Editorial

Comity and Kind Words

Ours has become a land of land mines. We might inadvertently say or write something and get our heads snapped off. When did we stop being able to disagree without being disagreeable? Even worse, when did we start accusing one another of wrongdoing? That seems harsh.

It is profoundly sad if we are letting that new-style national politics creep into good old Stockbridge. This village is the very antithesis. It is the site of Norman Rockwell’s idyllic images — the images of what we sometimes were and always aimed to be.

It was a hard week watching folks buffeted by mean words like tall grass in a high wind. Hometown folks being accused and even threatened. But then…

A call came in on a Saturday — the day the snow was gathering and increasing. Some travelers were on the Mass Pike headed to Boston. They came up from the South and were unnerved by the heavy snow. They pulled off the Pike, rolled into Stockbridge, and called me. It was a misdial, but we chatted anyway.

They were lost. I described their location and distances from this and that. Recommended places to sleep over if that was what they wanted to do or to stop for a bite and wait out the storm. I told them how absolutely first-class Stockbridge roadcrews were and what the total accumulation was expected to be. They calmed down and made a plan.

Before she hung up, the caller said, “You are a good ambassador for Stockbridge.” No better compliment possible. The rocky week ended well thanks to an outlander passing through.

Now that was an example of Stockbridge-style name calling. Let’s all call each other a different kind of names — good friend, good neighbor, and hard worker. Let’s characterize only the best in one another, and only threaten to stop in soon and catch up. Welcome to welcoming Stockbridge.

by Carole Owens , Managing Editor

News

Small Business Grants Available

Public Service Announcement (PSA): The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made $75 Million available to support small businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

These funds are administered through two different grant programs the: the New Applicant Grant Program and the Inclusive Grant Program

• $50M is available to small businesses impacted by COVID-19, especially businesses that focus on reaching markets predominantly made up of socially and economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented groups, and those owned by minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, or those that identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
• $25M is restricted to those businesses that have not previously received financial relief from MGCC’s previous relief programs.

The application may be accessed at: empoweringsmallbusiness.org until April 4, 2022.

News

Town Election Tuesday, May 17

Nomination papers are available at the Town Clerk’s office until March 24. Positions on the ballot include Select Board, (1 seat); Board of Assessors, (1 seat); Planning Board (2 seats); Board of Health (2 seats); Parks & Recreation (1 seat), and Sewer & Water (1 seat).

To date, papers have been taken out for:

• Planning Board: Kate Fletcher, Lis Wheeler, and Bill Vogt
• Board of Assessors: Doug Goudey
• Select Board: Roxanne McCaffrey, Jamie Minacci

Stockbridge Updates Candidates Q & A

Stockbridge Updates invites all those running to retain their seats and those challenging them to please send us your answers to the Stockbridge Updates Candidates’ Q & A. In addition, feel free to submit an article or contact Stockbridge Updates for an interview or a video-taped interview.

Stockbridge Updates will publish “Stockbridge Candidates Q & A” and articles as soon as they are received. The Questions are: Why are you running? What is your prime focus if elected? What else would you like to tell voters? All submissions are 400 words or less, attributed, and no ad holmium attacks. To all candidates: thank you for running and good luck.

News

From the Desk of Superintendent Peter Dillon Berkshire Hills Regional School District (BHRSD)

Teacher appreciation week is the first week of May. It cannot come soon enough. While two years of the pandemic have been challenging for all, it’s been particularly hard on teachers. A NPR story today detailed how many teachers are exploring leaving their profession early.

Uncertainty about health and wellness, covering for sick peers, and trying to support students and families in the most challenging times are all taking their toll. While we are anticipating 5 or so retirements, we know many colleagues are exploring a wide range of options.

So, what are we doing so support our teacher colleagues? Well, we trying to make space for them to plan and work together. We’re supporting social-emotional learning and growth. With the help of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, we’re catering lunches on professional development days. We all read James Nestor’s Breath. We’re listening and providing supports where we can.

In the coming months, I hope we can all reach out in person or by email to current and former teachers and thank them for their tenacity and efforts in these uncertain times.

