Editorial

Editorial: Freedom of Speech vs. Civility

Recently the Commonwealth sent a notice to all municipalities. It informed town officials that in a public meeting, speakers must be allowed to speak even if they are rude. Officially, freedom of speech trumps civility. 

Maybe that’s right. Maybe we can shout and call people names by right. I don’t know the answer, but I bet collectively we could find it. Find what Mary Flynn called the Stockbridge way – the reconciliation between rights and responsibilities — between the welfare of the individual and the group.

One chairperson tried. He read the notice and added he hoped all would be civil. Another said, “it says you have the right to speak, but nowhere does it say I have to listen. I’ll tune back in when people stop shouting.” Both comments comported with the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision which allowed rudeness but also said: “civility should be encouraged.”

The decision does not eliminate other limits: speech is limited to being about an item on the agenda and being brief. If anyone goes on too long or speaks about something extraneous, the Chair has the right and responsibility to cut them off. Who speaks and for how long is in the hands of the Chair absolutely without debate.

If we worked together and fashioned our way — the Stockbridge way — what would we include and exclude from a meeting? What would we decide is good and what is unhelpful?

Perhaps we would start with the intention of public meeting to come together in goodwill, define, and solve our collective problems. While we all have individual concerns and vexations, the public meeting is probably not the place for personal grievances. Instead, it seems like the place for a generous attitude and cooler approach to our common needs — of Stockbridge itself. 

We might agree the “gotcha” and the “gimme” are not helpful. We might concede the clever one-liner is not helpful in the face of complex issues. The catch phrase is fun but never caught more than momentary attention. It doesn’t catch the answer to real problems. We might want to leave anything that stifles debate at the door because you never know whose two cents will move us forward. All that characterization of others’ motives — that’s no good, just makes everyone uncomfortable. Redefining an issue as having two irreconcilable sides won’t help unless the goal is division and stagnation. 

Ahead, we have serious business to conduct; behind, Stockbridge has almost 300 years of doing it well. We built a place that others want to come. Someone sneered and told me there is no Stockbridge exceptionalism. I disagree, but okay, if not, together, let’s start now.

by Carole Owens , Managing Editor

News

Notes from the Water and Sewer Commission, March 6, Hybrid meeting

Present: 

• Don Schneyer, Chair
• John Loiodice
• Peter Socha
• Tony Campetti, Sewer Superintendent 

1. Approved February minutes as written.
2. Budgets=
   1. Water budget reported next meeting, Michael Buffoni not present.
   2. Sewer budget presented by Tony Campetti — only a $8250 increase over last year.
   3. An Emergency Maintenance repair account set aside and not used unless an emergency arises and without a further approval from the Commission (and Select Board?)
   4. Loiodice said he was surprised cost of gas and diesel went down. Campetti explained the budget for gas and diesel was boosted up last year in anticipation of a rise in prices that were not as high as anticipated.
   5. Town intends to pay for special articles by using up the surplus in the Water and Sewer accounts. Going forward, these may include stage 4 of the Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) study and the study to determine expansion of sewer. 
   6. The Chair wished to explain there is a new way of paying for things that will not raise water or sewer rates. It should be explained at Town Meeting — either Patrick White or Schneyer will do it.
   7. Other initiatives paid out of surplus may include preparing for a sewer expansion. Consultants divided the Town into six sections. All locations of all hydrants and pump stations were mapped. 
   8. Three wastewater pumps were repaired. Town has a fourth pump and therefore, as maintenance is done, the Town will never be without a pump.
   9. I&I stage three is complete (that is the camera inspection of the entire line. Analysis report of the line submitted, and Stockbridge is in good standing with Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
   10. To repair pipe at Glendale fire station must dig up road — waiting to do that. Know what the problem is but must dig for solution.
   11. At Beachwood, have to clean manholes and check sewer line — a lot of sewer — will be very expensive.
   12. Determine if sewer line on Rte. 183 (formerly belonging to Dawn Farley) is in private hands or actually belongs to Town. If transferred to Town, must be on the Warrant to be accepted at Town Meeting.

Meeting adjourned

News

Notes from the Select Board Meeting (SB), March 23, Hybrid meeting

Present: 

• Patrick White, Chair
• Jamie Minacci
• Chuck Cardillo
• Michael Canales
• Attendees via Zoom identified if they speak

