Editorial

Editorial: The New Stockbridge Updates Extra: For News That Just Can’t Wait

There’s more to know and you might want to know it sooner than every two weeks. So welcome to the Stockbridge Updates Extra. 

If you have breaking news or you are looking for some. 

If you have an event to publicize or want to go to one.

If you have a bit of Stockbridge news that just can’t wait; get it to SU and we will get it out.

How it will work. The two SU issues will come out on the 1st and 15th of each month as usual. In between the first and the fifteenth or the fifteenth and the first, SU will get the news to you when it breaks in a Stockbridge Updates Extra. 

On exactly what dates will SU Extra go out? Only the news knows. 

With your subscription, what can you count on? 2 issues per month, I on the 1st and I on the 15th plus Stockbridge Updates Extra in between whenever the news breaks. 

by Carole Owens , Executive Editor

News

It Was a Great Day in Stockbridge!

On Wednesday, August 30, 2023, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Energy Secretary Rebecca Tepper, and Shannon Holsey, President, Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican People, came to town.

In front of an enthusiastic crowd in the Town offices gym, Driscoll and Tepper announced all of the recipients of the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grants. It is traditional that the grants are announced in the municipality that receives the largest grant.

This year the largest grant went to the Stockbridge-Munsee band for the purchase of Fenn Farm – a 315-acre tract on the north side of Monument Mountain. Everyone was thrilled to see the Stockbridge-Munsee return.

A luncheon followed the announcements. Acting as Town Party Planner with the able support of the Norman Rockwell Museum, Patrick White put together an excellent luncheon where everyone broke bread, laughed, and talked. It was a great day in Stockbridge.

News

SU FYI 

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) is a federally funded, competitive grant program designed to help small cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs.

CDBG awards grants to communities throughout the Commonwealth. This program helps eligible cities and towns to meet a broad range of community development needs in housing, infrastructure, revitalization, economic development, and public social services. It supports CDBG eligible activities and encourages applicants to develop coordinated, integrated, and creative solutions to local problems.

Stockbridge is eligible and the grants are awarded to both programs and individuals.

New Covid Shot Recommended

Expected to be available at the end of September. Call Community Health Programs 413-243-0536 to check availability and make an appointment.

Cemetery Volunteer Opportunity

From Candace Currie, Acting Chair, Cemetery Commission

Our experts from Preservation Inc. are coming back. A multi-year project is underway to restore/clean the old headstones in the Stockbridge Cemetery at the corner of Main and Church Streets. The public (including children aged 12 and up) is invited to come and participate. No experience is necessary. Instructions will be given on site, and supplies will be provided. No sign-up is necessary but emailing intention to participate to ccurrie@stockbridge-ma.gov would be helpful.

Cleaning sessions for 2023 have been scheduled as follows: September 11-14, September 18-21, September 25-28, and October 2-5. The hours will be 10am to 4pm each day, weather permitting. Stay for all or part of a day!

On the date and time of your choice, go to the Stockbridge Cemetery Main Street entrance for assignment. Work attire and gloves are recommended. Thank you in advance for helping preserve old Stockbridge history!

The Stockbridge Affordable Housing Trust Survey

AHT is preparing a Housing Production Plan (HPP). The active engagement of the community is a key component of the planning process.

The new HPP builds upon prior efforts such as the Planning Committee’s Visioning Report and the Town’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Report. The completed HPP will provide guidance for the Town’s future housing agenda.

AHT is planning several opportunities to obtain detailed input from the community on housing challenges, goals, and priority actions. One is the Community Housing Survey. The Survey is designed to be easy to complete and will only take a few minutes.

You can access the Survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5L3YVYS or obtain a hard copy at the Town Clerk’s Office, 50 Main Street, Stockbridge MA 01262.

Responses to this survey are due no later than September 15, 2023.

Please submit your response electronically or return the completed survey to the Town Clerk’s Office by September 15, 2023.

Contracts

Currently the Town of Stockbridge is in contract negotiations with the Department of Highway, Water and Sewer, and the Stockbridge Police Department.

The new contracts will be for July 2024.

