Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The Great Barrington Select Board met on Monday, April 13, 2026, for a regular meeting that included announcements, town manager reports, license approvals, a citizen complaint, a real estate taking for the Division Street Bridge project, and a policy discussion on a trust policy amendment. The meeting began at 6:00 PM and lasted approximately two hours.
It is 6 o'clock. I'll call the meeting to order. Pursuant to MGL 7C 3820F. After notifying the chair of a public body, any person may make a video or audio recording of an open session of a meeting of a public body may transmit the meeting through any medium. Beginning of the meeting, the chair shall inform other attendees of any such recordings. This meeting is being recorded by the town of Great Barrington, Berkshire, and by CTSB. Any member of the public wishing to speak at the meeting must receive permission of the chair. The listing of agenda items of 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 the extent permitted by law. Select board's announcements and statements. Phil. Garfield? Eric. Yeah, this coming weekend. We have the last winter market at the Hoosie Dome. So it's the farmers market. It goes from 10 to 1 at uh the Uzi Dome. So then also coming up on the weekend of April 25th, we have our uh Earth Day Cleanup, which is co-sponsored by Who's the Tonic the Beautiful Fund and the Husatonic Improvement Committee will be meeting outside of the Ramsdale Library, uh, hand out bags and send people to targeted areas. Um, and then we're gonna have a little gathering uh to celebrate the day uh in the Hoosie Park after there'll be a tree planting, and then I just caught when that the tree committee will also be handing out baby red maple saplings or trees that day uh for people to bring home and plant them. So I just want to say that I've noticed also with the change of the weather that it's I've noticed a lot of folks out walking, cleaning up the side of the roads uh next to their houses and everything, but there's still a lot more that needs to get cleaned up. So next few weekends uh that's some good events going on in visit. Thanks, Eric. Town manager should report. Thank you. Uh town manager's report for April 13th. Uh the select board will hold a virtual meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, April 14th at 5 p.m. to receive an update from engineering consultants tie and bond regarding the sinkhole at the Division Street Bridge. The presentation will include current findings, an assessment of site conditions, and proposed next steps for the board's consideration and vote. Members of the public may attend the meeting via Zoom. Link posted on the town's website agenda page. The town and who's atonic waterworks have jointly filed a petition with the Supreme Judicial Court to initiate a formal judicial determination of the water system's cost. This process will allow the Department of Public Utilities to serve as an independent adjudicator, establishing a fair and legally grounded validation through a structured review. While this is an important step forward, it does not commit the town to acquisition and any future purchase would still require town meeting approval. The outcome will provide critical information to guide future decisions regarding the system's ownership, investment, and long-term reliability. The town will be hosting a public forum on Thursday, April 23rd from 5 to 7.30 at town hall here in this room to gather input on the goals, objectives, and actions of the open space and recreation plan. This session led by the planning board will focus on discussing proposed actions and priorities for the plan moving forward. Community preserve participation is encouraged to help shape how the town preserves and enhances its open spaces and recreational resources. Residents are invited to attend and provide feedback as part of this important planning process. And lastly, after two months of actually more than two months of budget meetings and deliberations, the finance committee and select board have finalized their recommendations for the FY27 budget and town meeting warrant articles. Thank you. The annual town meeting will be held on Saturday, May 2nd at 2 p.m.