Other board members said it was clear to them after that first public hearing that the Foster's lot would be closed to the public if the company was denied the right to build the new lot for its tenants.
If you're a restaurant owner who wants to stay open in the midst of a public health crisis such as the coronavirus pandemic, you essentially have one choice: trying to eke out a living by offering take-out, and perhaps delivery.
Selectman Ed Abrahams added that he is concerned that the same thing that happened at the gated parking lot at the end of Railroad Street will happen to the proposed gated parcel at the School Street property.
Great Barrington Police Chief Bill Walsh said his department "played a minimal role in this operation"; that he reported it to his boss, Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin, the next day; and that he responded to media inquiries on the incident.
"It was kind of disturbing for everyone in here,” Will Curletti said of the customers and employees in his coffee shop. "You know, the government is shut down and we're still pulling people off the street. You hate to see that happen."
There are a variety of theories as to why the seasonal labor market has been tightening over the years. Birth rates have been dropping for at least a generation, and more students are willing to forgo a paycheck in the summer while taking a volunteer position or internship to build their resumes for life after college.
