TOWN MEETING:

            May 3, 2005, Mt. Everett High School Auditorium, 7:00 PM. Warrants are available at the Town Hall, Library and North Egremont Post Office, or on line at www.egremont-ma.gov.

There are 25 articles on the warrant this year. The total budget is $2,932,866 compared to last years total budget of $2,988,667. The Board plans to use $130,000 from free cash towards the budget to help keep the tax rate low.

TOWN ELECTION:

            May 10, 2005, North Egremont Fire Station, beginning at 10am and closing at 7pm.

On the ballot is the following offices:

Select Board: Mary A. Brazie

                      Richard H. Burdsall

Moderator: Tom A. Gage

Town Clerk: Margaret A. Muskrat

Library Trustee: Thomas C. Haas

Cemetery Commissioner: David D. Campbell

Planning Board five years: Marjorie A. Wexler

                                          Richard M. Allen

Planning Board one year: Helen L. Krancer

Tree Warden: John “Jack” C. Harvey

Assessor: Creighton Brown

Water Commissioner: Susan P. Bachelder

                                  David D. Campbell

Absentee Ballots are available. Your request must be made in writing by 12noon on May 9.

Dog Licenses are now past due! Fines will be issued!

Select Board:

            The Board is considering forming a Health Insurance Committee to study the town’s benefit package and its costs. If you might be interested in serving on this committee, please let us know.

            The facilities at French Park are now open. The bathroom fixtures have been replaced. The horse ring is in the process of being rebuilt. A dog park is going to be constructed soon in the upper field. The park is very busy. If you wish to plan an event, please call the Town Hall.

Egremont Historical Commission:

            The Archives Room will be open the first Saturday of each month from 9am to noon as well as the third Monday of each month from 2pm to 4pm.

            Egremont History Books are available at the Archives room now.

            Come see the new things that have been added recently. Also there is more information on marble hill and the quarry.

Council on Aging:

            The Sheffield C.O.A. invites seniors from Egremont and Alford to the annual tri-town picnic to be held this year.......on Wednesday, June 13, at 12noon at the Sheffield Town Park. Mark your calendar for this afternoon of good food, fun, and entertainment.

            For seniors with health problems requiring exercise....WATER EXERCISE.....the Egremont C.O.A. (together with Alford) has arranged for a program on Tuesdays at 10:30a.m. - 11:30a.m. at Simon’s Rock Athletic Center. The program will run April through June. For more information and registration, call Rachel Shaw after 5 p.m. at 528-3488. Those participating find it to be really good for them!!!

            Seniors needing information for special needs can get help concerning the services available in Southern Berkshire by contacting the members of the C.O.A.

            The C.O.A. is in need of new members. You don’t have to be a “senior” to join. The council is also seeking a new Chairperson.

Treasurer\Collector:

REMINDER - Real Estate & Personal Property Taxes are due May 2, 2005 - This is the final (fourth quarter ) payment for Fiscal Year 2005.

Motor Vehicle Excise - Demands have been mailed and were due on April 15, 2005. If you have disposed of a vehicle, please remember it is the taxpayers responsibility to file for an abatement. Do not ignore the tax bill as it will stay on our books until it is paid or abated. Again, we only have the information provided to us from the Registry of Motor Vehicles which comes from the vehicle owner.

On Line Banking - UNIPAY on line banking is ready to go. Go to the Town of Egremont web site www.egremont-ma.gov/ and click on “pay your bills on line”. Follow the instructions from that point. You will be able to use ACH or a credit card. Please give it a try.

Office hours - Tax Collector 7-3 Monday through Friday or by appointment

Planning Board:

            This winter, the Egremont Planning Board distributed a packet of bylaw proposals to the town, including a reformatting of our present bylaw, a zoning map, a bylaw allowing for telecommunications huts by Special Permit, and an alternative to present bylaw section 5.2.4. A Community Forum was held on these proposals on March 16, 2005, and a Public Hearing and Special Town Meeting were tentatively scheduled for dates in April. However, the Planning Board decided to postpone work on those bylaw proposals until a later time, due to the town's scheduling of a series of information meetings and Special Town Meeting to vote on the proposed Waste Water Treatment Facility for the South Egremont village. These are all very important issues for the town, and the Planning Board felt that scheduling too many meetings, hearings and votes in a short span of time, along with the Annual Town Meeting and elections in May, might not allow townspeople the opportunity to give each issue the full attention it deserves.

            There will, however, be six zoning bylaw articles on the Annual Town Meeting on May 3, 2005, with a Public Hearing on these proposals on April 25, 2005. Two of the bylaw articles were submitted by the Planning Board and four by citizen petition. Copies of these are available at the Town Hall and Library, and citizens are urged to pay close attention to these important issues.

