STOCKBRIDGE
ANNUAL REPORT 2017
ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE TOWN OFFICERS OF THE TOWN OF STOCKBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS
INCORPORATED 1739
FOR THE YEAR ENDING December 31, 2017
Contents
Information and Officers General Information of Town of Stockbridge 1 Business Hours of Town Officers 2 Town Officers of Stockbridge 3 Appointees and Committees 3
Town Clerk’s Report Statistics 6 In Memoriam 8
General Services Selectmen 9 Police Department 12 Fire Department 15 Highway Department 16 Cemetery Department 17 Sewer and Water Department 18 Parks and Recreation 19 Emergency Management 20 Health, Education and Social Services Board of Health 22 Tri-Town Health 23 Education 26 Stockbridge Library Association 27 Stockbridge Council on Aging 29 Stockbridge Housing Authority 30 Elderly & Disabled Tax Aid Committee 32 Southern Berkshire Distract – Department of Veteran’s Service 33
Planning and Aesthetics Planning Board 34 Building Inspector 35 Conservation Commission 36 Stockbridge Historical Commission 37 Historical Preservation Commission 37 Stockbridge Cultural Council 39 Stockbridge Bike Group 40 Community Preservation Committee 41 Memorial Day Committee 42 Memorial Day Speech 44 Stockbridge Green Committee 47 Stockbridge Bowl Association 48 Stockbridge Land Trust 50 Laurel Hill Association 51 Zoning Board of Appeals 53 Tourism Committee 54 Finances Accountant 55 Balance Sheet 56 Board of Assessors 79 Town Collector 80 Treasurer 85 Finance Committee 87
Town Warrant Warrant 88 Article 4 94 Warrant Articles for FY’19 99 INFORMATION AND OFFICERS
General Information of Town of Stockbridge
Chartered 1737
Incorporated 1739
Population 1943
Registered Voters 1622
Form of Government Open Town Meeting
Tax Rate $9.70
Annual Town Meeting Third Monday in May
UNITED STATES SENATORS Elizabeth Warren, Boston Edward Markey, Boston
CONGRESSMAN Richard E. Neal
STATE SENATOR Adam Hinds
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT William Smitty Pignatelli
1 Business Hours of Town Offices
ASSESSORS, BOARD OF PARKS and RECREATION COMMISSION 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. As necessary Monday-Friday PLANNING BOARD BERKSHIRE HILLS REGIONAL 6:30 p.m. 1st and 3rd Tuesday of SCHOOL COMMITTEE each month 7:00 p.m. 2nd Thursday of each month SELECT BOARD CONSERVATION COMMISSION 7 p.m. Monday 7 p.m. 2nd and 4th Tuesday of TOWN CLERK each month 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each month COUNCIL ON AGING TOWN TREASURER 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon – Wed & Fri. FINANCE BOARD TOWN COLLECTOR As Necessary 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday HEALTH, BOARD OF VETERANS’ AGENT As Necessary Hours: www.townofgb.org HISTORICAL COMMISSION Great Barrington Town Hall As Necessary SEWER and WATER COMMISSION HOUSING AUTHORITY 4:30 p.m. 1st Tuesday of each month 8:30 a.m. 1st Tuesday of each month ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS at Heaton Court As Necessary
TELEPHONE NUMBERS Berkshire Hills Regional School District 298-4017 Monument Mountain 528-3346 Monument Valley Regional Middle School 644-2300 Muddy Brook Regional Elementary 644-2350 Fire Department Burning Permits www.bcburnpermits.com or 298-5562 Glendale Station 298-3242 Hose Company No. 1 298-4866 Interlaken Station 298-4956 Highway Department 298-5506 Police Department 298-4179 Sewer and Water Department 298-4067 Town Offices 298-4170 Accountant ext. 255 Assessors ext. 254 Building Inspector ext. 257 Conservation Commission ext. 259 Council on Aging ext. 263 Facilities Manager ext. 260 Planning Board ext. 261 Selectmen & Town Administrator ext. 250 Town Clerk ext. 251 Town Collector ext. 253 Treasurer ext. 252
2 Town Officers of Stockbridge Moderator Gary D. Johnston
Select Board Wayne Slosek Don Chabon Kate Fletcher Ernest Cardillo Lisa Sauer Terry Flynn Marie Raftery
Board of Assessors Treasurer Douglas Goudey Karen T. Williams Thomas Stokes Gary M. Pitney Tree Warden Peter L. Curtin, Jr. Town Clerk Teresa Iemolini Parks and Recreation Julie Edmonds Town Collector Steven Knopf Nancy E. Socha George Manley
Board of Health Housing Authority Cathy Plakun Bernard Edmonds Charles Kenny Charles Gillett, State Appointee, Henry Schwerner R. Timothy Minkler Dawn Anne Rabinowitz Sewer and Water Commissioners James Welch Donald C. Schneyer JoAnne Redding Thomas Paul Schuler Peter J. Socha Regional School Committee Sean Stephen Planning Board Jason St. Peter Gary M. Pitney Daniel Weston Eugene Talbot Ruth Pearce
APPOINTEES AND COMMITTEES Accountant Wire Inspector Elaine Markham Nicholas Fredsall Henry Blanchard, Alternate Building Inspector Ned Baldwin Town Administrator Danielle Fillio Plumbing Inspector Gregory M. Pilling Veterans’ Agent Laurie Hils Emergency Management Christopher Marsden, Director Highway Superintendent Leonard Tisdale, Jr.
3 Principal Assessor Memorial Day Committee Michael Blay Harold French Lisa Thorne Police Chief Tim Minkler Darrell Fennelly Keith Raftery Historical Commission Skip Whalen Maria Carr Jim Dolson Linda Jackson, Chairman Merrill Sanderson Peter Williams Don Coleman Fred Coleman Fire Chief Debra Coleman Ernest Cardillo Ron Muir Neil Haywood, Deputy Town Counsel Gas Inspector J. Raymond Miyares Gregory M. Pilling, 2018 Conservation Commission Cultural Council Thomas LaBelle Karen Marshall Ronald Broucker Christine Rasmussen Joseph DeGiorgis Mary Flournoy John Hart Rebecca Weinman Jay Rhind Jessica Meagher Louise Gachet, alternate Lynn Edelstein George Shippey Patrick White Sally Underwood-Miller, Alternate, Secretary Berkshire Regional Planning Carol Owens, Alternate, Animal Inspector Selectmen appted John Drake
Board of Registrars Finance Board Teresa Iemolini Jay Bikofsky, Chairman Jennifer Carmichael Mary Boyce Nancy Clark Neil Holden Nancy Ann Wilcox James McMenamy Jim Balfanz Cable Advisory Committee Diane Heady-Ruess William Lehman Steve Shatz, Alternate Zoning Board of Appeals Green Communities Committee Thomas Schuler Laura Dubester, Chairman Robert Edwards Michael Buffoni James Murray Patricia Flinn Linda Day Charles Gillett John H. Spencer Pamela Sanders Robert Jones, Alternate Starbuck Smith John Hyson, Alternate Chris Marsden Tom Stokes
4 Community Preservation Committee Council on Aging Steve Knopf, Parks and Rec Elizabeth DiGrigoli, Director Katherine Fletcher, Planning Board Lynne French Linda Jackson, Historical Com Ronald Muir Gary Pitney, Assessors Nancy O’Brien Jay Bikofsky, Finance Com Susan Rogers Chuck Gillett, Housing Authority Diane Sheridan, Chairman Carol Owens, Selectmen Jessi Meagher, Selectmen Dog Officer Sally Underwood-Miller, Chairman, Donald Holmes for Con Com Historic Preservation Committee Elderly and Disabled Committee Carl Sprague, Chairman Joyce Hovey Jorja Marsden Elizabeth McCormack Gary Johnston Helen McCormick Jay Rhind Gary Pitney Pam Sandler Maria Carr Peter Williams, Secretary Tammy Touponce Cemetery Commission Karen Williams Cemetery Consultant, Joe Gardino Constables Board of Selectmen - Ernest J. Cardillo, Darrell Fennelly Don Chabon, Terry Flynn Kirk Nichols Laurel Hill Representative, Michael Bourisk Karen Marshall Donald Hopkins Town Clerk, Teresa Iemolini Rosario Messina Charles Gillett Shauna Slater Highway Supt., Leonard Tisdale, Jr.
Special Police Chad Heath Jake Stringer
5 TOWN CLERK’S REPORT FOR 2017
Vital Statistics Population 1943 Registered Voters 1622 Number of Births 6 Number of Marriages 16 Number of Deaths 29
At the recommendation of the Registry of Vital Records and the United States Department of State, we no longer print the individual names from vital records in the town report. This will help to protect the privacy of individuals as well as help to curb identity theft.
Raffle Permits Issued Raffle Permits 0
Dog Licenses Males 14 Neutered Males 122 Females 7 Spayed Females 125 Kennel 2 Replacements 1 Transfers __ 0 Totals 271
$1871.00 Paid to the Town Treasurer for Dog Licenses & Late Fee
Fees amounting to an additional $7204.36 were also turned over to the Town Treasurer for the sale of certified birth, marriage and death records and the filing of marriage intentions. Special permits, the recording of business certificates (DBA), and the sale of street lists, bylaws, and other miscellaneous services also contributed to this figure.
6 2017 Elections and Town Meetings
On Monday, January 23, 2017 a Special Town Meeting was held. There were 62 out of 1681 registered voters in attendance at the meeting.
The Annual Town Meeting was held on Monday, May 15th. There were 259 registered voters of the 1602 registered voters that attended this meeting.
On May 17, 2016, the Annual Town Election had a turnout of 409 registered voters. The number of registered voters at that time was 1602.
I would once again like to thank the wonderful group of people who help me during the Elections and Town Meetings; I couldn’t do it without them.
This year I am very proud to say that I became a Certified Massachusetts Municipal Town Clerk. I was able to accomplish this by successfully completing a written exam as well as fulfilling the educational requirements. It was a great learning experience for me and one which I feel will in turn benefit the Town of Stockbridge.
Respectfully submitted, TERESA IEMOLINI Town Clerk
7 IN MEMORIAM OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THE TOWN
John Spencer Jr. Planning Board Zoning Board of Appeals Community Preservation Committee
Linda Day Zoning Board of Appeals
Robert Marsden Conservation Commission
Sarah Begley Planning Board
Frances Schneyer Poll Worker
Lawrence Kuber Town Employee
John Kingston Cultural Council
8 GENERAL SERVICES
Selectmen’s Report
To the Citizens of Stockbridge, Massachusetts:
Following is the report of your duly elected Select Board for the period June 2016 to June 2017 -
Town Departments: Stockbridge has about 70 employees total: full time, part time, with some under contract and others not. We are pleased to begin this report citing the services provided by these, our Town employees. In all cases and without exception functions were fulfilled professionally and responsibly. The inevitable issues were each given proper consideration - options were weighed, actions considered and the issue handled appropriately. Emergency management, facilities, fire, police, highway, water & sewer, the inspectors, financial functions and administration all performed as expected. Emergency situations were anticipated and addressed as required. Feedback and follow-up show each department being properly responsive, as should be the case. Requested information was provided promptly, reports have been complete, thorough and timely. Our staffs are on top of new developments in their disciplines and current with training. All are taking a two pronged approach to their operations - dealing with the projects at hand while also taking steps to anticipate needed actions. Equipment upgrades were on schedule and required replacements have been projected.
Boards, Committees and Commissions: Stockbridge counts 27 different Boards, Committees and Commissions involving about 145 of our citizens. To everyone’s great credit, virtually all positions are filled or are in the process of being filled. These neighbors provide their time, efforts and skills freely, and in conjunction with our employees keep the Town moving forward. We are deeply grateful for their contribution. The activities of these groups are spelled out throughout this report, and we urge everyone to become familiar with the great work which is being done on behalf of our community. No mention of dedication would be complete without recognizing specific exemplary contributions: John Miller recently stepped down from our Board of Assessors after serving since March, 1963. Jack Spencer, who passed away this year, had served on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board, several policy committees and a variety of ad hoc and special project initiatives. Linda Day, a dedicated community activist, long-time member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and St. Paul’s Church also passed this year. Their efforts were greatly appreciated and will be long remembered.
9 Town Management: We had some big changes and significant moves in our Town’s Government: Entwined together were Jorja Marsden’s retirement, the search for a replacement Town Administrator and the question of whether or not Stockbridge wanted to share management with Lee and Lenox - dubbed regionalization or shared services. Select Board debates followed by letters and news articles led to a special Select Board meeting in July 2016. After receiving extensive comment, the Select Board voted 2 to 1 to reject the Shared Services CAO Model while withdrawing from the Administrative Review Committee - thereby setting Stockbridge on an independent path. But then, this left unresolved the issue of Town Administrator. On Jorja Marsden’s retirement Danielle Fillio, who had been serving as Assistant Town Administrator, was appointed Interim Town Administrator. A position she was to fill for nine months. Then, after considering options, a Board majority decided to make the appointment permanent and Danielle was designated Stockbridge’s newest Town Administrator.
Select Board: The Select Board continued its policy of having all meetings open as much as possible. Postings were properly done with the main question being the timeliness of parallel posting on the web page. Almost all meetings were televised and the only executive sessions were those required by statute. As is often the case, there have been debates between Board members, but differences were accommodated as much as reasonably possible and the board has worked together with results marked by the strides and advances cited in this report. Procedures for Stockbridge’s Select Board meetings were outlined - citing a more casual, collaborative and participative format than many of our neighboring towns. All citizens have been strongly encouraged to get actively involved, a call that has been met enthusiastically.
Under Development: Several initiatives are being undertaken in an effort to anticipate issues and keep out Town at the top of its game: Zoning bylaws are being reviewed by a sub-committee of the Planning Board; The age distribution of our population is generating an initiative on youth and population; A municipal business plan is in the works; Responsible reimbursement for municipal services by our non- profits is being looked at by a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) Committee; The organization of our financial staffs’ functions have been under review; To address the issue of affordable housing the feasibility of modifying ADU (accessory dwelling units) standards is being considered. The Air B&B phenomenon and protection of our hospitality industry is getting attention. A viable use of Proctor Hall is under active discussion. Marijuana legalization bylaws are being developed; a study of the Red Lion intersection, along with other road suggestions hopes to make our streets safer; our fountains (Dog&Cat and Watering Trough) are being looked at for repair; Bridge and road repairs are on schedule. And, of course, the 37 Interlaken/ DeSisto property may require some type of determination.
10 In Sum: For a variety of reasons that are amply displayed in the media this is a tough time to be in government, any government. And Stockbridge has faced its criticism from without as well as scrutiny from within. But while there remain issues, all are being addressed both expeditiously and professionally: Comments, complaints and criticisms that were received were taken seriously and each looked at for action and/or response. Of the inevitable legal complaints none resulted in charges being filed. We have regularly received reports from committees, commissions, boards, auditors and inspectors. Based on the above, by all standards - fiscally, socially, structurally, etc - we are in a good position; And with proper vigilance it’s anticipated that we will remain that way into the foreseeable future.
Respectfully submitted, DONALD M. CHABON, Chair ERNEST J. CARDILLO TERRY FLYNN
11 Police Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectman and the Citizens of Stockbridge: I hereby submit a report of the activities of the police department for the year 2017: I would first like to thank the members of this department who through their integrity and dedication provide our town with the services and professionalism each citizen deserves. Sergeant Kirk E. Nichols, Full Time Officers Rosario E. Messina, Donald S. Hopkins, Thomas A. Rubino, Michael G. Bourisk and Shauna L. Slater. Reserve Officers Jacob Stringer and Chad E. Heath I would also like to give a special thanks to our Executive Administrative Assistant, Kimberly L. Shaw, who does such a wonderful job working behind the scenes. Early in the year we saw the retirement of Full Time Officer Bruce J. Stringer and Special Traffic Officer Elizabeth McCormack. Their years of hard work and dedication to the Town of Stockbridge are very much appreciated and will not soon be forgotten. Reserve Officer Zachary DeSantis left to join the United States Army. He recently graduated from the Army’s Officer Candidate School and is now a commissioned Second Lieutenant. Kirk E. Nichols was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in early December. Sergeant Nichols’s outstanding leadership skills and his ability to handle multiple tasks while maintaining a calm and thoughtful demeanor made him the easy choice for this position. In April we welcomed the addition of one Full Time Officer. Officer Michael G. Bourisk came to us from Grafton, Massachusetts. Officer Bourisk previously worked a special detail under the direction of the Massachusetts State Police at the Worcester Airport. Officer Bourisk had previously self-sponsored and graduated from the MPTC Methuen Police Academy. Officer Bourisk moved to Lee in order to accept the job with the Stockbridge Police Department. In December our department became fully staffed with the graduation of Officer Shauna L. Slater from the MPTC Western Massachusetts Police Academy. Officer Slater completed twenty six weeks of rigorous training and was appointed as one of the class leaders during her time in the academy. Some of the accomplishments achieved at the department include: • The creation of a Flex Shift. One officer will work anytime from 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM or noon until 6:00 PM, 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM respectively. This will provide us with two officers during our busiest times of the day. • We have adjusted our required time for foot patrol in the business district. Each officer working the day shift is required to spend at least three twenty minute sessions throughout the day providing community policing in the downtown area. Provided they are not dispatched to more immediate calls for service. • In conjunction with a group of concerned citizens the Department 12 created a General Order relating to the enforcement of immigration laws. • With a generous donation from a private citizen the Department has purchased two additional radar/message board trailers. We now have three trailers for use throughout town. These trailers are instrumental in reducing speed and providing messages to motorists during special events. Through our selective radar enforcement program any resident can call us and request an officer to provide radar enforcement or the placement of a radar trailer on their street. • Department members received nearly 1000 hours of both mandatory in-service and specialized training. • Our officers participated in Read Across America as well as several events supporting the Special Olympics. The Tanglewood season and the multitude of events that take place in Stockbridge were successful by all standards. Due to proper planning and the involvement of multiple agencies and officials, these events were mostly incident free. Fortunately, we did not see any large increases in crime of any particular type or in any particular area of Town. We will continue to remain visible in the community and endeavor to be a proactive organization. Despite our increased efforts in traffic enforcement, the number of automobile crashes during the year increased dramatically from 77 in 2016 to 96 in 2017. While this may be an anomaly it certainly is a concerning public safety issue that I hope does not continue to trend upward. Speeding remains our number one citizen complaint. We have significantly increased the number of traffic stops from the previous year and through our selective radar enforcement program and the use of our radar trailers we will remain vigilant in making our roads safe for all travelers. As per General Order GO17-01 the Chief of Police reports the following: • There were zero civil immigration detainer requests lodged with the Stockbridge Police Department. • There were zero individuals that the Stockbridge Police Department detained pursuant to subsection (b)(2). • The total number of individuals transferred to ICE custody was zero. It is our goal to provide protection and a sense of security to all residents, businesses and visitors. We strive to prevent crime and to work in partnership with the public to achieve these objectives and meet your expectations. We are forever grateful for the enormous support that we receive from the Board of Selectman, Town Administrators Office, and the citizens of Stockbridge. Respectfully submitted,
DARRELL G. FENNELLY Chief of Police 13
Offenses: National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) & Civil Motor Vehicle Infractions The statistics below include all reported crime, which may later be determined to be unfounded. A&B With Dangerous Weapon 1 Assault With Dangerous Weapon 2 Assault 4 Assault & Battery 9 Trash/Litter 3 Attempt to Commit Crime/ 5 Intimidation Vandalize Property 1 B&E For Misdemeanor Daytime 3 Felony Failure to Stop of Police 4 B&E Nighttime, Felony 3 Destruction of Property Under 2 Drug/Narcotic Violation 5 $250.00 Destruction of Property Over $250 1 Leave the Scene of Property damage 11 MVA Disturbing the Peace 11 Motor Vehicle, Larceny of 2 Larceny Over $250 13 Larceny Under $250 1 License Operate a MV Suspended 3 OUI Liquor/OUI Liquor 3rd Offence 5 Unlicensed Operation of MV 6 Unregistered Motor Vehicle 1 Rape/Sexual Assault 6 Unregistered Trailer 1 Trespass 4 Motor Vehicle Theft 2 Weapons Violation 6 Criminal Motor Vehicle Violation 58 Reckless Operation of a Motor 1 Medical Call 105 Vehicle Assist Other Agency/Mutual Aid 123 Disturbance/Noise Complaint 43 Wildlife/Animal Control Calls/Dog 135 Well Being Checks 72 Bites Elder Abuse 3 Assist Citizens 348 Harassing/Annoying Phone Calls 5 LTC’s & FID’s Processed 47
Motor Vehicle Accidents 96 Alarm Calls 854 Speeding Citations 286 Open Doors 31 Total Traffic Infractions 849 Parking Tickets 45
Log Entries 16,063
14 Fire Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
The Fire department responded to 375 calls logging 1,938 man hours of effort devoted to fire suppression, life safety and training in 2017. Firefighters completed training courses that included, in-house and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy training, focusing on fire suppression, search and rescue, extrication and water/ice rescue. Stockbridge Emergency Medical Technicians have seen an ever increasing demand for service. The department’s five EMTs have responded to 184 medical assistance calls and several hundreds of hours more in continuing education. The department has continued to devote a lot of time and training for water and ice rescue.