1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Special permit for 104 Interlaken — approved (see PB notes for details).
3. MA Supreme Court ruled folks can speak in public meetings even if rude — Chair read the decision and hoped all would be civil anyway (this does not negate Chair’s other rights and responsibilities)
4. Seasonal Alcohol license for Naumkeag approved.
5. Chair recused himself as an abutter on issue of seasonal alcohol license for Tanglewood — approved by other two.
6. Minutes for February 6 meeting approved as written.
7. Budget — Chair said Finance Committee wants to review SB budget next week so Chair wants to go over — and vote to refer to FC.
8. Chair went over his suggested changes for lower taxes for everyone.
   1. Every $90,000 saved in budget saves 1% in our taxes. 
   2. Chair’s first suggestion: use Free Cash for expenses and not raise budget therefore not raise taxes
   3. There is a $434,000 obligation that we can pay off out of the Stabilization Fund and reduce budget. Also, if Town votes to do roadwork at Red Lion Inn corner (combine with crosswalks) and take money out of Stabilization Fund.
   4. Interest rate have risen — budget should reflect that town treasurer has invested in CDs so we have guaranteed increase annual Town income approximately $70,000. 
   5. Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) is almost fully funded (90%+) Stop putting money in and take some expenses out otherwise the actuaries predict we will be $1.4million over what’s needed in a few years. In case of any difficulty, make up with American Rescue Plan $.
   6. At Chair’s suggestion in 2021 Town raised food and room tax from 4% to 6% — increasing income to Town markedly.
   7. Use ARPA $ for bonuses due to inflation (rather than raising salaries)
   8. Reduce litigation budget item drastically because only spending about $2,600/annually but had $85,000 in the line item
   9. Budget is going down even with bonuses and salary increases to Town workers including our fire fighters and EMTs.
   10. Chair continued, spend $12,000 for pilot study to determine if a computer program (used in GB) can tack rental properties. Apparently, Stockbridge had over 130 short-term rental properties in February and only 13 registered with Town. State records show around 90 registered to pay taxes on rental income. If the computer program can track them down and they register with Town and State, Town income goes up. The pilot program is an investment in future income not just an expense. 
   11. Authorized Canales to prepare budget with changes and make any small adjustment as long as the “budget is level” – no increase in taxes from last year to this year and probably below last year. White repeated his were measures that lowered taxes for ALL property tax payers.

Public Comments

During Public Comments, Anita Schwerner read a prepared statement: “There’s been a violation of the town bylaws. Just after Thanksgiving 2022, the paid position of Council on Aging Director was advertised in the Eagle, Shopper’s Guide and Mass Hire as a part-time, non-benefited position with an hourly range of salary between $20 to 25 per hour based upon experience and certifications.

Statement by Anita Schwerner

Our town administrator Michael Canales was on the selection committee that reviewed the applications. A red flag should have gone off and Roxanne McCaffrey’s application should have immediately been removed from consideration because she was not eligible to be appointed to any paid town position until May 17, 2023 – one year after the end of her term as selectman. Her appointment is clearly a violation of Article III Section 5 which states:

A selectman may not hold any other compensatory office or employment in Stockbridge Town Government during the term for which he/she is elected, nor hold any compensated appointive town office or employment for one year thereafter.

This is where we are now. As of March 1, she is in the position. Moving forward – we need to make sure that the bylaw is followed as it was written and approved at the 2019 Annual Town Meeting.

Rather than looking for ways around the bylaws, the Town Administrator and Town Counsel should be following our bylaws. Thank you.

Meeting adjourned

News

Notes from the Planning Board, Public Hearings continued, March 21, Hybrid meeting

Present: 

• Kate Fletcher, Chair
• Patrick White, Chair of SB
• Carl Sprague
• Lis Wheeler
• Nancy Socha
• Marie Raftery 
• Gary Pitney
• Many via Zoom — named when speak.

1. Minutes of the March 7 meeting approved as corrected. 
2. Minutes of the site visit approved as written. (Apparently to 104 South Street) for ADu under old Town Bylaw as new law not passed.
3. Special Permit 104 Interlaken Road (after site visit)
   1. White Engineering for owner Jacob Silverman
   2. Interior changes (no permit) existing house on nonconforming lot
   3. Proposed exterior changes and intrusion into Lake Pond Overlay District (LPOD) — add stone patio, outdoor kitchen, more decks also change slope of driveway to avoid drainage into lake and plantings.
   4. PB consultant David Cameron suggested storm water management important and soil data (taken from a neighboring property) be redone. Also, strategic pruning and planting could be healthy for lake and also enhance tower’s view. Improve 35-he foot buffer required by LPOD, remove invasives, and keep walls to allowed 4-6 feet.
   5. Motion made to approve special permits with the conditions as expressed by consultant including 35-foot buffer, 75% coverage of plantings, and a simple recommendation for wide expanse house glass to be bird-strike proof as much as possible.
4. Public Hearing on ADUs continued
   1. Chair — hold for September Special Town Meeting and get wording right? Maybe include second homes as long as homeowner is in residence — never allowed to rent two residences on one property? Chair ready to refer back to SB.
   2. Someone called it “discrimination” and Chair said not to use inflammatory words. Once again, White explained the intent of bylaw was to create affordable housing and give an advantage to new primary homeowners to reduce carrying costs and make a purchase possible, and to help elderly stay in their home by providing extra incomes. Rejected idea of discrimination.
   3. Joseph Newburgh opposed excluding second homeowners from renting ADUs even when they are not here. Asked if it is Constitutional in MA to confer benefits on residents only?
   4. Patty Caya said something was lop-sided — don’t cut off housing stock — ADUs are expensive to build and mostly part-timers can afford to build them so don’t cut off the housing stock by denying part-timers.
   5. Laura Dubester said she thought the goal is to foster full-time residency and help the elderly stay in their homes by generating extra income. She added she is an incrementalist — pass the ADU bylaw as is, see how it works, and then add if necessary but don’t lose sight of goal.
   6. Peter Ungaro spoke for some time on different issues — “domicile”, the Stockbridge zoning bylaws, special permits for nonconforming lots until the Chair asked Ungaro to stop as he was not speaking to the issue before them (ADUs). Ungaro argued. Chair said it was a legal proceeding with rules and “you are out of order”. Ungaro continued to argue — Chair insisted — Ungaro stopped. 
   7. PB referred the proposed ADU bylaw back to SB.
5. Public Hearing on Residential Inclusionary Bylaw
   1. White, Shatz, Raftery, Town Administrator and Town Counsel met and changed some wording. For example, as a definition “80% of Area medium Income (AMI)” — approx. $68,000 or less for family of 4 — and must be primary residence to qualify to purchase. Money generated by developer — into AHT to build housing. Add local preference for affordable housing purchase.
   2. Referred to SB as amended for approval by Town Meeting.