Here are links for faculty at our three schools:

• Muddy Brook
• Du Bois
• Monument Mountain (you need to click on a department and then faculty to see a link to an email address)

My next update will be on the budget process and budget.

News

Events

1. Berkshire Botanical Garden
   • March 3: Exhibition “Close Up and Far away” Gallery reception
   • March 5: Classes
     • Greenhouse and Conservatory Management
     • Growing Giant Pumpkins
     • Ramen from Scratch
     • Grafting for the Home Gardener
   • March 10: Landscape Design II
   • March 12: “Ready Set Grow: Seed Starting”
     • Botanical Wellness
     • Spring Planting for Fall Color
2. Norman Rockwell Museum
   • March 12: The Time We Spend with Words: A Conversation with Bascove & Steven Heller (Bascove will discuss her art, career, and lifelong love of literature with author, art director, and illustration/graphic design historian Steve Heller), 5 – 6:30 pm. Tickets: $10, free for members

News

Notes from the Planning Board (PB), February 15, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Bill Vogt, Chair
• Marie Raftery
• Nancy Socha
• Wayne Slosek
• Gary Pitney

Via Zoom:

• Kate Fletcher
• Carl Sprague
• Patrick White

1. Minutes approved as written
2. Heather (no last name given) and Avie Maloney (new owner of Once Upon A Table) appeared before the PB for a sign permit.
   1. While Fletcher wanted to discuss the permit in detail — whether their sign meets the bylaw, it was determined no permit was necessary.
   2. Slosek said he understood that if a business were “simply changing wording” no reason to come before PB.
   3. White called Town Counsel to ask and reported that since Maloney is using the same sign boards and repainting in order to change the font, a permit is not necessary. The PB only has jurisdiction over the size and placement of signs, never the words on the signs.
3. The discussion turned to the Cottage Era Bylaw. Chair asked should it be eliminated?
   1. It was suggested by Raftery that since there were so few Cottages, and it had never been used, it should be dropped.
   2. Fletcher said she did not know to which properties the bylaw applies
   3. Slosek asked if Sprague, as member of PB and Chair of Historic Preservation Committee, could make a list?
   4. Sprague said it was fundamentally a preservation bylaw. Does it still serve a purpose? Was it ever used?
   5. Someone answered it was used for the Elm Court development.
   6. Slosek said the bylaw allows development to pay for the cost of saving the estates and great lawns. It is a plan for adaptive reuse — the caption of the bylaw says so — why wouldn’t Carl like that?
   7. Sprague said, you are making me think
   8. White said he spoke to an expert who said there were 93 Berkshire Cottages at the height of Gilded Age — not all in Stockbridge
   9. Fletcher said White was talking about Carole Owens and she has a conflict of interest because she sells books and gives talks.
   10. White said “conflict of interest” is a legal term and all should be careful with weaponizing legal terms.
   11. Fletcher responded, “Carole Owens is in the business of writing about the Great Estates.”
   12. Slosek said he will talk to “anyone I feel like” in researching something before PB including experts, those for, and those against the measure. “If I want to inform myself that is not a conflict of interest.” Slosek added that the Cottage Era Bylaw requires special permits that protect the Town and an initial conversation that informs everyone.
   13. Chair said, Select Board Chair Roxanne McCaffrey, to her credit, invited Patrick Sheehan (owner of 37 Interlaken — “DeSisto”) to attend a SB meeting to “start the process”
   14. Fletcher asked “what’s the status”
   15. White said Sheehan expressed no interest 1 1/2 years ago when he spoke to him. White added, when Sheehan is interested, Sheehan should initiate the process
   16. Fletcher said invite him to PB
   17. Chair said let SB go forward first
   18. White cautioned, “there was talk this past week about agents and agentry. We [SB and PB] are the jury and should not be advocates for Sheehan.” He added the owner should initiate. We cannot “advocate or coach.”
   19. Chair said McCaffrey was not advocating just inviting.
   20. White asked, why are we talking about specific properties that are not before us? That could be misconstrued as advocating.
   21. Chair said, we are “trying to make progress on an important property in Town.” Chair felt it was pointless not to discuss that particular property, but he said he will ask Town Counsel
   22. White said any bylaw change if approved by Town Meeting goes to Attorney General and if bylaw change is linked to specific property it could be construed as “spot zoning” and “shot down”.
   23. Slosek said PB should be careful but has to be able to discuss; Chair agreed and used example of earlier discussion of sign permit. Chair iterated he will ask Town Counsel.
   24. Fletcher commented about abutters and a vote that was taken at Town Meeting wherein folks didn’t know what they were voting for/against.
   25. Socha asked for the name of those who said they did not know what they were voting for/against?
   26. Fletcher did not provide names
   27. Chair wanted to set agenda for next meeting
   28. Slosek asked that they focus and not wander from point
   29. Chair wished to have something to present to Town Meeting in May about Cottage Era Bylaw.
   30. Slosek asked if it is necessary to do anything at all.

