To the editor:
There are two contested races this year in Stockbridge. While Roxanne McCaffrey and Bill Vogt have been quietly doing the best they can for all citizens of Stockbridge, their opponents represent the special interests of a small group of people in Stockbridge who are only interested in keeping it a “gated community, without the gate.”
The best they can come up with is a fairy tale regarding both having “open meeting violations.” Vogt and two other members of the planning board were accused of an open meeting violation by a man who is vehemently against the 37 Interlaken Project — in any form. This man is also an abutter and wrote some very negative comments about the matter five years ago.
What transpired with this matter was that the planning board voted to approve three members of their seven-member board to be responsible for communicating with the hired consultant, in order to lessen the time (and expense to Stockbridge taxpayers) needed for his ultimate recommendation. That’s it.
It took months for that accusation to be resolved, further delaying any meaningful action by the full board.
Additionally, the phony accusation against Selectboard Chair McCaffrey is just that, and doesn’t deserve a further response. It was made to denigrate a person who has been fully transparent in her excellent work for our town.
With all that Stockbridge is facing in the future regarding funding for various projects, Stockbridge needs sensible and reasonable growth, but only if the majority of citizens want it. Vogt and McCaffrey want an objective, careful review of any project coming before our town, to make certain it meets what the town taxpayers want.
Roxanne McCaffrey has worked hard since being elected three years ago. She has been extremely fair, while maintaining excellent transparency in all the work she does for our town. She “dug in” and helped when it was most needed, during the time we were dealing without a Town Administrator, as well as with the interim TA, and has earned reelection with her excellent effort on behalf of our town. Her only goal has been to “do what’s in the best interest of Stockbridge.”
The bottom line is that for three years Stockbridge has been well run thanks to people like McCaffrey and Vogt.
Please vote to re-elect Roxanne and Bill.
Jim Balfanz
Stockbridge