The Fire department responded to the following emergencies in 2017: Fire suppression Hazardous condition Structure fires 1 Hazmat call 1 Chimney fires 2 Propane leak 3 Electrical fires 3 Oil spills 2 Gas grill fires 1 Service calls 2 Car fires 4 Brush fires 2 Search and Rescue Mutual aid 4 Search on land 4 Lightning strikes 2 Search in water 2 Animal rescue 2 Fire alarm Fire alarms 128 Medical Medical calls 184 CO alarms 18 Sprinkler alarms 1 MVA calls 9
I would like to personally thank the 18 officers, firefighters and EMTs of the Stockbridge Fire Department for their dedication to the department and the town. The fire department is getting to a critical point with the level of the membership to provide the necessary coverage for fire and medical. We are always actively looking for members. I would also like to thank the Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator and assistant for their insights and guidance and all town employees for their continued help. I also want to thank our neighboring fire and medical departments for their support. A special thank you goes out to the residents and businesses of Stockbridge for their support of the Fire Department.
Respectfully Submitted, ERNEST “CHUCK” CARDILLO, Fire Chief
15 Highway Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
Thanks to the dedicated town highway employees, the regular highway activities including repairs to asphalt roads, gravel road overlays, brush cutting, roadside mowing, parks and cemetery maintenance, machinery maintenance, weed harvesting on Stockbridge Bowl, and snow and ice control went very well.
2017 Chapter 90 projects: Quiet Knoll Road, as well as sections of Interlaken Road and Mahkeenac Road, were milled and resurfaced.
In late summer 2017, upon inspection of a six-foot stone-arch culvert on Glendale Road, north of the post office, an engineer required the replacement of this structure due to imminent failure. This project, as well as repairs to existing sub- drainage up to Christian Hill Road, will take place in January 2018. Immediately following this work, the resurfacing of a two-mile section of the roadway from Mohawk Lake Road south will take place.
The bridge designs for the twin Averic Road bridges are in the final Chapter 85 review process (Required) with the MassDOT. Grant funding through the Municipal Small Bridge Program (MSBP) for the maximum $500K was submitted, and we are awaiting notice of award if successful. If awarded, subsequent filings will be required to reach the $1.3 million estimated construction costs.
Also, an MSBP grant for $500K, as well as a 1-million dollar grant through the MassWorks program was submitted and awarded for the Larrywaug Bridge located on Interlaken Road. With the combined grants full funding for the bridge replacement has been secured. The engineering, design and geotechnical work are ongoing with a 25% Chapter 85 review scheduled for March 2018. Because of the MassDOT’s backlog of bridge design approvals, this bridge will not receive final design approval until the spring of 2019. Consequently, construction will not begin until the summer of 2019, with final project closeout in the spring of 2020.
Respectfully Submitted, LEONARD TISDALE, JR., Highway Superintendent
16 Cemetery Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectman and Citizens of Stockbridge:
There were a total of 21 Interments between the Town Cemetery and St. Joseph’s Cemetery during calendar year 2017; they are broken down as follows:
Town Cemetery, Full casket Interments: 4 Town Cemetery, Interment of cremated remains 15 St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Full casket Interments 1 St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Interment of cremated remains 1
All burial fees associated with the above interments amount to the following: Opening and closing of graves (Town Cemetery) $7300.00 Trust Fund (Town Cemetery) $4750.00 Opening and closing of graves (St. Joseph) $0.00 Trust Fund (St. Joseph) $500.00 Total collected by Cemetery fees: $12,550.00
In 2017 we were able to repair over fifty stones in the old section of the town cemetery. Tree work and removal of trees and shrubs was done. Stone repair will continue into 2018. The driveways of the town cemetery will be overlaid with fresh gravel. Areas of the cemetery will be over-seeded with new grass seed.
Residents are reminded that according to the Cemetery Regulations, which are part of the Town By-Laws: “permanent plantings of hedges, trees and shrubs are not permitted in the Town Cemetery, except as required by the Cemetery Commission.” There are several cases where well intentioned plantings have become neglected and overgrown at individual gravesites. Aside from being a general eyesore, neglected plantings obscure inscriptions, promote the growth of moss, algae, and lichen on stones, encroach on neighboring plots, and roots from ornamental shrubs can cause damage to memorials and foundations. We will continue the selected removal of shrubs that have become problematic or which we have had complaints about. This is done in the interest of maintaining the Cemeteries to an acceptable level and out of fairness and respect for all who share the cemetery.
Cemetery information, including full Regulations is available on the Town Website.
I wish to thank the crew from the Town Highway Department for the work that they do in handling the burials and assisting with maintenance.
Respectfully Submitted, JOSEPH GARDINO, Cemetery Consultant
17 Sewer & Water Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectman & Citizens of Stockbridge:
2017 was a busy and productive year for the Water & Sewer Department. In May, 2015, Town voters overwhelmingly approved the Special Article authorizing the improvement and upgrade of the Town’s water system. Replacement of two aging water tanks located in Interlaken with a single cement tank similar to the tank at Marian Fathers was completed in the Fall of 2017. The old water tanks (which were constructed in 1907 and 1942) were removed by Sewer & Water employees once the new tank was online. Sewer & Water employees were also required to run 8 and 12-inch water mains to tie the new tank line into the existing water main on Quiet Knoll Road. In addition, Sewer & Water employees had to reroute 200 feet of the 8-inch water mains to feed existing mains in the system.
In the Fall of 2017, construction of a new 12-inch water main on Church Street commenced. The new Church Street water main is replacing the exiting 10-inch cast iron water main which was installed in 1889. Water superintendent, Michael Buffoni, is acting as the “Clerk of the Works” for the project which has resulted in significant savings for the Town. As Clerk of the Works, Mike supervises the activities of the various contractors employed by the project. Approximately 2,500 feet of a 12-inch duct iron pipe installed which represents approximately 40% of the Project. The Church Street project will be completed in 2018.
The Sewer Department at the direction of Sewer Department Superintendent, Tony Campetti, the inflow infiltration study phase 1, mandated by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency authorized under the Town’s Special Article 14 as to the 27 Town meeting, has been completed. Phase 2 will be completed in 2018. In addition, after receiving approval from the town voters per Special Article 15, the new waste water treatment wet well level pump controllers were installed, which represents a much needed upgrade.
In addition, Sewer & Water employees continued to operate the sewer system waste water plant and water system in compliance with the rigorous standards set forth under Federal Environmental Protection Agency and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
Respectfully submitted, DONALD SCHNEYER, Chair THOMAS P. SCHULER PETER SOCHA
18 Parks and Recreation Commission
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of the Town:
The Parks and Recreation Commission are charged with the maintenance and management of the town’s parks and recreation facilities. These facilities include the Main Street Park, Interlaken Park, Park Street Park and Skateboard Park, Pine Street tennis courts, and the Town Beach at Stockbridge Bowl.
Three full-time and one part-time lifeguards were employed by the town who provided monitoring of the safety rules and maintenance of the town beach and facilities during the 2017 season. There were no issues with water quality at the beach. Pilling Landscaping continued to maintain and improve the Park Street gardens and the landscaping at the town beach.
All three canoe/kayak racks at the Town Beach were fully rented for the season. The procedure to obtain an application for a permit and payment of the storage fee for a canoe or kayak(s) on one of the racks at the town beach for the summer season can be obtained by calling the Stockbridge Town Hall, where a statement of Rules and Regulations pertaining to the canoe/kayak racks is also available.
The Parks and Recreation Committee worked with the Highway Department to make improvements to the Town Beach in the appearance, safety, and overall experience to beach goers. These improvements included restoring the beach area with clean sand, and improved drainage around the driveway entrances and parking area. We are pursuing additional funding and permit approvals to enhance the beach and swimming area which may include new signs for rules and regulations, improved landscaping along the shore, and replacing the ropes, docks and other outdated lifeguard equipment as needed.
The Commission thanks the head of the Highway Department, Len Tisdale, and his crew for their assistance with maintenance and preparation of the parks and recreation facilities for the summer season, and the efforts of all the volunteers who contribute their efforts toward making the town’s parks and recreation facilities first rate.
Respectfully Submitted, STEVEN KNOPF, Clerk JULIE EDMONDS GEORGE MANLEY
19 Emergency Management
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
Throughout 2017, Stockbridge Emergency Management has worked to facilitate the continuing process of all-hazards emergency planning for events - both planned and unplanned- within the Town boarders. Natural disasters, especially severe storms and flash flooding continue to be the greatest threat to our way of life in Stockbridge. Each year we also assess our preparedness to safely manage potentials associated with mass gatherings from a number of planned events at private venues throughout Town. Particular examples are the Josh Billings and the Mercy Weekend events on Eden Hill among others. The process of planning for and mitigating situations either natural or man-made is continual. From an emergency response standpoint these events require thoughtful planning and collaboration among local and regional response disciplines and other resources in order to ensure public safety, while at the same time maintaining and preserving the spirit of the particular event. Stockbridge is lucky to have active involvement of local authorities, private entities, neighboring communities and regional and state agencies involved in this process.
Over the past year, Stockbridge has continued partnership with both the Southern Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee as well as the Central Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee. Representatives from Town have attended meetings, classes and drills. The Committees apply for grants that benefit Stockbridge and our neighbor communities and provide a valuable network for resource sharing. Stockbridge is also a part of the Western Massachusetts Regional Homeland Security Council. This group encompasses all four Counties in Western Massachusetts and provides additional planning, training, financial and technical resources and support to the member communities. The WMRHSC website, www.westernmassready.org is provided to offer assistance to the public for emergency preparedness.
During 2017 the Town of Stockbridge submitted a letter of interest to be considered for funding support from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency for the purpose of updating the Town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. This document is required under Federal regulations as outlined by the Robert T. Stafford Act and is a key element for being eligible for all Federal Assistance grant funds.
We have continued to participate in state and regional meetings of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and have also worked with MEMA to maintain the Town’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan to current standards.
At the 2016 Annual Town Meeting a sum of $320,000.00 was allocated for improving the storm water drainage infrastructure in the vicinity of the Town Office Building with enough capacity for future extension and upgrading of storm water drainage around the Elm St. and Main St. areas. This is a vital project necessary to correct the chronic flash flooding which has resulted in serious 20 damage to the ground floor of the Town Offices and Police Department on three occasions in recent years. I have, with the assistance of MEMA submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency an application for the FEMA F/Y 2016 Pre-Disaster Mitigation/Flood Mitigation (PDM/FM) Grant to help lessen the burden to the tax payers of Stockbridge. This is a competitive grant process with each state being allotted limited funding from FEMA. For this grant cycle there were nine applications submitted from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Of those nine applications, only three projects have advanced for further review, including the Stockbridge application. If ultimately successful, this grant would cover 75% of the cost of the construction of this new drainage system. Throughout 2017 Stockbridge Emergency Management has been in close communication with both MEMA and FEMA to satisfy further requirements imposed during the review process. One such requirement is the completion of a comprehensive archaeological study of the proposed construction site. To complete this study the Town has contracted the services a qualified vendor and also completed a lengthy permitting process with the Massachusetts Historic Commission. As we come into 2018, we eagerly await weather conducive to actually perform this field work.
Thanks are due to the Board of Selectmen, the Town Administrator’s Office, and the members of the Police, Fire and Highway Departments and the many independent volunteers who make up our Emergency Management Team for Stockbridge. Thank you, to my counterparts throughout Berkshire County and the members of the Southern and Central Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committees for continued support and advice. Thank you, also to the Staff of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Region III/IV office in Agawam for their personal attention and dedication to our communities needs throughout the year.
Respectfully Submitted, CHRISTOPHER B. MARSDEN, Emergency Management Director
21 HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES Board of Health To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge: The elected Board of Health includes Dr. Henry Schwerner, Chair, Dr. Charles Kenny, Clerk and Ms. Cathy Plakun. Routine meetings are conduct, as needed, usually every month or every other month in the Town Office Building. The agenda is posted at least 48 hours prior to the meetings. All the meetings are open to the public and Stockbridge residents are welcome to attend. In addition, members of the Board attend the regularly scheduled quarterly meetings of Tri-Town Health Department. We actively participate in the Department’s programs as well as serve on their ad hoc committees. The Boards of Health of Lee and Lenox also attend the Department’s meetings and actively contribute to Tri-Town’s activities. In Fiscal Year 2017, the board met several times to explore options of implementing local policies to restrict the use of single use plastic bags and eliminating polystyrene in food establishments. After a series of meetings as well as conducting surveys to businesses, which was led by the Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Health scheduled a public hearing in April 2017. By a unanimous vote, the Board of Health enacted local regulations that would take effect in Jan 2018. No opposition was recorded at the hearing. We thank the Tri-Town Health Department, the Board of Selectman, and key stakeholders for their support during this process. We anticipate a prominent level of compliance. The Board of Health also supports the Tri-Town Health Department as they are responsible for housing code inspections that impact the health and welfare of residents. We also work with issues about the safety of drinking water, safe disposal of wastewater, and continue to monitor eating establishment issues that could pose a health threat. There were are series of hearings conducted on specific properties located at 6 South Street, 30 Interlaken Road, and 15 East Street. To date, all properties have achieved minimum standards. We continue to support and work with the Tri-Town Health Department for their efforts regarding Mass in Motion, Be Well Berkshires, Age Friendly Community and Stockbridge Walk ability. The 2017 Town of Stockbridge share of Tri-Town Health Department’s budget was $47,853.72 and local receipts show revenues generated from permits, water testing and other services conducted by Tri-Town Health as $25,350.65. Respectfully Submitted, CATHY PLAKUN, Chair CHARLES KENNY, M.D., Clerk HENRY SCHWERNER, M.D.
22 Tri-Town Health Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I hereby submit my annual report for the fiscal year 2017.
Following is a summary of our Public Health Prevention programs: Title 5 On-Site Wastewater Disposal: In Fiscal Year 2017, septic systems inspections and permit have continued to grow. Many permits and inspection include T-5 inspections due to property transfers and a large percent of permits were to repair failed non-conforming systems. As we catch up with inspectional services, we plan to devise a new training to support our local septic contractors to keep them up to date on wastewater technologies and systems. Food Service Sanitation Program: Food service establishment inspections have been steady including weekend special events. Two (2) inspections per year are required in accordance with State Sanitary Code Chapter X Minimum Sanitation Standards for Food Establishments. Unfortunately, due to turnover in staffing, we ended the fiscal year behind on mandated food inspections. In FY18 and beyond, the boards of health will be in process of exploring options to meet the demand of food service inspections to ensure compliance is met. Pool & Spa/Public/Semi Public Beaches: Health Inspectors are assigned the task of inspecting, sampling and monitoring public, semi-public pools/spas and bathing beaches. Although somewhat challenging to seasonal businesses, regulation requirements are mandated for all public and semi-public beaches to be permitted by the Board of Health. All of our pools are in good standing in the Town of Lee and there were no reported health/safety incidents in FY16. Tobacco Awareness Program: The Tobacco Awareness Program is grant funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and provides a variety of tobacco control services for 12 Berkshire County communities. Grant deliverables and accomplishments for Year 7 focused on amending current local regulations for the Town of Great Barrington and will be exploring options to update regulations in the Tri-Town district. FY18 is the last year of the grant and the District is poised to re-write a new grant next year. Tobacco Retailer Training Program: The Tri-Town Tobacco Retailer certification program continues to be a success. We have continued to see reductions in store fine and suspensions due to ongoing training of store employees. In FY17, 596 vouchers were sold, and 275 clerks were trained. For more information on the Retailer certification program, please visit www.tritownhealth.org. Be Well Berkshires/Mass in Motion Grant: Health/Wellness Coordinator(s), Amanda Chilson and Morgan Ovitzky are working diligently with the communities and focusing efforts on community accessibility/walkability, promoting the healthier dining program, supporting the schools on the new nutrition regulations, promoting the safe routes to school program, and working with town planners on complete streets. North Adams implemented a Complete Streets policy with sharrows and bike lanes and we continued to promote the annual Mayor’s fitness challenges. 23 Polystyrene/Plastic Bag Initiative: Fiscal 17 marks the first year of implementation of these by-laws. Although there were a few stores found to be in non-compliance, we were able to work with their corporate managers to quickly gain compliance. The transition and implementation plan derived by the Boards of Health, the Lee Recycling Committee, Lenox Environmental Committee, and other stakeholder yielded an elevated level of awareness, education and compliance. Administration: James J. Wilusz, R.S.: Over the past year, the Executive Director continued to work with the member towns on drafting and implementing local regulations on polystyrene and plastic bags. In FY18, all 3-member towns will have similar requirements. There is continuous effort to keep the website updated and resources available for the community at large. Other initiatives include having a grant funded Matter of Balance Instructor, Linda Nolau, who has offered a number of free classes focused on seniors who are at risk of falls. This class is designed to assist, educate, and offer support to reduce the risk of falls. The free program will continue into FY18. A major focus in FY18 and beyond is the explore strategies to reduce staffing turnover, and to be well positioned to ensure compliance with mandated inspections. Zachary Roberts: Zachary has worked diligently to streamline multiple departmental operations to increase efficiencies and streamline services for the public. As a certified Community Health Worker, Zach continues to work in the community to promote the Department and our programs. He attended several events in the town of Lee and surrounding communities to promote public health. He continues to take on more responsibility to assist the member towns to meet the public health needs. Abigail Saunders: Abby has been working for the department in different roles over the past couple of years and is now working with the department to support the tobacco program. In the spring of 2017, she was promoted to the full- time health inspector. We look forward to seeing her increase her responsibilities and training to assist the District on mandated inspection. Congratulation’s Abby! Nicole Hall: Nicole Hall joined our team in a part time role as a Health Inspector to assist the Department with laboratory and food inspection services. A current student at MCLA, she plans to earn her BA in Environmental Studies. We thank her and all staff for their hard work. Maryanne Antoniazzi/Glenda Anderson: Maryanne and Glenda participate in the Senior Tax Write off program and provides the Department with an ongoing, valuable services and her dedication to the Department is second to none. We thank both of them for all that they do for the District. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge Boards of Health for their continued support and assistance and the Tri-Town Health Department staff for their dedication and public service in providing essential public health prevention programs to the communities we serve.
