Notes from the Select Board (SB) Meeting, February 23, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Patrick White, Chair
• Chuck Cardillo
• Jamie Minacci
• Michael Canales, Town Administrator
• Ron Brouker, Chair ConCom
• Matt Boudreau, Chair, Agriculture and Forestry Commission (AFC)
• Nick Fredsall, Parks and Recreation
• Hugh Page, Superintendent Highway Department

1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. On automobile excise tax bill opportunity to check box and contribute to elderly and disabled and the new scholarship fund. Fredsall asked how much in scholarship fund? White joked that he knew there was "at least a hundred bucks." Cardillo explained tat this is the first tax bill this has appeared on.
3. White introduced Chairs representing Stockbridge's great outdoors: ConCom, Parks and Rec, AFC, and Highway Department.
   1. Fredsall — finish Town Beach parking lot, more Adirondack chairs and picnic tables, more and add to Kayak racks for easier access also on river, and finish tennis court and fence on Pine Street. Question about pickleball courts — drew alternate lines on tennis courts near Town Offices to facilitate play — call Town Offices for info.
   2. Boudreau reported an AFC hike of Town forests adjacent to waterways will be posted if others wish to join. Treatment of ash and hemlocks in Ice Glen; working with ConCom to prepare information for homeowners about hemlock and ash trees on private land, and stressed cannot use chemicals to kill infestation near waterways — The Bowl, streams, etc.
   3. Big announcement: Farmer's Market in Stockbridge — 6 weeks this summer
   4. Brouker said infestation of hemlocks very bad around The Bowl and also on Rattlesnake Mountain Road. All hemlocks will not die and those that do not may be resistant to the bug and thereby will repopulate. Therefore, do not cut down healthy trees because "they will die anyway".
   5. Boudreau said there is no one-to-one replacement for hemlock, therefore, plant as many trees as a possible to replace a hemlock. Brouker said this was a hard sell because folks want the view of the water.
   6. Brouker reported they are completing Performance Standards and proposing a Guide to Wetland Protection.
4. These reports were followed by interaction between committees. Fredsall asked about location of Farmer's market — suggested playground area by Town Offices and also suggested a community compost.
5. Canales said good idea as by 2030 or 2035 the Commonwealth will stop taking organics at the dump.
6. Cardillo suggested that progress on saving hemlocks and ash in Ice Glen be assessed. White said there was money set aside and should be done annually
7. White said performance standards are very good — let folks in Lake and Pond Overlay District (LPOD) know what is expected and why and what the penalties are for not complying. White also asked how the Compliance Officer David Cameron is working out? Brouker said very well. White asked about budget for the position — too much too little? Canales said working well.
8. Canales went over part of the budget. It will be reviewed by SB at a separate meeting. He put up a pie chart of reserved/surplus funds. It is millions: approximately $687,000 in Water Department, $358,000 in Sewer Department, $2,600,000 in Free Cash, $2,600,000 in Reserve Fund Stabilization, $3,700,000 in Post-Employment Benefits Fund, $382,000 in unspent ARPA funds (approximately $10 million)
9. White asked if money should be set aside for dredging? Minacci said don't know total cost and have not determined Stockbridge Bowl Association (SBA) share.
10. White said more discussion at future meetings.

Meeting adjourned.

Photo: Lionel Delevingne