Meeting adjourned

Editor’s Notes: These notes offer definitions of terms used during meetings. For example —

1. Agentry. Section 17 of the Conflict-of-Interest law, sometimes called the “divided loyalties” clause, forbids “agentry”. Agentry is: acting as an agent for — representing or furthering the interests of — another entity while an employee of a municipality.
2. The Mass Conflict of Interest law applies to employees of Town including those appointed to serve on boards, committees, or commissions whether paid or not. It does not apply to private citizens or those not so employed.
3. Spot zoning occurs when one lot or a small area is singled out for treatment different from, or less onerous than, that imposed upon nearby property.

News

Board of Health Update

From Charles Kenny, MD
Chair, Tri-Town Boards of Health, Stockbridge Board of Health

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has now revised its mask guidance for fully vaccinated persons only. No change has been recommended for unvaccinated persons. DPH now advises that fully vaccinated persons should wear a mask when indoors only if they have a weakened immune system or increased risk from an underlying medical condition, or, at home if a family member is at risk. Such risks should be determined by their health care provider. Masks still are required of everyone in health care facilities.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not yet changed its recommendations: it still recommends that vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear masks indoors in Berkshire County because we still have a high transmission rate.

Tri-Town anticipated the DPH move toward normality, so we already have scheduled a meeting to review the current directive. Until then, the Tri-Town directive advising people about safe behavior remains in place and is not changed by the DPH policy change.

Remember, this past two-week’s Covid statistics indicate not only our continued CDC rating as a high transmission rate zone. The data shows that Berkshire County again has the highest 14-day average daily incidence rate in the state (shared with Franklin County). Delaying consideration of the current directive by a matter of a few weeks will give our Boards the ability to respond to what is actually happening here in the Berkshires, where it counts, rather than to what is happening elsewhere in the state. This is logical, prudent, and appropriate, in my opinion.

Obviously, the disease has put everyone through a great deal of stress, and we all would like to have it behind us. I am pleased to note that the community and institutional leaders in our towns have already taken steps or have plans in place to help seniors, children, parents, teachers, clergy, businesses, employees, first responders, and health-care workers who paid dearly during this crisis. We all need to pitch in to support our communities’ efforts.

I cannot speak for the Boards, but I personally applaud the DPH change in policy, and I hope the Tri-Town Boards will be able to follow suit at the upcoming meeting on March 3rd at 4 pm. I look forward to the coming spring when those who are vaccinated among us can feel liberated from this plague.

by Charles Kenny, MD

News

Notes from the Select Board, February 17, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Roxanne McCaffrey, Chair
• Chuck Cardillo
• Patrick White
• Michael Canales, Town administrator

