2018 has provided enough Great Barrington news to keep journalists busy and observers of town politics highly amused, signaling that the community dubbed “best small town in America” by Smithsonian Magazine continues to be a place in transition.
Tag: Gary J. O’Brien
NEWS ANALYSIS: Plastic water bottle ban exposes divisions as town fails to buy off O’Brien
The divide between the natives and those from outside the area is as wide as it’s ever been. Don’t take my word for it or judge based only on Monday night’s meeting. As of Tuesday afternoon the Great Barrington Community Board Facebook page contained more than 500 comments.
Town proposes to pay nearly $300,000 for troublesome O’Brien property
The money for the acquisition would come from a special revenue fund containing proceeds from the sale of town-owned real estate. O’Brien has been in violation of multiple cease-and-desist orders since 2011.
Town hall briefs: special town meeting items; pot shop host agreements; relocation of town employees from old firehouse
Sean VanDeusen, who heads the town Department of Public Works, said contractors currently performing work on Town Hall found the chimneys “to be in worse shape than previously thought.” Two of the chimneys need to be completely rebuilt.
Under pressure, town mulls purchase of litigious property
The selectboard has held a pair of closed-door meetings on the possible purchase and related litigation this month, and has said its goal is to add the item to the warrant for a special town meeting scheduled for Monday, Aug. 6.
With petition filed, group ramps up effort to repeal plastic water bottle ban
The new bylaw effectively bans the sale of single-use plastic noncarbonated water bottles of one liter in size or less within the town limits of Great Barrington. It will take effect May 1, 2019.
Selectboard backs cease-and-desist order against Gary O’Brien trucking on Roger Road
In a unanimous vote Monday night, the selectmen urged the Great Barrington Zoning Board of Appeals to reject the appeal of Gary J. O’Brien, whose trucking company has been told to halt its illegal practices on Roger Road.
Great Barrington Town Hall briefs: Parking rules; citizen petitions deadline; Blue Hill Road brouhaha
Town manager Jennifer Tabakin reminded town residents of the upcoming deadlines for citizen petitions to have items placed for a vote on the warrant for the annual town meeting.
Selectboard to Town Manager: Get the code enforcer an attorney
Selectman Steve Bannon then made a motion that, if building inspector Edwin May attends a hearing in front of the Great Barrington Zoning Board of Appeals or goes to court in the Gary J. O’Brien matter, the town will provide an attorney to represent him. It passed unanimously.
Neighbors of O’Brien waste business decry ‘industrial siege’ on Blue Hill Road
In addition to the trucks and the transfer station activities, there are reports of race cars gunning their engines on the O’Brien property on the weekends.