            The two Planning Board articles seek to clear up a long-standing controversy in our bylaw concerning section 5.2.4. The question is whether section 5.2.4 can be used to create new deep buildable lots with 50 feet of frontage rather than the 150 feet of frontage required under section 5.1.2 of our bylaw. Town counsel has recently given his opinion that our bylaw requires 150 foot frontage for all new lots and that section 5.2.4 only refers to the use of parcels of land which existed when the bylaw was first passed.

            For many years the Planning Board did not approve any new lots with less than 150 foot frontage. However, in the past year, with some changes of membership on the Planning Board, three lots with less than 150 foot frontage have been approved. Then, following receipt of town counsel's opinion, the board disapproved a plan showing fifteen lots, ten of which had approximately 50 foot frontage and the remainder 150 feet or more frontage. That disapproval has now been appealed in court.

            Whether we require 150 feet of frontage or 50 feet of frontage is a critical distinction for our town and will determine how our town grows and looks in the future. 

            The Planning Board wishes for townspeople to resolve the issue of whether all new lots must have 150 feet of frontage or whether new deep lots can be created with only 50 feet of frontage.

            Therefore the board has proposed two bylaw changes. One would add wording to section 5.2.4 to state that it only applies to preexisting lots. This means that no new lots could be created under that section. The other proposal makes changes to section 5.1.2 to state clearly in our dimensional chart that a "rear one family" lot can be created with only 50 feet of frontage. There are certain limitations proposed for such a lot; these are designed to allow the creation of a rear one family lot with such reduced frontage only one time from a present lot and only for a single family dwelling located more than 250 feet from all streets. Other details are in the bylaw proposals.

            As of this writing, the Planning Board is not taking a position on these proposals but is strongly urging townspeople to think about the implications of these proposals for the future of our town. After the Public Hearing on April 25, the board will make its recommendation to town meeting, as provided by law. The critical issue is that this controversy be resolved as townspeople wish it to be, so you are urged to come to town meeting and vote. A vote of two-thirds of voters present is required to pass a zoning bylaw at town meeting.

            The other four articles on the annual town meeting warrant were submitted by citizen petition. They concern wireless and non-wireless telecommunications facilities, special permit criteria, and creating a position of associate member of the planning board.

            Please read these proposals and be involved in the decision on these bylaws. It's your town and we should all decide what we want the future of the town to look like.

            Once these bylaw issues are settled, the Planning Board hopes to move ahead with discussions of village and rural districts in town. Please call town hall to let us know if you are interested in working on developing these new zoning districts in the town.

Board of Health:

            As the local department monitoring and inspecting septic systems for the Town of Egremont the Board of Health has compiled the following data in regards to the area under review for the proposed South Egremont sewer:

·   25% of the septic systems in that area are in failure of state Title 5 sanitary codes. This is referred to as “widespread septic failure” by the DEP.

·   of the 6 new systems installed in the last 10 years, 5 were given variances of those state codes (variances = compromises to those state sanitary laws).

·   3 properties are currently being served by “tight” tanks

·   the majority of the remaining systems will need to be replaced in the next 7 – 10 years

Common household wastewater contains potentially hazardous pathogens that can lead to disease. With that being said clearly corrective action must be taken. The proposed South Egremont sewer is a centralized option to correct the current problem and the pending problem in the future and one that the BOH highly recommends. (Please refer to the Wastewater Management Committee article in this issue for more details on the proposed South Egremont sewer project). If the town chooses to vote the sewer project down then the town will be mandating individual on-site septic system replacements which will immediately take place.

              What will these on-site replacements cost the homeowners, what will they entail and what they will look like are questions people should be asking themselves as we approach the vote at the Special Town meeting devoted solely to the proposed South Egremont sewer project on May 24, 7:00 p.m. at Catamount Ski Area.

There are many factors involved in installing a fully functional on-site septic system. In a sense, a septic system has to be custom designed to the individual property – there is no “one size fits all” system that will be the village wide panacea. A homeowner needs sufficient land and good soils. In South Egremont village many property owners do not have the options those on larger parcels of land have. Soils in the area can be poor, there is a tremendous amount of ledge (think Post Office), lot sizes are small, groundwater is high and set backs to Karner Brook severely limit the choices folks have in making the necessary upgrades.

            Without a sewer servicing the area property owners will be forced to employ more costly Alternative/Innovative (A/I) technology systems which require ongoing maintenance and mandatory testing. Please note these A/I systems still require the use of septic tanks and leach fields as do the traditional passive systems – they simply provide additional treatment of effluent thereby reducing the size of the field. Some property owners will resort to tight tanks simply because they do not have the adequate land to site even an A/I system. Because of the high groundwater levels and lack of adequate depth of soil mounded systems (aka: “Mt. Flushmores”) will become more prevalent in an area that is officially designated as an historic village. And as this is the commercial center of the town it should be noted that valuable parking space will be taken up by these new systems.