1. Hugh Page from the Highway Department reported as follows:
   1. Progress on Town Beach driveway and parking lot
   2. Working on repair of equipment
   3. “Chasing potholes”
   4. Acknowledged concern by residents about amount of salt used. There are trucks equipped with computers that monitor salt use and adjust salt usage — there are classes “to learn to do better” and Page hopes we can update trucks
2. Michael Canales Town Administrator reported
   1. Installing pre-fab Talbot Center — slab on grade and take down the other building
   2. Larrywaug costs being reimbursed (of the $1 million — $404,000 bills submitted for $500,000 reimbursement)
   3. Averic Road bridge progressing despite bad weather
   4. Bid and award for treating hemlocks in Ice Glen progressing
   5. Going out for bids now for repair and resurfacing work approved at last Town Meeting — McCaffrey asked if work on Pine Street tennis court should go forward as that spot was suggested for use as a parking lot. Canales said consulting planner was identifying all potential areas for additional parking subject to approval (by whom?) and recommended work be done on tennis court.
3. There will be new requirements for Stockbridge Water and Sewer to meet. Canales said a tough problem
   1. Workers will have to have special training and be licensed
   2. White asked about possibilities of regionalization of services or centralization?
4. White mentioned that Stockbridge gets a lesser appropriation from state because, based on full-time population, Stockbridge has high percentage of second homeowners

Meeting adjourned

News

Notes from the Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Commission (SBSC), February 18, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Jamie Minacci, Chair
• Michael Nathan
• Roxanne McCaffrey
• Gary Kleinerman
• John Liodice
• Charles Kenny via Zoom

1. Minutes of December 3, 2021 meeting approved as written
2. Members of the SBSC represent other committees — there was no report from John Liodice, Water and Sewer
3. Michael Nathan, Stockbridge Bowl Association, reported that Commonwealth would like drawdown limited to 2.9 feet (specific to The Bowl due to depth of pipeline)
4. McCaffrey, SB, Town requested of Community Preservation Committee (CPC) money to complete work at Town Beach
   1. Remove invasives
   2. Move dock from river to lake
5. Gary Kleinerman Harbor Master — nothing new re: boat ramp
6. Charles Kenny, Board of Health, change in masking mandate (see Report from BOH in this issue). Kenny reported that Berkshire County leads the state in incidences of COVID-19.
7. Chair moved to Lake Management Plan
   1. McCaffrey said GZA (consultant) would manage lake, SBSC is just communicating its priorities
   2. McCaffrey wanted actions “for remediation” such as less salt on roads and fewer chemicals on lawns around lake
   3. Kenny recommended three categories:
      • One-time actions such as dredging and herbicide treatment.
      • Ongoing actions such as water testing and harvesting
      • Incidence Response such as response to cyanobacteria bloom
8. Discussion moved to percentage of calcium in lake (quite high) and possible causes. The desire for thermal imaging to discover a cause, for example, underwater streams
9. SBSC members said that Mass Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) does not allow two functions at one time such as dredging and herbicide treatment for invasive species. Many preferred dredging over herbicide. Nathan reported that NHESP wanted unity between SBA and Town.
10. Kenny wanted profile of flora in lake to gauge increases and decreases. He wanted more data collection before planning actions

Meeting adjourned

News

Notes from the Board of Assessors, February 22, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Gary Pitney, Chair
• Doug Goudey
• Tom Stokes
• Michael Blay, Assessor

1. Blay submitted Board of Assessor’s report for Town annual report on time (due 2/22/22)
2. Letter to Canales requesting transfer and release of $20,000 from the Overlay account to cover costs for the required certification
3. In 2014 Verizon New England took Department of Revenue (DOR) to court over valuation method. Verizon won and was issued refunds for the years 2014, 15, 16, 17, and 2018. They are currently working with DOR to agree upon a method to avoid going to court again. DOR typically does the valuation of Verizon New England and Tennessee Gas. We hire consultant to do the others such as National Grid.
4. Blay has been in Stockbridge 27 years and this year has seen the most changes due to the number of real estate sales.
5. Stokes reported on PILOT program (Pay in lieu of taxes) wherein nonprofits pay Town in lieu of taxes. There are 3 committee members (Stokes, Peter Strauss, and Jay Bykofsky). The SB will appoint a fourth member.
6. ABC forms due March 1. Should include use of tax-exempt property to be sure use fits guidelines for tax exempt
7. Chair moved meeting into executive session

Public Meeting adjourned

Editor’s note: 1. Mass ABC tax forms are required of nonprofit organizations. What ABC stands for not provided 2. The overlay account is an account to fund abatements and exemptions of real and personal property taxes