24 Permits Issued: (Stockbridge only)
Permit Type Issued Permit Type Issued Bakery 1 Milk/Cream Store 0 Beach 6 Milk/Cream Vehicle 0 Biological Wastes 1 Mobile Food 1 Catering 10 Motel/Hotel/Cabin/Trailer 14 Disposal Works Construction 15 Pool 14 Disposal Works Installer 14 Pasteurization 3 Emerg. Beaver Trapping Permits 3 Rec. Children’s Camp 3 Food Service 54 Retail Food 18 Frozen Dessert 4 Septage Hauler 8 Garbage Hauler 4 Special Event Food Permit 21 Milk/Cream Dealer 2 Tobacco 3 Well Permit 4
Inspections: Water Testing: Children’s Camps 3 Ice Sampling 2 Food Service/Retail 54 Pool & Hot Tub Testing 82 Housing Inspections/Reinspections 12 Quality Control 197 Misc. Complaints/Nuisances 6 Beaches Sampling 86 Percolation Test Witness 3 Well Sampling 3 Pool & Hot Tub Inspections 14 Special Events 22 T5 Witness 8
Budget Revenue Information Fiscal 2017 Total budget: $46,007 Revenue generated: $25,576 Breakdown: Permits $19,187 Water Testing $4,437 Septic $1,721 Misc. $4.45
Respectfully submitted, JAMES J. WILUSZ, R.S., Director of Public Health
25 Education
Report of the Charles Denton Treadway Scholarship Fund
The Trustees of the Charles Denton Treadway Scholarship Fund awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Brianna VanDeusen.
As of December 31, 2017, there was $129,638.90 in accounts at Berkshire Bank and investments and stocks managed by Morgan Stanley. Respectfully submitted, KAREN T. WILLIAMS Treasurer Town of Stockbridge
Report of the Williams Academy Scholarship Fund
The Trustees of the Williams Academy Scholarship Fund awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Stockbridge resident, Daniel L. Newey.
As of December 31, 2017, there was $21,294.11 in an account at Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Respectfully submitted, KAREN T. WILLIAMS Treasurer Town of Stockbridge
26 Stockbridge Library Association
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
2017 was a busy year for the Stockbridge Library Association. During those 12 months we: • Had over 44,000 visits to the Library – up 13% from 2016 • Served 5,303 visitors and researchers in the Museum & Archives from 14 countries (from 6 out of 7 continents) and 37 states • Circulated 27,482 items • Held 254 programs (the vast majority of which were free), including our Speaker Series (featuring authors and experts on a variety of topics); the popular mid-winter Behind Closed Doors Series; five guided Cemetery Walks, including a new tour of St. Joseph’s Cemetery; our monthly book clubs and art shows; and special children’s programs. New in 2017 we also initiated: –– A weekly Littles Library Time for our youngest library friends –– A wildly successful Stuffed Animal Sleepover, now to be an annual tradition –– Four Fabulous Food-Themed Films and Fall Films at Five: A Spielberg Sampler movie series –– Special exhibitions from the Museum & Archives collections in the Procter gallery –– The Berkshire Chamber Players Concert Series –– A timely and informative two-part program addressing the phenomenon of “fake news”: Consider the Source: Truth and News in the Misinformation Age • Added evening hours for the Museum & Archives, which is now open on Tuesdays until 8:00 p.m. • Hosted the annual Berkshire Library Legislative Breakfast and welcomed 60 students from Monument Valley Regional Middle School for a tour of our Museum & Archives • Invited townspeople to mingle with the spirits of Stockbridge past as they roamed the Library aisles for our Shades of Stockbridge living history program • Participated in planning sessions for the creation of a local Native American Heritage Trail • Partnered with preservation specialists from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners to host Finding Common Ground: Collaborative Training for the Cultural Heritage and Emergency Response Communities, a project that brings first responders together with members of the cultural heritage community in an effort to protect humanities collections and municipal records following a disaster • Launched a new mobile app called Boopsie (search CWMARS on the app store!) • Provided free meeting room space to Literacy Network volunteers, classes from Berkshire Waldorf High School, and many other community groups 27 For our annual meeting in June, we welcomed Merriam-Webster Editor at Large Peter Sokolowski for an engaging presentation about the English language and the intersection of vocabulary and culture. We once again held our Annual Used Book Sale – a tradition under the tent – on July 7, 8, and 9. On October 22, runners and walkers came out in support of our Second Annual Family Fun 5K Fundraiser. The Library also continued to partner with the Chamber of Commerce on the Pumpkin Walk-About and Halloween Parade and the Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas Weekend. During 2017, we successfully completed a second long-range strategic plan. Many thanks to all of you who provided feedback via our community survey and to the following individuals who helped form our strategic planning committee: Barbara Allen, Stewart Edelstein, Patricia Flinn, Will Garrison, Eliza Keenan, Jorja Marsden, Teresa O’Brient, Katherine O’Neil, Michael Pulitzer, and Corey Sprague. The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners approved the plan on October 12, 2017. You can read the full plan on the Library’s website. The mission of the Stockbridge Library Association and its Procter Museum & Archives of Stockbridge History is to be a vibrant center of community life in Stockbridge. The Library serves the needs of the residents of Stockbridge and the surrounding area by supporting lifelong learning, strengthening community, and preserving the historical record of the town. The Library is open Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. To learn more about us, like us on Facebook or visit our website, www.stockbridgelibrary.org. Better yet, come pay us a visit. We look forward to seeing you.
Respectfully submitted, KATHERINE O’NEIL Director Stockbridge Library Association January 25, 2018 Stockbridge Library Association Board of Trustees: STEWART EDELSTEIN, President KAREN MARSHALL CARL BRADFORD, Vice President MICHAEL PULITZER JOHN GILLESPIE, Treasurer CAROL SELTZER TERRY WISE, Secretary LESLIE A. SHATZ LYNN EDELSTEIN TERRENCE C. SHEA CHUCK GILLETT COREY SPRAGUE NANCY HAHN RICHARD B. WILCOX
28 Stockbridge Council on Aging
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
The Senior Center is staying busy as our senior population grows. It has been reported that the senior population will increase 10% per year from 2010 to 2050, making for a 50% increase; with no decrease in 2050 per Emmett Schmarsow @ state.ma.us.
The following is a report of the services and activities provided by the Stockbridge Council on Aging during 2017:
The COA provided seniors with 315 total medical trips this year and 50 grocery and miscellaneous trips; totaling approximately 365 trips with 560 driving hours.
The Senior Center extends grateful thanks to all our volunteers: our van drivers, Ron Muir, Harold French, Bobbie Kay, Ray Ferrin, Clint Schneyder, and Beth McCormack, our kitchen attendant Joann Garzone and her volunteer staff of Joann Flynn, Nancy O’Brien, Josie Johnson and Liz, Pat Flinn for her free computer classes, Winnie Veretto for her endless hours of (SHINE) serving health insurance needs of everyone, the Riverbrook ladies for setting our tables for our senior luncheons, Jane Kelly of the Country Foot Clinic and the Porchlight staff for our two flu shot clinics and monthly blood pressure clinics.
Attendance at Tuesday bingo, Yoga classes with Joan Embry and the Tia-Chi classes with Doreen Black have increased this year. We are now looking at having Mar Jong on Thursday’s with Lillian Bender.
We shared another fantastic Senior Christmas Luncheon with the Red Lion Inn. Thank you, Nancy Fitzpatrick, Denise and the entire staff at the Inn.
Thank you to the St. Paul’s Children’s Center for visiting the Town Offices in their Halloween costumes and visiting Santa in the Senior Center.
Respectfully Submitted, LIZ DIGRIGOLI, Director DIANE SHERIDAN, Chairman LYNNE FRENCH RON MUIR SUE ROGERS
29 Stockbridge Housing Authority
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
The Stockbridge Housing Authority (SHA) continues to take pride in administering housing programs for low-income seniors, families, and people with special needs.
Formed in 1974 due in great part to the hard work and dedication of one man, John H. Rhind, the SHA continues to manage Heaton Court, built in 1977, located at 5 Pine Street. Heaton Court is state-assisted housing for low-income elderly, defined as age 60 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and disabled under 60 years of age. A waiting list is in place for the 50 one-bedroom and 1 two-bedroom apartments. Stockbridge residents and veterans receive preference on the waiting list. There is also priority given to emergency applicants that meet state eligibility criteria. The SHA welcomed three new tenant households to Heaton Court in 2017. Applications and information regarding housing at Heaton Court may be obtained by visiting our website, www.stockbridgehousing.com, or by calling the SHA office at 298-3222.
Low-income families and individuals are assisted by the SHA via the federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. The SHA contracts with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer 41 vouchers. A voucher entitles the participants to a portion of their rent being paid by the SHA every month based on the participant’s income. Preference is given to those who live or work in southern Berkshire County, priority to homeless applicants who live or work in southern Berkshire County, and to southern Berkshire residents who are diagnosed with a potentially terminal illness. The SHA leased-up 9 new participant families with Section 8 assistance in 2017. As of 12/31/17, there were 6 program participant families living in Stockbridge, 31 families in other towns in southern Berkshire County, and 4 south county households that leased up on the program in Pittsfield after being unable to find affordable housing in south county before the voucher expired.
The SHA participates in the Massachusetts NAHRO Centralized Section 8 Waiting List. When an applicant completes and submits the pre-application for rental assistance, they are placed on Section 8 Waiting List, which is utilized by 99 housing authorities across the state. Obtain information and submit a pre- application online at www.section8listmass.org or by contacting the SHA office.
The SHA serves as landlord for an eight-bedroom facility located at 7 Pine Street, Stockbridge House, which is leased by the state’s Department of Developmental Services for housing and services to assist developmentally disabled adults.
The SHA would like to take this opportunity to thank the resident voters of Stockbridge and the Town’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC) for their approval of two grants from Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds which allowed the SHA to replace the failing roofs at Heaton Court’s Building G and at the Stockbridge House at 7 Pine Street. Additional GFCI upgrades (ground fault
30 circuit interrupter electrical outlets) at Heaton Court were also approved this fiscal year, and are about to begin.
Town CPA funds are crucial to preserving Heaton Court and Stockbridge House as the valuable resources that they are for town residents and their loved ones, providing them safe and affordable housing. In Stockbridge, we are fortunate not to require state subsidy for day-to-day operations; however, capital improvements do require significant funding. Housing authorities are “formula funded.” They receive “x” amount of dollars per unit per year based on passage of the most recent housing bond bill. With only 59 units of much-needed affordable housing, the SHA’s funding from the state is not sufficient. CPA funds are vital.
Significant drainage improvements were made at both 5 and 7 Pine Street this year, funded primarily with state emergency funds exceeding just over $250,000.
Residents who have housing concerns are encouraged to call the Stockbridge Housing Authority office at 298-3222. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The Board wishes to express its gratitude to the dedicated staff and to the town departments for their kind assistance to the residents of Heaton Court.
Respectfully submitted, Stockbridge Housing Authority Board of Commissioners BERNARD EDMONDS, Chairman JAMES WELCH, Vice Chairman DAWN ANNE RABINOWITZ, Treasurer R. TIMOTHY MINKLER, Commissioner CHARLES R. GILLETT, State Appointee JOANNE REDDING, Executive Director
31 Elderly and Disabled Tax Aid Committee
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
The Elderly and Disabled Tax Fund provides for aid to qualifying elderly and/ or disabled residents of low income for Real Estate taxes on their homes. The program, established in 2003, is funded by voluntary taxpayer donations and is being administered by an appointed committee which will evaluate applications and distribute aid up to 50% or $1,000 of a qualifying property tax bill.
Fiscal Year 2017 donations from generous taxpayers brought the total amount available for distribution to $ 8,156.54. Fourteen residents received a total of $5,600.00 in Real Estate tax relief through this program.
Please contact anyone on the Committee if you know of a person who would benefit from the thoughtfulness of the many very generous donators. We will be happy to assist in the application process.
Applications are available in the Assessor’s office and will be accepted until March 1 for the current year taxes. Remember the first half taxes need to be paid to qualify. Please call any Committee member if you have any questions.
Respectfully submitted, MARIA CARR JOYCE HOVEY BETH McCORMACK HELEN McCORMICK GARY PITNEY TAMMY TOUPONCE KAREN WILLIAMS
32 Southern Berkshire District Department of Veterans’ Services
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Thank you for allowing me to service the member towns, their veterans, and widows. We have made great strides in reaching out to our veterans in our local area, letting them know the various services available to them from Elderly Services, Community Actions and also the local senior centers. During FY 2017 we have seen a slight increase in all areas of operation and currently have 41 active Chapter 115 claims.
Chapter 115 Submissions and Return from the State: FY 2017 Submitted Pmt Due in FY 2018 - Town 7/01/16-6/30/17 FY 2017 - 75% Stockbridge $44,361.05 $33,270.79
Over the last year we have completed the following for our member town’s veterans: Applications for VA Health Care 38 ALS/Disability/A&A/Appeals/Life Insurance 67 DD 214s 58 Request for Grave Markers 62 Tax Abatements/SS help/other requests 48 Flags to funerals homes for veterans 70 Assisted with Dr. appointments 13 Home and Office Visits 575 Veterans Services Phone Calls 1510
For FY 2017 District budget was reduced by the reserve resulting in a smaller assessment for the member towns. During these trying financial times all veterans and widows are encouraged to contact this office or the US Department of Veterans Affairs and review current entitlements as many changes have taken place. Stockbridge’s apportionment towards the FY 2017 DVS budget was $8,064.90 – this number was based on population percentage on the 2010 Census.
Respectfully Submitted, LAURIE J. HILS Southern Berkshire District Director for Veteran Services
33 PLANNING AND AESTHETICS Planning Board To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge: I begin by thanking my fellow board members Gene Talbot, Kate Fletcher, Ruth Pearce, Marie Raftery, Lisa Sauer, and Wayne Slosek for their thoughtful work over this past year. I would also like to thank Jennifer Carmichael our board Secretary as well for her dedication and hard work. As a result of the Public Hearing on The Cottage Era By-Law last January and previous discussions concerning Town Zoning in general, a new Ad Hoc Committee has been set up to Review our Town Zoning. This group was approved by the Select Board, and is Co-Chaired by Kate Fletcher and Ruth Pearce. The other members are Jim Murray from The Zoning Board of Appeals, John Hart from The Conservation Commission, and Carl Sprague from The Historical Preservation Commission. I thank them for volunteering and for their service. This group is currently reviewing our Town Zoning By-Laws, and the public is encouraged to attend and participate. This past year we held hearings for a By-Law amendment for The Cottage Era estates, a Public Hearing for an Earth Removal Permit, 9 LPOD Special Permits, 3 Form A Permits (approval not required), 3 Sign Permits, and 1 Storm Water and Erosion Control Permit Hearing. The Planning Board spent portions of several meetings Discussing Zoning review, and setting up the Ad Hoc committee. Several of our board members have attended seminars, educational forums, and discussion groups over this past year. The added knowledge and expertise will prove to be valuable in the future. We also had a joint meeting with the Conservation Commission to discuss an easier way for people to follow the Town’s Permitting process. A preliminary outline draft and suggestions have been forwarded to the Select Board for further review. I would like to thank all the townspeople who have attended our meetings this past year. Your interest and participation are welcomed and encouraging. Our Planning Board Meetings are normally the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. We invite all interested community members to attend. Respectfully Submitted, GARY PITNEY, Chairman MARIE RAFTERY KATE FLETCHER, Vice Chair LISA SAUER RUTH PEARCE, Clerk WAYNE SLOSEK GENE TALBOT MD JENNIFER CARMICHAEL, Board Secretary
34 Building Inspector
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
The following permits were issued and fees collected for the year 2017 Permit type # of Cost of Permit Permits Construction Fees New Construction 7 $21,041,700.00 $181,038.00 Additions & Alterations 110 $3,339,437.00 $32,498.00 Solar Arrays 4 $203,897.00 $1,145.00 Demolitions 10 $73,050.00 $660.00 Swimming Pools 0 $00.00 $00.00 Repairs 43 $472,752.00 $3,920.00 Roofs 35 $885,774.00 $5,683.00 Decks/Porches 5 $318,600.00 $515.00 Foundation 2 $27,000.00 $285.00 Garages & Accessory 10 $793,360.00 $2,260.00 Sheet Metal 17 $306,056.00 $595.00 Mechanical 5 $204,000.00 $1,025.00 Solid Fuel Burning Appliance 5 $15,080.00 $275.00 Other 6 $3,515,630.00 $29,170.00 Total Construction 259 $31,196,336.00 $259,069.00
Other Permits Annual Inspections 63 $6,625.00 $6,625.00 Certificate of Occupancy 41 $1,435.00 $1,435.00 Tents 56 $1,960.00 $1,960.00 Trench 17 $595.00 $955.00 Curb Cuts 4 $200.00 $200.00 Electrical Inspections 146 $15,780.00 $15,780.00 Gas Inspections 68 $4,745.00 $4,745.00 Plumbing Inspections 55 $6,285.00 $6,285.00 Total Other Permits 450 $37,985,00 $37,985.00 Totals 709 $31,234,321.00 $297,155.00
Respectfully submitted by, NED BALDWIN, Building Commissioner
35 Conservation Commission
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
The Stockbridge Conservation Commission meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7PM. If you wish to be placed on the agenda, please call or e-mail the Conservation Commission office and leave a message. We will gladly help you with the information to meet the requirements to start and finish a project.
The role of the Commission in Town is to enforce the provisions within the Wetland Protection Act and the Scenic Mountain Act to ensure that habitat, protected wetlands and adjacent properties are not compromised.
This past year we had fewer issues with drainage; hopefully this shows some improvement in storm water management and not just fewer or smaller storms. New for this Commission, an endangered plant species, Great Blue Lobelia, was found during a site visit. The State and owner are working on remediating the issue so that the project can continue.
In a town the size of Stockbridge with the numerous streams, marshes, wetlands, ponds and river there are many areas of habitat that need the best protection we can give them to be part of the bigger picture.
This year the Gould Meadows Committee cleared two hedgerows, placed six benches, and had the roof replaced on the little Cow Shed. The benches and roof were paid for by CPA Funds. Thank you! Recently, a State grant in the amount of $20,000 was awarded for the improvement of open spaces and control of invasive plant species in Gould Meadows and a small portion of Bullard Woods. A contract will be signed with an environmental specialist and work will start as early as February 2018.
Respectfully submitted, RONALD BROUKER, Chairman JOHN HART, Vice-Chairman SALLY UNDERWOOD-MILLER, Secretary/Member GEORGE SHIPPEY JOSEPH DEGIORGIS JAYRHIND TOM LABELL LOUISE GACHET, Alternate
36 Historical Commission
To the Honorable Board of Selectman and Citizens of Stockbridge:
Local Historical Commissions are established by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 8D, and charged with a variety of responsibilities under Massachusetts law. The Stockbridge Historical Commission is appointed by the Selectmen and each year works to fulfill its responsibilities as circumstances arise.
One such responsibility, established under Massachusetts’ Community Preservation Act, is for the Commission to conduct reviews and to report to Stockbridge’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC) regarding annual applications made to the CPC for historic preservation projects. In 2017 the Commission reviewed and reported on eleven such applications. We are pleased that the CPC accepted our findings and that multiple worthy historic preservation projects were recommended for funding by the CPC and were funded by the Town at its annual meeting.
Also during 2017, the Commission continued to provide guidance to the Town’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) to assist in making determinations concerning the historic significance of older buildings that are the subject of demolition or alteration applications to the HPC.
