Public Meetings - Lenox, Massachusetts

The Lenox Select Board met on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, for a regular meeting that included an electric-rate announcement, a citizens' open forum, routine consent items, a park use request for the Alzheimer's walk, a BRTA delegate update, an initial discussion of a proposed historic demolition-by-neglect bylaw, and a public hearing and vote on FY27 water and sewer rates. The meeting concluded with unanimous approval of the proposed enterprise rates. Consent Calendar - Approved minutes of January 14 and January 28 as presented. - Approved a one-day all-alcoholic beverage license request from Berkshire Art Center for Benford Hall, 104 Walker Street, on May 16 from 6 to 10 p.m., with a certified bartender present. - Approved a facility use request from Berkshire Lyric for the auditorium on March 13-14 for its annual concert celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Public Comments & Testimony - Kate McNelty Vaughn, chair of the Lenox Affordable Housing Trust, invited residents to a housing listening session on Monday, March 16 at 6 p.m. at the Lenox Community Center. She said the trust is working with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission to update Lenox's Housing Production Plan and wants broad community input on housing for first-time homebuyers, renters, and seniors downsizing, describing the effort as a response to the housing crisis affecting the region. - Virginia O'Leary, chair of the Berkshire County Walk to End Alzheimer's community engagement committee, requested use of Lilac Park for the 2026 walk on Saturday, October 17. She said Lenox is a good mid-county location and that the event, finishing around noon, would benefit local restaurants and shops. She cited statistics: about 130,000 people in Massachusetts live with Alzheimer's or related dementia, approximately twice that many are family members or paid caregivers, and an estimated one in three people will have Alzheimer's or another dementia by age 85. Board members voiced support for the request and the mid-county location. The transcription includes one garbled reference to October 7, but the stated request was for October 17. Discussion Items - Electric Service Aggregation Rate Update: Jay reported that Lenox participates in a roughly 30-town municipal aggregation plan designed to stabilize electricity rates. A Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Electric Service Contract provision, triggered by ISO New England grid pricing during extreme cold, will raise the aggregation rate. For National Grid customers, the rate increases to 15 cents per kilowatt-hour, while National Grid's basic service rate is 15.372 cents, so enrolled customers will still save. For Eversource customers, the aggregation rate rises to 14 cents per kilowatt-hour, above the current 13-cent floating basic service rate; the board advised Eversource customers to watch their bills and compare rates after the fixed service period ends in July. At 600 kilowatt-hours of monthly usage, the new rate would add about $7.50 per month. Information will be posted on the town's Community Choice Power webpage. Jay also cautioned residents to research unsolicited mailers from alternative energy suppliers before switching. - BRTA Delegate Update: Lenox's BRTA delegate, Mindy Moran (introduced as Mindy Moore in the transcript), reported that longtime administrator Robert is retiring after 23 years and Kathleen Lambert started on December 1. Lenox gained additional BRTA stops because of housing near the hotel, and Lenox's voting share rose from 4.42% to 4.90%. The BRTA is looking for space for vehicle training simulators and CDL training classrooms, since similar training now requires travel to Albany. She also noted the Council on Aging van capacity was increased in prior years and a larger vehicle is being considered, although a larger vehicle could require a different license type and make it harder to find a driver. A board member suggested the new public safety complex as a possible training site and suggested coordinating with MassHire on CDL training grants. - Historical Commission Bylaw Discussion: The board postponed formal consideration of the draft demolition-by-neglect/historic preservation bylaw to a later select board meeting so that the full Historical Commission and staff could participate. During the preliminary discussion, board members offered guidance: one member favored incentive-based approaches such as grants or no-interest loans over penalties, citing earlier success with demolition-delay incentives; another objected to broad language that would allow neighbors to complain about conditions and trigger enforcement, warning about neighbor disputes. Others noted the bylaw lacks clear criteria for designating additional historically significant buildings and suggested updating a townwide historic inventory, possibly with Community Preservation Act funds, although a previous CPC request for such an inventory was turned down. Historical Commission representatives said the bylaw has been worked on for months and aims to prevent demolition by neglect; one participant observed