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Notes from the Select Board, April 27, 2023

• Patrick White, Chair
• Jamie Minacci
• Chuck Cardillo
• Michael Canales

Public named if they spoke.

1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Alcohol licenses for Berkshire Botanical Garden and Chesterwood approved
3. Improvement of Boat Ramp
   1. For five years, Stockbridge has waited for the Commonwealth Public Access Board to repair the boat ramp — the access to Stockbridge Bowl. This year White asked Doug Cameron, MA Public Access Board again. Cameron said no money was available — it would be several years more. White suggested Stockbridge fund it and get the repairs done. The estimate from the Public Access Board was $125,000.
   2. Representatives of the 4000-member Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) supported White's suggestion and cited the danger to people (slipping) boats (damaging bottoms of boats) trees (dying from run off and erosion and the lake itself (due to unimpeded run off into lake). BCLS was present to support White's proposal to get the work done.
   3. Jim Balfanz representing the Stockbridge Sportsmen's Club, opposed White. Although Balfanz reported that he polled the Sportsmen's Club board and they were in favor, Balfanz disagreed. He wanted to make it clear they supported fixing the boat ramp, but he opposed using any taxpayer money. He wanted the Commonwealth to pay for it. White repeated that the Public Access Board turned down the project. Cardillo and Balfanz insisted White press them and press other elected officials (such as Smitty Pignatelli) and get money from MA.
   4. BCLS urged the SB "don't stop keep moving forward." Trying to move forward, White and Canales said the Public Access Board might put in a nominal amount for engineering and permitting to get the project started if Stockbridge does. The BCLS said they would contribute. Minacci asked if the Sportsman Club would contribute, Balfanz said no. White called for a vote to place an article on Warrant for money to begin work on boat ramp (engineering and permitting). It passed unanimously. However, Cardillo voted yes but said he opposed it as Stockbridge had spent enough money on The Bowl already.
4. White read a letter from Lee, MA asking for a joint meeting to discuss the proposed PCB dump. Minacci and Cardillo asked to table it — no action.
5. Warrant accepted with one change to Operating Budget.

Public Comment:

Harold French discussed difficulty facing Memorial Day celebration in Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, and Great Barrington. Vets aging and dying. Proposal for rotating parades in each town every three years.

Rich Bradway, Chair, Stockbridge Land Trust announced that the Stockbridge-Munsee Band with MA Municipal Vulnerability Program money will buy Fenn Farm — 315 acres on the side of Monument Mountain.

Meeting adjourned

Editor's note: Money from the Commonwealth Public Access Board or Stockbridge budget or Free Cash is all taxpayer money.

Photo: Lionel Delevingne