Respectfully submitted, LINDA W JACKSON, Chair MARIA CARR PETER WILLIAMS, Clerk
Historic Preservation Commission
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge: The Stockbridge Historic Preservation Commission met six times in 2017 – reviewing seven projects in all. Five demolitions were approved, one denied, and one alteration was approved. On February 6th the Commission found Lake Cottage at 53 Interlaken Rd to be a significant historic building. Lake Cottage is part of the Brook Farm Historic District. The meeting was well attended, and there was notable public input. At our May 1st meeting the Commission approved a demolition at 6 Park Street. On June 14th we approved demolition of 24 Mahkeenac Shores and 19 Birch Lane. At our July 24th meeting we approved demolition of 16 Beachwood Drive. Also approved were changes to previously approved alterations at 3 Maple Street. We informally met with new owners of 14 Church Street and suggested some modifications to their preliminary plans. On August 1st the Commission approved alterations to 14 Church Street. 37 At our October 16th meeting we approved demolition of 19 Birch Street. On November 14th the Commission was invited for an informational meeting with the Selectmen. The focus was on historic assets in Stockbridge and what can be and what is being done to support preservation. There was some discussion of the fifty year guideline in the bylaw. Given that we’ve had no specific issues with this nationally standard parameter, no change seems necessary. Building Inspector Ned Baldwin raised a question regarding appeals being forwarded to the Planning Board in the case of a negative Historic Preservation finding. In practice we have left any decision to appeal up to the applicant. Town Counsel suggested that the Planning Board review any Historic Preservation denials even if the applicant doesn’t choose to appeal. The Commission agreed to adjust our procedures and we will automatically communicate with Planning in the case of any negative finding. The ongoing issues of “demolition by neglect” and preservation funding were also discussed, as well as the importance of completing the Town’s historic survey files. The Selectmen kindly welcomed Jorja-Ann Marsden to join the Commission. Jorja is stepping in for Sue Bonak, who stepped down this year after a decade with us. Sue was also part of the Task Committee that spent three years drafting the Preservation bylaw and getting it to approval at Town Meeting. We will miss Sue’s knowledge of Town history, her wisdom, and her warm presence. As Chair of the Commission, I am currently part of the Zoning Bylaw Review that is focusing on the Cottage Era Estate Bylaw, but also looking at all definitions, procedures and powers in our Town zoning bylaws. There is a lot to consider. It is good to see that our Historic Preservation Bylaw has been working well in the decade since Town meeting approved it. Many thanks to the diligence of our board members, and to the Planning Board, Historical Commission, Select Board, Town Administrators, Building Inspector, property owners and advisors who are helping us keep Stockbridge the wonderful place that it is.
Respectfully submitted, CARL SPRAGUE, Chair PETER WILLIAMS, Secretary GARY JOHNSTON JAY RHIND PAMELA SANDLER LISA SAUER
38 Stockbridge Cultural Council
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
For the fiscal year 2017, the Stockbridge Cultural Council got $4,400 for grant distribution from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. We received 31 grant applications totaling $13,657 in requests. After careful consideration, the Council awarded grants in varying amounts to the following individuals and organizations:
MMRHS for an educational series about W.E.B. DuBois Community Health Programs for a children’s program at Berkshire Botanical Garden Berkshire Lyric Theater for concerts and educational programs WAM Theatre Inc for a season of events Shakespeare and Company for Fall Festival of Shakespeare at MMRHS Sculpture Now for sculpture show and high school classes Berkshire Theater Group for BTG Plays! a school residency program Berkshire Children’s Chorus for tuition scholarships Ann-Elizabeth Barnes for a book about Agippa Hull Flying Cloud Institute for art and science education at BHRSD Greenagers for environmental education and service learning Berkshire Pulse for a site-specific dance at Chesterwood Berkshire South Regional Community Center for ukulele band and community chorus Mass Audubon Berkshire Sancturies for free wildlife programs at local libraries Joshua Briggs for music club at Muddy Brook
The work of these grantees included literary projects, concerts, art projects, theater performances, music lessons, in-school and outdoor education classes, and more. Go to www.mass-culture.org/Stockbridge for further information. Our next grant deadline is October 15, 2018.
We are always in search of new members to our committee and welcome inquiries, ideas and suggestions. Please consider making a donation to increase our grant making options for the good of the community in the next cycle (2019).
Respectfully submitted, KAREN MARSHALL, Chairman JESSICA MEAGHER MARY FLOURNOY, Secretary LYNN EDELSTEIN PATRICK WHITE, Treasurer REBECCA WEINMAN CHRISTINE RASMUSSEN
39 Stockbridge Bike Group
To the Honorable Select Board and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
The Stockbridge Bike Group continues its focus towards safer cycling and walking on the roads of Stockbridge. As opportunities present themselves, we work with the Town Highway Superintendent, Select Board, and Mass. Department of Transportation (Mass DOT) to develop safer roads for all. In 2017 Mass DOT lined out bike lanes on the shoulders of Rte. 102 joining our Main Street bike lanes with the North/South Berkshire Bike Path route coming south from Lee.
Cycling is continuing to have a positive impact on Berkshire County and Stockbridge is poised to gain business and visitors as a result. Situated where we are, between North and South Counties, we must be mindful of our obligation to have safe roads for all to travel.
We participated in two rides this year. One was the USBR7 (originally called Western New England Greenway) ride through Stockbridge. This group rides from Long Island Sound at Norwalk, Connecticut to Montreal, Canada. The purpose of the ride is to provide scenic, recreational, and travel opportunities for cyclists and to increase appreciation for the history and heritage of the corridor. The maps are on their website. Stockbridge is part of this map. The other ride this year was a part of the Upper Housatonic Heritage Association’s fall weekends of activities. This year we were a support leg for a ride from Sheffield to Williamstown, organized by the Berkshire Bike Path Council.
Ongoing is our commitment to keep abreast of possible ways to improve on safety issues as they relate to the various road projects which occur each year. We communicate with our Highway Superintendent, Len Tisdale, about roads and sections of roads that are particularly dangerous to both cyclists and walkers and attempt to find solutions to the problems.
We, once again, want to thank Len Tisdale for his efforts on behalf of the town toward providing the best roads he can for driving, biking and walking. We also appreciate the support of the Select Board in all matters pertaining to safety in town.
We look forward to another year of promoting fun, safe recreation and travel in Stockbridge wherever we can.
Respectfully Submitted, Stockbridge Bike Group: STARBUCK SMITH JIM MURRAY MARIE RAFTERY STEWART EDELSTEIN ED LANE
40 Community Preservation Committee
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
The Community Preservation Commission mourns the loss of long-time and valued member, Jack Spencer. Jack’s community experience and level head comprised a corner stone of the Committee. He will be sorely missed. The Committee, however, is pleased to report that we had another productive year, again distributing more than $345,0FI00 to worthy town projects. The match from the state continues to decrease until some more permanent form of funding can be found. The Community Preservation Act requires that 10% of the funding be allocated to each of the three elements – Affordable Housing, Open Space/Recreation and Historic Preservation. In Stockbridge, we are fortunate to have a treasure trove of important properties, so, in general we have more requests for funding in that area. Our only Affordable Housing projects to date have been the Pine Woods project and Heaton Court. As state funding decreases, so does the need for additional funding for sustaining our housing for low income elderly. This year we assisted the Stockbridge Housing Authority in completing their installation of GFI outlets in the kitchens and bathrooms. In keeping with the requirements of the Act, $25,000 was set aside for future requests. Under Historic Preservation we assisted with work on the Indian Burial Ground; restoration and conservation of the Stockbridge Library Museum and Archives’ collection of paintings by local artists; reconstruction of shutters and awnings at Naumkeag; restoration of the roof on the milk shed at Gould Meadows; restoration of the front entryway at the Berkshire Theatre Festival; preservation work on Norman Rockwell’s studio; conservation and restoration of the decorative finishes on the French house at Chesterwood; restoration of the Center House at the Berkshire Botanical Garden; restoration of the windows and shutters at the First Congregational Church; and the final installment of the Stockbridge Library renovations. Additional funding was provided for the ongoing lake management plan for Stockbridge Bowl under Open Space along with seed money toward the preservation via Conservation Restriction of the Loveless property on Rte. 102 and additional restoration of the fields at Gould Meadows. We thank the citizens of Stockbridge for their continued support.
Respectfully submitted, SALLY UNDERWOOD-MILLER, Chair, representing Conservation Commission JOHN SPENCER, representing the Selectmen GARY PITNEY, representing the Assessors LINDA W. JACKSON, Historical Commission STEVE KNOPF, Parks and Recreation JIM WELCH, Housing Authority FRANK RUSSELL, Vice Chair, Finance Committee KATE FLETCHER, Planning Board
41 Memorial Day Committee
To the Honorable Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
Prior to Memorial Day some members of this committee along with several other volunteers placed new flags on veterans’ gravesites at both the town cemetery and at St. Joseph’s cemetery, as well as at the various other monuments in town.
For the second year running weather posed a potentially major obstacle to our Memorial Day events. The day dawned cloudy and drear, the temperature hovering in the low to mid 50’s, causing some towns to cancel their events, but fortunately the rains subsided enough to allow us to press on as planned, with only a light mist falling by noon. A very special word of thanks goes to the residents of this town, who turned out to line the street attired in raingear and umbrellas to honor our veterans, both present and past.
Cemetery Gravesite Ceremony, 11:00AM Transport vehicles donated by the Congregation of Marians were used to escort veterans and residents gathered at the Old Town Hall to the two town cemeteries, as well as to the Housatonic River at the Stockbridge Golf Course. From a bridge on the golf course a wreath was deposited in the river to honor our navy veterans lost at sea. The Reverend Brian McGrath of St. Joseph’s Church offered prayers for veterans at each site, followed by a gun salute and “Taps”, played by Cameron Bencivenga.
Town Parade, 12:15PM Parade participants gathered at the Town Offices. Join- ing the Stockbridge veterans in the march were veterans from Great Barrington and Housatonic, who always add a great deal in terms of a visual military pres- ence. Other participants included unicyclists from the Muddy Brook Elementary School; members of the Stockbridge Fire Department and their fire trucks; town children on decorated bicycles, members of the Select board, and residents who joined in the march. A flag-draped casket carried on a cart decorated with greens and pulled by 2 military veterans gave a silent and solemn testimony as to why we gather on this day. We wish to thank the Sedgewick family for the use of the cart, to Finnerty and Stevens for the loan of the casket and flag, and to Harold French for coordinating this effort. Rounding out the parade lineup and adding much to this event was the Monument Mountain High School Band, as well as the Monu- ment Valley Middle School Band. Prayers and Taps were offered along the parade route to the Town Green.
Memorial Day Program, 12:45PM Due to the inclement weather the formal ceremony was held in the First Congregational Church, which graciously opened its doors to the public. This venue proved perfect for the presentations and for the Berkshire Hills Chorus (of the Sweet Adelines International) who provided first-rate a cappella music. Readings by Monument Valley Middle School students included Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” read by Elsa Gennari; John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields” read by Theo Weidinger, and Emily Goudey read “Peace”, a work written by Amanda Bradley.
Stockbridge resident and Memorial Day Committee member Lisa Thorne, US
42 Army Reserves (retired) gave the keynote address, entitled “Facing Death in the Battle for Life”. Reverend Brian McGrath led the Invocation and Benediction.
Town Pot-Luck Picnic An indoor “picnic” was made possible, once again, by the First Congregational Church. This committee is extremely grateful to Rev. Damrow for his hospitality and outreach to the town. Hot dogs and soda were provided by the town. The Red Lion Inn contributed potato salad and brownies, and a small number of residents contributed the balance of food offered. David Pullaro of Fiddlehead’s Grille assisted with the catering of this event and provided various other accoutrements.
Please note that food donations by residents are always welcome and needed.
A heart-felt thank you to the many people who come together to make this day special, and to our police department, for their presence as well as assistance with traffic control.
Respectfully submitted, HAROLD FRENCH, Chair MERRILL SANDERSON LISA THORNE, Secretary DON COLEMAN “SKIP” WHALEN FRED COLEMAN KEITH RAFTERY DEBRA COLEMAN TIM MINKLER RON MUIR
43 Memorial Day Speech Facing Death in the Battle for Life by Lisa Thorne As we are all are well aware, this day is about remembering and commemorating those who have served in some branch of the military who have sacrificed their lives in death that we might have life and live in peace. Usually the keynote speaker for this event is a seasoned veteran who has seen an extended period of active duty, and often knows first-hand the experience of serving in a wartime situation. I fit neither of these categories. As an Army Reservist, the only full time active duty I experienced was—1st – boot camp, at Fort Jackson, SC, then being transferred to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, where I was trained as a medic. The year was 1981; the era in which I served, from 1981-1987 was a peaceable one militarily. After finishing my medic’s training in Texas I was then attached to the 364th General Hospital unit based in Albany, NY. As a reservist, I was required to attend weekend training sessions once a month, as well as to participate in 2 weeks of active duty training once a year. Thanks to the development of a new program, I was able to continue my health- science studies for a time, adding to my training as a medic. Hence my greatest “battlefield” – aside from boot camp – was a classroom, or in the field training, being personally stretched and challenged, mentally and physically, which, in comparison to those veterans who have experienced true combat situations, was, in reality, no battleground at all. I was placed on standby status for the Gulf War, from 1990-1991, even though my term of service had technically ended in 1987, but no active duty service resulted from this. So, unlike other veterans you’ve heard from, I have no history to share with you of either full time service or of any kind of combat experience, although there’s plenty I could share with you of my service on the battlefield of life, which at times has indeed been a combat zone. In this arena I am a true veteran, but so are many of you, I’m sure. Military experience aside, I’d like to touch briefly today upon an area of service that we can all relate to as citizens of the United States of America, and to which, hopefully, we can all say we are veterans. Two years ago Harold French gave an address on the respect for our national flag. Respecting our flag is symbolic for respecting our nation and what our nation stands for. Harold noted that respect for the flag is not what it once was, which in turn suggests that respect for our nation is not what it once was either. Certainly we all can and do find fault with this nation in some way, shape or form. But I invite you to think for a moment of just what it is that defines this country as a place of honor; what makes this country unique and uniquely something worth defending. Our answers to this question may vary, but I dare say, and I believe with all my heart, that we – in this time and at this juncture in history – are actively facing death in the battle for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, because the very foundational principles upon which this nation was founded are slowly being chipped away at, increasingly weakening us as a nation, while all too many are placidly going about their daily affairs in the pursuit of PERSONAL life, PERSONAL liberty, and PERSONAL happiness.
44 Dear friends and fellow citizens, it is imperative that we preserve the vision of our forefathers in a spirit of unity. Our collective commitment to this cause is a type of “armed forces” – so to speak – that can serve to unite concerned Americans to restore our founding fathers vision of a free nation, born by the grace of God and entrusted to us in a common alliance and active stewardship of its entire people. This, in fact, is what the military itself really is: Our military organizations are a common alliance of individuals whose members are united in active service of stewardship for the purpose of a unified common goal. Our formal military exists to defend our physical country on domestic and foreign soil, by land, sea and air. But we, as citizens of these United States, must unite as in informal civilian militia, to defend our civil liberties, and we must also unite to defend our religious liberties, both of which have come under ever greater attack. There’s something I learned very early on in boot-camp; it’s actually something that every new recruit learns quickly in boot-camp: that is, there is no room for individualism. By that I mean that one’s personal desires, personal interests, personal comfort, or personal goals didn’t matter in the setting we were in. One learns quickly, even harshly, that serving in the military is all about serving a cause other than self; it’s about serving a cause that is greater than one’s own self: from looking after the individual in the bunk next to you, to caring for your fellow comrades in the training field or actual field of battle, all the way up to looking after the national interests of the country you’re fighting for. In all scenarios, the soldier is trained to perform this task of service – be it to an individual soldier, a group of soldiers, or a particular mission -- in such a way that one risks his or her own life for a cause that is greater than self. What do you suppose this nation would be like if every person in the United States took that model of selfless service and applied it to civilian life? What if we all adopted a manner of selfless service and unified purpose into our own individual and communal life? And do we not, as members of the human “army”, have an obligation to do just that, by serving our fellow neighbor, our local community, our broader country in a self-sacrificing way for the sake of the common good, and for the sake of national good? There is something else that one learns in military service besides possessing a self-sacrificing nature. One learns that there is a well defined system of authority, with ultimately one individual as its head. This system of authority is absolutely essential for maintaining consistency and order. According to what I’ve read about the birth of this nation, all of our founding fathers -- regardless of religious belief, to include those with no formal religious belief at all -- commonly understood that it was essential that they upheld God as their supreme “commander in chief”, else their efforts and the efforts of those that would follow them would fail, and subsequently this nation would collapse. I believe with the utmost conviction that we must unite, as members of a human “army” under one God, our “commander in chief”, or we will face death in the battle for life. We will face the death of personal rights and freedoms, and we will face the death of collective rights and freedoms.
45 I challenge you today – in the best possible way – to leave here thinking about what branch of service in God’s human army best fits your talents and your charisma. I challenge you today to go forward thinking about whether you are a soldier in God’s human army, who you are as that soldier, and how you might take up “arms” to defend our liberties. (Mind you, I use the term “taking up arms” figuratively here.) Are you a soldier in the army of humanity who gives your time and your talents for a cause that is greater than self? Are you a soldier who seeks to serve others on an individual basis? Are you a soldier who serves on a committee for a local cause? Are you a soldier who volunteers your time for a charitable purpose or a charitable organization? Are you a soldier who thinks about what you might do to make your town and your geographic area a better place, and – ultimately – are you a soldier who believes that your efforts as an individual, in union with your fellow civilian soldiers, united under God, our great Commander in Chief, can actually steer the course of a nation for the betterment of that nation? When our armed forces are pressed into service it is with the conviction that they are going to succeed in their mission. It has to be so, else we would be defeated before we ever stepped foot on foreign soil. The same holds true in our personal, civilian life, does it not? No one takes up a task thinking that they won’t succeed. Hence, we can believe – and must believe – that we, as individuals of a collective body can, steer the course of this country for the betterment of our nation. I say to you in closing what I have to remind myself of at times: Know what you believe in, know what you are fighting for; put on the armor of God and go forth with your Commander in Chief to achieve your mission as a soldier in the human army, that united together we may again become “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”.
Amen.
46 Stockbridge Green Communities Committee
To the Honorable Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge –
The Stockbridge Green Communities Committee assisted the Town in meeting the five criteria to be designated a Massachusetts Green Community. On December 15, 2015, Stockbridge achieved this goal and was awarded $139,625 for energy efficiency projects to help the Town achieve the required goal of 20% reduction in energy consumption within 5 years.
The primary goal and activities were using grant monies to implement the Energy Reduction Plan by weatherizing Town Buildings and decreasing energy use through energy efficient lighting and other measures. A sub-committee guiding this effort is comprised of Laura Dubester, Mike Buffoni, Chris Marsden, Pat Flinn, Starbuck Smith and Chuck Gillett. As of December 31, 2017, this grant has been fully spent. If all pending reports are approved by the MA Department of Energy Resources, the Town will be eligible to apply for additional funding for energy efficiency projects.
COMPLETED PROJECTS: • Chris Marsden successfully completed a training program and received his Level II Building Operator’s Certificate. By successfully completing the training, the Town received a 10% additional incentive award from National Grid that was used for the energy efficient lighting improvements in the Town Offices. • Extensive weatherization of the Town Offices was completed. This included insulation of the attic and air sealing to reduce infiltration and air leakage to the attic/unheated areas. • Lighting retrofits of Town Hall/Police Station. The energy audits identified many opportunities to reduce costs by upgrading the lighting from compact fluorescent to LED along with motion sensors and exterior lighting retrofits. • Replacement of boiler at Glendale Fire Station.