that neglect is often tied to property owners wanting a better use of the land rather than a lack of funds, so financial incentives may not address the most common cases. Staff, town counsel, and the building inspector were said to have concerns about enforcement and application. The board asked for a more complete joint discussion later, with the building inspector present and with confidentiality for affected property owners. - Water and Sewer Rates Public Hearing: The board opened the public hearing for fiscal year 2027 water and sewer rates. The proposal was a 1% water rate increase, the first in about five years, bringing the new water rate to $8.30; for an average 25,000-gallon usage, the water bill would be about $207.50. The water enterprise fund has roughly $1 million in reserves, but consumption trends are declining and reserve use is part of the annual budget, so some increase was recommended to protect the fund. The proposal also included a 10% sewer rate increase, which would add about $70,000 to the sewer reserve (currently about $350,000). The sewer enterprise fund is partly supported by a $400,000 general fund contribution, and the increase is intended to build reserves ahead of debt-service changes projected around fiscal 2030. The wastewater plant operator said the 10% sewer increase aligns with the commitment made when the town approved the $45 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade. Key Outcomes - Unanimously approved minutes of January 14 and 28, 2026. - Unanimously approved the consent calendar items for Berkshire Art Center and Berkshire Lyric. - Unanimously approved the Lilac Park use request for the Berkshire County Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday, October 17, 2026. - Agreed to postpone the Historical Commission bylaw discussion to a later select board meeting with fuller participation. - Closed the public hearing and unanimously approved the FY27 water and sewer rates: 1% water increase and 10% sewer increase. - Set the next regular select board meeting for March 11, 2026, then adjourned.

The Lenox Select Board convened on January 28, 2026, addressing town website issues, housing production plan updates, and the potential loss of a downtown dirt parking lot. Major actions included approving a new liquor license for Indra restaurant, authorizing the submission of a $1.25 million CDBG housing rehabilitation grant application, and scheduling a public hearing on proposed one-way traffic patterns to create 26 new parking spaces on Church and Housatonic Streets. Announcements & Chair Reports - The Chair thanked DPW, Police, and Fire for their recent work managing an odor/smell issue in town. - Addressed ongoing issues with the new town website; residents are asked to check the Town Hall bulletin board for postings in the interim. - Announced the rescheduling of the second Housing Production Plan visioning session to mid-to-late February. Consent Calendar - Approved a special one-day all-alcoholic beverages license for Jacqueline Dunavan for a Trivia Night at Benford Hall on February 8, 2026. - Approved a special one-day all-alcoholic beverages license for Jacqueline Dunavan for a Valentine's event at Benford Hall on February 14, 2026. - Approved a facility use request from the Lenox Library Association for the auditorium from August 24 to September 1, 2026, for their annual book sale. - Ratified the appointment of Rebecca Cushing Gott to the Lenox Community Center Board. Public Comments & Testimony - Citizens Open Forum: No residents signed up to speak. Public Hearing: New Annual Liquor License – Indra - The Board continued and closed the public hearing for a new all-alcoholic restaurant license for PoChan Provisions, LLC, doing business as Indra, at 242 Pittsfield Road. Manager/owner Sophia Chrisfinette addressed the Board. - Board members expressed strong support for the business, noting the application process had been lengthy but praising the restaurant's food and atmosphere. - Outcome: The Board voted unanimously to approve the petition for the new liquor license. Public Hearing: FY26 Regional CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Grant - Grant administrator Cassie presented the application for the next round of the Community Development Block Grant program, a partnership between Lenox and Sandisfield. - Program details: The program provides 0% interest, 15-year deferred forgivable loans for health and safety-related home repairs (roofs, windows, septic, lead abatement). - Statistics: The current program cycle has assisted 11 units (8 in Lenox, 3 in Lee). There are currently 73 pre-applications from Lenox residents on the waitlist. The FY26 application requests $1.25 million, estimated to serve approximately 13 units. - Board members praised the program, particularly the work of Berkshire Community Development's Dawn Lennon. - Outcome: The public hearing was closed, and the Board voted to authorize the Town Manager to submit the grant application and associated forms. Discussion: Proposed Traffic Pattern Changes for Downtown Parking - Context: Following the private sale of the town's long-used dirt parking lot, the Board reviewed a proposal