ROR, PCBs, the Housatonic, and our Town

by Denny Alsop

I spoke up at the Select Board meeting on April 14, because I have become more concerned on a daily basis at the information denied the residents of Stockbridge about the Rest of River/ PCB process.

For example:

1. How much Stockbridge taxpayer money has been spent on Rest of River legal bills? The Town Administrator reported that the Town appropriated 'one hundred and eighty thousand dollars ($ 180,000.00). What are these legal bills for?
2. The Housatonic River runs through Stockbridge. What are the impacts on the public health of Stockbridge citizens?
3. In 1972, consultants were asked to select the optimum site for as a water source for a municipal well to serve Lee and Lenox. They selected the exact spot they have down selected as the spot to dump PCBs.

Rest of River Municipal Committee conducts its meetings in secret. For example, at the last meeting, public comment or question was not allowed, however, there was an important question. If the PCBs are trucked from other places to a dump site in Lee, how many trucks will go through Stockbridge? Over what period of time? Someone at the Select Board meeting said 1000s of trucks per year over a period of years? Is that true?

I attended the SB meeting to ask that ROR reports made to Select Board be made in public session not executive session.

We need facts.

Photo: Jay Rhind