Meeting adjourned

Editor’s note: In MA and most states, many tax laws, zoning, and general laws contain the words: “You must own and occupy the property as your domicile [primary residence] to qualify”. It does not appear t be unconstitutional; it appears commonplace.

News

Notes from the Planning Board, March 7, Hybrid meeting

Present: 

• Kate Fletcher Chair
• Patrick White, Chair of SB
• Wayne Slosek
• Carl Sprague
• Lis Wheeler
• Nancy Socha
• Marie Raftery
• Gary Pitney
• Attendance via Zoom (16) and others in room, named if they speak

1. Public Hearing to consider the proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) bylaw. Fletcher opened the hearing and read the rules. All comments to the chair, no cross talk, speak to the point and with civility.
   1. First questions from the PB to White, the proposer of the bylaw. No questions
   2. First public comment, from Peter Strauss was in favor of ADUs but wanted to amend the language — only long-term rentals in ADUs or short term when owners present and not limited to primary homeowners. White was asked to comment and said Peter mis-stated intent — the intent was for primary residents to defray costs so that old could stay in their homes and young could buy into Stockbridge by helping with affordability.
   3. Mark Mills, on the AHT, was in favor and saw ADUs as adding to affordable housing stock in Town.
   4. Josh Peyron asked, “how do you figure short-term rentals will help?” White — helps folks stay in their homes as costs rise or afford to buy a home and defray costs.
   5. Marie Raftery wanted second homeowners to have the same rights to be fair. Slosek agreed and thought it was discrimination. Chair asked that loaded words like discrimination not be used. White explained necessary to allow one rental on a property at a time and the other be owner occupied otherwise can become attractive as an investment and commercialize Stockbridge.
   6. Slosek asked about enforcement. White explained enforced by Building Inspector, letters demanding compliance followed by fines. Also, there are GoGov and Granicus digital programs that track occupancy. TC added rentals can be tracked through Airbnb and other online rental software.
   7. Patty Caya supports ADUs but opposes language — must allow second homeowners same rights as primary.
   8. White discussed changing population — older and part-time residents rising — lack of young families who are 5x more likely to buy in less expensive surrounding towns. We lack fire fighters, police all commute here from other towns as do Town Office workers. We spent $50,000 for a consultant and put his report on the shelf — a report that predicted this as a function of market forces and suggested Stockbridge had to intervene to give full time and younger residents a competitive advantage. Should act upon reports not pay for them and then just put them on a shelf.
   9. Slosek thought Stockbridge would have more ADUs if allowed second homeowners to build them because second homeowners have more money to invest in housing availability — but Slosek does not want them to make it into a business.
   10. Peter Ungaro via Zoom wanted to change zoning bylaws to make sure there was no restriction on type of ownership — everything the same for primary and second homeowners.
   11. Brandi Page asked about Title 5 (septic requirements) when as ADU is added. Septics systems based on number of bed and bathrooms may have to be enlarged if ADU added
   12. Chair asked those interested to work on enforcement and continued hearing until March 21 meeting.
2. Chair opened Public Hearing to consider Residential Inclusionary Development Bylaw
   1. Chair asked proposer (White) to answer questions from the PB
   2. Slosek asked: is this only for Cottage Era Estates? No. What is the intent? To raise money for affordable housing. Sprague asked: is the necessity to sell at affordable prices a condition in perpetuity? No generally for 25 years.
   3. Slosek: thought this was involving developers in building affordable housing, and he wanted Town to do it. White said developer has choice to build affordable housing or pay-in for someone else to build elsewhere — not in their development.
   4. Steve Shatz said, as a lawyer, thought wording was not as good as might be but could be fixed
   5. Josh Peyron wondered if real problem was Town zoning laws?
   6. Chair asked White, Raftery, and Shatz to work on wording and continued the Public Hearing until the 21st.
3. Chair opened Public Hearing on Sign Bylaw
   1. Someone via Zoom wanted a “carve out” Homeowners’ Associations so they would not have to follow in future or replace current “custom” signs on which they spent lots of money. Town Counsel explained laws are not retroactive. Chair followed up and said although “grandfathered” is not the expression used anymore, the signs are “preexisting-nonconforming” and exempt.
   2. Vote to send sign bylaw to SB with recommendation to place on Town Meeting Warrant passed.

Meeting adjourned

Editor’s note: ADU and Zoning bylaws differ in at least one important way — in 2021 to facilitate passage of ADU bylaws, MA Housing Choice Legislation removed the necessity for a super-majority (2/3) vote required for all other zoning bylaw changes. Also, in other MA municipalities, ADUs are limited to full-time residents. Seen by the Commonwealth as a way to create affordable housing, augment income for folks to stay in their primary houses, and ease monthly carrying costs for new primary house purchasers, MA facilitated passage by reducing the vote to a simple majority.

