Stockbridge – Like zebra mussels to Stockbridge Bowl, the agents of ISIS may be planning an incursion in Stockbridge.
At least, that’s the explanation proffered by Finance Committee member James McMenamy at the “mini town meeting” Monday (May 11) as justification for Police Department expenditures that, as of April, had reached $671,000 for this fiscal year, according to one estimate.
This mini town meeting, a warm-up to the real deal this coming Monday, May 18, was intended to allow citizens to inquire of the Finance Committee about the details of the proposed $11.7 million budget for fiscal 2016.
Usually, the so-called “baby” town meeting attracts little attention and less attendance. This year, however, the session was far from routine, very contentious, and packed with concerned citizens. The Town Hall conference room was jammed to capacity with more than 100 residents, and if this session were any indicator, next week’s May 18 Annual Town Meeting ought to be a real donnybrook, with calls for the proposed budget to be rejected, and demands for more transparency about the lawsuits being brought against the town.
The Finance Committee had provided a copy of the proposed town budget but it did not include salaries for any departments, including police, because salaries were still “being negotiated.” But acting committee chair Keith Raftery – sitting in for chairman Jean Rousseau – stated that whatever salary increases were negotiated, the budget would not exceed the Proposition 2 ½ restriction.
The omission of the salary expenditures – a significant portion of the budget — in addition to the $150,000 set aside for the second consecutive year for litigation against the town because of two lawsuits – one of which was brought, apparently, by a police officer, Heidi Teutsch, now on administrative leave – prompted angry skepticism on the part of the audience.
“We are being sold a bill of goods about our Police Department,” declared Robert Markovits of Shamrock Lane, a tax attorney by profession. “We are being sold down the river by the selectmen. We’re a town of 1,980 people. As of April 30 of this year, we’ve spent $671,870. At this rate, we will spend $750,000 for the year. What are we doing? We’re not New York City; we’re not Pittsfield. I’m very distressed.”
And to loud applause from the audience, he added: “There’s only one way to police the Police Department, and that is in the hands of the people in front of us.”
“I’d like to know if there is an imminent threat to the town of Stockbridge,” inquired resident John Hart, continuing the line of questioning opened by Markovits.
“I think the budget as presented by Chief [Robert] Eaton is realistic,” McMenamy responded.
And then he invoked the threat of a terrorist attack upon the Marian Fathers during Mercy Sunday as justification for a hefty police department expenditure. “Every year we have 15,000 to 20,000 Christians up on the hill. ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria] is recruiting elsewhere,” he said. “This is the reality.”
“I hate to think we are budgeting for fear. If we’re going to live in fear, we are done as a community,” observed resident Mary Hart. “Fear is no way to run a town.”
Longtime resident Jack Spencer pointed out that the process of updating and recreating the town master plan would provide the opportunity to address fundamental questions such as “what kind of town do we want to be.”
Besides the Police Department budget, Stockbridgians also were irate about the lawsuits against the town. One involves former facilities manager Scott Muir, who was fired by the Selectboard last year in spite of having been acquitted of charges he sexually assaulted five former students of the Stockbridge Plain School from 2003 to 2006 during his tenure as a counselor. The town has paid Muir $83,000 in back pay, but he has sued for reinstatement.
In the second lawsuit, the Selectboard – despite insistent inquiries – has refused to discuss the case of Officer Teutsch – or even to mention her name — claiming they are forbidden to do so, according to a statement by Board Chairman Steve Schatz.
That answer did not satisfy former District Court Judge Fred Rutberg, a solid Stockbridge resident, who noted that the 6-man Police Department was down two officers. “You’ve got to accelerate this matter,” he told Schatz. “You’ve got to end this administrative leave.”
After the meeting ended, Mary Hart observed: “Stockbridge has never had secrets like this. Things are being done hush-hush.”
And Robert Markovits added: “I’m not finished. The Finance Committee hasn’t vetted this budget. They’ve presented incomplete numbers. How do they know it’s going to stay under 2 ½? The budget should be voted down, and the Finance Committee should resign. It’s a complete disgrace.”
