The six candidates for Great Barrington Selectboard range from two men and one woman who have been on the scene for a long time to younger office seekers looking for generational change on the board.
The Coop has never missed a financial obligation in its 35-year-plus history.
“When you invest in the Coop, you are investing in the community.”
-- Berkshire Coop General Manager Daniel Esko
Developers Michael Charles and Brian Cohan are still due for their site plan review at the planning board and will continue to work with the historical commission. They will also collaborate with the town on a number of conditions attached to the permit. The Powerhouse Square project is expected to break ground by summer.
“There are a lot of people trying to do organic farming around here. This [resolution] is about protecting our local organic farmers. If you get GMO seed into your field, you’re done.”
-- Selectboard member Bill Cooke, who introduced a draft resolution intended to protect the integrity of organic farms and their produce.
It was a messy night at Town Hall. In the end, Benchmark Development got a green light to proceed with its plans to design a second building planned for a parcel on the historic Searles Castle property.
The National Organic Standards Board is a 15-member federal advisory board within the United States Department of Agriculture that advises the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on issues and questions related to organic agriculture production.
“It is my observation that it’s too bad that [the affordable housing] is wedged between a sewer waste plant and a toxic waste field.”
--- ZBA member Michael Wise
Economic development promised by both the 100 Bridge and hotel projects on Bridge Street helped the town get a $2.1 million state grant to work on roads and utilities along this emerging commercial corridor.
“I am excited to see what we are going to be able to achieve. The Berkshire Co-op Market is in the best operational shape I have seen yet. We have the community support and operational talent to create something exceptional, innovative and ground breaking."
-- Zack Sheppard
Ames said it was time, especially when the Market is on the verge of an expansion down the road at 100 Bridge Street. “We’re both happy,” he said. “I like the Co-Op so much that I want someone who can have 150 percent energy. I’m down to 120 percent.”