News

Notes from the Board of Assessors, March 20, Hybrid meeting

Present: 

• Gary Pitney, Chair
• Doug Goudey
• Tammy Toupence, Secretary
• Michael Blay, Assessor
• Tom Stokes and Peter Strauss via Zoom

1. Should Board recommend change to a higher amount in the exemptions, is the amount too low? Waiting for recommendation from Town Counsel.
2. Deed and map changes submitted. Could save money with consultants if stop sending deeds. No vote
3. ABC forms and Forms of Lists due March 1 — three or more not submitted.
4. Stokes and Strauss reported via Zoom on PILOT (Payments in Lieu of Taxes). It was a positive report — questionnaires submitted to nonprofits and two interviews completed. Strauss pointed out that these are nonprofits that comply with PILOT and future interviews may not be as pleasant. Stokes will miss Town Meeting deadline but hopes to be done by July 1. Although he is not running for position on Board of Assessors, he would like to complete work on PILOT.

Meeting adjourned

News

Notes from the Cemetery Commission. March 14, Hybrid meeting

Present: 

• Candace Currie, Acting Chair
• Pat Flinn
• Patrick White, Chair, Select Board
• Rich Atwood, Cemetery Consultant
• Hugh Page, Superintendent Highway Department

1. Minutes for the January 31, 2023 meeting approved as written
2. The Commission thanked the Community Preservation Commission for recommending $42,000 for restoration of the Sergeant tombstones to Town Meeting
3. Page is prepared to make and install the cemetery-hours sign and is waiting for final design. Currie will send it.
4. White asked if there should be a uniform Town font for signs?
5. Arrange for periodic cleaning of stones. Can volunteers do it or only trained folks?
6. Flinn reported there are two ways to extend the planting of Thyme — dig up plugs from the cemetery to transplant or buy plugs. White recommended buying plugs — less labor intensive and fewer bare spots
7. A bylaw revision will be on the Warrant at Town Meeting
   1. Discussion of suggested changes
   2. One suggestion was open burials to all taxpayers — discussion — would that include absentee investors in businesses or owners of businesses who are not residents? 
   3. Another question: What if not living in town at time of death, is a time living is Stockbridge required; is there a limit to time away prior to death? 
   4. Some consideration of the collision between opening cemetery to more burials at same time that space is limited. It was suggested that Stockbridge buy additional land for a Ton cemetery even if the new cemetery land was outside Stockbridge town limits. 
   5. Currie volunteered to speak to chair and perhaps Town Counsel and write up suggested changes for further discussion.

Meeting adjourned

Editor’s note: Changing a bylaw is complex. In addition to Cemetery Commission, it involves Select Board, Town Meeting, and the Attorney General of the Commonwealth. At any of these steps, recommendations can be amended, or dropped altogether, therefore, the Commonwealth recommends a discussion of what is wrong with old one and minimum change in the wording to correct the problem identified.

News

Notes from Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) — March 6th meeting — unavailable. 

SU will bring readers up to date on AHT activities in the next issue.

News

Notes from Agriculture and Forestry Commission (AFC), March 6, Hybrid meeting

Present: 

• Matt Boudreau, Chair
• Lisa Bozzuto
• Erik Rasmussen, Abigale Fredsall, and Shelby Marshall via Zoom

1. Minutes of February 6 approved as written
2. Position for director of Farmer’s Market advertised with 1 application to date.
3. Met with Berkshire Agricultural Ventures and appears to be advantageous connection.
4. Forest-focused stewardship group attempted a site visit but storm interfered — will reschedule. 
5. Climate-smart forestry measures by AFC to include identification and management of old growth forests may qualify for funding from Municipal Vulnerabilities Program (MVP).
6. Chair reported on possible purchase of 351 acres on Monument Mountain by a coalition of the Stockbridge-Munsee band of the Mohican Nation, Stockbridge Land Trist, Town of Stockbridge, Berkshire Natural Resources and more.
7. John Hart offered a rack for the distribution of brochures from AFC to the public about invasives with non-chemical formulas for removing. Invasives may be ground level or trees. Distributed in racks, at Town Meeting and online.
8. There will be an annual report from AFC.
9. The Commonwealth will limit disposal of organic waste in the years to come and AFC suggests a Town compost.
10. Brief discussion of placement of Ice Glen sign

Meeting adjourned

News

‘Tis the Season: Election Season 

Key dates:

Candidates can withdraw until April 13 and not have their name on the ballot.

May 16 is Election Day!

Who is running?

The following have taken out and returned papers. 

Select Board Member – Patrick White, Roxanne McCaffrey

Board of Assessors – Brandi Page

Board of Health – Elias Lefferman

Parks and Recreation – Johanna Lenski, Michael Nathan

Sewer and Water – John Loiodice

Planning Board – Wayne Slosek

There are only two contested races: 

Select Board Patrick White vs. Roxanne McCaffrey

Parks & Rec Joanna Lenski vs. Michael Nathan

Please vote even if a candidate is unopposed — it shows support and gratitude for their willingness to serve.

Stockbridge Updates: Get to know the candidates.

Stockbridge Updates invites all those running to send Stockbridge Updates the answers to

The Candidates’ Q&A: 

What prompted you to run?

If elected, what would be your primary focus?

What would you like voters to know about you?

In addition, SU will offer space for The Candidates’ Opening statements – 400 words or less posted in the issues between now and election day. If you do not like to write — SU will videotape your statement.

