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013fApril 10, 2006

Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey, Sally Begley, Lila Berle, Ann Jon,- Sculpture Now, Nancy Socha, Joe Kellogg, Bruce Kaden – CTSB and Jorja Marsden

Sally Begley stopped by to inform the Selectmen that the blacktop on Yale Hill Road near her drive is collapsing into the culvert.  The culvert is filling with gravel and sand.  The Selectmen stated that they would have Clint Schneyer look into the situation.

Ann Jon of Sculpture Now, along with Lila Berle, advisory board of Sculpture Now came with a proposal for an outdoor sculpture exhibition in Town.  The proposal is to place sculptures on public sites along Main Street. Possible sites would include the lawn areas of the school, the Town Hall, the tennis courts, the lawn strips along both sides of Route 102, West of the Red Lion Inn and on private sites, such as Austen Riggs, Stockbridge Library and St. Paul’s Church.  The exhibit would be up from the end of May to the end of October.  There will be a maximum of 22 sculptures.  The sculptures are juried and would be sited by the Sculptures Now committee.  The agency has high standards concerning construction, installation and public safety.  Sculpture Now has liability insurance for the sites, each site checked and maintained on regular basis.  Deb stated that with the possibility of construction going on at the Plain School, that the Selectmen could not commit to the sculptures being sited on the Plain School property.  Deb also stated that the Board would want all abutters notified along the grassy strip West of the Red Lion.  The Selectmen gave Ann Jon an approval subject to the abutters being notified and a copy of their insurance policy.  The Selectmen would also like to see the Sculptures and the proposed location prior to installation.

The following appointments were made:
George made a motion to appoint Sara Boyd to the Cultural Council.  Cris seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous.
Cris made a motion to appoint Lenore Sundberg to the Elderly and Disabled committee. George seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous.
George made a motion to appoint Nancy Socha Tax Collector upon the retirement of Joe Ruggio, effective April 24, 2006.  A second was received from Cris.  The vote was unanimous.
George made a motion to appoint Nancy to the Elderly and Disabled Committee.  A second was made from Cris.  The vote was unanimous.

The Selectmen publicly thanked Joe Ruggio for his dedicated service to the Town. He has done an excellent job as Tax Collector and had a 99% collection rate.  He has been an asset to the Town.

Joe Kellogg, Owners Project Manager for the Plain School Town Office project, came with an update on the progress.  As of today, the bids have gone out and will be due back on May 8.  Since November, Joe has been working with Caolo & Bieniek on the site proposals which include organizing parking, re-use front door, create a small parking area on the side of the lawn, create new parking where the Daycare playground is located at present.  Also included in the bid package is a second egress from the property.  The rear of the building would have landscaping and a new entrance which would include stairs and an elevator.  The ground floor will have a portion of the Police Station in the wing, a senior center, large space for Town Office records, Conservation Commission Office, public restrooms and rental space.  The kitchen will remain.  The first floor will house the
Town Offices with meeting rooms and the second floor of the Police Station, and the gym will remain.  The second floor will be rental space.  The hallways will have wooden floors refinished and offices will be carpeted on the first floor.  Joe noted that the first floor has arches that will be restored.  Joe also stated that the windows will be replaced, however it will look the same as present when the project is done.  There will be new heating and cooling.  The project was bid with an alternate for heating and cooling using geothermal which could see a savings over 5 to 10 years.

Joe informed the Town that there would be a public meeting on Monday, May 8, after the Baby Town Meeting to discuss these updates. The bids will have been opened that day so the Town will have a hard cost for the project.  At the May 15 Town Election, there will be a ballot question asking to exclude the amount of the project from Proposition 2 ½, and then a Special Town Meeting on May 22 to actually vote on the project.  Joe also stated that he had drawn up a fact sheet that is available at Town Hall, the Library, and on the website.                     

The following announcements were made:
Annual Spring clean-up will be April 22.  Town’s people were asked to gather at Town Hall at 10:00 am - bringing gloves, but trash bags would be supplied- to get their assignments.
The Historic Preservation Task Force will hold an informational meeting April 23 at the Library at 4:00 pm.
Cris Irsfeld has been appointed to the Metropolitan Planning Organization representing South Berkshire.

