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Record of Proceedings

Lee Select Board Meeting Summary – October 21, 2025

Selectboard & Town Boards — Tuesday, October 21, 2025
BodyLee, Massachusetts
SessionSelectboard & Town Boards
DateTuesday, October 21, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 58:31

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:02

Welcome to the Lee Select Board meeting.

0:05

It's seven o'clock.

0:06

I'll call the meeting to order and state that pursuant to mass general law chapter 30A section 20.

0:14

I am hereby informing all attendees that a video and audio recording is being made of the meeting, so you've been informed.

0:24

Our first order of business is we have the open session minutes from October 15th.

0:32

Do I have a motion?

Speaker 2

0:34

Mr.

0:35

Chair, I move that we uh approve the minutes from the Tuesday, October 15th select board meeting.

0:41

I'll

Speaker 3

0:42

second that.

Speaker 1

0:42

Motion and a second.

0:44

If there's no further discussion, hearing none, all those in favor.

0:49

Aye.

0:50

Um our next order of business.

0:52

Uh we have a public hearing.

0:54

We actually have two public hearings tonight, but the first one we will be uh looking at is an application for a new lodging accommodation license from RMK Incorporated Sunset In.

1:09

Do we have somebody from the Sunset Inn?

1:11

Do you want to come up to the microphone?

1:12

Just to introduce yourself, tell everybody a little bit about um you know what what this uh what you have going on.

Speaker 4

1:20

Oh well, it's business that's been in place for since 1978.

1:25

Uh Kieran Patel, for starters.

1:27

It's a sunset in pretty across from Starbucks.

1:30

Uh

Unassigned speaker

1:31

other

Speaker 4

1:32

than that, I don't know what to say.

Speaker 1

1:36

Well, that's that's fine.

1:37

Does the do either of the board members have uh any comment to make about the application in front of

Unassigned speaker

1:43

us?

Speaker 3

1:46

Just uh uh a question.

1:48

Uh I don't what I didn't see as part of the package, it's not a big deal for us tonight, I don't think, is um is whether or not you got your certificate of inspection from the building department.

1:59

It just didn't happen to be part of your package.

Speaker 4

2:02

Oh, okay.

2:03

I didn't know it needed to be in there.

Speaker 3

2:05

It's well, we're we're not supposed to issue those kind of things unless it has a current certificate of inspection, like similar to a liquor license.

2:12

But I just want to did you actually get the certificate issued every year.

2:17

It's a May.

2:18

Okay, very good.

2:20

Thank you.

2:20

Um I did have one more thing more for our clerical staff here.

2:25

We had a receipt.

2:28

Yeah, um, just something that we need to change in-house on our invoice.

2:35

Um it it's uh from Sunset Inn 150 who's atonic street, but then it says premises 150 Railroad Street, and we don't want it to say that.

2:44

So we can adjust that so that we keep it.

2:47

That's nothing on in you.

2:48

That's on us.

2:49

So um no, as long as they had their uh certificate.

2:52

I know they've been here uh doing business for almost ever.

2:55

From what I can remember, I can only remember back so far.

2:59

Um, but no, I have no other questions that seemed like all the paperwork was in order.

Speaker 1

3:04

Okay.

3:05

Bob,

Speaker 2

3:06

do you have anything?

3:08

Uh I guess uh if I may I'll make a motion that we'll

Speaker 1

3:12

before you sorry, uh just procedures yeah, procedurally.

3:16

I have to open it up for public comment because the hearing so um

Unassigned speaker

3:20

if

Speaker 1

3:20

anybody from the public at this point would want to comment or ask any questions of the applicant now.

3:30

And hearing no public comment at this point, I'd entertain a motion for approval.

Speaker 3

3:37

Well, I can I can entertain uh I'll be happy to uh make a motion to approve the application for a lodging accommodation, which I believe was written down as an in.

3:50

Not a not a motel, yes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning and Land Use████████████████████20%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Environmental Protection████████████████16%
Entertainment Licenses███████████11%
Economic Development██████████10%
Floodplain Management██████6%
Community Engagement██████6%
Cannabis Regulation█████5%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Lee Select Board Meeting Summary – October 21, 2025

The Lee Select Board met at 7:00 PM on October 21, 2025, to conduct public hearings, approve routine items, receive a brownfield assessment presentation, discuss an odor complaint, and initiate a 250th anniversary committee. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved open session minutes from October 15, 2025.
  • Approved a new lodging accommodation license for RMK Inc., doing business as Sunset Inn (premises at 150 Housatonic Street). The license is for an inn, not a motel. The board noted a clerical correction needed on the invoice.
  • Approved an alteration of premises for Sri Ganesh, doing business as Mint Indian Lakeside Dining, to add temporary outdoor seating on the patio for summer and fall, weather permitting. The applicant stated the change aims to accommodate pet-friendly diners.
  • Approved a temporary sign permit for Evening Star Lodge (nonprofit, 195 Laurel Street) for a free-standing sign (36" x 48") with downlighting. The board waived the fee and approved the permit for an indefinite duration, citing the nonprofit sign bylaw.
  • Adopted an updated Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy (dated October 21, 2025) as recommended by the state for the Greener Gateway grant.
  • Approved Exhibit C revision to the Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative IMA, adding Sandisfield and Tyringham (from 10 to 12 municipalities).
  • Approved a temporary sign permit for First Congregational Church (25 Park Place) for a craft fair on November 22, 2025, from 10 AM to 3 PM, with signs permitted October 25 through November 22. The fee was waived.
  • Appointed Laurie Kropkowski and Marcia Flamensky to the Historical Commission, filling two vacancies and bringing the commission to full membership.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were offered.

