Letter: Why Williamstown's Zoning Proposals Should be Tabled

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to Peter Beck's letter of June 12, which argues that at town meeting, Williamstown residents should "discuss" the 10 articles the Planning Board has put forward and then vote them up or down.

Beck's suggestion makes sense only if you've never been to a town meeting. There simply isn't time for several hundred people to vote on the town budget and many other issues and then, after all that is done, discuss 10 separate zoning articles.

Had the Planning Board actually been interested in public discussion of its proposals, it would have held a series of meetings for this purpose months ago. Instead, it rushed the articles through with almost no opportunity for members of the public to offer input of any kind.

More discussion of the proposed articles is, in fact, a good idea. The proposals are quite complicated, and the Planning Board has done virtually no analysis of their potential impacts. But town meeting is not the right place for this discussion, which is why most – perhaps even all – of the articles ought to be tabled.

Elizabeth Kolbert
Williamstown, Mass.

Williamstown Town Meeting Honors Civic Leaders, Protects Vulnerable Residents

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
08:10AM / Saturday, May 24, 2025

Thomas Sheldon listens as Moderator Elisabeth Goodman reads the citation honoring his late wife, Ginny.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Three longtime contributors to the town were called out for recognition at Thursday's annual town meeting, including one who was recognized posthumously.

 

Retired Fire Chief Craig Pedercini earned the municipal employee of the year award from the local chapter of League of Women Voters. Select Board member Jane Patton was recognized by one of her colleagues on the occasion of her final meeting in the post. And Virginia Sheldon received the town's top honor for volunteerism.

 

Sheldon, who died in October, was known to many as a leader of the Friends of the Milne Public Library, a volunteer organization that raises money to support programs, technology upgrades and the professional development of staff at the library.

 

For years, she was one of the main organizers of the Friends' popular April used book sale at Williamstown Elementary School, and she was one of the driving forces behind its successor, Chapter Two Books on Spring Street.

 

In the citation for her recognition with the Scarborough-Salomon-Flynt Community Service Award, the retired school counselor's work as a mentor and tutor at North Adams' former Conte Middle School also was mentioned.

 

"Everyone feels the loss of Ginny's positive attitude," Town Moderator Elisabeth Goodman said in reading the citation. "She found real ways to make a lasting difference. This is our way of showing her light is still with us, and we are grateful."

 

Accepting the award for his late wife was former Select Board chair, current Affordable Housing Trust member and 2020 Scarborough-Salomon-Flynt honoree Tom Sheldon.