Even if you are running unopposed, send your answers and your statement to SU — introduce yourself to the voters. An informed electorate is the bedrock of democracy. 

Thank you.

News

Events

1. Election-related event:

The Stockbridge Democratic Town Committee will hold a caucus on Saturday April 8 at 10:00 am on Zoom to endorse candidates who are running for office in the May 16, 2023 Annual Town Election. 

• All registered Democrats in Stockbridge are able to vote to endorse candidates.
• The meeting is open to the public but you must register to attend: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAkc-ysqjkiHNEiw76syWX2vSitr2LFd5yu
• After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

All candidates are invited to speak to request endorsement. Unenrolled (Independent) candidates may be endorsed only if there is no registered Democratic candidate for the position. All caucus endorsement requests must be made by the candidate either in person at the caucus or by sending a written request to the committee chairperson at least 24 hours before the call to order.

2. Berkshire United Way and Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires

2. Berkshire United Way and Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires are holding an in-person Volunteer Fair in partnership with Elder Services on April 21st from 12 — 3pm at Crissey Farm in Great Barrington. Sponsored by Berkshire Bank, the fair will feature 30 diverse nonprofit organizations sharing information about their mission, programs, and volunteer needs with the public at-large. The cost for nonprofits to participate is $50 which includes a table and two chairs. To reserve your table, visit 

https://www.berkshireunitedway.org/spring-volunteer-fair.

3. Austen Riggs Friday Night Guest Lectures 

2023 Yasmin Roberts Memorial Lecture: “Race and Racism in Psychoanalytic Thought: Shaking Our Analytic Frame” Presenter: Beverly J. Stoute, MD, FABP, DFAPA, DFAACAP 

Date: Friday, April 21, 2023 

Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) 

Registration and details: https://education.austenriggs.org/BeverlyStoute-FNGL or REGISTER HERE 

Friday Night Guest Lectures are designed for mental health professionals, offered free of charge, and provide 1.5 continuing education credit. View all upcoming virtual events and recorded courses at education.austenriggs.org/courses,

Stockbridge Library

4. Stockbridge Library presents Author Talk with Phil Goldberg – Bookends: How a Writing Career Started — and Will Probably End — in the Berkshires Saturday, April 1 from 3pm to 4pm.

While in the Library, don’t miss Jay Rhind’s photographs on the library walls.

Berkshire Botanical Garden

5.Berkshire Botanical Garden — The Garden’s 89th season — “Spring Hoppening” with egg hunts and pony rides and so much more. April 8, 10am — 1pm

Laurel Hill Association Earth Day Clean-up

6. The Laurel Hill Association Earth Day Clean-up For the last three years, many townspeople have come out to celebrate Earth Day by picking up litter in their neighborhoods even when we were still being affected by a pandemic. Thank you to all who made the effort to do your part! 

Pick up day is only a month away so it’s time to ask, “Will you be available again this year? If so, that would be terrific. April 22, 2023 will mark Earth Day 53! We can all feel good about how our individual and collective actions make a difference in our beautiful town. 

According to the Mass.gov Covid-19 webpage there are no masking mandates outdoors. However, they do suggest those who are immunocompromised or unvaccinated follow the 6 feet of social distancing and/or wearing your mask suggestions. And, individuals who are considered close contacts of someone with Covid-19 or who have tested positive must follow the isolation and quarantine guidance which includes wearing a mask in public for 5 more days after they leave isolation or quarantine on day 5, regardless of vaccination status. 

Please let me know if you will be joining us again this year! You can RSVP YES or NO by replying to this letter. The email address is earthday@laurelhillassociation.org. 

If you have new neighbors who have expressed an interest in this effort, please forward this letter to them or give them my contact information so they too can be added to the list. And if you know of others who have moved away that would be helpful as well. 

With your reply, please let me know where you will pick up litter so I can make sure we cover as many streets, sidewalks, parks and waterfronts as possible. I will try to update covered streets each week to let you know which areas have been spoken for. Also be aware that Laurel Hill trails are in need of coverage if your street has already been spoken for. 

To learn more about what you can do to care for our planet, here is the link to the Official Earth Day page. https://www.earthday.org/ 

Looking forward to seeing you all out doing your part to keep our town and the world a cleaner, healthier place for everyone. 

Sincerely,

Lis (pronounced Liz) Wheeler Laurel Hill Association Trustee and Earth Day Coordinator
earthday@laurelhillassociation.org

News

FYI from Harold French

News

SU FYI

Beginning on April 1, Community Television South Berkshire (CTSB) will stop covering all Stockbridge committee, board, and commission meetings. CTSB will limit coverage in all five Towns to the meetings they are contractually obligated to cover — that includes only Select Board meetings, Planning Board meetings, and the annual Town Meeting.

Recognizing the value of governmental transparency and public engagement, the Commonwealth extended remote meeting provisions. However, beginning last year, CTSB, facing staff and budget constraints could not do it all. Our Town, to its credit, stepped up and paid for all additional meetings to be covered. 

CTSB is an asset to the community and Stockbridge Updates thanks them for their “government programming”. In Stockbridge, over half of our population is second homeowners. They are away from Stockbridge part of the year but may still like to “attend a meeting” virtually, add a comment, keep up with events — hybrid recorded meetings allow that. 

Folks may have business with the Town or be interested in a particular meeting and have the choice to attend or zoom-in. 