Since 2015, Town energy consumption has declined 16% from the baseline. Energy costs in the Town Offices have declined significantly since completion of attic insulation and air sealing with savings averaging $1,000/month. We hope to see even greater reductions from the recently completed LED lighting retrofits. Respectfully submitted, Stockbridge Green Communities Committee LAURA DUBESTER, Chairperson PAT FLINN CHRIS MARSDEN MICHAEL BUFFONI CHUCK GILLETT STARBUCK SMITH PAM SANDLER
47 Stockbridge Bowl Association
To The Honorable Select Board and the Residents of the Town of Stockbridge:
For years the Stockbridge Bowl Association has been seeking to implement a Lake Restoration Plan which would control the invasive Eurasian Water Milfoil proliferating in shallow water around the lake and dredge some of the accumulated sediment behind the Island and down the outlet before those areas become a bog. With advice from outside experts, we had reason to believe that we could achieve those goals without disturbing the habitat of a snail which the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has designated as “rare and endangered.” It now appears that we shall have to turn to Plan B.
BACKGROUND - For decades users and admirers of Stockbridge Bowl have watched as milfoil weeds spread completely around the perimeter of the lake, perhaps first deposited in the lake by fish tank hobbyists. For years the Town tried to control the milfoil by means of a mechanical harvester, but the weeds always grew back. Meanwhile, the lake, which used to drain and clean itself regularly became dammed by a Town sewer line and three natural gas pipelines transecting the outlet to the Bowl. The impeded flow deposited eight to ten feet of sediment behind the Island and down the outlet. If not addressed, the accumulated sediment threatened to turn those areas into a bog.
Five years ago, the Stockbridge Bowl Association formed a committee to investigate alternative methods of controlling the nuisance weeds proliferating in Stockbridge Bowl. Six neighboring lakes and seven methods of weed control were studied as well as practices generally employed elsewhere in the State. The committee reported its findings and conclusions to the 2015 annual meeting held at Edith Wharton’s, the Mount, and described seven possible solutions for controlling Eurasian Milfoil including: hand pulling, benthic barriers, mechanical harvesting, hydro-raking, bio-controls, herbicides and a partial winter drawdown.
The existing lake management plan called for dredging a channel from the diversion drain to the main body of the lake just beyond the Island out to a depth of seven feet to reduce the sediment that had been accumulating for over half a century behind the Island and down the outlet. The committee endorsed the idea of using a partial winter drawdown as an economical method of controlling milfoil to freeze the plant roots. This method would also have the salutary effect of placating some people who were reluctant to apply herbicides to our lake even though modern herbicides are the most common, time-tested and economical manner to safely control milfoil.
PRESENT - At the last annual meeting of the Stockbridge Bowl Association, we discussed the fact that we needed to meet with the State’s Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program (NHESP) to learn whether our proposal to dredge and drawdown would be acceptable or whether NHESP would rule that either of those techniques endangered part of the habitat of a rare mollusk, Marstonia lustrica, which lives in Stockbridge Bowl.
We had been eager since fall 2016 to meet with NHESP to present our case; but the agency would not meet with us until GZA - the Town’s engineering consultants – had submitted their fall 2016 snail survey, which GZA delayed doing until the last day in June 2017. We were finally able to confer with NHESP at its Westborough headquarters just before the end of 2017. We were assisted at the meeting by GZA 48 and their snail expert, Professor Thomas Coote. By the end of the two-hour meeting, NHESP announced their firm belief that the proposed dredging behind the Island would dry out and impermissibly kill snails living behind the Island and down the first third of the outlet; and moreover, that a subsequent 5.5 winter drawdown would be a “taking” of snail habitat out to the 5.5 foot depth. Furthermore, an application to proceed would have had to demonstrate that there was no less damaging way to control milfoil. But, according to NHESP’s aquatic experts, herbicides – which have been safely used in their present formulation in hundreds of Massachusetts lakes for over a quarter of a century – are a preferable alternative to control milfoil without endangering the snails, humans or other aquatic life. Relying on herbicides would have the added advantage of controlling the invasive weeds out to their maximum depth (about 15 feet) not just to a 5.5 foot depth of the previously proposed winter drawdown. In light of this information, the NHESP regulators announced that they found it “hard to see a clear path to a permit” for either dredging or drawdown. We then shared with NHESP staff the fact that the Stockbridge Conservation Commission had unanimously sought to prohibit the use of herbicides in the Bowl. NHESP immediately responded that such action by a town government plainly violated Massachusetts law under which state regulation of herbicides preempts any local control. The staff cited a ruling by the highest court in the Commonwealth, which outside counsel to the SBA has confirmed. PLAN B - The Stockbridge Bowl Association will be conferring with the Town and lake management experts to determine how to proceed using a combination - we expect - of herbicides, hydro-raking and limited dredging of the outlet in areas not inhabited by Marstonia lustrica. Respectfully submitted, RICHARD SELTZER, President
Stockbridge Bowl Association: MICHAEL NATHAN PHYLLIS (PATTI) KLEIN, VP MARIE RAFTERY LAURIE DUBNER, Secretary SALLY UNDERWOOD-MILLER RICHARD GERZBERG, Treasurer LORRAINE ABRAHAM MATTHEW MANDEL, Clerk RONALD KAPROV DAVID BRAUSE Individual Directors: PETER SOCHA IRA GOLUB BARBARA HOBBS SUSAN LAIDLAW WILLIAM LAIDLAW Emeritus Board Directors: PETER STRAUSS GARY KLEINERMAN GREGG WELLENKAMP CRIS RAYMOND SALLY WITTENBERG PEGGY REISER JOANNA WOLFF Town Representative: Organization Directors: DON CHABON PAT KENNELLY Save Stockbridge Bowl Campaign KEVIN LILLEY Co-Chairs: LEAH LARMON MATT MANDEL KEVIN (MOOSE) FORAN CRIS RAYMOND
49 Stockbridge Land Trust
To the Honorable Board of Selectman and Citizens of Stockbridge: The Stockbridge Land Trust was founded by citizens of Stockbridge in 1987 with the mission to encourage and promote the preservation of land and the natural, historic, and community resources of Stockbridge – including open space, forests, farmland, wetlands, waterways, historic structures, and affordable housing. The Land Trust has a fifteen-member board of directors who lead the organization and who are assisted by many citizens of the Town who support our mission, including hundreds of generous dues-paying members and donors. This past year began on a very sad note with the passing of Sally Begley, one of the original board members of the Land Trust. The first meeting of the Land Trust, in 1987, took place at Sally’s house on Yale Hill. Before her death, Sally granted a conservation restriction to the Land Trust on a substantial portion of her beautiful property. During 2017 we continued to pursue our mission on many fronts. We continued work in placing conservation restrictions on the scenic Loveless parcel on the west side of town that we purchased jointly with the Laurel Hill Association (LHA). We are grateful that the Community Preservation Commission (CPC) and the Town Meeting have provided financial support for this project. We (joined by LHA) continue to support the renovation of Gould Meadows. Our annual meeting took place at the Meadows, with presentations by Tim Minkler, Ron Brouker, and Arthur Dutil, leaders of the Gould Meadows Restoration Committee. For the second year we joined LHA in supporting an annual photo contest of local scenery that promotes the natural beauty of Stockbridge. After reviewing hundreds of submissions, the winning entrants and their work were honored at a ceremony at the Library. The winning photos are available on note cards that may be purchased at numerous locations in town. We are grateful to the merchants who have agreed to sell these cards and the many people who have purchased them. The Land Trust is actively involved in working on new projects to continue to preserve the natural resources of Stockbridge. We stand ready to work with local landowners and citizens interested in preservation in all its forms. Please feel free to attend our monthly meetings (4:00 p.m. on the second Friday of each month at the Town Offices), to contact us and to check out our new (and still growing) website at www.stockbridgelandtrust.org where contributions in support of the Land Trust can be made.
Respectfully submitted, CATHERINE CHESTER JOHN HYSON, President STEWART EDELSTEIN JESSICA TORO, Vice President SHEP EVANS PETER WILLIAMS, Treasurer TIM GELLER CLOVER SWANN, Clerk DOUG GOUDEY ELIZABETH NEWTON, Deputy Clerk JON GRAY PETER BOYD JIM MURRAY RICH BRADWAY MARIE RAFTERY
50 The Laurel Hill Association
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge: The Laurel Hill Association, the oldest existing village improvement society in the United States, was 164 years old in 2017. Our members, trustees, and officers continue to work toward the original mission of the organization: to do “such things as shall serve to improve the quality of life and of the environment in the Town of Stockbridge.” Our work includes maintaining over 460 acres of properties and recreational trails; keeping important spots in town beautiful; cooperating with town authorities; and coordinating with other organizations on issues pertaining to community welfare, including preserving the approaches to the Town.
Property Enhancement We continued maintaining trails to improve the experience for visitors. Trails include the Laura’s Tower Trail, the Ice Glen Trail (owned by the Town), the Upper and Lower Bowker’s Woods Trails, the trail on Laurel Hill, and the Mary V. Flynn Trail. The most obvious work we undertook in 2017 was clearing downed trees and branches on the Mary Flynn Trail, Laura’s Tower Trail, and Ice Glen Trail, all reached from the Goodrich Memorial Bridge. Over the summer, Greenagers completed several days of work cleaning bridges on the Mary Flynn Trail and clearing brush that had grown up at the Chestnut Preserve. Volunteers also installed plywood “band-aid” repairs on two Mary Flynn Trail bridges. We are raising funds to repair the bridge foundations and replace their decking. Volunteers cleaned the Ice Glen dedication rock, and found and cleaned the Sedgwick Rock, on the old trail to Laura’s Tower. Volunteers also cleared access to the Sedgwick Rock. In September, we led a Heritage Walk on Laurel Hill Park and the Mary Flynn Trail. In October, the American Chestnut Foundation met Laurel Hill Association volunteers at the Chestnut Preserve. The group harvested the ripe chestnuts, removed invasives, and did cleanup. We prepared a comprehensive restoration plan for Laurel Hill Park, our signature property. We will undertake the project in 2018. To help fund the project, a $10,000 grant application was submitted to the Lenox Garden Club in December 2017. And in February 2018, a grant application was submitted to the Community Preservation Committee to further fund the restoration project.
Town Beautification The Laurel Hill Association maintains the flowers and plantings at The Civil War Monument on Pine Street, the Jonathan Edwards Monument on Church Street, the garden around the Cat and Dog Fountain, the flower boxes at Roeder Park in Glendale, and the flower beds and pots at the Post Office. In 2017 LHA employed Valerie Locher and her team of horticulturists to plant and maintain these beautiful gardens. As always, the gardens beautified our town and we received many compliments from visitors and residents. We paid for, and oversaw construction of, a new cover for the Cat and Dog Fountain. And we continued to maintain the holiday lights on the tree next to the fountain and on the Helen Pigott memorial tree in Roeder Park. 51 We also held the Earth Day Town Cleanup, which we have held in past years. Volunteers in each section of town picked up trash along their roadsides. Price Chopper and the Stockbridge Highway Department donated bags and gloves. Volunteers enjoyed coffee and tea at Stockbridge Coffee and Tea after finishing cleanup.
Educational Support For the fifth consecutive year, LHA contributed $1000 towards the “Nature’s Classroom” program at Monument Valley Regional Middle School. Principal Ben Doren reported that 95% of their students “attended the trip [for the] second year in a row. This is up from the 60–70% participation of 5 years ago and before. All students now get to enjoy Nature’s Classroom, and it is [a] gateway experience for fifth graders at Monument Valley.” We awarded our 2017 college scholarship to two students. Zoe Renner and Constantinos Koufis were awarded $1,000 each.
Second Annual Photo Contest The Laurel Hill Association and the Stockbridge Land Trust collaborated on our second annual photo contest that celebrates Stockbridge’s natural beauty and supports our organizations’ conservation efforts. The response was strong: 54 photographers submitted a total of 270 photos, twice as many as in the first contest. The winning and honorable mention photos are on display on the Laurel Hill Association website, and the winning photos also appear on note cards being sold as a joint fundraiser; the cards can be purchased in several town shops. Because the contest was a resounding success, a third annual photo contest is underway in 2018. Visit the LHA website to see the photos.
Website: laurelhillassociation.org The Laurel Hill Association’s website can be found at laurelhillassociation. org. The site provides information about the organization, its properties, and its activities. Donations can be made on the site. We also invite visitors to our properties to submit comments and photos on the website.
Activities Laurel Hill Day was celebrated on Saturday, August 26, 2017, outdoors at the Rostrum on Laurel Hill. The featured presenter was Tom Ricardi, founder of the Massachusetts Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center in Conway. Tom enthralled the largest crowd in recent Laurel Hill Day history by showing and telling about several birds of prey. In January 2018, The Laurel Hill Association hosted our annual meeting at the Bement Room of the Stockbridge Library, Museum and Archives. Lois and Denis Milican, representatives of the American Chestnut Foundation, were the speakers. They presented an overview of the history and importance of the American Chestnut, including the widespread loss of the trees throughout North America due to the Asian chestnut blight, and they gave an update on efforts to restore this magnificent tree.
Participation in Town Committees LHA has a representative on the Town Cemetery Commission and a representative on the Stockbridge Bowl Association.
52 Please Join Us! We welcome suggestions, input, and participation from everyone in Town, so that we can better fulfill our mission to improve and serve our community. To become a member of the Association, please visit our website at www. laurelhillassociation.org, email us at [email protected], or write to The Laurel Hill Association, PO Box 24, Stockbridge, MA 01262. We wish to thank our members and benefactors for their past and continued support. We welcome the opportunity to continue our efforts to improve the quality of life in Stockbridge.
Respectfully submitted, SHELBY MARSHALL, President
Zoning Board of Appeals
To the Honorable Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
We have heard no appeals in 2017:
We acknowledge the passing of two long time Board members, Jack Spencer and Linda Day in 2017.
Both served the Board and our Town with distinction. Jack Spencer was a member and Chair of the Planning Board and the Stockbridge Library Boards. He was also quite active in a number of community endeavors. Linda Day also served on the Board of St. Paul’s Church and was President of the local Rotary Clubs. Both left a huge footprint in our Town’s civic life and both will be sorely missed. The Board also welcomes two new members, Starbuck Smith and Alternate Member Miles Moffatt.
Respectfully Submitted, TOM SCHULER JIM MURRAY BOB EDWARDS JOHN HYSON BOB JONES STARBUCK SMITH MILES MOFFATT
53 Tourism Committee
To the Honorable Board and Citizens of Stockbridge:
The committee is in its third year administering funds allocated for the purpose of promoting our local economy. Tourism is what drives our town’s economy and from that Stockbridge collects both lodging and meals tax dollars. In 2017 the town collected $444,290.00 in tax. This is an increase of $155,000.00 since the committee was formed.
In 2017 funds were used in promotional marketing of Stockbridge, MA targeting visitors for overnight stays and dining out through print, digital and online advertising campaigns. A new book direct lodging system was installed on StockbridgeChamber.org and the visitor information booth on Main Street received a new floor. Our investments have not only increased revenue for the town but Stockbridge, MA received National recognition on NBC nightly news with Lester Holt. The town was also featured in a variety of magazines: American Spirit, Yankee Magazine, Westchester day trips, UpCountry, Good Grit and Berkshire Living to name a few. Online recognition included features in Cosmopolitan.com, Bostonglobe.com, NewEnglandToday.com, VisitingNewEngland.com, Masslive. com, OnlyinyourState.com, Forbes.com, the Saratogian.com and many more. In 2017 alone, Stockbridge earned titles as The Best Art Experience, Best, most lively Main Streets, Great Day Trips, Most Vibrant Arts Community in America, One of the 9 cutest towns in the Northeast, Beautiful small towns we want to live in and a must visit Fall foliage destination.
The committee thanks the Stockbridge Finance Committee, the Board of Selectmen and the citizens of Stockbridge for working together to promote, improve and preserve the economic welfare of our town.