from DPW Superintendent to create new parking spaces through traffic pattern changes. - Proposal: The plan would establish one-way traffic flow on Church Street and a section of Housatonic Street, allowing for the addition of 26 new parallel parking spaces. The plan is intended as a two-year pilot program, as it only requires restriping and new signage. - Board Deliberation: - Member Eddie raised concerns about snowbanks and fire vehicle access during winter months, suggesting a seasonal parking ban on one side as a potential solution. - Members discussed the need for an enforcement and communication strategy to prevent long-term employee parking on new spaces instead of using the underutilized Berkshire Bank lot. - The Board noted the importance of working with the Chamber of Commerce and the Police Department on enforcement and wayfinding. - Outcome: The Board voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing for a future meeting to formally amend the town's traffic regulations regarding the proposed changes. Key Outcomes - Consent Agenda: Approved as presented. - Indra Liquor License: Approved. - CDBG Grant: Application submission authorized for FY26. - Traffic Regulations: Public hearing scheduled for next meeting to consider the proposed one-way street and parking additions.

The Lenox Select Board held its regular business meeting on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. The board approved routine consent items, authorized the sale of GO bonds and BANs, handled liquor-license matters, set a short-term rental registration fee, discussed whether to pursue the state's seasonal communities designation, and received a high-level FY2027 budget outlook. No agenda or minutes were included in the source material, and no residents spoke during Citizens Open Forum. Announcements - A board member announced that the Affordable Housing Trust is developing a new Housing Production Plan. The trust will hold housing visioning sessions on Saturday, January 24 at 10:00 a.m. and Monday, January 26 at 6:00 p.m., likely at the Lenox Community Center; the location will be confirmed and posted on the town website and shared through the Lenox Chamber of Commerce and Visit Lenox Instagram. Consent Calendar - Approved, without opposition, the minutes of the December 17, 2025 meeting. - Accepted donations of $25 and $100 to the Fire Department and $50 and $100 to the Police Department. - Ratified Town Manager Jay's appointment of Jeffrey Simmons as a town-wide facilities assistant. The position is funded by shifting existing budgeted funds, has no additional cost, and may reduce contract cleaning services. - Approved a one-day all-alcoholic-beverages license requested by Sarah Goodbillet of the Lenox Chamber of Commerce for Thursday, January 22, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Bedford Hall, 104 Walker Street. Debt Financing Authorization - The board approved the sale of the town's general obligation (GO) bonds and bond anticipation notes (BANs) dated January 21, 2026. - Town Manager Jay said the GO bond package is approximately $30 million, including about $27 million for the public safety complex and smaller projects such as $3 million for downtown roads/sidewalks and about $1.2 million for the Homeswood Terrace water utility project. Standard & Poor's has reaffirmed the town's AAA/SP-1+ rating. The GO bond is expected to be a 30-year borrowing at about 3.74%, with payments extending to about 2053. - A separate $12 million BAN is for the wastewater treatment plant project, one-year financing at 2.4%. The total project is $45 million, including a $12 million grant; the town has to borrow $35 million upfront, and this is one round of BAN financing. - Board members discussed interest-rate and refinancing options, the favorable rate environment compared with roughly 5% BANs previously, and the need to be fiscally conservative with new debt. The motion passed by voice vote with all in favor. Liquor License Hearings and Actions - Public hearing: transfer from LH Manager Northeast LLC dba Lifehouse Berkshires to Housatonic Hotel F&B LLC dba Berkshire Untold, with Jeffrey Borden as manager, for 194 Pittsfield Road. Applicant representative Jeff Lynch said the property owner created a single-purpose entity to hold the license and will hire a management company, with no changes to hours, offerings, entertainment, or outdoor service. The board closed the hearing and approved the transfer and manager change. - Another hearing, for a license matter at 242 Pittsfield Road with proposed manager listed as Sophia Kristen, was opened and then continued to the next meeting because certified-mail notification to a large number of abutters was delayed. A board member noted that state law requiring certified letters to abutters is a hidden cost for small businesses; the motion to continue passed unanimously. Seasonal Communities Designation - Land use director/town planner Eamon, with Town Manager Jay, presented the state seasonal communities designation created by the 2024 Affordable Homes Act. Forty-three municipalities have been designated; Lenox was added in December. The designation is available because of Lenox's