             This information is not being offered as a scare tactic. On the contrary it is the harsh reality Egremont must face and exactly the one many towns in the area our age and size are also facing. Ignoring the situation is not one of the options before us. The Egremont Board of Health just asks that you have the total picture in mind when you cast your vote at the Special Town Meeting on May 24^th.

Waste Water Management:

            As of this posting the Egremont Wastewater Management Committee (WMC) is preparing for the final of the three informational meetings open to the public to discuss the proposed South Egremont village sewer treatment facility. These forums are designed to inform the public on the related details and costs, hear comments and hopefully answer your many questions. A Special Town Meeting to officially vote on the proposed project has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 24^th, 7:00 p.m. The location of that meeting will be at the base lodge at Catamount Ski Area. The following is a list of the warrant articles relating to the project up for town wide vote at that meeting:

1)  Town to approve the total project costs not to exceed $3.85 million

2)  Town to approve loans relating to the project

3)  Town to approve the debt service on the loans

4)  Town to approve a 2% meal/lodging surcharge

5)  Town to approve the first year’s operating budget

6)  Town to approve the formation of an Enterprise Fund to manage user only operation and maintenance costs as well as hook-up fees

7)  Town to approve formation of a Sewer Commission which will be governed by three elected Sewer Commissioners

At our previous public informational meetings as well as the many meetings with the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee the WMC has presented this project as an option, one of three, that addresses the issue of widespread septic failure in South Egremont village. The project is eligible for just under $1 million in grant assistance from the federal government as well as eligible for low interest short term loans issued through the state’s Clean Water Initiative Program.

The two biggest concerns we have heard so far from well-informed citizens are the following:

·   How will the project effect future growth in Egremont?

·   Why should the majority of residents in Egremont support the 83 residents and business owners who will receive sewer service?

      First, on questions relating to growth, the proposed wastewater treatment facility will be built to accommodate the flows generated by those 83 users, approximately 25,000 gallons per day. The system will be designed to handle approximately 55,000 gallons per day. Yes, future growth is built into the system but it is growth that has a cap or ceiling and this cap is required by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the state permitting agency which will OK the final design plans. The expansion potential may for example include a homeowner who wants to remodel their home and add a bedroom or a business which may want to change from a retail establishment to a restaurant or a restaurant that wants to add additional seats. THE PROPOSED SEWER IS NOT AN OPEN INVITATION FOR ADDITIONAL OR LARGE BUSINESSES. The “Acme Mega-hotel Consortium” will not be able to tie into the proposed sewer and assume that there is plenty of capacity in the system to accommodate them. The towns of Otis and West Stockbridge built sewers very similar to the one that is being proposed for South Egremont village and those towns have experienced little growth change in the 10 – 12 years their systems have been up and running.

The expansion potential built into the system is the growth that the town will have to face if we want to remain a viable location for homeowners and businesses alike. A community that doesn’t “grow” remains stagnant and with stagnation comes decay. As we all know change is inevitable but we can keep a firm hand on rampant growth while at the same time providing a promising future through infrastructure building.

As to why the entire town should assist those in the user area a sewer is an asset to the town. We are all members of a community and as members of a community we realize that we must provide assistance through our taxes even if we see no direct benefit. A perfect example of this is your support of the educational system after your children have finished school. By supporting education you support hope in the future through enriching the minds of future generations. A sewer will provide guarantees that drinking water and surface water is being preserved and protected now and for the future.

To further the point if a burden effects a property’s value in South Egremont village (tight tanks, expensive systems, mounded systems will decrease property values) that burden will eventually be reflected in all property values in Egremont. So yes, there is a direct financial benefit to all.

          The 83 potential users in South Egremont village are not receiving a service for free. They will have to pay up front hook up charges in the $5,000 to $10,000 range and be billed for ongoing maintenance for the life of the project. Yes, the town is being asked to fund the debt service on the ensuing loans related to the project but by doing so the town will have assurances that not only will the environment be protected and preserved but the commercial and cultural center of South Egremont, a gateway to the Berkshire region, will be as beautiful on the inside as is it on the outside.

Library:

10 cent sale

            Help us clean out the back room of the Library and have a good read at the same time.

            Come into the Egremont Library any day during May and pick up a book for a thin dine.

            All hard cover and paperbacks are on sale. Come early and get the pick of the lot.

*****

            The Friends of the Egremont Free Library meet the last Wednesday of each month at 4 pm in the library.

            They are constantly on the lookout for ways to help the library improve itself and make it a special place to visit in the town of Egremont.

            Meetings are open to all. The group is always looking for new ideas. Please come and share your ideas.

*****

The Library is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 2-6pm and Saturday morning from 9-12.