News

Notes from the Conservation Commission (ConCom), February 22, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Ron Brouker, Chair
• Joe DeGiorgis
• Lisa Bozzuto
• Jamie Minacci
• Sally Underwood-Miller, Secretary

1. Minutes approved as written
2. Tom Ingersoll for “The Terrells” with respect to a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) regarding the cutting down of trees in a wetland. Ingersoll thought ConCom determined too much was proposed for removal. In an effort to get some work approved and done this winter, he was proposing:
   1. Scaling back amount to be cut down
   2. Limiting cutting to buckthorn, ash and honeysuckle
   3. To disturb ground less, not grinding/removing stumps
   4. Leaving some trunks where they fell to retain moisture, control erosion
   5. Using no herbicide
   6. Chair agreed it was a much better plan and asked if they would also replant
   7. Ingersoll said they would plant native groundcover
   8. Chair wanted guarantee of plantings
   9. Bozzuto appreciated how Ingersoll was taking care of the land
3. Site visit to 3 Ice Glen Road
4. 8 Hawthorne Road at the NE corner of Stockbridge Bowl — next to White Pines beach
   1. Property represented by an engineer and an attorney (neither gave a name)
   2. Remove existing house and septic replace with larger house and new septic system. In order to do that, cut down 61 trees.
   3. Underwood-Miller said it was tantamount to clear cutting and was concerned about the canopy. If 50% or more of canopy removed, it is of concern
   4. Bozzuto was concerned about erosion — wash into lake if so many trees removed- “roots absorb water” — and about habitat
   5. Underwood-Miller mentioned that it was habitat for nesting eagles. (bald eagles?)
   6. Attorney asserted ConCom could not stop the removal because it was “Not a protected resource area.”
   7. The attorney was relying on Commonwealth Wetland Protection Act. Underwood-Miller and Bozzuto were relying on that and a Town Bylaw that included habitat protection
   8. Lisa said ConCom had a role if there was the “likelihood of adverse impact”. Adverse impact could be on habitat as well as wetland or lake. The attorney seemed to think the Commonwealth Act — which apparently did not mention habitat — took precedence over the Town Bylaw.
   9. Minacci asked about coverage of the lot. It is 1/3 of an acre and a substantial size house is proposed (with a 3700 sq.ft. roof?).
   10. The lot is predominantly ledge so unclear how it would perc, how it could be built on, or how new trees could be planted if trees removed. DeGiorgis said in light of all that, it seemed prudent to poke a stick in the ground and find out how much soil there is.
   11. Engineer said they would “blast the ledge”
   12. ConCom agreed the cumulative effect of all this would have “adverse effect on habitat and lake”
   13. Seemed some agreement to review and amend tree-cutting plan
5. Upcoming business: Certificates of Compliance requested by Hill Engineering seemed to apply to a septic system at 1 Ice Glen; White Pines bridge okayed, and a document had to be signed; 2 Christian Hill Road will be coming before ConCom for RDA — building a pool and pool house
6. Performance Standards: to finish the standards, need an “editable” copy to edit and complete. Underwood-Miller suggested it then be sent to PB for coordination. Marie Raftery, VP PB, present and agreed to that process.

Meeting adjourned

Editor’s note: The Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) determines whether the Wetlands Protection Act applies to a proposed site or activity.

News

Notes from the Cemetery Commission (CC), February 22, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Karen Marshall Chair
• Roxanne McCaffrey
• Patrick White
• Terri Iemolini
• Michael Canales
• Candice Curry via Zoom