high rate of short-term rentals and second homes. - Accepting the designation would require town meeting approval and two zoning changes: allowing tiny homes in all single-family residential zones and allowing development on undersized lots. It would unlock optional tools, including year-round housing preservation, a regional housing trust, housing preference for essential public employees and artists, a residential property tax exemption above the ordinary cap, and access to a roughly $2 million state grant program for planning and technical assistance. - Eamon said undersized-lot development could be limited to sewer/water-served areas; the designation could be revoked by town meeting; and draft state regulations are expected to be finalized in February. - Board members expressed caution: one cited a Green Community program that added 15–20% to construction costs and discouraged developers; another raised density and rural-character concerns; another asked whether shifting more tax burden to second homeowners would hurt Lenox's appeal and wanted input from real-estate professionals. Several said they needed more information before supporting a town meeting article. - Planning Board chairman Tom Delasco said the Planning Board sees little downside, noting current zoning has no minimum gross floor area, so a 400-square-foot tiny home could already be built on a conforming lot; a dedicated tiny-house bylaw would still need review. - Affordable Housing Trust member Kate McNeil Vaughn said the designation is complex, with recordkeeping, optional choices, and references to other state laws, but probably benefits Lenox because housing is "wildly unaffordable" and the town wants to remain a real community with year-round families. - The board did not vote to place the designation on the May town meeting warrant. It supported continued research and a regional DLTA grant application with Williamstown and Lee through the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, and it may revisit the designation at a later town meeting. Short-Term Rental Registration Fee - Land use director Eamon presented options for an annual short-term rental registration fee, authorized by the November town meeting bylaw. Nine Berkshire communities have fees; the transcript cites a range of about $75–200 and later about $75–250, with the average cited around $175. - Lenox has about 175 short-term rentals based on Department of Revenue data and spends about $10,000 per year on Deckard monitoring software. The building department now conducts annual inspections of most short-term rentals at $100 per rental; Deckard reported an average nightly short-term rental rate in Lenox of about $400. - Board members said the fee should cover software, staff time, and inspection-related work, and should be high enough to be reasonable. The board unanimously set the annual registration fee at $150, noting it can be adjusted after the first year as actual staff time is tracked. FY2027 Budget Outlook - Town Manager Jay gave a high-level FY2027 budget outlook. Department heads submitted requests in December, and roughly two-thirds of department reviews are complete. The budget uses a level-service approach: three years of line-item actuals are analyzed, and funds are shifted from underspent line items before new money is added. - Key drivers: health insurance is planned at a 20% increase, adding about $128,000, with 18% modeled in some budget scenarios; new GO bond debt service will be about $2.1 million per year; and the $12 million wastewater BAN will cost about $500,000 next January. Cost-of-living increases are 2.5% for all staff, including police, fire, DPW, and nonunion employees. No retirements or new positions are anticipated. - The town has about $5.5 million in free cash, much of it one-time Rest of River revenue. The FY27 plan may use $250,000 of Chapter 90 funds for paving instead of the usual $500,000 free-cash allocation, freeing money for reserves. Proposals include a new bridge stabilization fund for the Lenox Dale and New Lenox bridges and using 80% of interest earned on the $26 million Rest of River investment—estimated at $800,000 to $1.1 million per year—to mitigate debt service. - Staff also discussed OPEB funding, Berkshire County Retirement Board funding near 100%, personnel-rule review, aggregated energy contracts, PFAS testing mandates, and sludge disposal costs as ongoing budget considerations. Jay described FY27 as a "tactical" budget year rather than an austere one. Key Outcomes - Approved the December 17 minutes and the four-item consent agenda by unanimous voice vote. - Approved the sale of GO bonds and BANs dated January 21, 2026. - Approved the liquor license transfer and manager change for Berkshire Untold at 194 Pittsfield Road. - Continued the 242 Pittsfield Road liquor license matter to the next regular meeting. - Set the annual short-term rental registration fee at $150. - Directed staff to keep researching the seasonal communities designation and to proceed with the regional DLTA grant application; no town meeting warrant article was approved at this time. - Adjourned; the next regular meeting is scheduled for January 28, 2026.

