

At Town Meeting, the proposed bylaw was voted down by a significant margin. The reasons were clear: a majority of Stockbridge residents did not approve of the density proposed, and possibly were offended by a developer suggesting a Town Zoning Bylaw.

The process in 2017 was not as congenial or cooperative as in 2013 and did not result in a bylaw change; nonetheless, the result was identical. Town Board behavior did not affect the outcome — in both cases — nothing happened.

Carole Owens, Managing Editor

For more lessons from history, see Town Square and join the conversation.

“Sufragettes” singing at Laurel Hill day. The same clip contains the testimonials from a number of Stockbridge women. Photo: Patrick White

News

Covid Related

Massachusetts is tightening restrictions. Vaccinations are now required for state employees, and mask requirements are reinstated indoors.

According to the Berkshire Eagle: the total number of Covid cases in Berkshire County YTD is 302. Last week there were 19 new cases, 9 hospitalizations, and no deaths.

In tightening restrictions, the Commonwealth’s goal is to stay ahead of Covid and its variants.

News

Events

1. Nina Simone: Four Women, Unicorn Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Group, to September 5.
2. Music Mondays, Berkshire Botanical Garden, 5:30 – 7:30pm, 5 W Stockbridge Rd.
3. Naumkeag September 3, 5:30 – 8:30pm, “Date Night”; September 12, 3-4pm, “Drag Hatters Tea Party” (Family Edition)

News

Notes from the Planning Board (PB), August 17, Hybrid Meeting

Present:

• Bill Vogt, Chair
• Marie Rafferty, Vice Chair
• Wayne Slosek
• Gary Pitney
• Nancy Socha
• Carl Sprague via Zoom
• Kate Fletcher via Zoom

Also present: Jennifer Carmichael, secretary and Doug Goudy for Wheeler and Taylor (W/T), Patrick White, Carole Owens

1. Minutes of August 3 approved as amended.
2. 10 Elm Street sign — Goudy requested clarification of sign bylaw. W/T moved from Main Street to Elm Street and will need new signs. Final conclusion: a total of 30 square feet of signage is allowed. W/T may divide the total between a 4 square foot sign on a post and two signs not to exceed 26 square feet affixed to the building. Goudy will return with a final plan and formal request.
3. Al Thorne for Tim Minkler, Old Tree Farm Road, requested that PB acknowledge it does NOT have to approve the swap between Minkler and his neighbor of two small parcels of land without frontage. The purpose of the swap is to create a contiguous strip for new driveway. Motion approved.
4. Discussion of site visits to Shutesbury and Wendell, MA. Strong suggestion from Patrick White to look at multiple sites in Stockbridge as well as or instead of site visits out of town. Sprague made the same suggestion at last PB meeting.
5. Local sites suggested were Stone Hill, White Pines, and a development near Suburban Medical on Stockbridge Road.
6. Chair mentioned he would like consultant Jeff Lacy to look at some of these sites
7. Slosek made point that they can go to distant sites and observe what was done but would not know what was there before. Sprague mentioned that with local sites we would be able to.
8. Slosek said there was ample “open space” at Stone Hill, but Vogt and Rafferty argued that was not public land. Slosek said that it cannot be built on, therefore, is it preserved/open space? He requested a definition of open space.
9. Chair asked PB to discuss any unresolved issues in Draft Six of NHRPZ. As in the last issue, SU encourages all to watch the tape of these discussions at CTSB (on air or online). The discussion is at the end of the meeting and presents the range of opinions better than a print summary.

Editors Notes: (a) The request of the Chair that an amendment to minutes be in writing is unique to the PB. Is it requisite? (b) Does the Chair’s proposed invitation to Lacy mean that the consultant did not visit Stockbridge development sites or did not visit Stockbridge at all before suggesting NHRPZ? (c) Slosek’s question is key to understanding NHRPZ. It does not appear from the renderings that the “open space” created is accessible to the public; is it?