Older folks who don’t see well at night or are less sure-footed could “attend” via Zoom. We have young people in Stockbridge who wish to be politically engaged who, between kids and jobs, only have time to serve if they can zoom, not if they must drive in. 

The recordings are an archive where facts can be checked, and folks can watch on their own schedule not the scheduled times. There are the official minutes posted after they are approved, however, that can be a slow process. For example, at the March meeting of the Board of Health, the minutes from a June 2022 meeting were approved. For a myriad of reasons, hybrid meetings and recordings benefit us all. 

Some scoff and say — not nearly as many attend a Select Board meeting via Zoom as a James Taylor concert. True, however, look at it the other way around – the meaningful statistic is how many who want or need to attend now have a choice of ways to do it — making their lives easier — making government more open and accessible. How many watch the recording after the meeting to catch up on government activities when they can?

At last Town Meeting, folks voted to make clear, it would be a loss if coverage stops, so SU asked our Town Administrator if the Town has plans for coverage to continue this year. 

Response from Michael Canales, Town Administrator

Hybrid Meetings: I want to assure the residents of Stockbridge that starting in April the Town will continue to provide hybrid meetings that will then be broadcast, displayed, and posted on the CTSB website and their YouTube channel. While the staff at CTSB will no longer be able to provide help with the recording of additional meetings outside of their contract with the Town we have figured out how (through the Zoom resources and technology) to keep the hybrid format for all meeting. 

Going forward, CTSB will be handling the School Committee and the Select Board meetings while the remaining board and committee meetings will be automated. By simply joining the meeting from the Zoom room setups, located in the two meeting rooms at townhall, all the functions will be automatically enabled including the recording of the meeting to the Cloud which will then be sent to CTSB for broadcasting and display on their YouTube channel.

I would like to thank the staff at CTSB who have gone above and beyond their duties to provide coverage of many meetings not previously recorded prior to the pandemic. CTSB has always been a valued partner and through the pandemic they began to provide additional meeting coverage in the five towns they cover. CTSB went from approximately 50 meetings per year prior to the pandemic to over 250 meetings per year post pandemic for Stockbridge alone. Working together we will keep hybrid meetings happening for all Stockbridge boards and committees.

Editor’s note: Michael, a Warm thank you for this and all you do!

The Last Word

Reader to Reader

To Stockbridge Updates — April 2023

Carole,

This recent mandate from the State Supreme Court, followed by the ACLU’s interpretation of the same, should prove interesting. Those who employ incivility, loudness, finger pointing, vulgarity may find themselves isolated, neutered, ignored, given their inability to play well with others. Let’s continue to provide an example rather than engage.

Bob Jones

Jones is a member of the Lee Select Board and the SU Editorial Board

To the Editor: 

Thank you for all the information that you regularly send to me and others. Greatly appreciated.

Elias Lefferman

Dr. Lefferman,

Thank you for your kind words for SU and a special thank you for your willingness to run for office and serve the Town.

Carole

Dear Carole,

Following a talk at the Mission House this October by a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community in Wisconsin, we looked at the Mohican Miles exhibition of tribal artifacts and picked up a pamphlet titled “Repatriation and You”. In the pamphlet we saw images of traditional Mohican baskets that bore a striking resemblance to some “Indian Baskets” that we purchased at Massachusetts auctions in the mid-1970s. Thinking that we would like to gift these baskets back to their rightful owners, we contacted Bonney Hartley, the Tribe’s Historic Preservation Manager in Williamstown, MA, and emailed her photographs of our four baskets. 

Hartley confirmed that the baskets were representative of the style of the Tribe’s work and would be a welcome addition to the collection of tribal artifacts at the Arvid E. Miller Memorial Library Museum on their reservation in Wisconsin. We had a nice visit with Hartley at our home in Interlaken in February and she took the baskets back to Williamstown. There they will be examined through photogrammetry technology at Williams College through a partnership with the Tribe’s Cultural Affairs Department. After that they will be brought to the Tribe’s Arvid Museum in Wisconsin.

As we know, beginning in the 1800s, the Stockbridge-Munsee Indians were forcibly removed from their homelands in the Berkshires and beyond. Eventually they settled on a reservation in Wisconsin where an active Tribal Community resides to this day. Repatriation is a key focus of the Tribe’s current work. In recent years, many cultural artifacts including pipes, moccasins, leggings and pottery have been returned to the Tribe. Some have been received through a governmental process called NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act). But that only applies to artifacts in the collections of federally funded institutions. There is no standardized process to return artifacts that are in the possession of private owners. So we are hopeful that our example might inspire others in our area to consider donating materials back to the Tribe.

Inquiries on possible items of interest are always welcome. Please contact Bonney Hartley at www.preservation@mohican-nsn.gov if you are thinking of repatriating items in your possession.

We are happy to know that our baskets will have a new life with the Tribe where they will be made accessible to all Tribal members and visitors to the Tribe’s museum in Wisconsin.

https://www.mohican.com/mt-content/uploads/2023/03/4-1-23_641b673698315.pdf

Sincerely,

Lenore and Paul Sundberg

Lenore and Paul are Stockbridge residents. Lenore is the Line Editor of Stockbridge Updates

Hi Carole,

I hope you don’t mind me popping into your inbox. 🙂 I was recently tip-toeing through your archives trying to catch up on some town meetings (thank you) and I stumbled on something of interest I would love to know a bit more about. Who is Ida Mae?

https://www.stockbridgeupdates.com/vol_iii_no_16_8-15-2022-select_board_meeting_august_11_i_never_would_have_believed_it.html

Many years ago, Ida Mae, put on her hat and sallied forth, the perennial candidate. She stated the issue and her position.