The Lenox Select Board held its regular meeting on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, addressing a range of administrative and operational items including appointments, a public hearing continuation for National Grid, a new hire for the community center, amendments to a public health agreement, and a response to an Open Meeting Law complaint. Announcements - The board thanked retiring Town Clerk Carrie Sullivan for 10 years of service and welcomed Paul Manningly as the new town clerk. - A menorah lighting event in Lilac Park is scheduled for Sunday, December 21 at 4:30 p.m. - The ice skating rink at the Lenox Community Center (LCC) opens this weekend. - Town office holiday hours: closed at noon on December 24 and December 31, fully closed December 25–26 and January 1. Consent Calendar - Approved the minutes of December 3 (with one abstention) and December 10 (with one abstention). - Appointed Francis Valley to the Historical Commission, filling a vacancy until 2028. - Appointed Daniel Schenker to the Zoning Board of Appeals as a full member (formerly an alternate), filling a vacancy until 2027. - Approved the 2026 annual local license renewal for Audi BMW Lenox. - Approved a special one-day all-alcoholic beverage license request. - Accepted donations to the Fire Department, Ambulance, and Police Department. Public Hearing (Continued from December 3) - National Grid petitioned to excavate public highways at Cliffwood Street and Main Street to install underground electric conduits and fixtures in accordance with plan number 31215410. - The National Grid representative stated that the contractor would be able to tunnel under the tree lot and driveway, avoiding trenching in the road. The board clarified that the original map was misleading because it showed work on town property, not the road itself. - The board closed the public hearing and approved the petition with the condition that no road opening occur and that all work be completed off the roadway, as updated on December 17, 2025 in coordination with the DPW superintendent. General Business - Hiring of Youth Program Coordinator: The Town Manager announced the hiring of Jonathan Yato as Youth Program Coordinator at the LCC. Yato has experience at the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Region and Dalton CRA. The board approved the appointment. - Amendment to Public Health Collaborative Agreement: The board reviewed and approved minor changes to Exhibit C of the Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative Intermunicipal Agreement. The changes add the total number of communities served (now 12) and update service offerings. The board commended the collaborative for its work, including immunization clinics and lock box postings. - Response to Open Meeting Law Complaint: The board discussed a complaint filed by Patrick Higgins on December 8, 2025, alleging that the agenda for December 3 did not list all businesses to be considered. The town assessed that the complaint was unfounded because the official posting location is the town hall bulletin board (not the website), and the full list was posted there. The board voted to authorize Assistant Town Clerk Paul Manningly to respond on behalf of the town; if the complainant disagrees, the matter would be referred to legal counsel. Key Outcomes - Approved minutes from December 3 and December 10. - Approved consent agenda items including appointments and license renewals. - Approved National Grid’s excavation petition with modifications. - Approved the hiring of Jonathan Yato as Youth Program Coordinator. - Approved amendments to the Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative Intermunicipal Agreement. - Approved a response to the Open Meeting Law complaint from Patrick Higgins. - Next regular meeting scheduled for January 7, 2026.