1. Minutes approved as written
2. Pat Flinn will be new representative from Laurel Hill Association
3. Canales did not yet meet with Mark Faber, Tree Warden, about tree work in cemetery
4. There are unexpended funds granted by Community Preservation Committee (CPC) in a prior year ($27,773)
5. Chair requested a bylaw change to add a member to CC
   1. White was opposed because CC already has the most members of any commission (9). An additional seat would make an even number and would place the quorum at six. He suggested more flexibility within the current seats, for example, 3 members are Town employees (Town Clerk, Facilities Manager and Highway Dept Superintendent). One could step off and that seat would become another At Large seat. The Town Employee can attend the meetings at Canales’ request (“Town employees work for Michael and if Michael tells them to be there, they will be there”).
   2. Iemolini thought it was a good idea
   3. White asked Chair why she wanted to add a seat
   4. Chair would like to add Peter Williams to the CC
   5. White said currently there is no Facilities Manager so Williams could temporarily take that seat — maximize the present number of seats
   6. Williams said he would attend every meeting anyway
6. Chair moved on — motion to accept the consultant’s report — passed
7. Repairing John Sergeant’s tomb. Currently the headstone is on the ground.
   1. Apply to CPC next year for the funds.
   2. Meanwhile add cleanup ($7400 est.) to current allocation ($300,000 from cemetery Fund) and/or use part of $27,773 CPC prior allocation
   3. Canales recommended CC vote to incorporate cleanup into current scope of work. So moved and passed.
8. Chair moved to Cemetery Fees
   1. Chair wished to double the fees from $250 to $500
   2. White agreed if there was a clause to reduce fees if there was a financial need
   3. Determined not to sell plots as is done in other towns but to remain a Town owned and operated Cemetery
9. Policy for using cemetery for programs
   1. White was opposed to regulating library which has given tours of cemetery (predominately the historic section) for many years
   2. Others felt it should be same policy for all
   3. Agreed to set hours of operation when folks are welcome in cemetery.
   4. Moved cemetery will be open dawn to dusk. Passed

Meeting adjourned

Editor’s note: John Sergeant was the first missionary in Stockbridge “the mission town”, 1734 until his death in 1749.

News

Notes from the Select Board, February 24, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Roxanne McCaffrey, Chair
• Chuck Cardillo
• Patrick White
• Michael Canales, Town Administrator
• 3 via Zoom audience

1. Special Permit Public Hearing: Brett White and attorney Dennis Eagen for 6 Hawthorne Road (Camp Mahkeenac)
   1. Fire destroyed buildings — have to be reconstructed
   2. Need permit because footprint of destroyed building different from footprint of proposed
   3. Department of Environmental protection (DEP) satisfied because demonstrated footprint smaller and therefore reduced impervious area (from 5738 sq ft to 4514 sq ft)
   4. Guidelines of Special Permit: not detrimental to neighborhood, met all setback requirements
   5. Two neighbors spoke in support of Camp as “good neighbor
   6. Permit granted
2. Canales presented “first Look” at budget Operational
   1. General budget up $41,000O — information technology
   2. Public Safety (fire) up $43,600 for additional truck
   3. School Department up $460,000 as number of children in Stockbridge increased
   4. Water and Sewer up $44,000 ($12,000 testing balance staffing)
   5. Human Services down (Counsel on Aging not staffed) Postponed to discuss “direction”. To date no decision made
   6. Culture budget flat but White mentioned Cultural Council would like to augment the $4-5000 awarded by Commonwealth with local contribution of $10,000 for Stockbridge only
   7. Debt service up $34,000
   8. Police Dept would like to add an officer
   9. 8.1% increase for health insurance with a “one month holiday” so cost level but next year if there is no “holiday” cost up 8.1% as increase permanent
   10. White wanted to know if a Conservation Agent is in budget as volunteers cannot follow up and enforce all regulations, for example, required that 75% of trees planted survive first year.
   11. Canales suggested a Conservation Agent be a shared service such as Tri Town Health or the ambulance service
   12. Open positions — Facilities Manager (in budget) Council on Aging (not in budget) and Highway Foreman (in budget) So 2 of 3 in budget but no one hired
3. Continuing — Capital Expenditures — Infrastructure
   1. Good shape overall but facing deferred maintenance costs
   2. Five ways to fund capital exp. Stabilization Fund ($2,398,000)
   3. Free Cash ($2,523,000 due to saving almost $1 million for anticipated COVID-19 costs that never occurred)
   4. Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) ($3,720,000)
   5. ARPA ($564,900 minus $33,00 for TriTown Health = $531,900)
   6. Cemetery Fund ($406,000)
   7. Pay for new Salt Shed and Tuckerman, Averic Bridges
   8. Curtisville Bridge cost dependent on Mass Historic Commission determination re: restoring it in an historicall-correct manner (potentially cost prohibitive)
   9. White brought up that part of budget is the cost of money (interest). Interest has been historically low and now rising so debt service will go up. Discussion ensued about how best to contain interest costs as interest rates rise. Canales: maintain “debt schedule balance” that is as loans are paid off and new debt is incurred, amount of debt remains level. White pointed out with rise in interest rates the same debt costs more money
   10. Cardillo in favor of proactive maintenance and an end to deferred maintenance and therefore calculate costs for example problem on Elm Street
   11. White suggested using money from ARPA for Highway Department (there were thefts from that dept)
   12. Extending Sewer: individuals have requested extending sewer to their properties. Do they go forward funding it themselves since Town has capacity but may not have funds or wait for Town as extending sewer appears to be part of Town’s long-range planning. Followed a discussion about using ARPA funds for Sewer and Water Master Plan
   13. Anticipated costs for new school, and if that rejected, cost of mandatory repairs to extant school.
4. Roxanne read application by Michael Nathan to serve on Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Committee. Did not appoint Nathan — tabled matter until could review what PILOT has accomplished since 2017 and assess going forward. Many nonprofits suffered during COVID-19 — reduced or dropped payment e.g. Kripalu once paid $20,000/year but not since COVID-19.
5. White would like to have an award for a Senior who contributed to Town and perhaps a scholarship for a Stockbridge student — awarded at Town Meeting as Pat Flinn once received. He will look into the mechanics.
6. Roxanne announced a COVID-19 Booster Clinic March 7 — 1:30 pm – 3 pm Town Offices.

