Stockbridge — For Berkshire newcomers straying into the candidate’s forum on Wednesday, Aug. 6, confusion must have set in as the two women vying for the third seat on the town’s Select Board seemed to agree on most issues, laughing with the audience when one or another voiced “ditto” in response to a posed question.
The Tuesday. Aug. 26, special election follows former Board Member Patrick White’s June 10 resignation, leaving Chair Jamie Minacci and member Ernest “Chuck” Cardillo on the dais.
Both candidates, Jorja Marsden and Sally Underwood Miller received 10 questions developed by members of the host organization, League of Women Voters of Central Berkshire County, in advance of the presentation, with two questions posed from audience members at the end of the session.
Although Marsden and Miller displayed similar viewpoints on matters of town importance—all while exhibiting obvious mutual respect and admiration for one another–subtle nuances popped up as to how each candidate presented herself and their proposals to handle the problems now facing Stockbridge residents and businesses.
For starters, in opening remarks and responding to Moderator Lucy Kennedy’s first question asking the reason the candidates are seeking office, both Marsden and Underwood Miller cited their extensive experience in local government.
Marsden worked for more than three decades in town hall, serving in various roles from being elected Town Clerk to Town Administrator, and assuming roles in the Stockbridge Finance and Historic committees in addition to the Historic Preservation Commission. For Marsden, throwing her hat in the ring was a response to Stockbridge coming “to a crossroads,” stating she “still ha[s] a lot to offer based on [her] background to help establish some stability for the town.”
Noting her 1980s start in local municipal service that included the Stockbridge Land Trust and Laurel Hill boards of trustees as well as the Conservation Commission, Underwood Miller took part in the Community Preservation, Stockbridge Bowl and Kampoosa Bog Stewardship committees. Underwood Miller’s candidacy was spurred on by the “huge gap” left by Patrick White’s departure. Despite declining previous requests to run for office, she stepped up now as “there are so many challenges we are facing in town that are really important for our future,” noting climate, infrastructure and zoning issues, with the latter related to climate in addition to developing land use and affordable housing plans.
How would you evaluate the way Stockbridge has tried to balance development with land/natural resource conservation?
Underwood Miller replied, “so far, so good” and cited recent successes with the Select Board’s approval of a project on the former DeSisto School tract that created conservation restrictions to preserve more than 200 acres of land. “We need to think about how we do development in an intelligent way and, at the same time, don’t allow it to take over because we have limited sewer and water at this time,” she said. According to Underwood Miller, should the town reach 80 percent capacity in its sewer facility, the cost to remedy that issue would be $50 million. “If we let development go unchecked without an overall plan, I think it will be very expensive and it will change the character of town,” she said, adding that the increased tax burden would make living in Stockbridge untenable.
Marsden agreed. “I feel that Stockbridge has done a good job of balancing development of our land and the protection of natural resources,” she said. As proof, she cited the town’s implementation of adaptive reuse and rehabilitation regulations, conservancy and overlay districts, among other zoning provisions that “all help provide for the town’s ability to balance maintaining open space and natural resource conservation of our land but allows for development of parcels, within reason.” According to Marsden, 44 percent of Stockbridge’s land is in a conservation easement.
Stockbridge is already sharing some public health and emergency services with nearby towns. Are there any other services or functions that you’d like to see shared? Are there any entities that you believe should remain exclusive to Stockbridge?
Marsden replied that the town’s current shared services–a mental health co-responder in the police department and building inspection services fill a local need as those programs have a small staff. However, she advocated that the Town Administrator position and local police force not be shared with another municipality as their efforts “should be focused on the unique needs of one community.” A shared Town Administrator situation could result in putting that official in conflict between the needs of Stockbridge and those of another community that individual also serves, Marsden said, and Stockbridge’s police department provides customized, tailored services to the town’s “unique demographics.” “I would not want to attempt to fix something that’s not broken at this point,” Marsden said.
Underwood Miller agreed, adding the town “also need[s] to prioritize the things that we do share,” and suggested adding paramedics so the fire department does not have to use “big rig” equipment not needed for medical service calls. “I think it’s critical for the police to know the citizens of the town,” she said. “That gives the police an opportunity to help the kids in the community if they’re going in the wrong direction before it gets really bad.”
What are your thoughts on including a slot for public comment on every Select Board agenda?
Both Underwood Miller and Marsden emphatically agreed that public comment should be on the town’s Select Board agenda.
“This is a one-word answer, ‘absolutely,’” Underwood Miller said, adding that all municipal groups should offer the item on their agendas. “We need the input from people.” As Conservation Commission chair, she included an informal session for public comment at each meeting’s start “and I think that should always be the case.”
“Yes,” said Marsden, “because I think it lets you hear from constituents what is on their mind. It’s an open conversation for future meetings and ideas, possibly, that could be good for our community.” An individual should be able to speak on an agenda item of any town board, she said, with Select Board members needing to generally be available to residents “on a more regular basis, both in and out of public meetings” and hear from those citizens “in a more casual, informal way.”
Along with seven other Berkshire towns, Stockbridge has been designated a seasonal community by the state. How would you like to see Stockbridge take advantage of this status?
The Commonwealth designation offers the ability to build affordable housing for local workforces, Marsden explained, but the draft regulations aren’t due out by the state for public comment until the third week of September. Therefore, she promoted waiting to review the draft regulations before taking advantage of the designation, “if at all.” “I think we need to wait and really digest whether the seasonal designation is a good fit for Stockbridge,” Marsden said.
Citing the regulations’ future release, Underwood Miller noted other opportunities for summer program and fulltime housing, including federal grants and local banks offering lower interest rate loans. “We should be able to work with the larger facilities, like Tanglewood, to possibly create their own housing so that we would take that burden off of the rental markets for the summer,” she said. “If we are not necessarily renting out our houses for the seasonal workers, then maybe you’re opening up more housing for people who are here year-round.” For Underwood Miller, the seasonal designation now “is very Cape [Cod] centered and doesn’t necessarily work for us,” recommending a town meeting for local residents to fully understand the program.
Aside from providing more affordable housing, what else would you do to bring more young families to Stockbridge?
“Without affordable housing, the only thing we don’t have to offer young families is the ocean,” Underwood Miller said, listing the town’s numerous cultural and entertainment options as well as its top schools and outdoor activities.
Marsden, in agreement, noted the need for “excellent education” facilities in town, mentioning its new elementary and middle schools that relocating families are seeking. “So, it’s time to build a new high school,” she said. “Building a new high school for our children in our community is needed to provide a quality education for the future.” Marsden also mentioned the demand for high-speed internet to incentivize parents who work from home. “However, without high-speed internet and stable internet services, it’s hard to attract young families to town for them to be able to work here,” she said.
Please share your thoughts on the PILOT program (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) for nonprofit organizations such as Tanglewood and Kripalu. Do you think the program is working well? (The program allows tax-exempt entities, such as nonprofit organizations, to voluntarily contribute to a municipality as compensation for the lost tax revenue that would have been due without the tax-exempt status.)
Marsden identified a committee that is studying the program but hasn’t presented its conclusions yet, so she advocated waiting “to see what they’ve come up with” regarding a plan. With its small community and no major industry, Stockbridge relies on tourism and nonprofit groups that bring tourism to local businesses, hotels and restaurants by offering free or discounted event tickets and giving to public services such as fire departments. “We certainly don’t want to burden the nonprofits that struggle at times during the year with a payment in lieu of taxes that would cause more harm to them while giving so much back in services to the town,” Marsden said.
Underwood Miller, who works at Williams & Sons Stockbridge Country Store on Main Street, said she sees an uptick in patronage every November and December, months that draw people to holiday events at nonprofit-run historical home and venue Naumkeag. “It does make a difference,” she said. With some nonprofit groups providing entry benefits or special accommodations to Stockbridge residents, burdening them with taxes some can or can’t afford is at issue, Underwood Miller said. “I think they need to search their own consciences as to whether they can afford it and if they can, certainly they do use the services of the town, it’s important for them to give back,” she said.
Last November, during a period of drought there was a damaging wildfire on East Mountain in Great Barrington. Due to climate change, we can only expect to see more weather extremes and events, such as severe hurricanes, floods, heat waves and droughts. What can Stockbridge do to better prepare for conditions like this?
Underwood Miller suggested the town review its zoning protocols, including how and where it zones septic systems, especially considering flood issues in times of climate change. “If we allow septic systems to be put into [buffer zones], I think we’re setting ourselves up for a disaster in the long run,” she said, adding that she consulted with the Stockbridge Fire Chief Vincent Garofoli who assured her his department has been educated on disaster readiness. Underwood Miller also touted a review of local trails to ensure a potential fire is deterred from jumping from one side to another, and to look to Berkshire Regional Planning Commission for disaster preparation. “There are many resources that we can take advantage of, but I think, in general, it sounds like we’re in pretty good shape,” she said.
Stockbridge has a history of maintaining a hazard mitigation plan and participating in municipal vulnerability preparedness plans to increase its community resiliency in the face of a disaster, Marsden said, programs that have been aided by grants. However, she noted a recent shift from focusing on federal programs involving preparing for and actions taken during and after natural emergencies to burdening local jurisdictions with those protocols. Although Stockbridge has a “very engaged emergency management director who collaborates regionally and with state agencies,” Marsden said emergency management programs haven’t been a priority. Recent efforts have been made to establish a disaster relief program state-wide but “individual communities need to invest more in planning and preparedness, particularly public education and engagement to help citizens prepare themselves,” she said. Marsden praised the Stockbridge Green Communities Committee for their work to reduce the effects of climate change and recommended officials review local zoning bylaws, building codes and conservation restrictions with natural disaster preparedness in mind.
Going forward, how do you see the relationship between the Town of Stockbridge and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community developing?
Marsden responded that the relationship “should be of mutual collaboration” and acknowledged the area is the Stockbridge-Munsee community homeland. “We should welcome them back and we have the obligation to preserve their culture in this space,” she said. Specifically, to protect the tribal land, Marsden advised having a preservationist onsite “before a shovel hits the ground” and to be “considerate of their heritage going forward.” “The Stockbridge-Munsee community should have a hand in directing how that happens,” she said.
Underwood Miller approved with Marsden’s comments and discussed her 1620s ancestors advice to “live in harmony” with those who had already settled in the local region. With the 49th Annual Mohican Pow Wow being held in Bowler, Wisconsin the weekend of August 8, she suggested a local representative be sent to the event “to show our support and thank them for coming back here and enriching our culture.” “All of those kinds of partnerships can and should go forward,” Underwood Miller said.
As a side note, Marsden said a Stockbridge representative, Rich Bradway, will be attending the Wisconsin festivities.
What is the biggest change you’d like to see happen in Stockbridge over the next three to five years?
“The re-establishment of the middle class”, Underwood Miller responded. “When the middle class is thriving, the country thrives. The same thing is true in Stockbridge. Without those people, the people who keep things running—the plumbers, the electricians, and the teachers and the people who work in the libraries and the people who do our lawn care—we can’t continue like that with no families and no young people…We need to be able to see a future in this town.” Connections with town residents in a neighborhood community “is the heart of Stockbridge,” she said. “It’s Norman Rockwell’s vision for Stockbridge,” Underwood Miller said.
Although Marsden agreed with her opposing candidate, she added that she would like the local bylaw changed, increasing Stockbridge’s Select Board from three members to five members. Applause ensued as she added that the measure “would help the future of our community by allowing more of a diverse representation of the citizens and would also go a long way to dispelling mistrust and accusations of collusion which has plagued this town for years.”
Audience questions
In response to an audience member asking whether the town should have a traffic light, both candidates responded in the negative.
A second question focused on funding affordable housing without increasing taxes. Underwood Miller replied that creative methods and resources can be used to accomplish that goal, citing a $500,000 influx to the Affordable Housing Trust that was required of the Desisto School project developers as well aslocal bank, state and federal assistance programs.
Marsden acknowledged the higher cost of construction given the introduction of tariffs on building materials, but “we have to figure it out.”
The last day to register for the election is Friday, Aug. 15 at 5 p.m., and the last day to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Aug. 19, with the deadline to absentee vote in person at noon on Monday, Aug. 25.