The Lenox Select Board met on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. The acting chair, filling in for Max, led announcements, citizens open forum, routine approvals, a National Grid utility discussion, and the 2026 annual license renewal approvals. All votes taken were unanimous. Announcements - The change of command ceremony for the incoming police chief will be Friday, December 5 at 2 p.m. at the public safety complex; everyone is welcome. - The town tree lighting at Lylac Park will be Friday, December 5 at 5:45 p.m. The Lenox Dale tree lighting is Sunday, December 7 at 6 p.m. at Liston Park on Crystal Street across from the post office. - Installation of the ice rink at the Lenox Community Center is complete, but it is not yet operational; fittings are being adjusted and it should be skatable this winter. Consent Calendar - The board unanimously approved the minutes from the November 19, 2025 meeting. - A late-added one-day malt beverage license for Wham Theater (Aaron Patrick) was approved unanimously for Sunday, December 14, 3:30-6:30 p.m. at Venford Hall, 104 Walker Street, for a post-performance reception. The paperwork was complete and a certified bartender will be present. Public Comments & Testimony - Kai Semino, a new Lenox resident who works for the People's Pantry in Great Barrington, proposed a free-library-style pantry with non-perishable goods, located discreetly so people can access food at any time. She noted Great Barrington and Stockbridge have such pantries and said her idea is not fully formed. Board members mentioned an existing church food collection/pantry near Holmes Road, noted there is no downtown equivalent, and encouraged her to research locations and keep the town office informed. Discussion Items - National Grid handhole at 9 Cliffwood Street: Donald Bagart, National Grid manager engineer, explained the proposal to install a handhole in front of the property as a demarcation point between company and customer service. The nearest transformer is two properties away on the same side of the road. A board member raised town official Bill's concern that the pavement is only about two years old and the town generally has a five-to-seven-year moratorium on cutting such pavement. Directional boring was suggested as an alternative to open trenching. Bagart said he would consult the civil contractor and arrange a conversation with Bill, then return to the board with a plan. No motion or vote was taken. - 2026 annual local and liquor license renewals: Deanna presented the renewal list, which was posted online and on the downstairs bulletin board and included dealerships, innholders, taxis, victualers, entertainment, liquor-on-premises, hotel, club, and package store licenses. Whistler's Inn requested a change to a seasonal license and therefore will not renew annually now; it will renew in February as a seasonal. Other applicants with outstanding issues were marked with an asterisk. The board noted Mazio's is new and that the town has more licenses than last year. A motion to approve the renewals as presented, conditioned on interdepartmental approval, passed unanimously. Key Outcomes - Approved November 19, 2025 minutes and the one-day malt license for Wham Theater. - Directed National Grid to work with Bill and its civil contractor to explore alternatives, including directional boring, and return with a plan. - Approved the 2026 annual local and liquor license renewals as presented, conditioned on interdepartmental approval. - The next regular select board meeting is scheduled for December 17, 2025.

The Lenox Special Town Meeting convened at 7:05 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2025, with a quorum present. Town Manager Jay Green said Articles 2-7 were scheduled for early action, Article 8 was the annual Affordable Housing Trust transfer, Article 9 was a general bylaw amendment on short-term rentals, and Articles 10-11 were zoning bylaw changes. The meeting recognized retiring Town Clerk Carrie Summer and introduced her successor, Paul Madden. The town also voted to waive reading of the warrant and allow the moderator to declare two-thirds votes by voice vote. Town Manager Jay Green described all funding articles as drawing from certified free cash, citing a $5.5 million free-cash balance; however, the motions for Articles 2 and 3 specified Community Preservation Fund appropriations. Opening Remarks & Announcements - Max Scherf, executive director of Pine Knoll, announced the new public safety complex open house on Saturday at noon, with new Police Chief Mark Smith on hand, followed at 2 p.m. by a library presentation on the first two Lenox fire chiefs. - Jay Green encouraged residents to volunteer for town committees. Warrant Articles & Discussion Article 2 – Kennedy Park Land Acquisition - Select Board member Ed Lane moved to authorize acquisition of a 10-acre parcel off Woolsey Road (Assessors parcel 22-3-0, Book 525, Page 337) for open space, conservation, and passive recreation as part of Kennedy Park, using $250,000 from the Community Preservation Fund. - History: The town bought land for Kennedy Park in 1956; the Smith family had owned the 10-acre inholding since the 1940s and agreed to sell at a non-negotiable $250,000. The town