Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Great Barrington Select Board convened on March 23, 2026, for a meeting covering emergency infrastructure, seasonal permits, a major community festival, transit updates, and tax policy. Key topics included the indefinite closure of the Division Street Bridge due to a sinkhole, the licensing of the Berkshire Busk festival with a reduced schedule, a significant turnaround on BRTA service cuts, and a preliminary presentation on the Residential Tax Exemption (RTE).
Carly Skoforo and Gene Carr presented a compromise plan to reduce Railroad Street closures from 10 weekends to 3 weekends (first three Fridays/Saturdays in July), moving the remaining activity to the Barrington House courtyard. Data from 2025 showed 25,000 visits, 80% local attendance, and an estimated $1 million economic impact. The board discussed decibel limits (max 85db at 10ft), liability insurance, and shifting event locations. The license was approved unanimously.
Kathleen Lambert announced a significant operational turnaround. The new operator, Keolis, optimized driver scheduling ("run cutting"), allowing the BRTA to maintain its full South County schedule without any service cuts. A new "community shuttle driver" position (no CDL required) and a job fair at BCC (April 7–9) were announced to address driver shortages. The board expressed strong relief and appreciation for avoiding the previously threatened cuts.
Emily, Town Assessor, presented estimated impacts of adopting the RTE at 35%. Key findings: 55% of residential parcels would be eligible (higher than recommended for a tax shift), the policy is not income-based, and significant new staff costs would be required. The board questioned the impact on apartment complexes like Silver Street, where costs could flow through to tenants. No vote was taken; the decision is scheduled for the November tax classification hearing.
Okay, let's call the meeting for order. Pursuant to MGL 7C 38 20F after notifying the chair of a public body. Any person may make a video audio recording for an open session of a meeting of a public body or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Beginning of the meeting, the chair of shell formular attendees of any such recordings. Meeting is being recorded by the time of Great Barrington by the Berkshire Edge and by CTSB. Any member of the public wishing to speak at the meeting must receive permission of the chair. Listing of agenda items or those reasonably anticipated by the chair, which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed, and other items not listed may be brought up for discussion to be extended. We'll start with select board's announcements statement too. Yes, I do have a brief statement. As many have suggested, I'd like to start to focus a little more attention on potential ways to grow our tax revenue, especially from sources other than residential properties. So I'd like to highlight three important items for additional focus as soon as we can. Number one, the special permit for the Searles High School's Searles School Project at 79 Bridge Street passed its 10th anniversary a few days ago. Given there has been virtually no progress on the site, the special permit should be withdrawn, in my opinion. Number two, related to the Searl School project. I propose we start a conversation on the pros and cons of our zoning bylaw limiting newly constructed hotels to 45 rooms or less. Our town's hotel tax revenue is significantly lower than Stockbridge and Lennox. And this restriction is clearly one reason for that. Given the high construction costs and interest rates, newly built hotels in our area and elsewhere typically have at least 60 to 80 rooms. As a result, we are essentially prohibiting hotel development in a town that depends heavily on its tourist economy. And third, in a few months, it'll be a year since the closing of Savens Rock College. It is appropriate for this property to no longer be viewed as a nonprofit organization and it should start paying property tax to the town as soon as permitted under state law. All right, Phil. I want some big ideas at the start. Um, I just want to say uh this is a meeting where we're going to be looking at a lot of permits for a lot of upcoming things. There's obviously a lot of people here today. Thank you all so much for being here today. Um, I want to say just kind of feedback off of Phil's comments. We are in the middle of budget season right now. Um, we are having a lot of conversations about how exactly to guide the future of this town. We are going to have a public budget hearing on April 8th. Uh, if you care enough to be here tonight, I guarantee you you care enough to be there on April 8th. So please come join us. We'd love to hear from you. Thank you. Yes, sir. Uh, one of our last um budget meetings, probably we should have a go. I made some uh disparaging remarks about people from New York. I have a dear friend who is from Long Island, she's been living there for 20 years or more. She had pointed out to me that there are some people that live in my neighborhood that had been there longer than myself, and I've been there 48 years, have come up from Long Island.