Great Barrington Select Board and Finance Committee Joint Meeting - December 15, 2025

This was a joint meeting of the Select Board and Finance Committee, called to order at 5:00 PM on December 15, 2025. The primary discussion item was a proposed amendment to the town's debt management policy to limit annual borrowing. The meeting also included annual license renewals, reports from town staff, and public comments on various local issues. The board returned to open session after two executive sessions (one regarding Housatonic Waterworks real estate and one regarding litigation strategy in GLA DOS Shapiro vs. Town of Great Barrington, from which a member recused themselves).

Discussion Items

• Debt Management Policy Amendment: The Finance Committee proposed adding a clause to the town's debt management document to avoid ballooning debt service payments. The initial language aimed to make every effort to limit yearly long-term general fund borrowing to $3.5 million or less, the town's historical average before a recent $11 million ask, with emergency borrowing allowed to exceed this average. Select Board members expressed concerns about imposing this on the new town manager during her first budget process, while others argued it was a necessary guideline for fiscal responsibility. After amendments, the motion was revised to: "Within each five-year period, make every effort to limit the average yearly long-term general fund borrowing to $3.5 million or less, the town's historical average." The motion passed with the Select Board voting 3-2 in favor and the Finance Committee voting unanimously in favor. The new town manager, Liz, stated she prefers not to borrow and sees this as a guideline for both boards and staff.
• License Renewals: The board considered annual renewals of on-premises alcohol, off-premises alcohol, common victualler, innholder, auto sales, and entertainment licenses. Several items were voted on as a consent agenda, with recusals for members with conflicts of interest (e.g., Eric recused from Commonor Garden Pub and Triplex Cinema). All renewals were approved, including new applications for Berkshire Mountain Inn (11 rooms) and Choco Creamery (ice cream shop, though the applicant was not present and the item was passed over).
• DPU Hearing on Housatonic Waterworks Filtration: The board discussed a public hearing scheduled for January 8, 2026, regarding Housatonic Waterworks' request to incur long-term indebtedness of $1,155,089 to complete the Magnes filtration system (DPU Docket 25-145). The board voted unanimously to direct the town manager to send a letter of support to the DPU, expressing the board's desire to see the system built and requesting updates on construction schedules and oversight.
• Other Reports: Town Manager David provided updates including: the holiday stroll success; DPW road clearing; the Planning Board's Open Space and Recreation Plan public meeting on January 10, 2026; the Mason Library renovation community engagement; free New Year's Eve bus rides (5 PM to 1 AM) via South County Connector; the unplowed Seaton Cross Road as passive recreation area; the Housatonic Waterworks reimbursement program ($1,500 per household) with 25 applicants; an Affordable Housing Trust update on Prosperity Way scheduled for January 12, 2026; an update on Mass DOT rail storage along Van Deusenville Road with a tentative restart of work in spring 2026; confirmation that a proposed cell tower on Van Deusenville Road is not permitted under current zoning; and the Berkshire Library Legislative Breakfast on January 30, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Donna Jackson (260 Park Street) provided an update on the PFAS-contaminant filtration initiative, noting her group has raised about $1,500 through donations and a GoFundMe, and celebrated the town's $168,000 fund to start installations, calling it a citizen-government collaboration.
• James Garzone (North Lane Road) expressed support for fiscal prudence, stating he is pleased the new town manager dislikes borrowing and hopes the town can improve its finances.
• Michelle (Education Street resident) thanked the town manager for quick response regarding the cell tower issue and for engaging with Mass DOT about the rail debris on Van Deusenville Road, though she expressed frustration that the debris has been there for two years with no activity.
• A resident of 781 Plain Road voiced concerns about their property in relation to a regional airport, stating they had not been contacted after raising the issue at a prior meeting, and noted a mix-up at a Planning Board meeting where their name was incorrectly associated with the airport address.
• A member of the audience asked about a solar system on Van Deusenville Road, and it was clarified that the earlier cell tower discussion was about a cell tower, not solar.

Consent Calendar

• The board approved the revised minutes of the October 20, 2025 meeting.
• The board approved the request from Tara Wilson (Adventures) and Jonathan Lane (Revolution 250) to conduct a procession from South Main Street to Town Hall on January 10, 2026, from 1-3 PM, as part of the 250th anniversary of Henry Knox's Noble Train of Artillery, pending necessary sign-offs.

Key Outcomes

• Debt Management Policy Amendment: Adopted with revised language (5-year rolling average limit of $3.5 million), effective immediately as a guideline for budgeting and borrowing decisions.
• License Renewals: All annual license renewals approved, with specific approvals for Commonor Garden Pub and Triplex Cinema handled separately due to recusals. New innholder license (Berkshire Mountain Inn) approved.
• DPU Letter: The town manager was directed to submit a letter of support for Housatonic Waterworks' filtration system financing, with requests for project timeline and oversight information.
• Upcoming Meetings: The Planning Board will host an Open Space and Recreation Plan public meeting on January 10, 2026, at 10:30 AM at Mason Library. The Select Board will hear an Affordable Housing Trust update on Prosperity Way at its January 12, 2026 meeting.