Editor’s query: Michael Buffoni, Tony Campetti, and Hugh Page are the Superintendents of Water, Sewer, and Highway respectively. They do a great job. Stockbridge is lucky to have them. In the current negotiations, they are both managers and union members. If the managers were not in the union, is it possible that both the workers and the managers would benefit financially? How does that work? 

News

Events

Flu Shots

1. Flu shots in Stockbridge Oct 6th. Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative will be at Stockbridge Town Hall on October 6th hosting a flu vaccine clinic. Pre-registration is required. You can sign up at home.color.com/vaccine/register/tritown

Housatonic Heritage Walks

2. Annual Housatonic Heritage Walks Celebrating 21 years of Heritage Walks! All free in the Berkshires (MA) and Litchfield County (CT) 

Saturdays & Sundays in September/October weekends: September 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 23 & 24, and September 30 & October 1

Download a PDF Version of the Heritage Walks!

Berkshire Botanical Garden

3. Berkshire Botanical Garden:

Garden of Curiosity Opening Reception September 1

September 2 – 3 Berkshire Woodworkers Guild Show and Silent Auction

September 5 – 26 Herbaceous Plants — class

September 6 – 27 Fall Flower Fest — class

September 9 – 30 Qigong in the Garden

League of Women Voters

4. League of Women Voters of Central Berkshire County invite you to experience the Joy of Learning! Participate in A Community Conversation: “Martin Luther King and the Struggle for Black Voting Rights (1965)”.

Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 5:30pm, Stockbridge Library and via Zoom

Joshua David Hall, Chair, History Department, Lee High School will conduct this conversation with his students and YOU!

Berkshire Strummers

5. The Berkshire Strummers, a group of local ukelele players meet to play. This is an amateur group of varied experience who play the uke and sing mostly older songs. If you have a ukelele and like playing and singing, or if you would like to just sit and listen, please join us. It is informal, not a class. Everyone welcome. Every Tuesday evening from 6:30pm to 8pm in Stockbridge Senior Center.

News

Query: Hello Berkshire Waldorf High School

The word is fund raising to restore the venerable building is going well — but more is always welcome. The sale will close very soon, and then, once again, we will have a school in Stockbridge. How nice!

Query: The building does not have any frontage — never did. The Board of Directors has done so well so far — do you have a solution for this last hurdle? 

News

Key Notes from the Affordable Housing Trust (AHT), August 15, 2023, Hybrid

The playground at Pine Woods was discussed. There is $40,000 available — $10,000 from AHT funds and $30,000 from ARPA fund. Johanna Lenski proposed plans in the $100,000-200,000 range. They were rejected due to the budget constraint. Town Administrator Michael Canales will work with Pine Woods owners, Construct, inc. The owners will determine the location of the playground will decide a design within budget.

The AHT consultant, and Vice Chair Jan Ackerman overseeing the Housing Production Plan reviewed some of the results from the open community meeting. 

There seemed to be a favorable view of broad zoning change. Patrick White, Select Board member and AHT member, suggested that incremental zoning changes are best to test results and minimize unintended consequences. There were comments wanting to have Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) by right. They are by right if in the extant house but will require a permit if an ADU is an external new build and may if converting a barn or garage or house addition.

White iterated his stand on alterations to preexisting nonconforming houses. If the proposed new house, renovation, or addition is no more nonconforming, White thinks it should be done by-right. However, whether it is or is not more nonconforming must be determined by the Building Inspector. 

White anticipates approximately $2million in the AHT from the Residential Inclusionary Bylaw and AHT will decide how to spend it.

Chair Ranne Warner said she supported AHT purchasing land and building 40-50 houses — mixed affordable and work force or “missing middle” housing.

Lis Wheeler, AHT member, questioned if Stockbridge had such a parcel available and at a price that would allow reasonably priced housing.

Warner said 7 acres could accommodate 30 units. She also said she felt Pine Woods “was on its own” until it presents Town with evaluation of current condition, needs and costs.

Mark Mills wanted an investment in infrastructure.

Lis Wheeler wanted a whole community get-together. Member McCaela Donovan wanted younger voices in the decision-making process.

Ackerman said the HPP should be finished next month and give guidance.

