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HomeArchiveVol. IV No. 3 2/1/2023Notes from the Select Board (SB), January 12, Hybrid meeting
Vol. IV No. 3 2/1/2023

Notes from the Select Board (SB), January 12, Hybrid meeting

Present:

  • Patrick White, Chair,
  • Chuck Cardillo
  • Jamie Minacci
  • Michael Canales, Town administrator
  • Harold French
  • Michael Roisman
  • Corey Sprague and Jason, School Board
  • Jason St. Peter, School Board
  • Peter Dillon Superintendent BHRSD
  • Via Zoom (named if speak)
  1. Chair called the meeting to order and invited veteran Harold French to lead the Pledge of Allegiance
  2. Chair asked for any announcements from the other SB members.
    1. Minacci announced that in February, a one-year public transportation program will begin — available on Sundays only. White added there is a nominal fee and it is transportation-on-demand — call for service and tell driver where you are going (more like Uber).
    2. White announced the MA Senator Paul Mark will visit Stockbridge for "Coffee and Conversation" in SB Meeting Room and on Zoom February 13 — 10am
  3. Special Permit hearing — 15 Lakeview Drive — Rob Rakroyd for the applicant. The property is 1/2 acre in a R2 zone (2 acre) so the lot is nonconforming. New owners are keeping the house with same footprint but adding deck — 10 feet wide. Because it is within Lake and Pond Overlay District this is also before the Planning Board.
    1. Marie Raftery, member PB, made a site visit and said PB will discuss at next meeting.
    2. John Hart, ConCom, asked if the deck would be enclosed? He said that is always a concern.
    3. White said he had contacted Town Counsel Donna Brewer and she drafted language for a condition on the special permit. Deck approved but there would be no further alteration.
    4. White asked for a motion to grant approval of deck with the condition. Passed.
  4. White opened the meeting to public comment.
    1. Michael Roisman suggested that because of a situation unique to Stockbridge — Town has had the same moderator, Gary Johnston, for approaching 50 years and the Moderator appoints the members of the Finance Committee — perhaps Stockbridge should elect rather than appoint members to the Finance Committee. Roisman said that would require a vote at Town Meeting and asked if SB would put an article to that effect on the Warrant?
    2. White began to answer Roisman but Minacci said there was a procedural rule that members could only listen but not respond during public comments.
    3. Harold French had several concerns:
      1. He was worried that our veterans are dying out and who will arrange the Veteran's Day celebration? White asked if they could coordinate with other towns? Minacci repeated that SB members could not speak.
      2. French was concerned that the rising percentage of second homeowners (60%) to (40%) primary homeowners was a challenge for the village.
      3. French was also concerned that Town fix drainage on Church Street — doesn't drain, water backs up into yards. Trees with roots in the catch basin should be removed. French was concerned about nonprofits that own property that they rent/lease and should they pay taxes on that property/income?
      4. Finally French was concerned about high costs at dump. Canales said it was "recycling monopoly" and a "function of the marketplace".
  5. SB approved 4 sets of minutes as written.
  6. Through the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program, Stockbridge received $1000 anonymously and $500 from St Paul's Church. White thanked them.
  7. Dillon, Sprague, and St. Peter joined SB to discuss an open seat on the School Board. The person approved for the open seat will also sit on the 8-Town Committee considering the school merger. Of the three people who indicated an interest in serving, Bill Vogt was elected.
  8. Rich Bradway and Rick Wilcox joined the SB to discuss a formal ceremony presenting a document formerly in Stockbridge Library to the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Nation and the possible ownership of the Indian Burying Ground to the Stockbridge-Munsee Band.
    1. It was agreed to have a formal ceremony.
    2. Transferring the Burying Ground is harder. It is unclear who owns it. It was "given into the keeping" of Dr. Oliver Partridge and might require a quit claim from all his descendants — a daunting task. Attorney Lori Robbins is donating her time (for legal services) but not the costs of filing etc. to transfer the property.
    3. White mentioned that his understanding is that the Stockbridge-Munsee Community wants a local agent to manage the property as they are situated in Wisconsin.
    4. White suggested creating a Town/Stockbridge-Munsee Liasson Committee

Meeting adjourned.

 

photo
Photo: Don Perdue