Respectfully submitted, BARBARA J. ZANETTI MARGARET D. KERSWILL MICHAEL DUFFY DOUGLAS GOUDEY
54 FINANCES
Town Accountant’s Report
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
Following is the Town Accountant’s Annual Report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2017. The individual reports provided are listed below:
Combined Balance Sheet
Special Revenue Funds
Capital Projects
Fixed Assets
Trust Funds
Agency Funds
Statement of Revenues
Statement of Expenditures
55 Town of Stockbridge Balance Sheet June 30, 2017
GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS Major Spec. Other Capital FIDUCIARY FUNDS General Revenue Spec. Rev Projects Trust Other Post- Agency Fixed Long-Term Totals Fund Funds Funds Funds Funds Emply Funds Funds Assets Debt ASSETS Cash 3,973,463 2,122,751 299,211 3,384,831 1,305,698 1,580,979 17,337 12,684,270 Receivables: Personal Property Taxes 1,039 1,039 Real Estate Taxes 157,735 157,735 Motor Vehicle Taxes 22,643 22,643 Tax Liens 155,191 155,191 Community Preservation Receivable 2,915 2,915 Overlays (130,823) (130,823) Water Rates and Special 3,152 3,152 Sewer Rates and Special 4,001 4,001 Water/Sewer Liens added to tax - Fixed Assets - Amounts to be provided for 12,585,503 12,585,503 Due from Stabilization -
TOTAL ASSETS 4,179,249 2,132,819 299,211 3,384,831 1,305,698 1,580,979 17,337 - 12,585,503 25,485,627
56 GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS Major Spec. Other Capital FIDUCIARY FUNDS General Revenue Spec. Rev Projects Trust Other Post- Agency Fixed Long-Term Totals Fund Funds Funds Funds Funds Emply Funds Funds Assets Debt LIABILITIES AND FUND EQUITY Liabilities Water Treatment Plant Loan(Ref) 535,000 535,000 Sewer Expansion Project Loan 2,665,000 2,665,000 Town Offices Project Loan(Ref) 3,190,000 3,190,000 Water Improvements/Tank Loan 1,795,503 1,795,503 Water Ln-Church St/Tank 1,800,000 1,800,000 Gnrl Oblig bond:TwnBridges/Hwy gar. 2,600,000 2,600,000 Deferred Revenue 205,786 10,068 215,854 TOTAL LIABILITIES 205,786 10,068 ------12,585,503 12,801,357 FUND EQUITY Reserved for Expenditures 400,000 165,299 565,299 Reserved for Encumbrances 51,687 12,562 64,249 Reserved for Encumbrance/Spec. Arts. 1,435,770 58,173 1,493,943 Reserved for Deficits - - Reserved-Debt Exclusion - - Reserved 1,886,717 299,211 3,384,831 1,305,698 1,580,979 17,337 8,474,773 Unreserved 2,086,006 2,086,006 TOTAL FUND EQUITY 3,973,463 2,122,751 299,211 3,384,831 1,305,698 1,580,979 17,337 - - 12,684,270 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 4,179,249 2,132,819 299,211 3,384,831 1,305,698 1,580,979 17,337 - 12,585,503 25,485,627
(Notes: MAJOR Special Revenue Funds include WATER & SEWER & COMMUNITY PRESERVATION Funds) (Notes: OTHER Special Revenue Funds include REVOLVING FUND,ELECTIONS,LOCAL REVOLVING,POLICE GRANTS,GIFTS) 57 Town of Stockbridge Special Revenue Funds Year ending June 30, 2017
WATER & SEWER Beginning Balance Receipts Expenditures Transfers Ending Balance Water 406,350 299,287 (238,577) 467,060 Sewer 409,795 413,778 (469,046) 354,527 Total Water & Sewer 816,144 713,065 (707,623) 0 821,587
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION Reserved: Open Space 384,799 (26,032) 63,867 422,634 Reserved: Historic Resources 395,010 (190,928) 166,928 371,010 Reserved: Community Housing 63,626 (16,548) 47,500 94,578 Undesignated Fund Balance 410,469 283,122 (2,354) (278,295) 412,942 TOTALS: 1,253,904 283,122 (235,862) 0 1,301,163
GRANTS Fema Disaster Grants (169,981) 180,663 (10,682.31) 0 Ch90-Highway Grant 0 590,002 (590,002) 0 Emergency Mgmnt Grants 4,418 4,837 (9,254.99) 0 Arts Lottery Grant 4,815 5,800 (4,790) 5,825 Elder Affairs 0 7,390 (7,390) 0 Zebra Mussel Boat Wash 3,849 6,000 (7,033) 2,816 Library Grant 0 2,812 (2,812) 0 Law Enforcement Tr.Funds 1,957 0 0 1,957
58 Ma Historic Gr (25,000) 25,000 0 0 DEP-Watershed- 604B Gr (9,464) 5,967 (1,384) (4,881) Green Community Gr 305 102,719 (82,588) 20,436 COA Supplies Gr 793 0 0 793 Total Grants (188,308) 931,190 (125,935) (590,002) 26,946
OTHER SPECIAL FUNDS Beginning Balance Receipts Expenditures Transfers Ending Balance FID Card Collections 525 2,713 (2,400) 838 Wetland Protection Act 21,460 2,218 (2,887) 20,790 Contaminated Fix/Equip Disposal 6,650 2,280 (180) 8,751 Zebra Mussel Monitors 7,903 11,500 (12,780) 6,624 Receipts resvd for appr-Real Estate 200,000 0 0 200,000 Solar-Landfill Consultant Fees 0 20,000 (13,526) 6,475 Tax Title Revolving Fund 0 4,284 (261) (4,023) 0 Insurance Reimb 0 743 (743) 0 Police Gifts 6,239 1,065 (814) 6,490 Gifts to Aid Elderly/Disabled 5,179 9,307 (5,600) 8,887 Gifts:other 2,004 0 0 2,004 Procter Hall Restoration 8,343 21 8,364 Mary Flynn Conservation Gift 3,414 0 (2,340) 1,074 Isabelle Soule Gift 0 1,349 1,349 Sosne Little League field gift 150 0 150 Total Gifts 261,868 36,769 (9,496) 271,794
59 Town of Stockbridge Major Special Funds June 30, 2017
Major Special Funds Community FIDUCIARY FUNDS Water Sewer Preservation Trust Agency Fixed Long-Term Totals Fund Fund Fund Funds Funds Assets Debt ASSETS Cash 467,060 354,527 1,301,164 2,122,751
Receivables: Personal Property Taxes 0 Real Estate Taxes 0 Motor Vehicle Taxes 0 Tax Liens 0 Chapter 90 Roads Receivable 0 Community Preservation Receivable 2,915 2,915 Overlays 0 Water Rates and Special 3,152 3,152 Sewer Rates and Special 4,001 4,001 Water/Sewer Liens added to tax 0 Fixed Assets 0 Amounts to be provided for 0 Due from Stabilization 0
TOTAL ASSETS 470,212 358,528 1,304,079 0 0 0 0 0 2,132,819
60 Major Special Funds Community FIDUCIARY FUNDS Water Sewer Preservation Trust Agency Fixed Long-Term Totals Fund Fund Fund Funds Funds Assets Debt
LIABILITIES AND FUND EQUITY Liabilities Water Treatment Plant Loan 0 Sewer Expansion Project Loan 0 Town Offices Project Loan 0 Water Improvements/Tank Loan Due to Capital Projects 0 Deferred Revenue 3,152 4,001 2,915 10,068
TOTAL LIABILITIES 3,152 4,001 2,915 0 0 0 0 0 10,068
FUND EQUITY Reserved for Expenditures 19,700 145,599 165,299 Reserved for Encumbrances 5,039 7,523 12,562 Reserved for Encumbrance/Spec. Arts. 18,751 39,422 58,173 Reserved for Deficits 0 Reserved-Investment & Prop 0 Reserved 423,570 161,983 1,301,164 1,886,717 Unreserved 0 TOTAL FUND EQUITY 467,060 354,527 1,301,164 0 0 0 0 0 2,122,751
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 470,212 358,528 1,304,079 0 0 0 0 0 2,132,819
(Notes: MAJOR Special Revenue Funds include WATER & SEWER & COMMUNITY PRESERVATION Funds) (Notes: OTHER Special Revenue Funds include REVOLVING FUND,ELECTIONS,LOCAL REVOLVING,POLICE GRANTS,GIFTS) 61 Capital Projects Year ending June 30,2017
Fund Beginning Balance Receipts Expenses Transfers Ending Balance Water Update Project 69,638 771,355 (798,123) 175,000 217,870 Glendale Cell Tower Prj 0 441,624 (431,746) 9,878 Towns Bridges, Highways & Garage 0 2,680,869 (124,022) 600,000 3,156,848
Total Capital Projects 69,638 3,893,848 (1,353,891) 775,000 3,384,596
Trust Funds Year ending June 30, 2017
Beginning Transfers Transfers Ending Funds Balance Receipts in out Balance OPEB - Retirement Benefits $1,086,147 $149,832 $345,000 $1,580,979 Cemetery Perpetual Care $390,966 $4,395 $395,361 Conservation Trust Fund $27,431 $45 $27,476 War Memorial Trust Fund $1,320 $2 $1,322 DD Field Chime Tower $1,797 $3 $1,800 Stockbridge Bowl Fund $1,261 $2 $1,263 Merwin Trust $25,000 $66 ($66) $25,000 Treadway Scholarship Fund $132,993 (5,155) $127,838 Stabilization $1,618,428 $2,210 $200,000 ($1,095,000) $725,638
Totals $3,285,342 $156,555 $545,000 ($1,100,221) $2,886,677 62 Capital Asset Summary Year ending June 30,2017
2016 Assets 2017 Assets Land 4,709,600 4,709,600 Construction in progress 2,216,944 2,319,229 Buildings & Furnishings 6,497,121 6,659,967 Vehicles & Equipment 3,898,286 3,644,951 Infrastructure 14,464,183 14,037,921
Totals 31,786,134 31,371,668
Agency Funds Year ending June 30,2017
Beginning credits debits Ending Funds Balance Receipts Expenses Balance
Federal Withholding Tax ($2,878) $227,335 ($224,457) $0 Medicare Withholding Tax $0 $27,394 ($27,394) $0 State Withholding Tax $0 $94,446 ($94,446) $0 Retirement Withholding $2,869 $150,418 ($150,357) $2,930 Def. comp Withholding $0 $51,210 ($51,210) $0 Insurance Withholding $14,754 $136,944 ($147,056) $4,642 Life Insurance Withholding $114 $698 ($686) $126 Boston Mut Life/voluntary $23 $479 ($479) $23 Metlife/voluntary $215 $1,866 ($2,045) $36 AFLAC Disab/voluntary $728 $7,686 ($7,693) $721 Union Dues Withholding $401 $6,064 ($6,040) $425 United Way $10 $520 ($390) $140 Fire Watch Detail $0 $8,806 ($8,806) $0 Court Ordered Deductions $0 $17,722 ($17,722) $0 Council on Aging-trips/meals $933 $1,025 ($1,775) $183 Performance Bonds $3,040 $0 ($1,000) $2,040 Unclaimed (tailings) $0 $0 $0 $0 Sub-totals $20,209 $732,613 ($741,557) $11,265
Police Outside Detail ($6,915) $109,160 ($96,175) $6,070 Totals $13,294 $841,773 ($837,732) $17,335
63 Revenues Year ending June 30,2017 General Property Taxes Personal Property Tax $353,467 Real Estate Tax $7,849,880 Motor Vehicle Excise Tax $302,646 In Lieu of Taxes $21,377 Interest on Taxes and Excise $33,074 Hotel and Motel Tax $365,768 Meals Tax $78,523 Sub-total General Taxes $9,004,735
Permits for Services Cemetery Internments $7,600 Building Permits $147,936 Plumbing Permits $6,420 Electrical Permits $16,230 Gas Permits $3,780 Fire Permits $3,575 Special Permits $2,712 Board of Health Permits $25,652 Cable Television $0 Other Charges for services Compactor Stickers $30,500 Compactor Fees $27,017 Municipal Lien Fees $2,300 Photocopies $142 Town Clerk $1,467 Firearm Permits $913 Police Detail-Admin Fee $3,753 Police Reports $215 Sub-total Permits/Charges for Services $280,211 Licenses Dog licenses $1,839 Alcoholic $9,975 Tag Sale $375 Retail,restaurant $1,150 Other Licenses and Permits $15,775 Sub-total Licenses and Permits $29,114
64 Revenues from State (Cherry Sheet) Abate-Vets,Blind,Surv Spouse $10,239 State Owned Land $36,368 General Govt. State Aid $95,843 Sub-total State Revenues $142,450
Revenue from Other Governments Fines and Forfeits $8,738 District Court Fines $80 EOEA Recycling Incentive Pmt $3,027 Veterans’ Reimbursement Benefits $31,116 Public Works Projects(curb) $450 Sub-total Other Government Revenue $43,410
Miscellaneous Revenue Council on Aging-Taxi donations $610 Parking Fines $335 50 Main Street-rentals $85,673 Investment Income $18,813 Other Miscellaneous $11,831 Sub-total Miscellaneous Revenue $117,262
Total General Fund Revenues $9,617,182
Special Revenue Funds Water User Fees $261,492 Water Special $5,005 Water Interest & Penalties $2,424 Water Connection Fees $2,000 Water Fire Service connection fees $3,500 Water Backflow fees $5,410 Water Application Fees $4,300 Water Other Misc revenue $12,531 Total Water Fund Revenues $296,662
Sewer User Fees $403,527 Sewer Special $1,500 Sewer Interest & Penalties $2,675 Sewer Connection Fees $5,500 Sewer Application Fees $300 Sewer Other Misc revenue $225 Total Sewer Fund Revenues $413,727
65 Community Preservation Tax $188,051 Community Preservation Interest & Penalties $448 Community Preservation State Funds $85,311 Community Preservation Investment Income $9,313 Total Community Preservation Revenues $283,122
Expenses Year ending June 30, 2017
GENERAL GOVERNMENT Moderator Salary 228 Dues/Subscriptions 0 228 Selectmen Salaries 36,585 Employee Search Committee 3,300 Advertising 3,906 Litigation 44,910 Postage 2,450 Cable Advisory 0 Other Expenses 362 Meetings/Travel 693 Dues & Memberships 1,266 Prior yr carry fwd 13,986 107,457 Town Administrator Salary 96,793 Postage Meter Rental 2,155 Office Supplies 3,793 School/Training 0 Prior yr carry fwd 0 102,741 Town Offices Salary 85,469 Fuel 8,778 Building Repairs 30,273 Uniform 199 Maint. Contracts 11,060 Office Supplies 0 Janitorial Supplies 4,031 66 Gas/Diesel 942 Dues/subscriptions 0 School/Training 567 HVAC 7,441 Site Improvements 9,200 Purchase Equipment 4,721 Prior yr carry fwd 2,895 165,575 Finance Committee Meetings/Travel 130 Dues & Subscriptions 129 259 Town Accountant Salary 52,571 Postage 0 Audit 16,900 Office Supplies 148 Other Charges & Expenses 0 Meetings/In-State Travel 0 Dues/Subscriptions 110 School/Training 1,529 Municipal Group Purchasing 600 Prior yr carry fwd 0 71,858 Assessors Salaries 98,119 Postage 390 Office Supplies 503 Meetings/Travel 3,409 Dues & Subscriptions 1,334 103,755 Treasurer Salaries 50,295 Payroll Service 6,448 Postage 1,172 Tax title fees 0 Office Supplies 194 Forms 0 Other chgs/exp 0 Meetings/Travel 1,188 Dues/Subscriptions 80 School/Training 95 59,471
67 Collector Salaries 72,738 Deputy Coll. Service 2,801 Postage 3,180 Tax Title Fees 405 Office Supplies 425 Forms 887 Other Charges and Expenses 110 Meetings/Travel 874 Dues/Subscriptions 235 School/Training 374 Interest on refunded tax 1,297 Purchases Equipment 32 83,358 Town Counsel Retainer 38,445 Legal Expenses 500 38,945 Town Clerk Salary 38,536 Printing 200 Postage 300 Supplies 230 Meetings/Travel 750 Dues/Subscriptions 35 School/training 0 40,051 Elections & Registration Salaries 6,202 Repairs/Maint. Equipment 0 Printing 36 Postage 354 Voting Machine Ballots 3,509 Supplies 275 Forms 0 Other charges/ expenses 253 10,629 Conservation Commission Salary 8,405 Postage 600 Legal Advertising 84 Office Supplies 33 Dues/Subscriptions 187
68 School/Training 330 Gould Meadows-maintenance 5,000 14,639 Planning Board Salary 5,253 Advertising 1,930 Postage 400 Supplies 175 7,758 Zoning Board Other charges/exp 0 0 Town Meeting Articles Preservation of Records 0 Assessors Data 1,000 Tax software 0 Bylaw Consultant 4,138 Zoning Defense 0 Quiet Knoll Easement 0 Legal-Rest River 13,857 Salary/Benefit Adj 0 COA-Van Purchase 26,098 Drainage/Erosion 0 HVAC 23,568 Stockbridge Lake Mgmt- Phase 3 0 Housatonic RR Fees 616 Stockbridge Library Elevator 100,000 Vol-Firemen Stipends 10,773 Tourism development 28,698 Master Plan consultant 0 Town Offices security upgrade 5,023 Beach House Roof/Skylights 0 50 Main St Stairway repairs(west end) 24,042 Cell Tower/Glendale 0 Contingency-FY16-Channel Dredging 0 Contingency-FY17-Channel Dredging 0 237,812 Procter Hall Building Repairs 309 309 Town Electricity 69,420 69,420
69 Town Report 6,500 6,500 Computer Technology Telephones/Internet 24,604 Computer Service Contracts 57,898 Outside Prof Services 12,126 Computer Supplies 5,069 Purchase Equipment 9,260 Purchase Computers 7,025 Purchase Software 4,000 Prior yr carry fwd 0 119,982 Total General Government Expenses 1,240,747
PUBLIC SAFETY Police Salaries 598,412 Repairs: Radio 334 Vehicle repairs/maint 8,000 Uniforms 12,748 Postage 500 Communications 14,208 Supplies 4,546 Gasoline 16,194 Accreditation Exp 1,250 Meetings/Travel 861 Dues/Subscriptions 2,942 School/Training 19,076 Purchase of Equipment 3,500 Prior yr carry fwd 0 682,571 Police Town Meeting Articles Police vests 552 Merge IMC records 10,125 New Vehicle 25,177 35,854 Fire Salaries 65,818 Fuel Oil 7,743 Repairs 15,153 Vehicle Repairs/maint 32,414 Building repairs 9,399 Uniforms 7,261 70 Janitorial Supplies 659 Gasoline 10,362 School/traiing 2,571 Purchase of Equipment 24,812 176,192 Fire Town Meeting Articles Turnout Gear 4,296 4,296 Emergency Medical Response School/Training 2,000 Purchase Equip 7,000 9,000 Ambulance service Lee Ambulance 30,064 Lenox Ambulance 3,000 33,064 Animal Control Officer Salary 5,270 Veterinary Chgs. 179 Supplies 0 Other Charges & Expenses 528 Kennel Operation 13 5,990 Building Inspector Salaries 62,864 Other Charges & Expenses 0 Meetings/Travel 1,086 Dues/Subsriptions 699 64,649 Gas Inspector Salaries 1,384 Other Charges & Expenses 1,000 2,384 Plumbing Inspector Salaries 5,849 Other Charges & Expenses 1,000 6,849 Electrical Inspector Salaries 6,633 Service 0 Other Charges & Expenses 1,698 8,331 Emergency Management Salary 3,515 71 Repairs/Maintenance 0 Notification System 6,500 Uniforms 0 Emergency Planning 500 Other Charges & Expenses 0 School/Training 461 Purchase Equipment 92 11,068 Tree Warden Salary 2,018 Tree Removals 37,531 Forestry 3,800 Planting, Feeding 10,186 Other Charges/Exp 1,000 Prior yr carryover 0 54,534 Total Public Safety Expenses 1,094,782
EDUCATION Berkshire Hills Regional School District Assessment 2,911,003 Construction 124,709 Total Education Expenses 3,035,712
PUBLIC WORKS Highway Town Meeting Articles Landfill 23,727 Trask Lane Improvements 60,662 Sidewalks 0 Ch90 road reconstruction 144,184 Interlaken Bridge engineering 13,637 Rte 183 Culvert 1,180 Dam Repairs 3,255 Hazardous Waste 2,059 Cemetery trees 2,350 Cemetery survey/Waterline replace. 7,331 Town Bridges:Design/Contractor 100,000 Town property-Emergency repairs 167,887 526,272 Highway Department Salaries 333,856 Fuel Oil 4,932
72 Repairs/Maintenance Equipment 1,773 Repairs-Radio 0 Building Repairs 692 Engineering Services 9,308 Rentals 0 Uniforms 2,297 Office Supplies 764 Harvester exp. 1,567 Gravel roads 16,802 Sidewalks 0 Roads 49,901 Licenses 974 CDL Drug Testing 295 Woodwaste 0 Training 620 423,780 Snow and Ice Expenses 108,699 108,699 Street Lights Electricity 41,694 41,694 Highway Machinery Vehicle Repairs 29,584 Supplies 7,189 Gasoline 31,928 Tires 3,092 Plow Blades 2,000 Safety equip 913 74,707 Compactor Salaries 52,998 Repairs 646 Hauling 110,491 164,135 Hydrant Rental Housatonic 1,948 1,948 Cemetery Salaries 25,932 Repairs/Maint-Equip 685 Repairs/Maint-Mowers 0
73 Supplies 791 Fuel 507 Mowers/Trimmers 687 28,602 Total Public Works Expenses 1,369,837
PUBLIC HEALTH Board of Health Salaries 842 Dues/Subscriptions 55 897 Tri-Town Health Officer 45,284 45,284 Lee Visiting Nurse/Porchlight 15,438 15,438 Mental Health & Substance Abuse Svc. 3,200 3,200 Council on Aging Salaries 35,388 Repairs/Maint-Vehicle 612 Postage 0 Recreation 1,036 Supplies 45 Meetings/Travel 280 Dues/Subscriptions 373 37,733 Veterans’ Services District Service 8,065 Benefits 41,515 49,580 Total Public Health Expenses 152,132
CULTURE AND RECREATION Stockbridge Library Association 165,614 165,614 Chime Tower Bell-ringers salaries 0 0 Chime Tower ATM Article 0 0
74 Parks and Recreation Salaries 17,781 Water 450 Repairs/Maintenance 2,538 Special Needs Recreation 200 Supplies 113 Carryover to NY 84 Site Improvements 5,085 Purchase Equip 364 26,615 Historical Commission Consulting/Advisory 225 Office Supplies 0 Supplies 0 Meetings/Travel 0 225 Memorial Day Committee Grave Markers 1,208 Other Charges & Expenses 517 1,726 Historic District Committee Other Charges/Exepnses 0 0 Total Culture & Recreation Expenses 194,180
DEBT SERVICE Admin Fees 9,021 Debt Princ - Sewer Expansion 330,000 Debt Int - Sewer Expansion 60,578 Debt Princ - Water Treatment 65,000 Debt Int - Water Treatment 17,025 Debt Princ - Town Offices 375,000 Debt Int - Town Offices 101,325 Debt Princ - Water Tank & Update 110,308 Debt Int - Water Tank & Update 37,013 1,105,270 Total Debt Service Expenses 1,105,270
75 STATE AND COUNTY CHARGES State Assessments Motor Vehicle Excise 620 Mosquito Control 31,888 Air Pollution Control District 1,247 Berkshire Regional Transit Auth. 37,891 State Strap Assessment 71,646 Total State & County Charges 71,646
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES Retirement Benefits Assessment 310,771 310,771 Employee Insurance Med/FICA(Town Portion) 27,394 Life Insurance 2,487 Health Insurance 543,861 Employee Ins Reimbursement 6,000 579,742 Insurance Insurance Coverage 64,787 Police/Volunteer Firemen’s 40,775 Ins. Deductible 0 105,563 Tax Refunds/Other Expense Personal Property 2,807 Real Estate 26,605 Motor Vehicle 4,697 Other Revenue refunded 0 Berkshire Regional Planning 1,441 35,550 Total Miscellaneous Expenses 1,031,625
TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENSES 9,295,931
76 WATER DEPARTMENT Salaries 106,470 Electricity 25,048 Heating Fuel 1,477 Telephone/Alarms 5,405 Repairs/Maint Equipment 23,216 Repairs Radio 0 Repairs Vehicles 431 Uniforms 510 Pumping Station 273 Water Testing 4,644 Postage 800 Forestry 625 Generator Service 7,281 Meters 1,983 Office Supplies 1,582 Supplies 7,178 Gasoline 1,144 Chemicals 11,894 SDWA Assessment 0 Intermunicipal Agreements 751 School/Training 2,416 Pipeline Replacement 21,768 Purchase of Safety Equipment 417 Prior yr carry fwd 5,000 230,313
Water Town Meeting Articles Water Main Easements 1,249 Screening For Water Tank 0 Park St River Crossing 0 Water Tank Inspection 4,390 5,639 Water Refunds 0 Total Water Expense 235,952
77 SEWER DEPARTMENT Salaries 107,366 Electricity 51,979 Fuel Oil 3,941 Telephone/Alarms 7,984 Repairs/Maintenance Equipment 19,274 Repairs Vehicles 2,120 Maintenance Contracts 2,862 Uniforms 875 Sludge Hauling 66,120 Postage 1,000 Supplies 13,170 Ultraviolet Light Bulbs 0 Gasoline/diesel 2,364 Intermunicipal Agreements 1,263 School/Training 765 Purchase of Safety Equipment 250 Prior yr carry fwd 7,653 288,987 Sewer Town Meeting Articles Sewerline repairs 19,015 Beachwood Low Pressure Improve 0 Park St Pump Sta-Engineer/Design 10,578 Waste Treat Bldgs-Paint Roofs 29,700 Clarifiers-maintenance 18,960 Generator transfer switch 4,110 82,363 Sewer Refunds 0 Total Sewer Expense 371,350
78 Board of Assessors
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge:
The tax rate of $9.76 for Fiscal Year 2018 was set and approved on October 26, 2017. There was an increase of $0.06 in the Fiscal Year 2018 tax rate from the Fiscal Year 2017 tax rate.