News

Notes from Stockbridge Select Board, August 19, Zoom Meeting

Submitted by Meryl Phair

Present:

1. Roxanne McCaffrey, Chair
2. Patrick White
3. Chuck Cardillo

Also present: Michael Canales (Town Administrator), Chris Marsden (Facilities Management), Police Chief Darrell Fennelly, Hugh Page (Highway Dept), Michael Buffoni (Water Dept), Tony Campetti (Sewer Dept)

1. Report from Chris Marsden, Facilities Management:
   1. Keeping up with routine maintenance around town.
   2. Regarding streetlights and light bulbs, a note that lights have been fixed on the South Street Bridge.
   3. Replacement bulbs coming for the cemetery fence along with eight replacement posts.
   4. Planning for next year is underway and are looking for available funding sources for the fence/gate at the water and sewer plant along with planning for electrical work.
2. The SB unanimously approved the August 5, 2021 meeting Minutes.
3. Police Chief Fennelly requested approval for a conditional offer of employment to promote reserve officer Chad Heath to full-time status. Fennelly provided some background information that necessitated the promotion.
   1. Officer Michael Bourisk is leaving the Stockbridge Police Department at the end of the month.
   2. Officer Heath is a reserve officer for both SPD and Becket. With the new police reform bill, as of July 1st all police officers in MA have become full-time and the status of reserve officer is no longer recognized by the state. In response to this, a “bridge academy” is being developed which enables reserve officers who have been trained at a reserve academy to bring their training up to the requirements of full-time. The offer of employment is contingent on Officer Heath completing the requirements of the “bridge program”.
   3. The Town has funding for Officer Heath to attend the program.
   4. The board unanimously approved the conditional offer of employment of Officer Heath to full-time. Officer Bourisk’s last day will be August 27th and Chad’s first day will be August 28th.
4. Highway updates from Hugh Page.
   1. Cleanup continues on the highway garage.
   2. The department is moving forward with cleanup, mowing and roadside maintenance.
   3. Preparing and planning for next year. This year they have been at a disadvantage in terms of summer cleanup help and overall employment.
   4. Every five years National Grid does cuttings around electrical wires, so they have been out doing these types of maintenance projects.
   5. Canales and Page are scheduled to meet with MassDOT about paving projects and will discuss updates at the next SB meeting.
5. Michael Buffoni, Water Department, reported
   1. The Curtisville Utility Bridge project has been closed out and if there are extra funds they will use them for security purposes.
   2. The Tuckerman Bridge project is waiting for Foresight Land Services to send back a signed copy of the contract, same with the contract for the pump station.
   3. Quiet Knoll water tank had its first full inspection which is done every five years and it went well.
   4. Rolling along with sampling of Stockbridge Bowl in partnership with GZA. Compared to last year water is more turbid, stratification is up, and seeing a difference in water supply.
6. Tony Campetti, Sewer Department, reported
   1. Huge amounts of rainwater this summer creating a lot of work
   2. Work on sewer in downtown Stockbridge as drainage was undersized and needed updating.
   3. Wanted to recognize Mark Viola and the efforts of others who worked throughout July when Campetti was away.
7. Canales reported
   1. The completion date for the Larrywaug Bridge was originally October 30th but due to weather they lost three weeks because of high-water levels and the contract has been extended out to November 19th. They may have to come back in the spring to do a handful of small punch list items, but the bridge will be operational on November 19th.
   2. Deconstruction of the Averic Road Bridge will begin in September, construction of the new bridge will happen in October, and it should be operational by November.
   3. Garage project complete.
   4. There was a question by Stockbridge Resident Peter Ungaro about the Talbot Center and if it will cost the Town money. Canales said that in the next couple of months they will be making decisions about the Talbot Center, costs, etc. and will have more information soon regarding the structure.
   5. All ash trees in Ice Glen have been treated. The bids are out for the hemlock trees and are due back on August 25th.
   6. The cemetery study is out to vendors and Canales is waiting for a response back.
   7. Chime Tower project: Canales recommends that construction begin next fall. The project could be accelerated to begin next spring into summer but that would mean construction would be happening during tourist season. If construction begins after Columbus Day next year it can be done by Memorial Day; all the work can get done in the off season. Following discussion, SB agreed to the proposed timeline.
   8. The Town is contracting with Foresight to get an evaluation on Tuckerman Bridge and should have that information soon for the Select Board.
   9. The pump station project is moving along.
8. BSO requested an extension on entertainment licenses for September 5th, October 11th and October 18th to 1am while September 19th is set at midnight. Kyle Ronayne was present on Zoom as a representative for the BSO events.
   1. The Select Board took comments from the public which included statements about the sound level and traffic from Tanglewood weddings not being much of an issue, seeing no difference between 12am and 1am, 12am being a reasonable time for ending the event as that has been the limit in the past.
   2. Ronayne confirmed that the Linde Center, where the events are to be held, is indoors and soundproof.
   3. McCaffrey pointed out that as a venue in a residential district, the precedent must stay consistent. In the past they have limited events to 12am.
   4. The board unanimously approved keeping the entertainment license to 12am.

