Select Board:

            There is a Special Town Meeting scheduled for July 18 at the Undermountain Elementary Gymnasium in Sheffield to vote on 4 bylaw issues that didn’t get voted on at the Annual Town Meeting. This meeting will begin at 7pm. Warrants will be available after June 28.

            The Select Board has been getting a great deal of feed back about recent town meetings.

            Lately we have been seeing a movement to limit discussion at our Town Meetings. A voter has been “calling the question”. This motion, which is not debatable and requires a 2/3 vote to pass, stops debate on the issue on the floor and requires an immediate vote on the issue. The head table has no control over this action. The control lies solely in the hands of the voters.

            The Board has listened to feed back about handouts at town meetings and has issued a directive to all town boards requiring informational handouts regarding issues going before a town meeting to be available to voters at least 14 days before the meeting. It is hoped that this will help the voters be more prepared on subject that they have to vote on.

            On the July 18 Special Town Meeting Warrant, there will be an article to appropriate $3,000 for the town to join the AlertNow Rapid Notification System. This system will allow the town to get information out to all its residents via phone in 60 seconds. The program will be used for emergency notifications and important meeting date information. The Town has been doing post card and other mailing notices to keep residents informed. This is very costly in supplies and personnel time. There has been no emergency notification in town for many years, and even then it was spotty. The Board feels this is a great investment that will save time, money and maybe lives.

            The Board welcomes new Assessor Creighton Brown, new Planning Board members Helen Krancer and Marjorie Wexler, and new Water Commissioner David Campbell. It is great to see new faces in our town government.

            A great big thank you to Cathy Fracasse who did not seek re-election to the Planning Board, and Daniel Martin and Philip Reilly who likewise did not seek re-election to the Board of Assessors and Water Commission respectively.

            Congratulations, and thank you for your continued service to the town, to those who got re-elected. We had a great turn out at our Annual Election in May - 457 voters of our 919 total registered voters.

            High Speed Internet and Cell Phone Service remain a very big concern in Egremont. All town boards are working together to find ways to bring these forms of technology to Egremont. To that end the Select Board is appointing a Technology Committee to help with the study and possible implementation of this technology.

            The Board is also appointing a Committee to study the Right-To-Farm bylaws that are being promoted and adopted by Town’s around us.

            The Board will begin an every other week meeting schedule for the months of July and August. July meeting dates will be the 12 and the 26^th.

Affordable Housing:

            Real Estate prices continue to climb in south county, and reasonably priced housing for working people has become almost impossible to find.

            The Affordable Housing Committee is trying to establish frameworks that would permit some affordable housing in Egremont. The task is daunting, and is particularly complicated by the high costs of land. If you have ideas or would like to serve on the committee, please call Richard Allen at 528-2108. The committee meets once a month, usually at 6:00pm on a Tuesday.

Planning Board:

            The board welcomed two new members following the May election. They are Marjorie Wexler, 5 year term, taking the seat held by Cathy Fracasse whose term expired and who did not run for election; and Helen Krancer, 1 year term, filling the unexpired term of Sandra Martin, who resigned in late winter. The board thanks both Cathy and Sandra for their diligent work.

            On June 6 the board held a Public Hearing on four zoning bylaw proposals which had been on the Annual Town Meeting warrant by citizen petition. The town chose to take no action on those articles at that time. The Selectboard is planning a Special Town Meeting on those proposals for July 18, 2005. Two proposals concern telecommunications, one concerns special permit findings, and one concerns establishing the position of associate member of the Planning Board. About 30 people attended the Public Hearing. The Planning Board will make a written report and recommendations on these proposals which will be available at Town Hall two weeks prior to the Special Town Meeting.

            Many people in Egremont have spoken in favor of improved telecommunications in town, including improving our present phone services as well as acquiring high speed internet and cellular services. The board is in favor of bringing improved telecommunications to Egremont in a way which protects residential neighborhoods and the aesthetic and environmental assets of the town. The board has been consulting with internet providers, cell providers, and an independent telecommunications consultant to better understand what the needs of such technologies are as they relate to our bylaws.

            The board favors adoption of bylaw changes at the special town meeting to allow for both improved phone line services and wireless high speed internet services. However, the board will be recommending amendments to the present bylaw proposal language in order to allow such service in a way which is consistent with the remainder of our bylaw.