Listed below are estimated figures used on the Tax Recapitulation for Fiscal Year 2018:
Total Amount to be Raised $12,111,171.75 Total Estimated Receipts and other Revenue Sources 3,491,891.00 Tax Levy (net amount to be raised by taxation) $8,619,280.75 Real Property Valuations $844,900,320.00 Personal Property Valuations 38,222,708.00 Total Valuation $883,123,028.00 Total Number of Parcels, Real Estate 1,785 Total Number of Personal Property Assessments 760 Total Number of Parcels, Exempt 157
In Fiscal Year 2018, the Assessor’s Office conducted a state mandated three year reassessment of property values using market data from calendar years 2015 and 2016.
There were several styles of properties that saw an increase over last year’s valuation. Several land factors were adjusted resulting in increased land assessments or decreased land assessments depending on the location of the property. Commercial properties also saw an increase from this reassessment. All changes to valuations were done following the Department of Revenue’s Certification Standards.
This office welcomed Tom Stokes as a new member of the Board of Assessor’s when John Miller decided not to run in 2017. John is still a big part of this office even if we don’t see him on a daily basis. His dedication to the Town as Board member and previous Chairman will never be forgotten.
Respectfully submitted, GARY M. PITNEY, Chairman DOUGLAS M. GOUDEY THOMAS H. STOKES Board of Assessors
79 Town Collector’s Report
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Stockbridge: As Temporary Town Collector, I would like to thank all the taxpayers who pay their bills promptly. Our high collection rate helps the Town meet its financial obligations. Current real estate and personal property tax bills and current water/sewer bills can be paid online at the Town’s website: town of stockbridge.com. When using a credit card, the bank will charge a sliding fee. If you choose to debit your checking account, the bank will charge a $.25 fee. Effective July 1, 2017, interest for late payments began accruing from the due date, not the issue date. A reminder that checks should be made payable to the TOWN OF STOCKBRIDGE and mailed or delivered to: TOWN COLLECTOR TOWN OF STOCKBRIDGE P.O. BOX 417 50 MAIN STREET STOCKBRIDGE, MA 01262 The following reports show the major collection activity for FY2017. Respectfully submitted, KAREN T. WILLIAMS Temporary Town Collector
Receipts For The Year Ending 6/30/17
Real Estate Tax: FY ‘15 7,233 FY ‘15 CPA 183 FY ’16 87,341 FY ’16 CPA 1,495 FY ’17 7,750,726 FY ’17 CPA 186,372 Total Real Estate: 8,033,350
Personal Property Tax: FY ‘16 558 FY ’17 352,909 Total Personal Property Tax: 353,467
Motor Vehicle Tax: FY ‘15 267 FY ‘16 46,435 FY ’17 255,710 Total Motor Vehicle: 302,412
80 Water Receipts: FY ‘16 Water User Charges 3,605 FY ‘17 Water User Charges 257,888 FY ’17 Hydrant Charges 5,005 FY ’17 Backflow Billings Paid 5,410 Water App/Connection Fees 6,300 Fire Service Connection Fees 3,500 Water Misc. Fees 12,531 Total Water Receipts: 294,239
Sewer Receipts: FY ‘16 Sewer User Charges 4,366 FY ‘17 Sewer User Charges 399,161 Waste Treatment Charges 1,500 Sewer App/Connection Fees 5,800 Sewer Misc. Fees 225 Total Sewer Receipts: 411,052 Total Utility Receipts: 705,291
Payment in Lieu of Taxes: Stockbridge Housing 877 Austin Riggs Center 16,000 Riverbrook 2,000 St. Paul’s 1,500 Berkshire Taconic Comm 1,000 Total Payment in Lieu of Taxes: 21,377
Other: Aid to Elderly and Disabled 9,307 Tri-Town Board of Health 25,652 Compactor User Fees 27,017 RE Added To Tax Title 1,066 Advert. Tax Title Fees 34 Municipal Lien Certificates 2,300 Deputy Collector Fees- MV 2,781 Int & Demand - Real Estate 25,220 Int & Demand - CPA 448 Int & Penalties - Motor Vehicles 4,860 Int & Demand - Water & Sewer 5,099 Interest on Tax Liens 213 Previous Year Excise 234 Total Other: 104,231
TOTAL RECEIPTS: 9,520,128
81 Real Estate Tax Review Including CPA (Community Preservation Act)
FY2014 Committed 6,754,362 Taxes Paid 6,709,170 Exemptions/Abatements 29,240 Refunds (8,873) Tax Title 24,695 Adjustments 130 Balance Due as of 06-30-17 0
FY2015 Committed 7,230,411 Taxes Paid 7,178,065 Exemptions/Abatements 57,009 Refunds (32,284) Tax Title 21,287 Adjustments 985 Balance Due as of 06-30-17 7,320
FY2016 Committed 7,991,618 Taxes Paid 7,940,441 Exemptions/Abatements 41,387 Refunds (27,197) Tax Title 21,260 Adjustments 853 Balance Due as of 06-30-17 14,874
FY2017 Committed 8,111,274 Taxes Paid 7,935,342 Exemptions/Abatements 31,643 Refunds (13,427) Tax Title 17,504 Adjustments 1,756 Balance Due as of 6-30-17 138,456
82 Personal Property Tax Review
FY2014 Commitment 295,389 Taxes Paid 295,288 Exemptions/Abatements 282 Refunds (181) Balance due as of 6-30-17 0
FY2015 Commitment 308,297 Taxes Paid 308,222 Exemptions/Abatements 122 Refunds (47) Balance due as of 6-30-17 0
FY2016 Commitment 346,352 Taxes Paid 345,884 Exemptions/Abatements 359 Refunds (36) Balance due as of 6-30-17 145
FY2017 Commitment 353,789 Taxes Paid 352,909 Exemptions/Abatements 2,860 Refunds (2,808) Balance due as of 6-30-17 828
Utility Billing Review
FY2015 Commitment 663,211 Taxes Paid 662,940 Exemptions/Abatements 1,321 Refunds (1,220) Sale Adjustments (757) Lien 927 Balance due as of 6-30-17 0
FY2016 Commitment 673,783 Taxes Paid 662,856 Exemptions/Abatements 7,403 Refunds (2,869) Sale Adjustments 6,393 Balance due as of 6-30-17 0
FY2017 Commitment 754,262 Taxes Paid 663,385 Exemptions/Abatements 87,822 Sale Adjustments (4,097) Balance due as of 6-30-17 7,152
83 Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Review
FY2014 Commitments 280,419 Taxes Paid 274,460 Exemptions/Abatements 9,463 Refunds (5,542) Balance due as of 6-30-17 2,038
FY2015 Commitments 296,164 Taxes Paid 291,973 Exemptions/Abatements 7,465 Refunds (5,599) Balance due as 6-30-17 2,325
FY2016 Commitments 310,147 Taxes Paid 303,346 Exemptions/Abatements 7,592 Refunds (4,126) Balance due as of 6-30-17 3,335
FY2017 Commitments 272,417 Taxes Paid 255,710 Exemptions/Abatements 4,955 Refunds (1,829) Balance due as of 6-30-17 13,581
84 Treasurer’s Report June 30, 2017 Treasurer’s Cash: Berkshire Bank ($284,082.83) Berkshire Bank Money Market $3,058,959.72 Berkshire Bank Arts Money Market $4,819.65 Belmont Savings CPA Money Market $1,380,749.48 Berkshire Bank Elderly $14,487.38 M.M.D.T. $828,473.91 Farmington Bank $237,196.56 Morgan Stanley $812,071.56 Lee Bank (Procter Hall) $8,364.12 People’s United-MM $375,398.41 People’s United-PR ($1,875.64) UniBank-Building Commissioner $79,551.43 Total Treasurer’s Cash $6,514,113.75
UniBank Concentration Account Bond Proceeds (June 2017 Deposit) $2,681,104.18
Stabilization Fund: Berkshire Bank $1,066,438.16 UniBank $259,199.47 Total Stabilization Fund $1,325,637.63
Cemetery Trust Fund: UniBank $395,611.40 Total Cemetery Trust Fund $395,611.40
Custodial Accounts: UniBank (Trust Funds) $56,927.03 SRBTF-OPEB Funds $1,580,978.72 Berk. Bank/Morgan Stanley (Treadway) $129,638.90 Total Custodial Accounts $1,767,544.65
TOTAL TREASURER’S INVESTMENTS $12,684,011.61
85 CUSTODIAL ACCOUNTS (Detail) Conservation Fund: Beginning Balance $27,431.10 Interest $44.97 Ending Balance $27,476.07
D.D. Field Chime Tower Fund: Beginning Balance $1,796.79 Interest $2.97 Ending Balance $1,799.76
Stockbridge Bowl Fund: Beginning Balance $1,261.17 Interest $2.08 Transfer Ending Balance $1,263.25
War Memorial Fund: Beginning Balance $1,319.73 Interest $2.17 Ending Balance $1,321.90
Merwin Trust: Beginning Balance $43,688.20 Accountant Reclassified PILOT Payments ($18,688.20) Interest $66.05 Ending Balance $25,066.05
SRBTF-OPEB Funds Beginning Balance $1,088,798.65 Net Gains/Losses $147,180.07 Investment (FY17) $345,000.00 Ending Balance $1,580,978.72
Charles D. Treadway Scholarship Fund Beginning Balance $132,843.41 Interest/Dividends ($3,354.51) Morgan Stanley Annual Fee Adj. in July ‘16 $150.00 Ending Balance $129,638.90
TOTAL CUSTODIAL FUNDS $1,767,544.65
Respectfully submitted, KAREN T. WILLIAMS Treasurer
86 Report of the Finance Committee To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Stockbridge: Financial operating results for Fiscal Year 2017 were satisfactory. All Town Departments continue to exercise considerable fiscal discipline and compliance with their adopted budgets. The Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2017 was $9.70, an increase of $.11 cents from Fiscal Year 2016. Free Cash was voted at the Annual Town Meeting in May 2017 in the amount of $200,000 to be used to reduce the FY 2018 Tax Levy. The Balance of Certified Free Cash after this reduction was $619,743.00. Also, as of June 30,2017, the Stabilization Fund Balance was $725,195.00. The total bond indebtedness at the close of Fiscal Year 2017 was $11,556,858.00 an increase of $2,491,047.00. The Annual Town Meeting for Fiscal Year 2017, that convened in May, 2016, also approved several large expenditures. They include: BHRSD Assessment...... $2,951,629.00 BHRSD Capital...... 119,176.00 Highway Department Pick-up Truck...... 40,000.00 Fire Truck...... 200,000.00 Road Resurfacing-Ch-90...... 199,635.00 Main Fire Station Roof Replacement...... 90,000.00 OPEB Funding Contributions...... 345,000.00 (Other Post Employment Benefits) At a Special Town Meeting in January, 2017, the Town voted unanimously to raise and appropriate $2,600,000.00 and to transfer $400,000.00 from the Stabilization Fund to pay for the design, engineering, development, construction, reconstruction, extension, repair and upgrade of the Berkshire Country Day Bridge, South Hill Bridge, Averic Road Bridges, Larrywaug Bridge, Willard Road, Route 183, Larrywaug Crossroad, North Church Street and Old Curtisville Road as well as exploring alternatives for the deteriorating Town Garage. It is also noted that funds transferred from Stabilization will be returned if the Town receives a grant under the Small Bridge Grant Program. The Finance Committee looks forward to working with the Select Board and Department Heads to manage the effects of the Town’s budget expenditures related to the Tax Levy and Town’s Balance Sheet. The Finance Committee has started the process of working closely with Danielle Fillio, the newly appointed Town Administrator, on implementing multi- year capital and operating budgets to better control expenditures. The Finance Committee will also continue to further explore refinancing and acceleration of payments to reduce existing long term indebtedness. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Frank Russell for his past service on this committee and his commitment to our Town. Respectfully Submitted, JAY BIKOFSKY, Chairman JAMES BALFANZ JAMES MCMENAMY MARY BOYCE DIANE REUSS NEIL HOLDEN STEVE SHATZ 87 TOWN WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
To one of the constables of the Town of Stockbridge in said county.
GREETINGS:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town, qualified to vote in Town affairs, to meet at the STOCKBRIDGE TOWN OFFICES 50 MAIN STREET
in Stockbridge on MONDAY, THE TWENTY-FIRST OF MAY 2018 at 6:30 o’clock in the evening Eastern Daylight Time, for the following purposes, to wit:
ARTICLE 1. To choose all Town Officers necessary to be chosen at the Annual Town Meeting, other than those to be chosen by ballot.
ARTICLE 2. To hear the report of any Town Officer or Committee, and to see if the Town will vote to accept all printed reports, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 3. To see if the Town will vote to fix the salary and compensation of all elected officers of the Town as provided by Chapter 41, Section 108 of the Massachusetts General Laws as amended: Moderator, Selectmen, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Town Collector, Board of Assessors, Board of Health, and Tree Warden, and to raise and appropriate a sum of money therefor, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the following purposes, or to take any other action in relation thereto:
Section 1. MODERATOR 2. SELECTMEN’S DEPARTMENT 3. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR 4. FINANCE DEPARTMENT 5. RESERVE FUND 6. ACCOUNTANT 7. ASSESSORS’ DEPARTMENT 8. TREASURER’S DEPARTMENT 9. TOWN COLLECTOR’S DEPARTMENT 10. LEGAL DEPARTMENT 11. TOWN CLERK’S DEPARTMENT 12. ELECTIONS & REGISTRATIONS 13. CONSERVATION COMMISSION 14. PLANNING BOARD 88 15. BOARD OF APPEALS 16. PROCTER HALL 17. TOWN OFFICES 18. TOWN REPORT 19. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR 20. POLICE DEPARTMENT 21. FIRE DEPARTMENT 22. AMBULANCE SERVICE 23. ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER 24. BUILDING INSPECTOR 25. GAS INSPECTOR 26. PLUMBING INSPECTOR 27. WIRE INSPECTOR 28. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 29. TREE WARDEN DEPARTMENT 30. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION 31. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT 32. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT a.) MACHINERY b.) COMPACTOR c.) CEMETERY 33. STREETLIGHTS 34. TRASH REMOVAL 35. SEWER DEPARTMENT 36. WATER DEPARTMENT 37. HYDRANT RENTAL 38. HEALTH DEPARTMENT 39. HEALTH OFFICER 40. PORCHLIGHT VNA 41. MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES 42. COUNCIL ON AGING 43. VETERAN’S SERVICES 44. STOCKBRIDGE LIBRARY 45. CHIME TOWER 46. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION 47. HISTORICAL COMMISSION 48. MEMORIAL DAY COMMITTEE 49. HISTORIC DISTRICT 50. HISTORIC PRESERVATION 51. TOURISM COMMITTEE 52. LONG-TERM DEBT & SHORT-TERM DEBT 53. BERKSHIRE REGIONAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS (OPEB) BERKSHIRE COUNTY INSURANCE GROUP 54. INSURANCE
89 ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the assessment of the Berkshire Hills Regional School District, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money toward the Berkshire Hills Regional School District’s capital cost of constructing the new school buildings, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purchase of a Boom Mower and Bucket Loader for the Highway Department, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for resurfacing a portion of Church Street, or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of Energy Efficiency upgrades to the Central Station for the Fire Department, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of replacing the original 1975 generator at Central Station for the Fire Department, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to recap the stump dump at the landfill per DEP requirements, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Sewer Available Surplus a sum of money to provide for a portion of the cost of the debt service payment (principal and interest) of the Sewer System Expansion and Update Project authorized by Article 3 of the Special Town Meeting of April 1, 2002, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Sewer Available Surplus a sum of money for the second phase of the inflow and infiltration study, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Water Available Surplus a sum of money for a water main replacement under Larrywaug Brook, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Water Available Surplus a sum of money for a Lake Averic Yield Study, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds sum of money for the purchase of bullet-proof vests for the 90 Police Department, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 17. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purchase of a new Police Cruiser, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 18. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of establishing a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 19. To see if the Town will support a non-binding resolution requesting the Board of Selectmen to place a non-binding ballot question on the November 6, 2018 Stockbridge General Election Ballot that asks Town residents if they support the establishment of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Program for the Town of Stockbridge, or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will vote, as recommended by the Community Preservation Committee and pursuant to the Community Preservation Act, to:
a. appropriate or transfer from the Historic Resources Reserve and the Community Housing Reserve a sum of money for the Stockbridge Housing Authority for roof repairs on units A and D;
b. appropriate or transfer from the Historic Resources Reserve a sum of money to the Berkshire Theatre Festival for the rehabilitation of main entrance facade;
c. appropriate or transfer from the Historic Resources Reserve a sum of money to the Norman Rockwell Museum for roof repairs on the carriage house;
d. appropriate or transfer from the Historic Resources Reserve a sum of money to the Friends of Gould Meadows for habitat restoration and repairs to the milk barn;
e. appropriate or transfer from the Open Space Reserve a sum of money to the Laurel Hill Association to restore Laurel Hill Park;
f. appropriate or transfer from the Historic Resources Reserve a sum of money to the Laurel Hill Association to restore Laurel Hill Rostrum;
g. appropriate or transfer from the Historic Resources Reserve a sum of money to Chesterwood for work on the Studio Garden arch;
h. appropriate or transfer from the Historic Resources Reserve a sum of money to the Town of Stockbridge to restore the Horse Trough;
i. appropriate or transfer from the Historic Resources Reserve a sum of money to the Town of Stockbridge to restore the Cat & Dog Fountain;
j. appropriate or transfer from the Community Preservation Fund a sum of money for the CPC Administrative budget;
91 k. appropriate or transfer from the Community Preservation Fund a sum of money for the Historic Resources Reserve, the Community Housing Reserve and the Open Space Reserve.