Egremont Garden Club:

            The Egremont Garden Club on Saturday, May 28^th, is holding their yearly fund raiser. The profits from this sale help to send our children on trips to the Berkshire Botanical Gardens to participate in horticulture classes. Each year we award a scholarship to a high school graduate who is planning a carerr in horticulture or related area.

            We will have perennial plants potted from our member’s gardens. These plants are conditioned to grow in our climate and soil. There will be annuals and flower baskets and six packs of herbs and annuals at very reasonable prices.

            Our members are outstanding bakers, they will supply a large number of pies, cakes, and other goodies from proven recipes.

            Last but not least come and check out our tag sale. It’s clean and well organized with abundant items.

Southern Berkshire Regional School:

Dates of interest:

May 6 6:30am to 7:45am - SADD breakfast -

May 6 - Prom

May 6 & 7 7pm - Grades 5-8 Musical

May 11 & 13 7pm - Elementary Music Concert

May 12 7pm - School Committee Meeting

May 14 7pm - Madrigal Feast

May 19 7pm - Grades 5-12 Band Concert

May 24 7pm - 7-12 Choral Concert

May 26 7pm - School Committee Meeting

May 28 10am - Graduation at Tanglewood

June 9 7pm - School Committee Meeting

June 23 7pm - School Committee Meeting

June 23 - Last Day of School

Board meeting schedule:

Subject to change.

Archives Room - First Saturday 9-noon

Assessors - Wednesdays 9am to 11am & Tuesdays 7pm to 9pm

Board of Health - Monday by appointment, Tuesday 11am to 3pm, Wednesday 10am to 12noon, Thursday 10am to 12noon

Board of Selectmen - Meetings Tuesday evenings 7pm. Office 7:30am to 3pm.

Building Inspector - Tuesday 12:30pm to 3:30pm.

Conservation Commission - Second and Fourth Thursdays 7:00pm

Finance Committee - Wednesday 7pm as needed.

Library - Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 2-6pm &

Saturday 9-12noon

Planning Board - Second & Fourth Monday 7:30pm

Town Clerk - Tuesday evenings 7pm - 9pm

Waste Water Management - Third Tuesday 3:30pm

Water Department - Third Thursday 4:30pm

Zoning Board of Appeals - as needed

To reach a board member or to leave a message please call the Town Hall.

Community News & Notes:

Is there something going on your life that you would like to announce to the town or some function that you think residents may be interested in. Please send it along to us and we will print it here.

Business listings:

In an effort to promote local small businesses, the following businesses/services located in Egremont have agreed to be listed here. If we missed asking you and you wish to be included, please send your information to the Town Hall.

Baldwin Hill Farm B&B - Lodging and breakfast

413-528-4892 / 888-528-4092

www.baldwinhillfarm.com

The Silo B&B - guest accommodations

413-528-5195

The Weathervane Inn - Lodging

413/800-528-9580

John Andrews’ Restaurant - Restaurant

413-528-3469

Elm Court Inn - Restaurant

413-528-0325

Swiss Hutte Country Inn and Restaurant-

Restaurant & Lodging

413-528-6200

Howard’s Antiques - Antique Lighting & Restoration

413-528-1232

www.howardsantiquelighting.com

Red Barn Antiques - Antique lighting & fine metal polishing

413-528-3230

Blue Rider Stables - Therapeutic Riding Center

413-528-5299

Green River Arabians & Pintos - Horse back riding, training, lessons, breeding

413-528-2367

www.thearabianexperts.com/greenriver

Odyssey II Kennels - All breed boarding for Dogs

413-528-2816

www.weigln9x@berkshire.net

Indian Line Farm - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) & Farmers Markets

413-528-8301

www.indianlinefarm.com

House to House Hauling & Recycling-

Rubbish removal

413-528-0943

G&S Gventer “Books - Buy & Sell Books

413-528-2327

Cosmic Resonance (Elfie Six) - Shiatsu/Acutonics®, Soundhealing,

413-644-9979

Peter Goldberg, Dipl. Ac - Acupuncture, Pain

Management 413-528-5055

Divine Automotive - Automotive repair

413-528-8007

Old Egremont Store - groceries, beer, wine, liquor, newspapers, lottery, & much more

413-528-4796

Blueberry Lane Home Design - Interior decorating

413-528-9633

Closet Collection - clothing & household

consignment shop

 413-528-6236

Berkshire Veneer Company - wholesale/retail

wood veneer sales

413-644-9696

Catamount Ski Area - Skiing

413-528-1262

www.catamountski.com

Anita Schilling - Real Estate Listing & Sales

Century 21 Franklin Street

413-528-8118 x12

anitacentury21@aol.com

Support local businesses.

Town of Egremont

P.O. Box 368

South Egremont MA 01258

413-528-0182

www.egremont-ma.gov

tegremont@yahoo.com

Printed, on recycled paper, Selectmen’s Office Staff

      as submitted by Town Department.