            As to cellular services, the majority of the board believes that these should be governed by a comprehensive telecommunications bylaw which specifies appropriate locations for cellular towers and provides for the type of review process which will allow services while also providing protections to the town. The telecommunications consultant who worked on our present bylaw advises that due to new technologies the bylaw should be updated and our telecommunications overlay district (where cellular towers can be located to provide coverage to the town) should be expanded. The board favors working with a telecommunications consultant to do this but has delayed spending taxpayer dollars for this until the present bylaw proposals are acted on by the town.

            One of the present bylaw proposals recommends deleting our comprehensive telecommunications bylaw and substituting a very general special permitting process without any protective guidelines. Because of the potential impacts of cell towers, however, the board believes that townspeople should establish more comprehensive guidelines for siting a cell tower in a residential area than, for example, for establishing a small retail business. Therefore, the board will recommend at Special Town Meeting that the town not delete our present comprehensive bylaw and overlay district but work toward updating it and expanding potential locations. Our consultant estimates this can be done in two or three months, so such a proposal could be ready for a special town meeting in the fall. The board has not been able to find any companies interested in providing cellular service to Egremont at this time because of the low population density, so the board does not believe that a delay of a few months will slow down acquisition of cellular service in the town.

            The board is also planning for upcoming bylaw work. In the last two newsletters we asked if townspeople are interested in working to create Village Districts and Rural Districts within the community. The Village Districts would be composed of the more densely settled north and south villages and could more closely reflect existing land uses, lot sizes and dimensions than in the current bylaw. The Village Districts could allow for new businesses without a special permit process as is now required. The Rural District could more closely describe the types of land uses desired in the remainder of town and could provide zoning incentives such as variable lot sizes in exchange for open space protection. Either district could allow zoning incentives to make housing more affordable for townspeople. The board will hold a meeting in the fall to begin this planning process with the community. Watch for a date in the September newsletter.

Egremont Water Department:

            The Town of Egremont and the Egremont Water Department has received 50 “Water Conservation Kits” thanks to a grant from the Mass. Department of Environmental Protections. These water conservation kits will be distributed to customers of the Water Department, particularly to those in older houses, which are more prone to dripping faucets and leaking toilets.

            The final water main replacement project financed by the USDA Rural Development has now been completed. Nearly 400 feet of new water main was installed on Route 23 east from Creamery Road and replaced a very old main that was leaking approximately 40,000 gallons per day.

            The Egremont Water Department will begin a comprehensive leak detection and water conservation program beginning July 1^st, 2005 in response to an Administrative Consent Order issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. This consent order was issued because the Water Department, on average, is withdrawing more water from Karner Brook than allowed by the Department of Environmental Protection Water Management Act. This act states that the Water Department cannot withdraw more than 100,000 gallons of water per day without a permit. The leak detection and water conservation program is now being prepared by the Water Department for D.E.P. approval and once implemented will result in our daily withdrawals being under the 100,000 gallon threshold.

            The Egremont Water Department would like to clarify a financial matter pertaining to the Town of Egremont’s subsidy of the Department. Contrary to popular belief, the Egremont Water Department has not cost the taxpayers of Egremont anywhere from $20,000.00 to $30,000.00 per year. Any past deficits of the Egremont Water Department’s reserve fund to our operating account and not from the Town of Egremont. From fiscal year 2000 through fiscal year 2004 the Egremont Water Department has cost the taxpayers of Egremont exactly $5,116.00 and the Town Accountant can verify this.

Treasurer\Collector:

            Due dates - 8/1, 11/1, 2/1, 5/1 - There is no grace period. Payments received after the above dates are subject to interest. Payments received after May 1 are subject to additional penalties. It costs valuable time and money to issue reminders, warnings, and extra bills.

Real estate and personal property tax bills

will be mailed for the 1^st quarter of FY06 on July 1, 2005.

            These bills are PRELIMINARY. Preliminary tax bills do not show your property detail because they are based on your prior year tax. When the new tax rate is set, the bills mailed for January 1 will have the actual tax for the year in addition to your property detail. Be sure to check your bill over for accuracy. If you feel your bill is not correct, contact the Assessors’ Office to go over the changes that need to be made. Please remember that the postmark is not accepted as timely. Payments received after the due date will accrue interest.

            Pay on line - Charge Cards can now be used to pay your tax bills. Go to the Town web site-www.egremont-ma.gov and click on pay your bills on line, that will give you access to the secure site that will walk you through the steps. There is no charge to use the program to debit your account. There is a small fee to use your charge card. Office hours 7-3, Monday - Friday.

