Notes from Stockbridge Town Meeting in Person

As meeting started, there were approximately 170 present; 77 present at end

1. Town Clerk Terri Imolini announced that elected Town Moderator Gary Johnston would not be present. According to procedure, nominations were entertained from the floor. Charlie Kenny and Terri Iemolini were nominated and declined. Steve Shatz was the only candidate.
2. Shatz gaveled the Town meeting to order. He commented that he was pre-selected and prepared by consulting Johnston and studying the rules.
3. Shatz wished Johnston well and was confident he would Moderate future meetings.
4. Articles 1 – 6 (including Town Budget) passed. Then Shatz shifted the order to the last Articles on the Warrant #46 – 54.
5. Eight of the last 9 Articles passed. The exception was the Parking Bylaw which failed. Of the three bylaws the Berkshire Regional Planning consultant worked on – the parking bylaw was defeated, the sign bylaw was dropped from consideration, and only the driveway bylaw passed into law.
6. The Moderator then returned to the original order of Articles with # 7 – 22 with the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) funding recommendations. As the fourth hour was memory and attendees were leaving, it was agreed to consolidate the CPC grant awards as was done in the past. # 19 and 22 were amended, apparently by Town Counsel, and all passed.
7. Article 23 ($40,000 for consultants to Planning Board) passed narrowly (60/54) after energetic debate.
8. The remaining Articles – 24 through 45 -- all passed. Sixteen were funding articles including $600,000 for restoration of the Children's Chime Tower, a new pump station, and a Housing Trust Fund. Stockbridge voted to withdraw from the mosquito spraying program, to save the old growth forest in Ice Glen, and to repair and upgrade the tennis courts.
9. The meeting lasted 5 1/2 hours – 10 to 3:30.

Editor's note: (a) Shatz was prepared and did a serviceable job with a long and arduous Warrant. It would have been nice if the Town as a whole were informed in advance of Johnston's absence so that others were prepared to nominate and be nominated. (b) For many it was the first time in 15 months they sat indoors in a crowd. (c) I had to leave after 4 1/2 hours and am indebted to Kate Fletcher who filled me in on the outcome of Articles 24 – 45 – the final articles entertained. Thank you. (d) I think every voter present would have thanked the Select Board if they could have found a way for Town Meeting to be shorter.

Laurel in bloom this past weekend on Kwuniikwat Island/Stockbridge Bowl.