Meeting adjourned

News

From our Candidates

Dear Updates,

I recently made the decision to run for Selectboard in the next election. I once vacillated about this and sought out pros & cons from many of my local and not so local friends. In the end it was simple. I love this town and the people, and I want to help make a change. I want us to go back to open communication and decisions made for the people about growth, stability, and the future of Stockbridge.

I have chosen to do civic work for Stockbridge before this, to give back to my community. It helps me pay back the love, care, and support from my children’s teachers, the postmistress, coffee store owners, librarians, the highway department for plowing our streets, our local police. It helps me support our hiking trails at Gould Meadows, our beautiful Stockbridge Bowl, and all the other unique features of our town. My deep commitment to civic engagement in town includes serving on the Conservation Commission, the Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Commission (as Chair), the Stockbridge Democratic Town Committee, and Stockbridge representative of the Great Barrington Transportation committee. I also work full time for the Town of Lenox Public Schools.

There are many things that have caused me restless nights of uncertainty. I do not want to trade our character, natural resources, and heritage for quick profits for a few. We are unique. We need to preserve what is special here. If together we plan ahead, as a transparent, open community, we will make good choices.

Stockbridge is an iconic blend of timeless beauty, culture, and history. Stockbridge is the friends we make and see at the transfer station, sit next to on a committee, or even disagree with at a Town meeting. Stockbridge is the interwoven friendships, the communal sharing of resources — financial, intellectual, and human.

We need to let all our voices be heard, and make sure not just one opinion or one interest is being served. Democratic values are not served from behind closed doors or in hushed voices in a corner.

So, I ask and encourage ALL of you to speak up. Listen to what is important in your heart and mind, about your neighbors and your town. And I will do the same along with you and help us all keep Stockbridge the jewel we hold close to our hearts.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Jamie Minacci

by Jamie Minacci, Select Board Candidate

Perspective

Thank you…

A Special Thank you to our teachers for braving, adjusting, and readjusting to COVID19. Thanks for their ingenuity and commitment to teaching our children through thick and thin.

Good luck and welcome to Avie Maloney — new owner of Once Upon A Table

Good luck and welcome to Steve and Trent Kinney — owners of Mielke Confections on Main Street

The Last Word

Reader to Reader

Dear Carole,

Not sure what the Town Administrator’s point is either. However, in this day and age we do not need apparent intimidation from an “official” to a publication that simply reports facts concerning activities in Stockbridge.