Discussion Items

  • Town Planner presented a Targeted Brownfield Assessment (TAB) from UConn, studying three underutilized mills: Columbia Mill, Greylock Mill, and Mountain/Greenwood Mill. Columbia Mill (established 1827, first supplier of groundwood newsprint to the New York Times) is on a floodplain with a significant hazard dam; Greylock Mill (built 1965 by Kimberly-Clark, operated until 2008) has wetland constraints; Mountain Mill (recently sold at auction) has PFOS contamination and a solid waste landfill. UConn recommended redevelopment for Columbia and Greylock (light industrial, manufacturing, office, or child care) and for Mountain Mill, demolition and creation of a park. The Town Planner noted that current zoning is restrictive and the planning board is working with BRPC to revise the A-Rod overlay district to accommodate larger buildings. A board member asked about the green pipe connecting Greylock and Columbia; the planner said UConn studied it but there is no current use or maintenance. The planner will share reports with property owners.
  • Odor mitigation discussion regarding Green Theory cultivation (DBA Aruna) was postponed because the applicant (Harsh) could not attend. The board agreed to continue the discussion at the next meeting to allow his response to specific concerns.
  • The board discussed forming an ad hoc committee for the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026/2027. Members expressed interest in a year-long celebration involving historical societies, the chamber, and community groups. The exact membership and structure will be determined at the next meeting; the public is invited to submit ideas.
  • EPA PCB update: GE will begin land-clearing activities at the dump site on November 3, 2025. The town has until October 31 to submit comments via its consultant. A public informational meeting originally scheduled for November 12 has been moved to December 3, 2025 (location TBD). A board member reminded that this is an ongoing process and no toxins are being moved yet; a lawsuit with Monsanto may affect outcomes.
  • Town Administrator gave an ARPA update: the program is wrapping up; remaining funds will be used for three more months of public Wi-Fi (until a broadband grant kicks in), an appliance repair at Crossway (senior center), and improvements at Long Cope Park (hazard tree removal, gravel parking, new kiosks and signage for town parks).
  • A board member raised concerns about poor television and internet service from Spectrum, citing frequent outages. He requested the town explore alternatives, noting that Sheffield recently secured a choice for cable providers through the five-town cable collaborative. The board will investigate.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes were unanimous (5-0 or voice vote with no opposition). No motions failed.
  • The odor mitigation discussion will resume on November 4, 2025, with the applicant present.
  • The 250th anniversary committee formation will be finalized at the next regular meeting (November 4, 2025).
  • The next regular select board meeting is scheduled for November 4, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the Lee Select Board meeting. It's seven o'clock. I'll call the meeting to order and state that pursuant to mass general law chapter 30A section 20. I am hereby informing all attendees that a video and audio recording is being made of the meeting, so you've been informed. Our first order of business is we have the open session minutes from October 15th. Do I have a motion? Mr. Chair, I move that we uh approve the minutes from the Tuesday, October 15th select board meeting. I'll second that. Motion and a second. If there's no further discussion, hearing none, all those in favor. Aye. Um our next order of business. Uh we have a public hearing. We actually have two public hearings tonight, but the first one we will be uh looking at is an application for a new lodging accommodation license from RMK Incorporated Sunset In. Do we have somebody from the Sunset Inn? Do you want to come up to the microphone? Just to introduce yourself, tell everybody a little bit about um you know what what this uh what you have going on. Oh well, it's business that's been in place for since 1978. Uh Kieran Patel, for starters. It's a sunset in pretty across from Starbucks. Uh other than that, I don't know what to say. Well, that's that's fine. Does the do either of the board members have uh any comment to make about the application in front of us? Just uh uh a question. Uh I don't what I didn't see as part of the package, it's not a big deal for us tonight, I don't think, is um is whether or not you got your certificate of inspection from the building department. It just didn't happen to be part of your package. Oh, okay. I didn't know it needed to be in there. It's well, we're we're not supposed to issue those kind of things unless it has a current certificate of inspection, like similar to a liquor license. But I just want to did you actually get the certificate issued every year. It's a May. Okay, very good. Thank you. Um I did have one more thing more for our clerical staff here. We had a receipt. Yeah, um, just something that we need to change in-house on our invoice. Um it it's uh from Sunset Inn 150 who's atonic street, but then it says premises 150 Railroad Street, and we don't want it to say that. So we can adjust that so that we keep it. That's nothing on in you. That's on us. So um no, as long as they had their uh certificate. I know they've been here uh doing business for almost ever. From what I can remember, I can only remember back so far. Um, but no, I have no other questions that seemed like all the paperwork was in order. Okay.

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