Meeting adjourned.

by Meryl Phair

News

Notes From the Stockbridge Stewardship Commission, August 20, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Jamie Minacci, Chair
• Roxanne McCaffrey
• Michal Nathan
• Gary Kleinerman
• John Loiodice
• Charles Kenny via Zoom

Also present: Tammy Touponce, Secretary; Anita Schwerner and Steve Knopf via Zoom

1. The harvester is in the lake. Reportedly, people cheered as it passed!
2. Kleinerman reported Boat Ramp will remain open until October 11.
3. Kenny asked if any report on drainage into lake (No) Kenny asked that run off into lake and lake temperature be monitored.
4. Knopf (Chair, Parks and Recreation Commission) reported that the plan for the parking lot at Town Beach is complete. It will provide tiered parking with drainage between tiers. Work will (hopefully) begin in October. Knopf went on to report that the majority of complaints concern weeds in the swimming area and goose droppings. Can swimming area be weed harvested?
5. Schwerner had several questions about size of the swimming area. (Knopf said it is a balance between lifeguards available, room to launch kayaks stored at Town Beach, and size of swimming area). Will floating docks be put back in lake? (Yes-when enough lifeguards available to monitor). Will there be enough beach to pull kayaks onto shore for folks who kayak over to swim? (This opened a discussion about another engineering study of beach area.)
6. Kenny reported on water testing results and compared them to last year. This relates to the Cyanobacteria Blooms that can pose a danger and cause the Bowl to be closed. The “biomass” is larger this year and the lake is vulnerable; however, the type of cyanobacteria in the lake this year tends to bloom later. Possible it will affect the Josh Billings Run Aground as it did before — need to wait and watch.
7. Kenny also mentioned the “mixing”. Optimum is when there is warm water on top and cold at bottom and a good definition between the two. That definition in temperature prevents mixing. However, the definition is not as good this year. Need to retest and watch.
8. Someone via Zoom (unseen and name not stated) mentioned that there was a yellow sea plane that landed on lake several times and asked if that can be controlled? No answer. He also mentioned that moving kayaks from one lake to another spreads the Zebra Mussells.
9. Loiodice mentioned that the Lake Drive residents were concerned that there may not be sufficient capacity in Town sewer for all of them to be added, but Loiodice said there was sufficient capacity.

Meeting adjourned.

News

Notes from the Zoning Board of Appeals, August 24, Meeting In-Person Only

Public Hearing on the notice filed by Lawrence Lutner & Karen Levy Lutner, represented by Attorney Nick Arienti, requesting to appeal the Notice of Violation from the Building Inspector with regard to property at 90 East Main Street. Also requesting a variance from the Zoning Bylaw 6.18 section C which requires a fence of a certain height (4 feet). Matter continued.

Opinion

Town Square

Stockbridge Updates starts the conversation:

It seems as if there are at least three lessons from history.

1. It is not the job of Town Boards to worry about how a developer will make money or to plan its project. It is the job of Town Boards to represent and uphold the Town’s interests. A development is the result of the negotiation between Town and developer. Each representing its own interests and finding a compromise.
2. Moreover, when Town Boards try, it doesn’t work. Shatz asked what Travaasa needed “to get this done” and presumably did it. The result was the same when later Town reps opposed the Desisto project.
3. There is an order to the process: the developer brings a plan to the Town and then, when it is before them, the Town Board considers it. It is painful to watch the wasted taxpayer dollars and human effort as the PB tries, in advance of a developer presenting a plan, to shape development.

Join in. What’s your take?

Perspective

Stockbridge Dig

Searching Solomon Uhhaunnuhwaunnuhmut’s home lot in Ice Glen for evidence of the 1783 Ox Roast given to the Stockbridge Mohicans by George Washington for their service in the Revolutionary War was an effort made possible by a Town of Stockbridge Community Preservation Grant. Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Historic Preservation Manager Bonney Hartley, Tribal archaeologist Nathan Allison and Ann Morton, an archaeologist with Morton Archaeological Research Services, along with a cadre of Williams College student volunteers as well as a number of local volunteers, spent the week of August 9th exploring possible sites of both Solomon’s home and the ox roast.

An earlier electronic search with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and magnetometer revealed sixteen anomalies over several acres that that were determined to be worth further exploration so that during the week of August 9th three teams began the delicate task of removing layers of soil. Three sites produced evidence of past indigenous presence.

At one site the team found two living floors, one above the other as well as the presence of charcoal, which will be tested for possible carbon dating. Morton suggested the site was possibly pre-contact, i. e. prior to the European colonialization.

Close to that site another team found a number of artifacts which included a stone that showed signs of human use as it was smooth on both sides and may have been a cooking tool, as well as a stone flake, and a food bone.

A third site was beginning to reveal evidence of what may have been a hearth or other structure, but the archaeology has reached the limits of the Community Preservation Grant and that site was filled back in with the hope that a future archaeology project would return.

Over time local historians have suggested the Berkshires were seasonal hunting grounds and as such any home sites were temporary. The Ice Glen site and the living floor at the Town Square on Main Street has provided evidence to suggest that the Mohicans had taken up permanent residence in the Berkshires which they maintained over an extended period of time.

A word of caution. The archaeology gathered a great deal of evidence that needs to be tested and interpreted, some in consultation with other experts. It may be several months before there is a final report, at which time some first conclusions may be refined.

by Rick Wilcox

The Last Word

Reader to Reader: We Got Mail

Dear Carole,

Thank you so much for the perfect timing on this [the SU reminder to attend Laurel Hill Day]. I hope you enjoyed the program, and I owe you a story!

Xo

Hilary [Deely is President of the Laurel Hill Association]

Dear Hilary and all the readers who wrote to thank SU,

As always, SU is happy to help.

Carole

Hi Carole,

In case this is something you would be willing to include in Stockbridge Updates, I wanted you to know that the vending machines at Town Hall are stocked by Riverbrook with the proceeds supporting jobs for residents. The vending machines were dormant during the quarantine, but we expect they’ll be fully stocked and ready for service by Wednesday. The public is welcome to use the machines which offer snacks and beverages.

Sarah Gregory DelSignor
Marketing & Development Manager
Riverbrook Residence, Inc.

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for always keeping SU in the loop (the vending machines are now stocked).

Carole

Dear Carole,

I do not feel the report of the Planning Board hybrid meeting of August 3, is a fair summary of our meeting. Mr. Blair’s letter was not discussed. This should not have been printed as part of the meeting. Most of the questions and points brought up in the letter have already been addressed in previous meetings. If SU wanted to print that letter, it could have been entered as a letter from Mr. Blair, a citizen, in another section of the SU, not as part of the Planning Board meeting.

Readers, go to the recording of the meeting on CTSB to hear the meeting yourselves or go to the Town Website for the real minutes of the meeting. I am a member of the Planning Board, but I am writing this as a concerned citizen of Stockbridge. I am not representing the Planning Board here.

Reporting the meetings of town boards is a service to all, provided they are accurate and unbiased.

Marie Raftery, Citizen

Dear Marie,

Thank you for your letter. If you read the last issue, you will note, it said, “The meeting is available on CTSB and is worth listening to. A summary does not do the members justice.”

When you ask SU readers to go to CTSB, we are in agreement.

With respect to Bruce Blair’s letter, we disagree. It is SU‘s job to inform our residents without bias. SU equally includes what you write and what Bruce Blair wrote. To inform without bias is also the job of our elected officials. When a resident takes the time to study an issue, write a letter, and submit it to a Town Board, it is polite and proper for that Board to read it into the record and respond.

Sadly, this is one of many times Planning Board (PB) has omitted to do so. PB Chair, former Vice Chair and now current Vice Chair repeatedly publicly state that they do not have to read into to record or respond to communications from voters or even from other PB members. To omit or block expression of opinions that do not agree with yours is the definition of bias. To serve the people as their representatives — just that, no less, and no more — is your job.

Thank you for sharing your opinion as a private citizen,

Carole

Dear Carole,

I’ve heard a few people remark that Stockbridge Updates is biased. At first, I did not believe them, since I noticed their tone smacked of sour grapes.

I gave it more thought, and I do believe, after all, that Updates is biased…

toward fairness, which takes a lot of courage;

toward giving accurate information when it would be far easier to repeat misinformation; toward covering all the details, not a select few, and

toward giving voice to everyone in Town, not just those who speak the loudest.