With no other business, George made a motion to adjourn at 8:21 pm. A second was received from Cris.  The vote to adjourn was unanimous.

						A true copy, ATTEST:

April 11, 2006

Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey, Chief Richard Wilcox, and Jorja Marsden.

The Selectmen met with Chief Wilcox to negotiate his contract.

With no other business, George made a motion to adjourn.  Cris seconded the motion.  The vote to adjourn was unanimous.

							A true copy, ATTEST

April 19, 2006

Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey, Clint Schneyer, Highway Superintendent, and Jorja Marsden.

The Selectmen and Clint went over maintenance along roads, culvert issues, public beach, weed harvesting and Summer help.

With no other business, Cris made a motion to adjourn.  George seconded the motion.  The vote to adjourn was unanimous.

						A true copy, ATTEST

April 24, 2006

Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey, Jeremy and Hilary Beadell, Gerry Buckley, Jim Balfanz, David Lane, Naren Kelso-CTSB and Jorja Marsden.

The Jeremy and Hilary Bedeall special permit was opened with the reading of the legal notice which appeared in the Berkshire Eagle.  The Beadells’ at 11 Willard Hill Road would like to reconstruct and expand an existing porch which is currently 28 ½ feet from the front property line.  The property is located in the RC zone.  Application is made under 6.1.2. 

The Beadells’ explained that they have received a building permit to do the work they would like to do in the kitchen and that the special permit is to expand the present porch which is too small for anything.  After the additions, the lot coverage will be 14%, well under the maximum allotment of 20%.  The Selectmen all agreed that the application was not creating any more non-conformity for the property.

The Selectmen made the following findings:
a.	The application is in compliance with all provisions and requirements of this Bylaw, and in harmony with its general intent and purpose; 

b.	and is essential or desirable to the public convenience or welfare at the proposed location; 

c.	and will not be detrimental to adjacent uses or to the established or future character of the neighborhood; 

d.	and will not create undue traffic congestion or unduly impair pedestrian safety; 

e.	and will not overload any public water, drainage, or sewer system or any other municipal facility to such an extent that the proposed use of any existing use in the immediate area or in any other area of the town will be unduly subjected to the hazards affecting public health, safety or general welfare. 

Deb read a favorable note into the record from the Blanchards’ who are abutters across the street.  Also read was the recommendation from the Planning Board who had asked that the Board verify that the lot coverage was not over the allotment.  

Cris made a motion to approve the special permit as presented.  George seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous to approve the special permit.

Gerry Buckley, Adelphia Director of Governmental Relations for Massachusetts and New Hampshire came before the Selectmen regarding increase in PEG funding for the Five Town Cable.  The Selectmen voted to increase the fee from 4% to 5% on October 19, 2005 and received a letter from Mr. Buckley stating to amend the current license reflecting the change.  Mr. Buckley is now saying that his counsel has stated that there is no signed contract for the change and would like the Selectmen to sign an agreement.  The Selectmen decided to contact Town Counsel.

The following important dates were announced:
May 8 – Baby Town Meeting at 6:30 pm at Plain School with a public meeting regarding update information for the Plain School Town Office project.
May 15 – Town Elections, 8:00 am to 6:30 pm at Town Hall with a Ballot Question which reads “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 Plain School Town Office Conversion Project?”
May 22 – Special Town Meeting at 6:30 pm at the Plain School

Cris Irsfeld congratulated the Marians on the successful Mercy Sunday.  Approximately 16,100 people attended.  The Marians have it down to a science.

Deb thanked the Laurel Hill and Towns’ people for the Spring clean-up around Town.  The Town looks great.

With no other business, George made a motion to adjourn at 8:29 pm.  Cris seconded the motion.  The vote to adjourn was unanimous.

							A true copy, ATTEST:

April 25, 2006 – 8:30 am

The Selectmen conducted a site visit on the Rosen Property at 70 Interlaken Road.

Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey, Stan Rosen and Attorney Philip 
Heller.

Prior, the building was a multi-family dwelling, authorized to be converted to a five room bed and breakfast, owner occupied.  However, Mr. Rosen’s daughter decided not to pursue the Bed and Breakfast as she moved out of State.  Mr. Rosen desires to convert the structure back to three apartments.

							A true copy, ATTEST: