To the editor:
The town of Stockbridge has been in transition over the past couple years. Two new police chiefs, a library renovation, changes in the Board of Selectmen that generated varied opinions and impassioned debate. It’s not always pretty but there is to the story than simply disagreement and rancor.
Recently, a Stockbridge town resident pointed out that in a town of 1,800 voters, around 200 were either serving on town boards, committees or organizations. That’s impressive.
Passions are sometimes elevated at meetings, expressed in letters to the paper, and by journalists – signs of a healthy community. People care. They are concerned about quality of life in Stockbridge and about doing the right thing.
Our latest challenge is the issue of “shared services.” I have spoken to many friends and neighbors on the subject. I have yet to meet one who doesn’t think it is a good idea on some level. The idea of sharing a piece of road equipment, a grant writer, perhaps bargaining position with contractors or service providers by working in concert seems worth exploring.
However, we are currently being led down a path that will take us far from sharing just incidental services. We are being asked to share an administrator with the towns of Lee and Lenox.
Consider this: Three communities with very distinct differences being run by one administrator and two full-time assistants. Folks in Lee have preferences that are different than folks in Lenox. Lenox is very different from Stockbridge.
We have always been able to attend a Selectmen’s meeting, make a phone call, or simply chat with them on Elm Street. How accessible will an administrator be to the citizenry of three towns?
Our elected representatives will be abdicating their direct responsibilities to us. Elected officials are responsible to the people who put them in office. As the distance between the governing and the people expands, dissatisfaction in government increases.
We are allowing this process to get away from us. Talks are being conducted now to make this happen. This should be tabled until the voters have time to consider the issues. I suggest that Stockbridge withdraw from talks until the voters have had the opportunity to discuss and full comprehend the issues and make a determination.
Bob Jones
6 Prospect Hill Rd.
Stockbridge
