At last, a major institution in America is standing up to the bullying and extortion that seems to characterize every action of the Trump administration.
In her letter to the editor, Pooja Prema writes: "To ask the people of Great Barrington to pay for protesting an ongoing ecological atrocity that was committed by corporate greed – to put the bill on citizens instead of taking up the responsibility as a town government – is both ridiculous and shameful."
The outcome of this special election resolves, for the moment, questions raised before the State Ethics Commission about the propriety of having a fire chief as a selectman.
In his letter to the editor, Terry Flynn of Stockbridge writes: "If the Fire Chief becomes a selectman, every decision regarding the Fire Department, including the placement of articles on the annual warrant, and the reappointment of the Chief, will be made by two people, not three."
In his letter to the editor, Robert H. Jones Jr. writes: "Chuck Cardillo was chosen the last time around by a majority of the voters. He was deprived of his ability to serve by having to choose between that service and his livelihood."
Without really paying close attention, we have lost our town. Paranoia, anger, suspicion, rumor, irritation, anxiety have replaced a sense of belonging.
Once upon a time, the Rockwell images were not empty but reflective of what Stockbridge was. In 2015, at the same time that those images were unveiled at the UN, an important meeting was called to order and revealed what the village had become.
"I am so tired of hearing you say that it is Chucky Cardillo's problem to resolve,” declared Prospect Hill resident Carole Owens. “This is not a Chuck problem. This is a Stockbridge problem. The selectmen act in concert. I wonder why the town isn’t paying his legal fees.”
-- Stockbridge resident Carole Owens
Cardillo expressed his desire to serve as a selectman, and his hope that he will be re-elected at a special election.
“I feel I have the support of the town, but we have to go through all this, for the same result,” he said.
“I am not questioning Chuck Cardillo’s right to be a selectman and fire chief. It appears to be a matter of state law. He was elected by the people, and I personally want him to be a selectman. This is not an attempt to undo the election.”
-- Charles Gillett, chairman of the Stockbridge Board of Selectmen
