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West Stockbridge Select Board approves Town Warrant, but what, exactly, was approved?

At the time of publication the text of the Town Meeting Warrant is not available to the public.

West Stockbridge — By unanimous vote on March 11, the Select Board approved the Town Meeting Warrant, with the meeting set for May 6. However, days later, the text of that warrant is still unknown.

Director of Public Works Curt Wilton addressed the dais, requesting whether members would approve the warrant at the meeting since an issue pertaining to him was on the agenda to be discussed in the evening’s executive session. He said the session’s outcome may impact the warrant. The session listed contract negotiations with both Wilton and Police Chief Marc Portieri.

“I still suggest you approve [the Warrant] tonight and I don’t have to post it,” Town Administrator Marie Ryan said. “I can wait until tomorrow (March 12) after you have your meeting tonight to see whether it’s a possibility of being changed because if you’re not going to change it, you’re not going to have to have another meeting to approve it. And if you don’t approve it tonight, you still have to have another meeting, so I suggest you approve it. I will hold off on posting anything until your meeting tonight and tomorrow you can let me know if it’s something that would be needed to hold off on that you would have to vote again.”

With no discussion and a roll call vote, Chair Kathleen Keresey announced, via Zoom, that the warrant was approved “somewhat conditionally.”

At the time of this publication, the warrant was not posted on the town’s website, nor was it attached to the agenda materials. On March 13, two days after the Select Board meeting, The Berkshire Edge asked Ryan and Keresey to provide the text that the board members unanimously approved at the meeting. Responding to the inquiry for the warrant text, Ryan stated in an email that the Warrant “is not 100 [percent] finalized.” She explained, “I need to work on wording of two of the articles with Town Counsel still. It will be posted on the website once it is ready.”

More on cannabis odor consultant

The group also approved adopting Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44, which includes regulations for the town’s hiring of outside consultants and the imposition of “reasonable fees” to pay the expert. “This came about as we voted to hire a consultant to work with the town and with Wiseacre Farm, overseeing their odor-mitigation plan,” Keresey said. In conjunction with this vote, she said town counsel advised the Select Board to adopt the state provision, M.G.L. Chapter 44, adding the consultant report will be shared with Wiseacre “for their review.”

In January, Jon Piasecki, cannabis grower and co-owner of Wiseacre Farm, presented his annual report that included an odor-mitigation proposal. Since then, the Select Board has discussed reviewing that proposal with a consultant.

Police department report

At the meeting, Portieri provided an analysis of the police department’s calls for 2022 and 2023 that showed an increase in traffic accidents, assaults, and larceny, as well as a sharp increase in motor vehicle stops, up from 264 stops in 2022 to 498 stops in 2023. Although the call totals dropped from 4,912 calls in 2022 to 4,338 calls in 2023, he said the number of arrests were up, with motor vehicle stops accounting for that rise.

West Stockbridge Police Chief Marc Portieri addresses the Select Board regarding the large uptick in motor vehicle stops year over year, from 2022 to 2023. Photo by Leslee Bassman.

Prompted by members asking if particulars about traffic flow in front of the town’s portable speed warning signs were available, Portieri said the Great Barrington road signs contain downloadable information; however, the department can’t draw data from the signs on Main Street.

As of the meeting date, he said he was awaiting the final report of an approximately 10-day-long Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) audit of the department.

According to Portieri, the department is also exploring adding body cameras for officers, a “big investment” that comes with the possibility of grants aiding with the roughly $1,000-per-officer cost. Although the cameras are not mandated by the state, he said he believed the tools will soon be required.

Following his presentation, Portieri admonished members for not providing him with a new contract. Keresey responded that the discussion is best suited for executive session and that town counsel is reviewing the measure.

Also, at the meeting:

  • Member Andrew Potter reminded guests that the Annual Town Caucus will be held Thursday, March 21, at 6 p.m.;
  • The Select Board approved August 10 for the Zucchini Festival;
  • The board approved a union contract police detail rate change, from $50 hourly to $60 hourly; and
  • Member Andrew Krouss said he is working to organize community focus groups that will help with a push for broadband and better internet in town.
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