To the editor:
I will not be voting for Jamie Minacci for Stockbridge Select Board in the upcoming election. There may well be those in town who find that odd considering how hard I worked three years ago to get her elected.
It has become evident to me that the person I so strongly supported in her first election has acted in many ways contrary to how I had thought she would. The old saying “Be careful what you wish for” definitely applies here. I was thinking, as were many others, that Ms. Minacci would truly listen to and represent the voters in town. Hoping she would allow more than three minutes at hearings to listen closely to the voter’s concerns. She has not done that. It does appear that a few members of the Finance Committee, who are strongly pro-development, have gotten her malleable ear.
Stockbridge has been my home for over 70 years. I have watched the changes over the years. Those changes have always proceeded with caution when it has come to our past Select Boards. When they haven’t, for whatever reason, the town’s voters have made their views plainly clear and were heard at the polls.
Today we face developmental sprawl issues. Folks, this is a big change! The 35–37 Interlaken Road issue needs very close scrutiny, and I don’t believe it has gotten that thus far. The Interlaken Cross Road property is yet another matter in which a group of citizens have rallied to preserve most of that open space while allowing the building of one or two homes. Ms. Minacci seems impatient to set the efforts by this group aside and push their petition article on this year’s warrant off by force. Stockbridge voters do not like “forced issues.”
Stockbridge is at a crossroad once again. I strongly suggest a “no” vote for Ms. Minacci and instead a vote for Lisa Sauer. Hopefully the voters are paying attention and will turn out in record numbers both for Town Meeting as well as to the polls.
John H. Hart
Stockbridge
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