News

Key Notes from the Conservation Commission (ConCom), August 22, 2023, Hybrid

Howard Abrams, Beachwood, was on the agenda for work on a leaking pipe. Sally Underwood Miller advised him that an emergency work permit might be required to do the work. No discussion as Abrams not present. 

Bryan Siter, Forsythe Land Management, was present on behalf of 21 Lakeview Drive and its amended submission. They will need to extend and modify their request and a site visit will follow.

11 Rattlesnake Road recently sold, and a septic field, driveway, pool, and house are proposed. Abutters Arthur Dutil, Stan Piatchek, and across-the-street neighbors, John Hart, and Sally Underwood Miller, spoke. The concern is the wetness of the property. There is wet land, possible underground streams, and a part of, or run off from, Kampoosa Bog.

The question is — is it buildable? Is there a place for the septic field? Does it perc?

A representative from Greylock Design, on behalf of the owners, pushed back. He said it is a 7-acre lot and the coverage of all buildings — roadbed, pool, and house – was less than 6 – 10,000 sq. ft. — he characterized that as a “small impact” on the land.

ConCom determined to hire an expert to evaluate the soil and then follow with a site visit.

The Chair complimented the consultant to ConCom for the letter he wrote the Railroad company asked to clear the old railroad ties. It was answered immediately. The RR company said they were in talks with Mass Department of Transportation (DOT). Chair suggested they allow them to work it out and withhold the enforcement order (which would start the cock on fines/penalties). 

The consultant said ConCom is the regulatory agency and should continue to apply proper pressure in a letter if not an immediate enforcement order. 

Editor’s note: In full disclosure, I once owned that 7-acre plot plus the 6 adjoining acres. I was told that particular 7 acres were unbuildable due to wetlands and underground streams. The ConCom Chair called it “a teapot — put in a shovel and hit water.” That was 40 years ago; I have no current knowledge.

News

Key Notes from the Select Board, August 25, 2023, Hybrid

On Lincoln Lane, there are two houses that share a privately-owned hookup to the sewer. The man-hole cover was damaged. The two families hoped the Town would repair or replace it. SB Chair Chuck Cardillo was opposed to the expenditure as it would constitute spending taxpayer money on private property. Canales said the Town was only pay for the repairs if it were responsible for the damage (for example: if the snowplow hit it). SB member Patrick White was in favor. For reasons of kindliness, and because the Town Highway Department could do it at little or no extra cost to the Town, White favored repairing it. SB member Jamie Minacci, the deciding vote, was unsure. She wondered how many of these privately owned sewer connections there were, if this would set precedent, and what it would cost. Town Administrator Michael Canales did not have the answers but offered to research and have them ready for next meeting. However, Minacci decided to vote “no’. Request denied.

Scott Muir was granted a promotion with the Fire Department.

A second opinion on repair of the Curtisville Bridge was considered by the SB. The cost for the engineer to generate the report is $14,500. The expert opinion could possibly result in a more cost-effective solution that would also maintain the character and historical integrity of the bridge. Passed unanimously. Two previous engineering reports, from Forsythe Land Management, suggested the bridge could not be saved, and it was to necessary to build a new bridge. The SB passed to measure to spend $14,500 to determine if the historic bridge could be saved.

The Cemetery Commission proposed an oval metal sign with black and white lettering. White hoped the materials and the lettering could be more in keeping with an historic New England cemetery. He suggested wood or iron. 

Canales reported that Stockbridge is moving forward with an agreement for electricity that will reduce and stabilize electric prices for residents.

The balance of the ARPA money was awarded for the sidewalk from Pine Woods to Town and the Mary Flynn Trail.

The Laurel Hill Association would like the Town to repair the Park Street Bridge and then, LHA will give the bridge to the Town. At Town Meeting folks will be asked to vote for/against accepting the gift.

Perspective

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

The summer has been busy running our summer programs, getting ready for school, and supporting pre-season athletes. 

We’ve also spent a lot of time and effort finalizing the draft regional school agreement created by the Regional School District Planning Board, which has 3 members from each of the 8 towns: Alford, Egremont, Great Barrington, Monterey, New Marlboro, Sheffield, Stockbridge, and West Stockbridge. As you may recall, that group has been meeting for 3 years to explore if it would be advantageous to work together. They recommended merging the two school districts and creating a shared high school on the Monument campus. 