Assessors:

            The Board of Assessors would like to inform all property owners that there will be a full list and measurements of all properties in North and South Egremont this summer. KBK Cama Consulting is the Company doing this project, they will have identification with them. They will visit every property and it would be beneficial for owners to co-operate and allow them to review your property inside and out. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue requires a full list and measure to be done by each Town every ten years. The Board of Assessors meet Tuesday night 7pm-9pm. An Assessor is at the Town Hall Wednesday mornings 9am -11am. Please contact us, 528-0182 Ext. 14, if you have any questions.

Finance Committee:

            The Finance Committee is concerned that there really was not any interest in the operating budget, Article 2, during the May 3, 2005 Annual Town Meeting. While it is true that the total budget proposed for this coming fiscal year is $55,801 less than the one ending June 30, the difference between the two years is that we plan to spend less on capital items (in the articles) in 05-06 than we spent in 04-05. The operating budget, also called the line item budget, was $123,284 more than the 04-05 budget, and so the cost of actually running our town creeps up and up each year. We feel that the voters should have studied the budget carefully, and asked questions of the Finance Committee and the Selectmen when they saw significant increases in various line items.

            At the May 2004 Annual Town Meeting the voters asked the Administration to study ways to control the spiraling costs of health insurance, but no follow up questions were asked at the May 2005 meeting to hear what actually had been done. The voters accepted a projected $20,200 increase in Health and Dental, without explanation. Also, at the May 04 Annual Town Meeting the voters asked that the Administration commission a study of the Town’s salary and wages to see how we compared with other towns in the area. The study was started in October by an independent contractor, and the final reports were submitted mid -winter. Increases were put in the budget, and except for two highway salaries, the voters at the May 05 meeting did not ask any significant questions about the methods, the procedures, and the results of the salary study that they asked for in May 04.

            The Finance Committee appreciates the faith that the voters have in the work that we do on Town budget and finance. We agree on many areas of the budget with the Selectmen, and we compromise, sometimes uneasily, on a few items. Voters should educate themselves on the budget for the Annual Town Meeting when the warrant comes out in April of each year, go to Selectmen and Finance Committee meetings, and ask questions about the budget before they go to the annual meeting in May. Our Town needs to feel the informed interest of the voters in order to present to the voters a budget with at least some elements of economy.

            Your Finance Committee members are Richard Burdsall, Craig Elliott, Laura Allen, Debbie Heath, Bob Warner, and Bill Wilson.

Waste Water Management:

            As many of you have probably heard by now the proposed South Egremont sewer project was rejected by Egremont voters at the May 26^th Special Town Meeting. The WMC spent three years studying the septic situation in Egremont, surveying the extent of septic failure in South Egremont village, proposed what was felt to be a fair plan that would have addressed long-range solutions to those problems and secured just shy of $1 million in federal grant assistance for the project. The town voted to reject a centralized solution (sewer) for South Egremont village choosing instead an individual upgrade approach to the problem of widespread failed septic systems that still remains.

            Of course the WMC and supporters of the proposed sewer project are disappointed in the results of the vote. What is equally disappointing, or more to the point disillusioning is the manner in which the vote at Special Town Meeting was eventually taken. The request to allow seasonal homeowners the right to comment and engage in debate was rejected. By denying a group that constitutes one third of the tax base the right to even speak on matters that directly affect them financially seems grossly unfair to say the very least.

            As the meeting turned out, no one was allowed to directly comment on the project because debate was completely curtailed by a motion to call the question. In haste and without many in the room fully understanding what it meant the motion passed. Debate ended before it began, the vote was taken and the project was defeated before those in favor could comment on the project’s benefits and those opposed could comment on the project’s short fallings. Three years of work gone without discussion and without the opportunity to possibly make amendments from the floor that might have satisfied voters yet undecided on the issue.

Political theorist Alexis de Tocqueville noted in his 1835 work “Democracy in America” that the American town meeting style of government is democracy in its purest form. This was a reflection from a man who left France during the tumultuous years following the French Revolution and came to the United States in awe of a free society operating without the burdens of a tyrannical monarchy. One can only wonder what de Tocqueville’s observations would have been regarding the Egremont Special Town Meeting. No matter your feelings regarding the sewer project for South Egremont village when you strip citizens of the right of speech the results can be a victory for no one – in this case the end did not justify the means.

            Now that Egremont has chosen an individual fix the Board of Health (BOH) is in the process of notifying those with failed septic systems that since a sewer is no longer an option they are required to move towards upgrading their systems. As every situation is unique and there is no “one size fits all” solution those with failed system are invited to call the Board to discuss the process of meeting state environmental codes and moving towards full Title 5 compliance. If there is one thing we all can agree on it is working towards preserving the public’s health and protecting the environment around us. That is what the Wastewater Management Committee and the Board of Health have always had as their goal and that is without question what unites us all.