previously sought a donation or negotiated price. The tax rate will not be affected by the purchase. - Approved by voice vote. Article 3 – CPA Open-Space Appropriation - Tom Delasco, Community Preservation Committee chair, moved to appropriate $250,000 from the CPC open-space reserve fund for the same Kennedy Park parcel. The committee met in July and recommended the out-of-cycle request. - Approved by voice vote. Article 4 – Indefinite Postponement - A Select Board member moved to indefinitely postpone this article, explaining that the seller had received a considerably higher competing offer and the Select Board did not want to present the purchase appropriation. - Approved by voice vote. Article 5 – Library Funding - The town voted to transfer $65,000 from free cash for library work. The motion as transcribed says 'tablet expenditures,' but the explanation described a space utilization study to help the library make better use of its space, including youth reading, public space, and computer space; the study would go to the Permanent Building Committee and Select Board. - Approved by voice vote. Note the transcript discrepancy between the motion wording and the explanation. Article 6 – Wastewater BAN Interest - The town voted to transfer $304,000 from free cash for a short-term interest payment due January 2026 on a $10 million bond anticipation note for the wastewater treatment plant upgrade project. The appropriation will be transferred to the wastewater enterprise fund. - Approved by voice vote. Article 7 – Fire/Rescue Ambulance - The town voted to transfer $29,000 from free cash for Fire and Rescue capital expenditures to bring the old ambulance up to standard as a backup; it needs new suspension. - Approved by voice vote. Article 8 – Affordable Housing Trust Transfer - The town voted to appropriate $49,102.83 from free cash to the Lenox Affordable Housing Trust. The 6% local room-occupancy excise tax produced a little over $4.2 million in FY2025, including $196,000 from short-term rentals. This transfer equals 25% of that short-term rental tax total. - The Select Board stated it recognizes a nexus between short-term rentals and rising housing costs and considers 25% an appropriate amount. - Approved by voice vote. Article 9 – Short-Term Rental Bylaw - The town voted to replace General Bylaw Chapter 28 with a new short-term rental bylaw. The motion was introduced as the work of 'land use director and town planner Eamon Coughlin,' but the presenter identified herself as Amy Kaufman, town planner. - Kaufman explained that Lenox has 170 short-term rentals, about 7.5% of all housing units, or about one in 13 housing units. The current bylaw only requires a one-time registration, and fewer than half of short-term rentals are registered. The town hopes to use Rentalscape for convenient online annual registration; the system also scans online listings to identify rentals. - The new bylaw has three requirements for owners: annual registration with a fee the Select Board may set, a fire extinguisher in every unit, and posted information with owner contact details and reminders of existing town rules such as leash law, trash storage, no amplified music, and off-street parking. - This bylaw does not impose state building-code requirements; the state now requires inspections and, in most cases, sprinkler systems in short-term rentals, and municipalities have no control over those requirements. - An audience member asked whether the system would catch unregistered short-term rentals by scanning online listings; the town planner confirmed it would, including new rentals. - Approved by voice vote. Article 10 – Zoning: Fencing and Screening - The town voted to amend zoning sections 6.1.12 fencing and 6.1.13 screening after a question from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Fences inside or outside the street-line setback will be limited to four feet for visibility and traffic safety, and the screening section will apply to non-residential screening only. - Approved by the required two-thirds voice vote. Article 11 – Zoning: Accessory Dwelling Units - The town voted to amend section 9.2 accessory dwelling units to incorporate Attorney General recommendations following the December 2024 ADU bylaw. Changes include replacing 'single-family dwelling' with 'principal dwelling,' removing additional parking requirements, specifying a minimum lot-size exception, clarifying that pre-existing nonconforming structures may be converted to ADUs, and removing the special permit requirement for an ADU on a lot with a duplex. - Approved by the required two-thirds voice vote; the moderator declared it carried unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - An audience member asked for clarification during Article 9: whether the proposed Rentalscape system would scan online listings to identify unregistered short-term rentals. The town planner confirmed that it would, including new rentals. Key Outcomes - Voted to waive reading of the warrant and authorize the moderator to declare two-thirds votes by voice vote. - Approved Articles 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 as described above. - Approved the indefinite postponement of Article 4. - Adjourned after completing the warrant.