Last night, select board and finance committee members for all eight towns met to hear and discuss that possibility. The 8 towns are also tentatively holding October 23 as a date for special town meetings.

The work to analyze the impact of the merger is thorough and quite detailed. I urge you to look at the updated website https://8towns.org/ and do some research.

As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions –Peter.Dillon@bhrsd.org 

For future updates, I’ll share some details on our new staff, a farm to school grant from the USDA, and the high school project.

Perspective

From the Desk of Tri-Town Health Department (TTHD) James J. Wilusz, Executive Director, Dr. Charles Kenny, Medical Director.

TTHD recently acquired a fluorometer with the assistance and funding from all three towns and today underwent training to use it with GZA.

With this instrument, the TTHD will be able to distinguish a visible scum on the water surface caused by harmful cyanobacteria from one caused by innocuous green algae. If green algae are responsible for the scum, TTHD will not have to issue an advisory. Prior to the acquisition of this instrument, TTHD would have to issue an advisory against water activities in the lake based simply on the presence of the scum and keep the advisory in place for at least several days until officials could determine if it was due to cyanobacteria or not. We now can determine that almost immediately. 

There are always cyanobacteria in the lake, but their numbers and location are usually not cause for concern. If a bloom is suspected in the future, TTHD will use the new device in its decision making. The Tri-Town Health Department and its TTBOH are dedicated to ensuring the highest level of public health and safety in our communities and we will now have a tool in place to take readings from all our waterbodies if needed (Laurel Lake, Stockbridge Bowl and Goose Pond) and increase our response time in our decision-making process.

Perspective

A Metaphor

Someone’s dog relieved itself by the river on a trail going to Laura’s Tower. The owner did the right thing and cleaned it up but then left the bag next to a tree.

It always costs more in time and money to do it wrong.

This reminds me of the Rest of River Municipal Committee. From the 1940’s through the 1970’s, GE decided to relieve itself of its PCBs in the river. Now they say they will clean it up but will leave part of it in Lee at the proposed dump site. It will be wrapped and sealed in Butyl Membrane. They cannot guarantee it won’t leak. If it leaks, future generations will have to clean up the dump. 

You don’t cleanup your kitchen by sweeping the dirt into the Living Room. GE will have to clean up twice. Stockbridge, Lenox, Sheffield, Great Barrington — This is not a done deal! 

It always costs more intime and money to do it wrong.

My 31-year-old son said, “Thanks Dad, your generation is leaving a lot for us to clean up.”

GE and the EPA are doing it wrong, and it will cost all of us in the end. A good first step for us — the five towns in Rest of River — would be to talk to each other. As a resident of Stockbridge, I would like our Board of Selectmen to do just that. If anyone else feels the same way, let your representatives know now!

It always costs more in time and money to do it wrong.

When Bob Jones decided to move to Lee it was a great loss to the town of Stockbridge and a great gain for the town of Lee. To describe Bob – take your dictionary and look up honorable, trustworthy, and intelligent. On behalf of Lee, Bob is asking for our help with Lee’s battle to stop the dump. I picked up the bag the dog owner left behind. Sure enough, it was leaking. We ignore Bob Jones at our peril.

Fun Fact: General Electric annual gross profit for 2022 was $21.02 Billion.

Rest of the River Cleanup $576 Million. $576 Million is 2.54743% of $21 Billion — pocket change.

by Tom Farley

Perspective

A Community Conversation

The Conversation will examine the critical events in 1965 that challenged MLK, Jr. to decide whether to defy a federal order and march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.

Joshua Hall will use the Case Method manner of discussion that he uses in his Lee High School classrooms (all levels). All are encouraged and welcome to register to join this session as a “student” or as an “observer”. 

The Case Method Institute was founded by Dr. David A. Moss at Harvard University. Through his book, Democracy: A Case Study, Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2017, Dr. Moss hopes to bring case method teaching to high schools and colleges across the USA. 

Participants may prepare by reading a chapter of Dr. Moss’s book, Chapter 16 (on reserve at the Stockbridge Library) or by reading the teaching text offered exclusively for this Conversation.