Recycling:

            Are you remodeling? Don’t throw away your used building materials. The non-profit organization, ReStore, accepts tax deductible donations of quality used cabinets, doors, windows and more (see complete list on flyer at Town Hall). Call to see if your materials can be used and to arrange for free pick-up (413)788-6900 or on line at www.restoreonline.org. ReStore is another wonderful program of the Center for Ecological Technology.

            Such items may also be left at our Transfer Station for another Egremont resident to take if they can use it.

            The Town just renewed its contact, along with all other Towns in the Commonwealth, with the Materials Recycling Facility in Springfield. That is where our recyclable items go.

            Recyclables include aluminum cans, foil, pie plates, steed (tin) food and beverage cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic containers for food, beverages, detergents and personal care (i.e. shampoo and soap) under 2 gallon in size; milk, juice and aseptic cartons, and mixed office paper, cardboard and cereal boxes. All these materials are manufactured into new items from cans and bottles to carpet and clothing to paper products.

            Materials not accepted at our recycling center for various reasons: Styrofoam, flower pots, bags, film, toys, black plastic, egg cartons, CD and VCR cases, Pizza boxes, paper towels and tissues. Flower pots can be taken to a local garden shop and egg cartons can be taken to some people who own chickens. Also not acceptable in recycling are buckets and items bigger than 2 gallons, hangers, scrap metal, and plastic bags, lids and medicine bottles, spray and aerosol cans, motor oil pesticides, or other hazardous substances containers. Ceramics, baking dishes, plate glass, light bulbs, mirrors. Scrap metals go in a separate bin.

            Do not put your recyclables in bags. Dump them loose into the bin.

            Please remember you need a sticker to dump at the Transfer Station and Recycling Center. They are available at Town Hall. The hours of operation are Tuesday & Thursday 8am to 1pm, Saturday 8am to 3pm and Sunday 12noon to 4pm.

Renewable Energy:

            In our January, 2005 issue, we informed you of the Grenner Watts New England Program through CET and Mass. Electric Company. This surcharge, which is used to pay for renewable energy sources, is about 2% additional charge on your electric bill.

            29 Egremont residents have joined GreenerWatts New England so Egremont will be receiving at least a $1450 payment from CET, plus a 54% match from the enrollees charges.

If we can maintain 3% of our residents in the program by September 30 the Town will gain an additional $725. If the Town is one of two towns with the highest percentage of enrolled customers we will get a $5,000 bonus.

            A Committee will be formed to decide on a renewable energy project for the Town to expend this money on.

            There is more information about this program at the Town Hall or by contact Raya Ariella at CET raya@cetonline.org.

Water Conservation Devices:

            Office Administrator Mary Brazie applied for and obtained a small grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide free water conservation devices to Egremont residents who are on the Egremont Water Department water line. These devices include water saving shower-heads, kitchen swivel faucet aerators, leak detecting dye tablets, lawn mounted rain gauges and automatic shut-off garden hose nozzles. These devices are offered as part of DEP’s efforts to promote more efficient water use in Massachusetts. Only 50 kits were received. 

            The average household in Massachusetts uses roughly 65 gallons of water per person per day. In the summer, households with yards can consume well over 100 gallons per person per day. It is particularly important to use water efficiently in the summer when water supplies often fall short. These conservation devices coupled with other water use efficiency strategies in the home can reduce the chance of a summer water shortage in the state.

            It was our decision to distribute them to water users who may be having difficulties controlling their water usage. Egremont will provide devices on an as-needed basis to Egremont households that are on the Egremont Water Department water line along with a water conservation flyer. Devices are first being given to older home owners and then will be distributed by the Water Department staff on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please call the Water Plant at 644-9614 for more information.

Egremont Garden Club:

            Our Spring plant, bake goods and tag sale was outstanding. By 1:30 we were sold out of most products. Thanks to you who support our efforts our budget has grown. We have expanded our budget to include permanent flower baskets on the bridge on Button Ball Lane. We have also expanded the amount of workshops our school children will be attending at the Berkshire Gardens. As members of the garden club we are happy with our contribution and know you appreciate our efforts. Thank you again.

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. (Every other Tuesday during July and August)

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 in 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

Florence F. Browner Real Estate - Full Service

            90 Creamery Road

            413-528-3266

            flobro@berkshire.net

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.