A reporter said, “but Ida Mae, that’s not a correct statement of the issue.”

Ida Mae positioned her hat more firmly on her head, and replied, “I’ve made up my mind, sonny, don’t bother me with the facts.”

I thought since you are both a historian and a writer she could either be an actual historical figure or someone you created just to make your point. If she is a historical figure would you mind telling me where I could learn more about her and her exploits? She sounds wry and worthy of note.

It was such a clever post and this character caught my eye so if you have any additional info, I would appreciate your time.

Sincerely,

Esme Murphy

Dear Esme,

Thank you for writing. As a long-time clinician, I observed people, As a retired doctorand writer, I still do. Then to diagnose and treat; now to capture ideal types and just plain types. Ida Mae Garret was very real and very like many politicians then and now. 

Best Carole

To the Editor

Our elected officials should do better. On March 21st, the Planning Board resumed a public hearing to consider two proposed bylaws submitted by our town’s Selectboard Chair. One dealt with Accessory Dwelling Units.

If one takes the time to view the meeting on CTSB TV, they will hear the Selectboard Chairman respond emphatically to a planning board member’s comment that his ADU proposal “seems discriminatory against second homeowners” with the comment that “The purpose is not to be fair.” 

Additionally, the conduct by the chair of the Planning Board, controlling the meeting was certainly not in keeping with the intent of the Norman Rockwell portrait hanging above and behind the board members in that room. Several speakers were very rudely cut off and not allowed to continue speaking regarding the ADU bylaw being proposed. Some members of the planning board also were cut off and not allowed to continue speaking.

When “fairness” is not the overall objective, supported by terse comments while cutting off speakers, it does not reflect well on the behavior of our elected town officials. Nor does the bold promotion of legal language openly intended to be discriminatory and divisive.

Stockbridge is better than this — or at least it used to be.

Jim Balfanz 

Please note that I write as a private citizen and not as a member of any town board or committee. 

Editor’s note: For the benefit of the readers, here are the obligations incumbent upon the Chair and the attendees during public meetings/hearings according to Mass General Law: 

1. “The Chair (or Town Counsel if present) should establish ground rules, informing those present that: testimony will be limited to the issues directly related to the subject matter of the hearing; only one person will be permitted to speak at a time; all discussion will go through the Chair; argument between parties will not be permitted.”
2. “No person shall address a meeting of a public body without permission of the chair, and all persons shall, at the request of the chair, be silent.”
3. Due to the recent MA Supreme Court decision, the words — “all parties will be expected to conduct themselves civilly” were removed from #1. The “civility decision” does not eliminate the other rules and responsibilities cited above.

Perspective

The Not-Voting Nap Is Over

We are our own worst enemies when it comes to choosing our destiny in Stockbridge. Want proof? According to our Town Clerk, only 31% of approximately 1600 registered voters actually voted in the last town election. And the system of voting on expenditures and bylaws at the Annual Town Meeting is no longer inclusive. Last year, my neighbor, who has lived here for 90 years, forgot to go. Or her backside had not recovered from the previous town meeting. Many there might have confessed to any and every crime after being tortured in those chairs, hour after warrant article-filled hour.

How many simply cannot go because of work, disabilities, family commitments, illness, travel? We are no longer a bunch of hearty farmers, coming in from the fields to vote. We have gone from resembling people in Normal Rockwell paintings, because some of us are in those paintings, to looking like Norman himself. No offense Norman, but you would be my last pick for cycling the Josh.

What does this lack of participation in the democratic process do for us? The small, determined group looking to build high density housing developments in the precious Green Necklace Zone have quite rightly seized on town indifference to promote their agenda. Think your voice doesn’t matter? We have narrowly escaped becoming a cruise ship plopped among the hills more than once.

Heard the skinny about those big houses erupting on the Bowl? Recently realized that the Children’s Chimes have not rung in six years? How about the million-dollar crosswalks? Dredging the Bowl? Getting rid of our own Fire Department? Ditching videos of town committee meetings? Can’t tell the Committee To Be On A Committee (CTBOAC) from the Commission To Be On A Commission (CTBOAC)? Feeling confusion on Residential Inclusion? What to do????

Sometimes you have to be a citizen. Read the Eagle, the Edge, Updates, the town website (there are agendas!), talk to neighbors, friends. Write to town officials — they need your help!! If you can’t run for office or volunteer, you can still vote and encourage others. People in Stockbridge need to become aware and give themselves a say in what our future holds. Long-time residents are on the brink of not recognizing the town. The rest may never know what they have missed. Time to start asking about things, look around. Like it here? Then you better start voting. While here is still here.

Bruce Blair is a resident of Stockbridge and frequent contributor to Stockbridge Updates

by Bruce Blair

Perspective

Candidate Board of Health: Elias Lefferman

Candidate Board of Health, answer the Stockbridge Updates Q&A

I am running for the open position on the Board of Health in the town of Stockbridge. I’ve been a second homeowner here for over 17years and a full time resident for the past 7. Raised in Port Chester, New York I attended Boston University, later obtained my Masters in Social Work and, after moving to Los Angeles, completed my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. I provided mental health services to challenged children and their families and eventually became the CEO of a large mental health agency serving Southern California. After 40 years doing the work that I loved, I retired and decided to make the Berkshires my permanent home.