or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to be added to the amounts appropriated under Article 24 of the Annual Town Meeting of May 20, 2013, Article 22 of the Annual Town Meeting of May 19, 2014, Article 36 of the Annual Town Meeting of May 18, 2015, Article 25 of the Annual Town Meeting of May 16, 2016, and Article 20 of the Annual Town Meeting of May 15, 2017 for costs associated with negotiations for the Rest of River Project (along with Pittsfield, Lenox, Lee, Great Barrington and Sheffield) regarding the removal of PCBs in the Housatonic River, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 22. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for a new voting equipment, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to be added to the amounts appropriated under Article 4 of the Special Town Meeting of January 22, 2018, for the purpose of obtaining an updated Traffic Study related to intersections on Main Street, or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 24. To see if the Town will vote to accept Chapter 138, Section 33B of the Massachusetts General Laws to authorize licensees under section 12 to sell alcoholic beverages between the hours of 10:00 AM and 12:00 noon on Sundays, the last Monday in May and on Christmas day or on the day following when said day occurs on a Sunday, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 25. To see if the Town will vote to amend Article XII, Earth Removal, of the Town of Stockbridge General Bylaws by inserting, at the end of the first sentence of Section 1 thereof, a semi-colon and the words “provided, however, that this Article shall not apply to the removal of earth materials if such removal is: (i) in an amount not more than 1,000 cubic yards; and (ii) conducted in connection with the construction, reconstruction, repair, or modification of a one-family dwelling,” or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 26. To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 6.8, Sign Regulations, of the Town of Stockbridge Zoning Bylaws by deleting from subsection 6.8.4(a), after the words “provided, however,” the words “the Board of Selectmen shall have exclusive authority to approve any signs that project over or are to be displayed upon or adjacent to a public way” and inserting, in place thereof, the words “that no sign that projects over or is to be displayed upon a public way shall be approved by the Planning Board unless the Board of Selectmen submits a letter of non- opposition with respect to such sign,” or take any other action in relation thereto.
92 ARTICLE 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to increase the Stabilization Fund as defined in Chapter 40, section 5B of the General Laws, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 28. To transact any other business that may legally come before this meeting.
AND to bring in their ballots on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at an adjourned session of the above meeting in the Town Offices, the following Officers:
Office Term (Years) Selectman 3 Moderator 3 Board of Assessors 3 Board of Health 3 Parks and Recreation 3 Tree Warden 3 Planning Board 5 Sewer and Water Commissioner 3
AND to also vote “Yes” or “No” on the following question appearing on the ballot in accordance with Chapter 59, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws:
QUESTION 1: Shall the Town of Stockbridge be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued for the design, engineering, development, demolition, construction, reconstruction, repair, and upgrade of the highway garage located at 1 West Stockbridge Road in Stockbridge?
All of said officers are to be voted for using the official ballots furnished the voters at the polls. For this purpose polls will be opened at the Town Offices, 50 Main Street, at 8:00 o’clock a.m. and may be closed at 6:30 o’clock p.m.
This is an UNOFFICIAL COPY of the Warrant and related financial Documents for the Annual Town Meeting to be held on May 21, 2018 at the Stockbridge Town Offices, 50 Main Street The official Warrant will be issued at a later date in accordance with the requirements of M.G. L. c. 39 §1O.
93 Article 4
GENERAL GOVERNMENT FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 Moderator $228 $234 $238 Moderator Expenses $25 $25 $25 Selectman Salary, Chairman $5,552 $5,552 $5,552 Selectman Salary, Members (2) $9,090 $9,090 $9,090 Selectmen Expenses $67,550 $55,850 $58,700 Assistant Administrator $32,800 $45,000 $38,824 Clerical Salary $6,600 $22,000 $2,500 Town Administrator Salary $110,000 $110,000 $78,125 Town Administrator Expenses $11,750 $11,750 $10,700 Finance Committee $2,150 $ 2,150 $2,150 Town Reserve Fund $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 Town Accountant Salary $51,571 $53,571 $41,108 Town Accountant Certification Stipend $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 Town Accountant Expenses $19,750 $20,100 $20,150 Assessor’s Salary, Chairman $3,987 $3,987 $3,987 Assessor’s Salaries (2 members) $6,386 $6,386 $6,386 Principal Assessor Salary $62,889 $64,461 $65,428 Principal Assessor Certification Stipend $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 Assessor’s Clerk Salary $23,857 $24,453 $28,360 Assessor’s Expenses $5,750 $7,750 $5,850 Treasurer’s Salary $49,295 $53,295 $62,000 Treasurer’s Certification Stipend $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 Treasurer’s Expenses $9,825 $9,925 $9,925 Town Collector Salary $44,450 $45,561 - Town Collector Certification Stipend $1,000 $1,000 - Assistant Town Collector/Treasurer Salary $27,288 $27,970 $42,651 Town Collector Expenses $12,680 $12,680 $12,680 Legal Services Retainer $38,945 $39,906 $41,904 Town Clerk Salary $38,536 $39,499 $44,092 Town Clerk Certification - - $1,000 Town Clerk Expenses $3,350 $3,350 $3,350 Election and Registration Salaries $8,036 $8,237 $8,361 Election and Registration Expenses $8,900 $8,900 $8,900
94 Conservation Commission $15,405 $15,905 $15,905 Planning Board $7,903 $8,403 $9,403 Board of Appeals $75 $75 $75 Proctor Hall $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 Town Offices Salaries $86,095 $88,122 $94,224 Town Offices Expenses $91,300 $101,300 $91,300 Glendale Solar Maintenance - - $10,000 Electric: Town Offices, Proctor Hall, Fire, Parks, Highway $69,420 $69,420 $69,420 Town Report $6,500 $6,500 $6,500 Information Technology $156,000 $156,000 $156,000 Total, General Government $1,250,438 $1,293,907 $1,220,362
PUBLIC SAFETY Police Department Salaries $693,045 $710,883 $729,374 Police Department Expenses $102,550 $102,985 $104,734 Fire Department Salaries $65,676 $82,338 $83,273 Fire Department Expenses $105,000 $105,000 $106,000 Emergency Medical Response $9,000 $9,000 $9,000 Ambulance Service $34,771 $146,557 $224,750 Animal Control Officer Salary $5,270 $5,402 $5,483 Animal Control Expenses $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 Building Inspector Salaries $63,439 $64,987 $68,570 Building Inspector Expenses $5,675 $6,075 $5,075 Gas Inspector Salary $1,384 $1,419 $1,440 Gas Inspector Expenses $1,250 $1,250 $1,250 Plumbing Inspector Salary $5,849 $5,995 $6,085 Plumbing Inspector Expenses $1,250 $1,250 $1,250 Wire Inspector Salary $6,633 $6,799 $6,901 Wire Inspector Expenses $2,200 $2,200 $2,200 Emergency Management $12,865 $15,413 $15,867 Tree Warden Salary $2,018 $2,069 $2,100 Tree Warden Expenses $53,800 $53,800 $53,800 Total, Public Safety $172,675 $1,324,422 $1,428,152
95 EDUCATION Vocational Education - - BHRSD Operating Budget Assessment $2,895,587 $2,951,629 $2,810,474 BHRSD Capital Budget Assessment $140,125 $119,176 $116,069 Total, Education Expenses $3,035,712 $3,070,805 $2,926,543
PUBLIC WORKS AND FACILITIES Engineering Expenses - - Highway Department Salaries $327,569 $335,927 $347,719 Highway Department Expenses $121,710 $121,710 $121,710 Highway Department Snow and Ice $60,000 $60,000 $80,000 Highway Department Machinery $87,500 $87,500 $98,500 Highway Compactor Salaries $48,267 $51,000 $50,667 Highway Compactor Expenses $127,500 $127,500 $127,500 Highway Cemetery Salaries $25,932 $27,401 $27,401 Highway Cemetery Expenses $8,500 $8,500 $8,500 Streetlights $45,000 $45,000 $ 45,000 Trash Removal - - Sewer Department Salaries $112,894 $115,496 $119,404 Sewer Department Expenses $184,800 $185,200 $185,200 Water Department Salaries $111,394 $113,996 $117,904 Water Department Expenses $125,650 $125,650 $125,650 Fire Hydrant Rental $2,450 $2,450 $2,450 Total, Public Works and Facilities $1,389,166 $1,407,330 $1,457,605
HUMAN SERVICES Board of Health Salaries $842 $842 $842 Board of Health Expenses $80 $85 $85 Health Officer, Tri-Town Health $46,568 $47,854 $88,602 Visiting Nurse Association $7,719 $7,719 $7,719 Mental Health $3,200 $3,200 $3,200 Council on Aging Salaries $35,388 $36,525 $36,975 Council on Aging Expenses $7,850 $7,850 $7,850 Veteran’s District Assessment $48,065 $48,432 $53,077 Total, Human Services $149,712 $152,507 $198,349
96 CULTURE AND RECREATION FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 Library $165,614 $174,075 $186,257 Chime Tower $800 $800 $800 Parks and Recreation Commission, Salaries $19,500 $19,500 $22,500 Parks and Recreation Commission, Expenses $8,900 $11,500 $11,925 Historical Commission $600 $600 $600 Memorial Day Committee $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 Historic District $50 $50 $50 Historic Preservation Commission $50 $50 $50 Tourism Committee - $38,000 $44,000 Total, Culture and Recreation $199,014 $248,075 $269,682
DEBT SERVICE Water Plant Loan, Interest $17,025 $15,075 $13,200 Water Plant Loan, Principal $65,000 65,000 $60,000 Sewer Loan, Interest $45,435 $33,895 $22,970 Sewer Loan, Principal $247,500 $255,000 $62,500 Debt Administration Fees $9,046 $127,172 $70,255 Town Offices Loan, Interest $101,325 $90,075 $78,900 Town Offices Loan, Capital $375,000 $375,000 $370,000 Water Project Loan, Interest $37,014 $34,786 $32,513 Water Project Loan, Capital $110,308 $112,501 $114,737 MCWT Water Tank/Water Lines Principal $72,812 $74,394 MCWT Water Tank/Water Lines Interest $27,200 $34,544 2.6 Million General Obligation Bond Principal $135,000 $100,000 2.6 Million General Obligation Bond Interest $100,100 $71,763 2.3 Million Gerneral Obligation Bond Principal - $115,000 2.3 Million Gerneral Obligation Bond Principal $75,000 Total, Debt Service $1,007,653 $1,443,616 $1,495,776
97 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Berkshire County Retirement $310,771 $ 329,318 $346,065 Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) $345,000 $ 345,000 $ 345,000 Unemployment Insurance - - Berkshire County Health & Dental Em- ployee Insurance $672,214 $625,623 $667,148 Total, Employee Benefits $1,327,985 $1,299,941 $1,358,213
Unclassified Expenses - Town Insurance $115,000 $119,500 $129,616
Total Expenses, All Categories $9,647,355 $10,360,102 $10,484,299
Total Expenses, Without Education $6,611,643 $7,289,297 $7,557,756
98 Warrant Article for FY19
1 Choose Officers for ATM 2 Accept Town Report 3 Fixed Salary/Compensation foe Elected Officials 4 Operating Budget $7,557,756 5 BHRSD Operating Budget $2,810,474 6 BHRSD Capital Budget $116,069 7 Purchase new Boom Mower/Bucket Loader for Highway Dept, $186,000 8 Repave a portion of Church Street $250,000 9 Energy Efficient upgrades for Central Fire Station $87,000 10 Replace 1975 Generator at Central Fire Station $45,000 11 DEP required Stump Dump Cap Fill at 5A Glendale Middle Road $50,000 12 Debt Service from Sewer Fund $87,500 13 2nd phase Inflow and infiltration study $30,000 14 Water Main Replacement Under Larrywaug Brook $50,000 15 Lake Averic Supply Yield study $13,000 16 New Bullet Proof Vests for Police Department $3,000 17 New Police Department Cruiser $30,000 18 Stipend for PILOT Program Intern $5,000 19 Non-Binding Vote of Approval of PILOT Program 20 Community Preservation Funding 278,750 21 Rest of River legal fees 10,000 22 New Elections equipment 5,000 23 Additional Money for Traffic Study $10,000 24 Adopt M.G.L.c.138, §33B 25 Article XII Earth Removal Bylaw amendment 26 Section 6.8 Sign Regulations zoning bylaw amendment 27 Transfer funds into Stabilization 500,000 28 Any other business
TOTAL $12,114,549
99 STOCKBRIDGE TOWN CHARTER Copy of 1737 Charter
Jonathan Belcher Esquire Captain General and Governour in Chief in and over His Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England in America TO ALL unto whom these Presents shall come GREETING.
WHEREAS the Great and General Court or Assembly of his Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay aforesaid, at their Session held at Boston the seventeenth day of March one thousand seven hundred and thirty five DID give and grant to the Housatannuck Tribe of Indians a Township not exceeding the quantity of six miles Square of land, and Authorized and Impowered John Stoddard, Ebenezer Pomroy and Thomas Ingersole, Esquires, a Committee to lay out the said Township unto the said Indians in upper Housatannuck lying and being above the mountain and upon Housatannuck river, the said Indians to be Subject to the Law of this Province made and passed in the thirteenth year of King William the third Chapter twenty first, with respect to said lands; and Impowered the said Committee to lay out to the Reverend Mr. John Sergent their minister, and Mr. Timothy Woodbridge their School-master one sixtieth part of said land for each of them and their heirs and assigns; and also to lay out a sufficient quantity of land within said Township to accommodate four English Families that shall Settle the same, to be under the Direction and Disposition of the Committee, and the said Committee were further Impowered to dispose of the lands that were reserved to the said Indians in the Town of Sheffield in order to make Satisfaction so far as the same will go to the Proprietors and owners of the land granted as aforesaid; and were also Impowered to give the Proprietors of upper Housatannuck that live below the mountain an Equivalent in some of the ungranted lands of the Province next adjacent to upper Housatannuck, Sheffield and said granted Town; and the Committee were then further Impowered to make the Proprietors of upper Housatannuck above the mountains an Equivalent in some of the unappropriated land of the Province the same to be a full Satisfaction for such of their lands as were granted to the Housatannuck Tribe as aforesaid; and whereas the Committee Impowered as aforesaid in April seventeen hundred thirty six by a Seuveyor and Chainmen on oath Surveyed and laid out the said Township on both sides of Housatannuck river, and reported their Doings in the premises to the Great and General Court at their Session held the twenty sixth day of May one thousand seven hundred thirty six, the bounds of which are as follow vizt, Beginning at a monument of Stones laid up, East three Degrees fifteen minutes north four hundred and fifty perch from Joakim Vanvalcumburgs house, thence north nine Degrees east fifteen hundred and six perch to a large white ash marked with Stones about it, thence west nine Degrees north, nineteen hundred
100 and twenty perch to three little hemlocks and a maple marked, on which the Letters N.A. S. D. K. are set, thence South nineteen hundred and twenty perch to a great white oak and black oak marked N. A. thence east nine Degrees south nineteen hundred and twenty perch, thence north nine Degrees east four hundred and fourteen perch to the monument first mentioned.
And whereas the Council and House of Representatives of said Province at their Session held the twenty fourth day of November last by their vote desired me to Issue a Patent under the Publick Seal of the Province to the Housatannuck Tribe of Indians of the Township lately Granted to them by this Court agreeable to the form of the Grant; all which in and by the records of the said General Assembly, reference thereto being had, doth fully appear.
KNOW YE THEREFORE, That I the said JONATHAN BELCHER Esquire Governour agreeable to the above recited Grant and vote pass’d by the Council and assembly respectively, and pursuant to the Power and authority contained and Granted in and by HIS MAJESTYS ROYAL CHARTER to the Governour and General assembly of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay aforesaid HAVE granted ratified and Confirmed, and by these presents DO fully freely and absolutely Grant Ratify and Confirm unto the Housatannuck Tribe of Indians their heirs and assigns The aforesaid Tract of land or Township situate and Described as aforesaid, with and under the Savings and Reservations made to the Reverend Mr. John Sergent minister, Mr. Timothy Woodbridge Schoolmaster, and the lands set off to the four English Families as aforesaid &c, with all the Estate, right Title use Property and interest of the Province aforesaid therein and thereunto TOGETHER with all and Singular the Soils, Swamps, meadows, rivers, rivulets, Ponds, Pools, woods, underwoods, Trees, Timber, Herbage, Feeding, Fishing, Fowling, and Hunting, Rights members Hereditaments, Emoluments, profits, privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging or in any ways appertaining TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, the said Tract of land or Township, with all other the aforesaid premises Emoluments profits privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging with and under the Savings and reservations aforesaid, unto the said Housatannuck Tribe of Indians and to their heirs and assigns TO their use and behoof forever, YIELDING rendering and paying therefor unto our Sovereign Lord KING GEORGE the Second His Heirs and Successors one fifth part of all Gold and Silver oar, and precious Stones, which from time to time and at all times hereafter shall happen to be found gotten had or obtained in any of the said lands and premises, or within any part or parcel thereof in lieu and stead of all rents, Services, Dues, Duties, and Demands whatsoever for the said lands and premises and for every part and parcel thereof. IN TESTIMONY Whereof I the said JONATHAN BELCHER Esquire Governour have Signed these Presents, and caused the Publick Seal of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay aforesaid to be hereunto affixed Dated at Boston aforesaid this Seventh day of May-1737; In the Tenth year of HIS MAJESTYS Reign.
(signed) J Belcher
By his Excellencys command J. Willard Secty.
101 Notes: Notes: Notes: ANNOUNCEMENTS
Baby Town Meeting – May 14, 2018 6:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Town Offices, 50 Main Street
Annual Town Meeting – May 21, 2018 6:30 p.m. in the Gymnasium of the Town Offices, 50 Main Street
Annual Town Elections – May 22, 2018 8:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. in the Senior Center of the Town Offices, 50 Main Street
Memorial Day Parade – May 28, 2018 will be at 12:15PM Commencing at the Town Offices down Main Street to the Town Hall Potluck Community Picnic on Town Green immediately following the Program
Second Homeowner’s Meeting will be on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the Meeting Room of the Town Offices, 50 Main Street
Back cover: Stockbridge Flag hanging in the Hall of Flags at the State House STOCKBRIDGE
ANNUAL REPORT 2016