Notes from the Select Board (SB), November 18, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Roxanne McCaffrey, Chair
• Patrick White
• Michael Canales, Town Administrator

1. Steve Hayward for National Grid discussed excavation for underground wire on Lincoln Lane. Although National Grid is putting in unground wire, the poles will remain.
2. A concerned citizen wanted to know if her apple tree would be affected. Apparently not — National Grid would go into roadbed, if necessary, not onto private property.
3. SB granted Special Permit for dig with condition that if any shade trees are to be removed, National Grid will return to SB for permission (per Stockbridge bylaw).
4. Meeting minutes for Oct 21 and 28 approved. Approval for October 14 minutes postponed
5. On behalf of Tri-Town Health, Chair Charles Kenny revisited the discussion on how the three towns are charged. White made clear that his question about the percentages was in no way critical of Tri-Town but was exercising his fiduciary responsibility to the Town. Kenny assured him he knew that but just wanted to make sure SB had the information it needed.
6. Canales gave project reports on Averic Road and Interlaken/Larrywaug bridges. Averic is just starting, and Interlaken is completing and will open shortly. The Interlaken/Larrywaug bridge may close again for a week or so in spring.
7. Winter parking ban in effect from 11/15/21 to 3/15/22 — that is, no parking on Main Street from 2 a.m.to 7 a.m.
8. Canales' contract was accepted.
9. Chris Marsden resigned to accept job with Mass Emergency Management. He was thanked for his service to the Town and wished well.
10. One day Alcohol License approved for Berkshire Botanical Garden fundraiser on December 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
11. Thank you to the Housing Authority for its $839.27 contribution on lieu of taxes.

Meeting adjourned

New, hand-carved granite fence posts for the cemetery (left) waiting to be installed. They will replace concrete versions that did not age well. Photos: Patrick White