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HomeArchiveVol. II No. 13 7/1/2021Minutes from Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Committee June 4 via Zoom
Vol. II No. 13 7/1/2021

Minutes from Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Committee June 4 via Zoom

submitted by Charles Kenny

Present:

  • Jamie Minacci, Chair
  • Roxanne McCaffrey
  • John Loiodice
  • Gary Kleinerman
  • Michael Nathan

Jim Wilusz, Charles Kenny. Members of the public. Absent: Michael Buffoni, Gary Johnston. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Minacci at 8:00am.

Minutes: Kenny volunteered to take the minutes for the meeting. He would distribute them to the other committee members as well as file them with the Town once they were approved. The minutes of the previous meeting of May 21 were discussed. Nathan clarified that the Select Board needed to help with the dredging. The minutes of the previous meeting of May 21 were accepted.

Reports:

Harbor Master: Kleinerman reported that the zebra mussel prevention program was in place 100%. The employees received their raises. They were intending to repaint the white line and were wondering what other improvements the Select Board was going to recommend regarding the parking area. Kleinerman intended to work on the docks in Bullard Woods and later on the Island. The 6 mile per hour markers would be installed the following week.

Board of Health: Kenny advocated adding a secretary if Town Meeting approved changing the status of the SBSC to a commission. Wilusz emphasized the fact that the mosquito control program had many deficiencies and that this was going to be reconsidered at the Town Meeting. He also thought that there should be continued discussion of the possible sewer expansion because he thought major costs were involved for people, particularly in the Lake Drive area, if they had to upgrade their septic systems. He wondered about the status of the committee members if the committee was upgraded to a commission, and Roxanne McCaffrey indicated that the same stakeholders would continue.

Select Board: McCaffrey noted that the NOI (Notice of Intent) for harvesting would be on the Conservation Commission agenda on June 8. She noted the Town was having trouble hiring people for various functions, including harvesting, and that increased salary offerings were being considered. This was also true with the lifeguard. She noted there was a Stockbridge Bowl Association Meeting on Sunday, June 13, and she would attend. She particularly wondered if the buoys would be put out to mark the herbicide test areas and protect them from the harvesting as had been directed by the state. She noted that the in-person meetings would resume, and that Town administration was currently studying how to accomplish combination meetings. Kenny, Nathan and Wilusz spoke in support of the hybrid meeting and the benefits of using the technology to allow people to participate from the general public as well as to allow recording of the meetings, to improve the convenience of people who are on committees, and potentially increase the pool of people who would eventually participate in Town government.

Sewer and Water: Loiodice noted that the hydrants had been cleaned and flushed, the bridge was in place at Curtisville, and that Larrywaug should be completed by October.

There followed discussion about the possible hook-up of sewer and water to the Lake Drive area, and Loiodice noted that there were currently no pending applications for sewer extension before his committee.

Wilusz noted multiple septic systems failed. If there was a time frame for sewer extension or some other alternative, different kinds of techniques of temporizing could be employed. He noted that one option might be a shared septic site. There was a discussion of the need for engineering input regarding the methods and cost. McCaffrey emphasized being proactive. It was thought that getting some of the key stakeholders together for a discussion would be important, and that was planned.

Conservation Commission: Minacci noted that the property with the rocks situation was improving. She again emphasized the potential importance of having a conservation agent available to watch out as properties were developed and alert the Con Com so that they did not have to play catch up. She confirmed that the NOI for harvesting was on the agenda for the Con Com on June 8.

Stockbridge Bowl Association: Nathan noted that the new harvester was a gem and volunteered his own services if there was trouble hiring people to run it. He noted that the Stockbridge Bowl Association donated $18,000 to the Town for the improvement of the beach. McCaffrey indicated that the Town planned to improve the parking lot with those funds in the fall. She noted that repairs of the pavilion roof were also being discussed. Nathan added that he thought that this was a laudable program because it was a family-oriented situation that allowed families to participate and enjoy the Bowl. He thought the improvement of the cove eventually, if it was successfully dredged, would be a similar family-oriented benefit. Chair Minacci noted that the next meeting would be on June 18 and that it would most likely be at the Town Hall because of the state of emergency in the State regarding coronavirus was about to end.

There being no other business, Chair Minacci adjourned the meeting at 8:56 a.m. Chair Minacci reminded everyone that the next meeting would be at 8 a.m. on June 18, possibly in person at the Town Hall.

Editor's note: "the rock situation" refers To rocks placed in The Bowl that were possibly not permitted.


The Stockbridge Bowl Outlet. Photo: Joan Gallos