Lenox Select Board Regular Meeting - March 25, 2026

The Lenox Select Board met on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The chair initially said March 23 before correcting the date. The board announced town meeting and election dates, read a joint statement announcing that the Lenox Children's Center will close, heard public comment from three residents about child care, approved a liquor license manager change, and scheduled its next meeting. There was no consent agenda, and no minutes were presented.

Announcements

• Town meeting: Thursday, May 7, at 7 p.m. at Duffin Theater at the school. Town elections: Monday, May 11 (not Tuesday), with several open seats; papers have been filed.
• Ed read a joint statement from the Town of Lenox and the Lenox Children's Center, posted on the town website and e-blasted to subscribers. The chair said it was jointly authored by Mary Ann Valley and Jay.

Lenox Children's Center Closure

• The Lenox Children's Center is a privately operated child care provider that has leased the old Center Street School building from the town for decades; the town has kept rent low and maintained the property.
• Both parties had identified years ago that the building needed extensive and costly repairs to meet modern child care requirements. The cost exceeds the center's financial capacity, since it relies solely on tuition, and the town's capital and infrastructure obligations.
• With town assistance, the center searched for a new facility but found no location that met licensing and space requirements.
• The need for a new roof restarted the conversation. After meetings with the select board, Permanent Building Committee, town manager, and DPW superintendent, both sides mutually agreed that continued operation in a building without required repairs was no longer viable. With no workable alternative, the provider made the decision to close on August 31, 2026; the statement emphasized that this was solely the provider's decision.
• The statement acknowledged the closure's impact on families, staff, and the broader community, and thanked supporters.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Karen Labonero spoke on behalf of her daughter and family. Her daughter may step away from her teaching job next academic year because of the lack of reliable child care. Labonero said at least 27 other families rely on the center; she asked whether the town would grant an extension so the 28 families could secure alternative care, especially families with infants. She noted LCC has approximately 30-40 families on its wait list. She asked what steps the town would take to keep child care available and sustainable, whether it would reconsider closure if donations or reduced roofing costs were identified, and what its plans are for the old Center Street building compared with the center's community benefit.
• Rebecca Lee, a fourth-generation Lenox resident at 383 East Street, described returning to Lenox to raise her family. Her daughter attended LCC until the past school year; her second child started there in February and, six weeks later, the closure was announced. She said there are virtually no child care options in Lenox; Rainbow Bridge at the United Methodist Church is the only alternative and its infant room is temporarily closed. She contacted facilities in surrounding towns, but the closest opportunity put her at number 21 on a wait list. She said two working parents now face impossible choices, such as moving away or one parent leaving the workforce, and urged the board to make child care a priority for retaining and attracting young families.
• Michael Lucia, 261 Old Stockbridge Road, appeared with his wife and two young children. He said he did not know the full backstory and believed the board works hard, but found the joint letter troubling because it made Lenox sound like a poor landlord. He called child care a public good, said the burden falls immediately on parents when a center closes, and urged the board to act with urgency. He noted the town has vacant fire and police stations and, rhetorically, suggested using town hall as a daycare rather than doing nothing. He added that his children do not attend the center, so he was speaking for the community's future.

Board Response and Additional Announcements

• A board member acknowledged the child care issue is serious and said the town needs to fix the bigger problem. He announced the Fix-It Fair on Saturday, April 11, 1-4 p.m.; the October event drew 26 people, with 19 sewing repairs and 16 mechanical/electrical repairs completed, plus more work than they could reach. He advised people to spread out attendance and stay while repairs are done. A fall Fix-It Fair is scheduled for Saturday, October 17.

General Business

• The board described the agenda as light, with no consent agenda. The only general business item was a liquor license amendment for 33 Main LLC, doing business as 33 Main at 33 Main Street, changing the license manager to Donna Hammer on its annual all-alcohol hotel liquor license. The board said the paperwork was in order and the change was recommended by the state liquor commission. A motion to approve passed by voice vote with all ayes.

Key Outcomes

• The Lenox Children's Center will close August 31, 2026; no alternative location was found.
• The board unanimously approved the 33 Main liquor license manager change to Donna Hammer.
• The town meeting is scheduled for May 7 at 7 p.m.; town elections are Monday, May 11.
• No board vote was taken on the child care-related requests raised during public comment.
• Minutes were not presented and were deferred to the next meeting; the executive assistant had been on vacation until that day.
• The next regular select board meeting is Wednesday, April 8, at 6 p.m.; the board adjourned with all in favor.