Observers are welcome: To Register for in-person or zoom/on-line participation as a “student” or as an “observer” please email BerkshireLWV@gmail.com to register.

Hall has worked as an educator for the Lee Public Schools in the Social Studies Department and also as an adjunct professor for Elms College. As a teacher of United States and global history, Hall strives to bring the past to the future in a way that is clear and relevant for his students. Having attended The Case Study Institute through the Harvard Business College in 2022, Mr. Hall has taught Dr. Moss’s Case Study Method in his classroom. He has found that this has broadened both his students’ and’ his own understanding of the events in the history of the United States. When not in the classroom, Hall works as the Assistant Curator and Genealogist for the Stockbridge Library Museum & Archives.

Case Method Project website is here: https://www.hbs.edu/case-method-project/Pages/default.aspx

Case method teaching has been the core pedagogy at Harvard Business School (HBS) for decades, favored by students and teachers alike. Building on this record of success, HBS Professor David Moss in 2013 introduced a case method course called History of American Democracy, developed mainly for undergraduates. The course quickly became one of the highest-rated classes at Harvard College. Students described the teaching method as highly engaging and credited it with helping them to learn and retain course material more effectively. Many also reported that taking the course had inspired them to become more civically engaged. As one Harvard student put it, “If this class didn’t make every student in it a better citizen, I don’t know what class would.”

by Ramelle Pulitzer, President, League of Women Voters

The Last Word

Reader to Reader

To Stockbridge Updates:

I encourage both citizens and their respective Town Officials residing in The Housatonic River Corridor to question the Rest Of The River (ROR) committee about their interactions with the EPA, the attorneys, and of course General Electric Corporation. 

Additionally, all the subsequent meetings of the ROR committee held after the public input meetings do not appear to comply with the open meeting law.

We are literally being sold down the river by the ROR Committee, the EPA, and GE. The ROR committee is complicit in abetting this convoluted cleanup plan. Everyone should be completely informed on how this very long cleanup timeframe will affect their lives and the health and economic impact to themselves and their communities. What happens upstream will affect all of us downstream.

If this current cleanup plan is allowed to come to fruition, we will all continue to suffer the health and economic impacts for generations.

What happens upstream will impact all of us residing downstream. 

Ask the hard questions of your Town Officials, the ROR committee, the EPA, and GE. Follow the money and you will learn that the cleanup is a very small percentage of GE’s worth compared to the enormous economic threat it is to our tiny villages. 

Let us all join our fellow citizens in the Town of Lee and support their efforts in fighting this very important battle for our community’s health and welfare.

Gary Pitney

Editor’s note: Pitney is Chair of the Board of Assessors and a member of the Planning Board.

To Stockbridge Updates:

There will be an Environmental Protection Agency/Citizens Coordinating Committee) (EPA/CCC) meeting held at the Lee Library on Wednesday, September 13th from 6-8 PM. 

This is a meeting with groups directly involved in the proposed cleanup of the Housatonic River, more specifically, the removal of PCB’s over a fifteen year period. 

Residents of Stockbridge, Lenox, Great Barrington, and Sheffield interested in our river and the river cleanup are welcome. The exchanges at these meetings will have a major impact on decisions made that will impact future generations in the Housatonic River Corridor

If you cannot attend in person, please request a link for the meeting ad please convey concerns to the EPA, via email to Kelsey Dumville at: dumville.kelsey@epa.gov. 

Robert Jones, Chair, Lee Select Board

In the next issue:

Commentary

Here is an irony. Many moved here in a “Flight to Safety from COVID”. They arrived only to learn we don’t have enough nurses, doctors, dentists, or hospital beds. What is the extent of the medical and dental service crisis, and what is the solution?

Ever considered if prognosticators are right about future population decline? What if there is a second flight to safety? A flight from the ravages of climate change – form excessive heat, severe storms, fire, and floods — and our population actually swells?

As our expert consultant evaluates the sewer system in Stockbridge — what is our role? What questions should we be asking? What are the impacts on the health of the lake? The growth and density of the Town? What are the costs? Who has the greatest need? Who has vested interests? What are the best interests of the Town? Who decides, do we, or do we rely on the experts?

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