Maybe the town “official” should try just stating his issue.

Jon Gray
Glendale

Dear Jon,

Thank you for sharing your desire for clarification and information.

Best wishes, Carole

Dear Carole,

Thank you for your contribution to openness in town government activities. I know it has been misunderstood by some and reviled by others.

I have been so pleased with the increased exposure our town’s committees have enjoyed as a result of your reporting, as well as because of the employment of technology to let all interested people see what is happening.

I know some members of our government want to go back to the old style, doing things in private, asking people to come to meetings in person if they want to know what’s going on, and they have many arguments in that regard, some of which at first glance have some plausibility.

The arguments are a facade, a distraction from the real goal. In the long run, those who want to run our town outside of the full capability of technology to make the goings on available to the entire public have one thing in common: they don’t want everyone to know what they are doing. Period.

Regular committee and board meetings are very hard for most to make. Over the years, though I tried, my work schedule never let me attend the meetings I wanted to, I never really knew what had happened. Hybrid meetings would have been so interesting for me and would have allowed me to see my government in action. Alas, it took a major epidemic to put things the way they should always be.

An annual town meeting may be different. It is anticipated and advertised well in advance. Summer people can make it here. We all can set aside our busy schedules and come together for that democratic high point of the year.

I hope our Select Board (SB) knows how important that opportunity to see and hear is to many of us who otherwise could not physically make the meeting. I predict that Stockbridge Updates will become even more important and widely read if the SB decides not to have hybrid committee meetings.

Charlie Kenny

Dear Charlie,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Carole

Dear Updates,

Like many of us, I am hoping our Select and Planning Boards, along with other committees, will continue the video recordings of their meetings to support consensus-building and an informed electorate. There may not be many in-person or Zoom attendees at meetings as they happen. But don’t forget that many viewers watch later on TV and via streaming. I believe there are dozens of viewers for both Boards, and a number of repeat viewers hoping to better understand the proceedings.

Why continue the videos? Because people who cannot get to the meetings because of conflicting issues or commitments can still see them later. We have all heard of writing to Congress, a centuries old All-American tradition. You are not required by any law to attend government meetings in person in order to participate, or let your views be known.

It is important for our Boards to be able to control their agendas to get their work done. Board chairs often limit public participation during meetings. At the last in-person 2020 Planning Board meeting before lockdown, a couple of dozen very animated residents attended. Only 2-3 got to speak at the end of the meeting, as I recall.

The videos are also an important addition to meeting minutes, which may be brief or incomplete. I seem to recall a Planning Board meeting where the Chair laid out a list of major priorities for the coming months which never made the minutes. Minutes are not easy to take and their content is loosely regulated. The videos are reference libraries in order to follow-up and clarify the proceedings.

What the state decides is irrelevant unless they prohibit recording entirely. The state will not ban transparency. As a town, we want access to accurate records of our governing Boards. It is not especially expensive, not technically challenging, We can see our government at work for us, we can respond, even if we work the night shift, have young children, are ill, infirm, traveling, caring for a sick family member. It is not the state’s call. It’s ours. And it’s important.

Bruce Blair

Dear Updates,

What’s going on? Maybe it’s the full moon. Conflict of interest? Seriously? Don’t we still have freedom of speech and freedom of the press? Can town employees write letters or articles on their own time?

Isn’t it part of their job to share relevant information with the town? I really appreciated reading safety tips and details about a criminal incident in town “From the Desk of Police Chief Darrell Fennelly”. I would like to know what’s going on.

More on transparency: continuing to have a remote component for all public meetings.

On Feb. 12, Governor Baker signed legislation into law that extends the remote option for public bodies from April to July 15. The legislation also allows select boards, in consultation with their town moderator, to lower the quorum requirement for open meetings.

Next step: The Stockbridge Democratic Town Committee will request an agenda item for the Select Board to discuss and vote on the continuation of hybrid meetings with lower quorum requirement, as permitted by law and to continue remote meetings permanently.

For more information on the state legislation: https://www.mma.org/gov-baker-signs-covid-bill-with-public-meeting-provisions/

Anita Schwerner