People all over town love Updates.

Thank you Updates!

Charlie Kenny

Dear Charlie,

Thank you for your support and your contribution to Stockbridge. Both are appreciated.

SU is a public service with a simple purpose: to inform the voters. With our contributors, letter writers, editors, the SU Editorial Board, and supporters like you, SU will keep on keeping on.

Carole

Analysis

Notes from Stockbridge Board of Health, August 16, Zoom Meeting

submitted by Meryl Phair

Present:

• Charles Kenny, Chair
• Henry Schwerner
• Rae Williams

Also present: Jim Wilusz (Tri-Town Health), Michael Canales (Town Administrator), Adam Mazzantini (Foresight Land Services) Bill Loutrel and Tom Fynan (Stockbridge Residents)

1. Unanimous approval of the June 3rd meeting minutes.
2. Election of officers.
   1. Charles Kenny suggested, following the announcement of the newly elected officers, that the current officers continue in their positions until the end of the meeting. This procedural suggestion was approved by all board members.
   2. Kenny opened the floor to nominations for the position of chair of the Stockbridge BOH. Kenny was nominated and unanimously approved.
   3. Schwerner was nominated and unanimously approved as secretary of the BOH.
3. Public hearing
   1. A variance was requested by Foresight Land Services for a well site at 20 Mahkeenac Shores Road. The BOH is required to conduct a public hearing for all variance requests as it may affect the abutters (owners of adjoining property).
   2. Adam Mazzantini, an engineer from Foresight, presented a detailed construction plan and explained the reasoning behind the variance request as follows: The applicant is looking for year-round water supply as opposed to the current seasonal supply, other properties in the area have had similar variance requests approved, and the specified location would be easy access for maintenance.
   3. The variance request is comprised of four parts:
      1. Property Line Variance: Regulation requires construction of the well 30 ft. from property line and the applicant has requested 4 ft.
      2. Public Way Variance: Regulation requires construction of the well 25 ft. from any public way and the applicant requests 12 ft.
      3. Driveway Variance: Regulation requires construction of the well 25 ft. from a driveway and the applicant requests 3 ft.
      4. Underground Variance: Regulation requires construction of the well 200 ft. from any underground storage tank and the applicant has requested 31 ft.
   4. Abutters Loutrel and Fynan were present and asked a few clarification questions but did not oppose variance.
      1. Discussion on the road, as it is private not town-owned; notification to the abutters of the variance request.
      2. Better slurry pit detail.
      3. Better detail on protecting the well head in the driveway.
      4. Information on where the abutters’ underground storage tanks are.
   5. BOH continued hearing and deferred vote until receipt of the additional information was made available; hearing on Monday, August 30, 10am, via Zoom.
4. Stockbridge Bowl monitoring updates. Kenny received a report about the cyanobacteria in the lake compared to levels tested last year and explained the contents of the report to the board. In response to this report the Town has stepped up testing based on various developments regarding the lake cyanobacteria bloom, water layers, etc.
5. The meeting moved to age-friendly updates.
   1. Williams suggested having a designated area for disabled and elderly to drop off trash and recycling at the transfer station.
   2. Canales will coordinate with Kenny to see what options are available and which funding sources could potentially be used.
   3. Wilusz requested to set up a meeting with BRPC to further discuss potential age friendly projects in Stockbridge and receive access to any relevant information they may have.
   4. Wilusz and Williams will put together a request on behalf of the BOH to BRPC to ask for available information regarding Age Friendly Berkshires work. This request will be discussed at the next BOH meeting.
6. Wilusz then gave an update regarding Tri-Town Health.
   1. The Southern Berkshire public health collaborative is going well.
   2. Tri-Town Health has been meeting with school districts to discuss COVID-19 response and have been giving schools their recommendations which included masking inside (at least for a period of time) in response to the delta variant surge.
   3. Some schools and municipal buildings in the county have started issuing mask mandates regardless of vaccination status such as Berkshire Hills and Greylock.
   4. Health professions are tracking cases reported in the area.
   5. Each town is discussing with Tri-Town Health whether they will put forth masking advisories.
   6. Kenny suggested getting Tri-Town Health together to approve a Tri-Town mask advisory. Wilusz will see if it can be scheduled for the last week of August and it will go on the agenda for the next meeting.

by Meryl Phair