What prompted you to run?

I have felt, professionally and personally, that whether as an individual, a family or a community, positive changes come through knowledge and making informed choices. The Board of Health position presents an opportunity for me to use my experience and skills to observe, learn, inform and, hopefully, have a positive influence on the community regarding public health issues affecting our physical and emotional wellbeing. 

If elected, what would be your primary focus?

My primary focus would be to ensure that there was a voice to address both physical and mental health issues impacting those of us living in Stockbridge. The pandemic exposed not just our physical health vulnerabilities but our psychological ones as well. While attempting to contain a threat to our physical health we were confronted with the impact of isolation, loneliness, the loss of social and physical contact and for some, the reliance on drugs and/or alcohol. Information about physical health decisions need to include the social and emotional consequences so that together we make choices that best meet our needs.

What would you like voters to know about you?

I would like voters to know that my goal is understand the variety of factors that impact our town’s residents. I would like to observe, learn and inform you of potential problems, concerns and possible solutions that may influence our health, safety and well-being.

Perspective

Town Budget: Some Ideas from the Chair 

Fact: every $90,000 spent translates to 1% in your taxes. I scoured the budget looking for ways to reduce the tax burden for all the town’s taxpayers. Here are some highlights:

I proposed raising the room tax from 4% to 6% in 2021. Every dollar we get from tourists is a dollar less we need from property taxes. This one change netted an extra $200,000 this year alone!

I also advocated for raising local receipts from 80% to 85% in last year’s recap. Savings: around $100,000. 

I am proposing this year to use the money you already paid to pay off various loans such as town offices. This change alone reduces the budget by over $400,000, saving you 5% on next year’s tax bills.

Then there’s interest income. Our treasurer does a great job investing the $13 million you have in various town accounts. Interest rates have risen. The town’s CDs are paying 4.25% and the budget should reflect that! Now it does and that’s $90,000 that won’t come from property taxes.

I reviewed this year’s budget with our town administrator line for line, looking for more ways to save. The easy red flag is round numbers: those ending in “,000”. Round numbers are plug numbers, rather than a number based on the prior year’s actual spending. It’s how you find the fat.

Finally, I’ve raised the question of Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB), which pays for former employees’ health and dental. As the Finance Committee pointed out, it’s basically 100% funded. In fact, the actuaries report that by 2052, we will have overfunded OPEB by $1.4 million. Our current OPEB annual liability is $139,000. Michael Canales and I will propose a policy to govern when to draw these funds from the millions you paid into OPEB, rather than from the general budget. Why should you be taxed again when your taxes already paid to fund it?

Together, these changes will reduce the burden on ALL taxpayers by at least 10%, saving an average of $500 per year. I’ve proposed a budget that will actually decrease compared to last year. All without any cuts in services, with employee raises including a bonus to help with inflation, and with a school budget that jumped over $200,000 this year.

Look, I am pretty good with numbers: I graduated with honors in Economics, got three venture-back start-ups funded, and currently serve as the chief financial officer of the Waldorf High School. Still, this takes hard work, but it’s worth it to me. 

You see, I know there are still a lot of people here living on a budget. Hopefully, these efforts will help make ends meet.

Editor’s note: Subsequently, both the Select Board and Finance Committee affirmed much of the above.

by Patrick White

Perspective

From the Desk of Stockbridge Police Chief Darrell Fennelly

This year’s Divine Mercy Weekend on Eden Hill is Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, April 16, 2023. For the first time since the pre-Covid year of 2019, the event will be held without last year’s attendance restrictions. While bus registration is low at this time there could be up to 185 buses on Sunday along with several hundred cars. There is satellite parking in Lee and Gt. Barrington which requires the use of shuttle buses as well. 

The police are posting “no parking” signs on all the secondary roads in and around the downtown area. There will be “two hour limited parking” signs posted in the business area of downtown (Main Street and Elm Street) for Sunday only. 

There will be two electronic traffic messaging boards posted as well. These boards are informing motorists to park on Eden Hill until it is full and then changed to direct people to the designated satellite parking lots in Lee and Monument Mt. High School for the event. However, with the low number of registered buses we may be able to fit all the vehicles on Eden Hill. 

Stockbridge Police will be enforcing Sunday’s parking restrictions from 8:00am to 4:00pm. If anyone has a complaint or concern, please contact the police department at 413-298-4179. 

It’s our goal to keep the downtown area open to residents, visitors, and downtown business but our residents should be aware of traffic congestion in the business district on this particular weekend. 

Also, giving credit where credit is due. I was mentioned as one of the rescuers in the piece in the last issue about the Stockbridge Bowl ice rescue. I wanted to clarify that while I was at the scene, I did not participate in the actual rescue. If anyone from our police department deserves accolades, it is Sgt. Kirk Nichols and Officer Rosario Messina. Both of these officers actively helped the fire department rescuers with the ropes and the extraction of the victim from the shore to the ambulance. A brave and heroic effort by all of those involved. Great job!!

Photography

Blue Moon Images/Dana Goedewaagen: Gallery

For a larger view of the images, just click anywhere in the collage.