Lee Select Board Meeting Summary – October 6, 2026

The Lee Select Board held its regular public meeting on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The board approved fire ambulance and inspection fee adjustments, signed the 2026 state election warrant, adopted a resolution opposing statewide ballot Question 8, supported a river access grant request, authorized $28.7 million in bond anticipation notes for the public safety facility, and approved permits and appointments. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously approved the open session minutes of September 15, 2026, as written.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were offered during the designated public comment period at the start of the meeting.
• Later in the meeting, public testimony was heard from Nelson Daly and Marilyn Wyatt on Barnes Brook flooding, and from Eric Williams on ballot Question 8; their statements are summarized in the relevant sections below.

Discussion Items

Fire Department Ambulance and Inspection Fee Adjustments

• Acting Fire Chief Brian Schultz proposed raising ambulance transport rates to the state average, except for the intercept fee, which he recommended keeping at the county average of $400 rather than $450.
• He proposed moving the standard permit fee from $30 to $50 and increasing smoke detector inspection fees to the $50 level, aligning with most county communities.
• Schultz said first-quarter budget figures showed a 36% increase in fuel costs and about a 15% annual increase in medical supply costs over the past three to four years.
• The board approved the proposed fee adjustments unanimously.

Barnes Brook Flooding Discussion

• Nelson Daly, a Maple Street resident for 41 years, said water backs up because large stones and sediment block the brook downstream of the culvert, causing cellar flooding and threatening a wall; he described the fix as inexpensive and expressed frustration with state permitting delays.
• Town Planner Brooke Keely said she and Conservation Agent Colby had walked through the culvert; the stones are downstream, not inside the culvert, and actually help slow water; she attributed flooding mainly to the narrow stream channel and reduced vegetation, and warned that removing boulders could harm the stream ecosystem and cause downstream problems.
• Marilyn Wyatt, 150 Maple Street, said the retaining wall near the culvert appears close to collapse, that water forces against it, and that the entire brook corridor—including the proposed hotel site—should be assessed holistically.
• Board members noted the town owns the culvert but may not be responsible for private retaining walls; they agreed to investigate ownership, easements, and possible next steps and report back to Mr. Daly.

Green Theory Cultivation Update

• Tirutra Jravel, supply chain logistics manager for Green Theory Cultivation, reported that the company stopped new plantings after architectural inspections found cracks in the foundation, walls, and roof of the facility.
• The last harvest is expected in about a week; after that, the facility will remain open with only Jravel as an employee while a reconstruction plan is developed.
• A reconstruction plan must be submitted to the town and the Cannabis Control Commission; Jravel said the architectural plan should be ready by the end of October or early November, and that the retaining wall is not currently a problem.

2026 State Election Warrant

• The board signed the warrant for the 2026 state election, as required by law, with a unanimous vote.

Resolution Opposing Ballot Question 8

• A board member said the cannabis industry brings Lee approximately $400,000 to $600,000 in annual revenue and noted his past work in a local dispensary, where many senior customers used cannabis for pain relief.
• Eric Williams, a resident, co-founder/COO of a local cannabis company, and president of the Lee Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber also passed a resolution opposing Question 8.
• Williams said Question 8 is funded entirely by the out-of-state group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, would cost the Commonwealth about $300 million in direct tax revenue and close to $500 million with other taxes, eliminate a minimum of 18,751 jobs, and with multiplier effects up to about 37,500 jobs, remove $1.2 billion in direct payroll, and potentially cost about $500 million in unemployment benefits; an industry-commissioned study estimated $3.9 billion in lost economic output in 2027.
• He also said the ballot question would end home cultivation.
• The board unanimously adopted the resolution opposing Question 8 and urging residents to vote no on November 3, 2026.

Housatonic Valley Association River Access Support Letter

• The board approved a letter of support for a Housatonic Valley Association grant request for a Route 102 parcel bought with Community Preservation Act funds and subject to a conservation restriction.
• The proposed project would create a small parking area, trail to the river, canoe takeout, and signage.

Public Safety Facility Bond Anticipation Notes

• The board approved the sale of $28,700,000 in general obligation bond anticipation notes and related financing documents for the public safety facility.
• The town is renewing one-year notes rather than issuing long-term debt until final project costs are known; the notes carry an SP1+ rating, the highest short-term rating.
• A longer-term bond, likely 25 years, is expected in about a year.

Temporary Sign Permits

• Approved a temporary sign permit for Monster Mania, a wrestling fundraiser at St. Mary's, as submitted.
• Approved a St. Mary's School Holiday Bazaar sign permit and waived the fee.
• Approved an All Hours Lee sign permit and waived the fee, contingent on receipt of a permission letter from the church; representatives said it is their third year and they are adding a second sign.

Berkshire Gas Permits

• Approved Berkshire Gas's permit for a new test station with anodes on a gas main at the West Park and Park View Terrace intersection, off the road, with DPW and police sign-off.
• Approved Berkshire Gas's gas service repair permit serving 60 and 90 George Street.

Appointments

• Appointed Natalie Broadrick as student member and Gretchen Weber as member of the Lee Youth Commission.
• Appointed June Ethier to the 250th Anniversary Committee as the Lee Lions alternate.

Announcements and Other Business

• Trunk or Treat will be held October 22, 2026, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the high school/middle school; car registrations are being taken.
• A board member thanked past and present Board of Public Works members, especially Dave Forrest for 30 years of service, after all articles at the recent town meeting passed.
• The town administrator reported receipt of approximately $390,000 in MassWorks funding for Marble Street renovation and sidewalks, plus rural development funds for downtown improvements; paving is expected next spring/summer and some downtown work could begin sooner.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for October 20, 2026, at the same time and place.

Key Outcomes

• All votes were unanimous: fee adjustments, election warrant, Question 8 resolution, HVA support letter, $28.7 million BAN authorization, sign permits, Berkshire Gas permits, and appointments.
• The board directed staff to research the Barnes Brook culvert, retaining wall, ownership, and permitting options, and to report back to Nelson Daly.
• Green Theory Cultivation will submit its reconstruction plan to the town and state regulators once completed.
• The next regular Select Board meeting is October 20, 2026.