The Nov. 1 Lenox Selectboard meeting alternated between raillery and solemnity.

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The Nov. 1 Lenox Selectboard meeting alternated between raillery and solemnity. It opened with concerned discussion of Barkley’s Pub. Chief of Police Timothy Face wrote to the board, citing two recent violations of ABCC liquor laws at the pub, possibly bar fights. The board acknowledged that they had ignored issues like this in past years, and they have resolved to write a letter, threatening to revoke Barkley’s liquor license if they hear of any more violations. They will ask Chief Face to hand deliver the letter and sit down with the owners to explain the situation. The pub has in fact announced that it is closing in the undefined future. On a lighter note, Dan Lawson, who runs a local fruit stand in season, requested a license to sell Christmas trees at 12 Housatonic St. in the afternoons. This is the second tree license the board has granted this season; Selectman Rob Akroyd asked to confirm the number; “Can you have too many Christmas trees, Mr. Grinch?” said Selectman Tim Doherty The board also briefly discussed town Christmas trees, and remain divided over the question of planting a tree in Lilac Park. Setting up a new tree every year costs money, and the temporary trees blow down, Selectman Terry Field says. Selectmen Janet Pumphrey and Doherty both say the park has been renovated very recently, and they would want the architect’s or the garden club’s approval before they made any changes. Board members mentioned another possible tree outside the Community Center. The board approved the Holly Days ‘01 schedule and the annual April Fool’s race. Selectman Smitty Pignatelli reported on the effort to install historic lighting in Lenox Village. The town has several large projects already before it. In order to keep the historic lighting project from fading entirely, Pignatelli proposed an idea for the board to consider: get local business owners to collaborate with the town and contribute to the lights in front of their businesses, in exchange for a tax break of maybe $1,500 over three to five years. Otherwise, with all the infrastructure, sewer and dam repair the town is facing, “I don’t see historic lighting for several years to come,” said Pignatelli. “By the time we get done with this, the ones we have will be historic,” Doherty agreed. He added that Pignatelli’s plan should distinguish the owners of buildings from the businesses renting them. Pumphrey also says the town would have to vote at Town Meeting to grant a tax abatement. overall, however, the board seems to feel the idea is worth looking into; Field suggested speaking with landlord Bob Romeo. The board then moved to a more immediate project: the Bentrop Court sewer. The board approved a change order form to grant additional survey work on the East Street and Bentrop sewer revisions. They hoped to have the pipe laid this year, but the job has been delayed.Town Manager Greg Federspiel added that even if the pipe had been in place, Bentrop Court would not yet have been tied into the town sewer system. The town raised the tie-in fees for Bentrop Court last winter, after a steady period of 15 years, to raise money for the renovations, and those renovations have not yet begun. Bentrop residents have also complained that trees have been taken down that shouldn’t have been. Pignatelli suggested repaying the extra funds as a gesture of goodwill. “I think there’s a perception that we raised the fees purposefully ... ‘Oh, by the way, we’re going to restore your sewer tomorrow but the fees are going up tonight,’ ” he said; “ ... my intent is to restore some faith with a neighborhood that’s down on the town of Lenox.” Field and Akroyd, however, felt that this would set a harmful precedent, and that the money from Bentrop was and would be spent to benefit Bentrop. The board has asked Federspiel to write detailed letters to the residents of Bentrop, explaining the situation; Federspiel has answered complaints from several residents already. The Lenox Village sidewalks, meanwhile, will be repaired in short order if the weather cooperates. Damp, cold and snow do not mix well with poured concrete. Petricca and Co. has the bid to repair the Housatonic and Church Street sidewalks in cement, starting last Monday. They will also lay the brickwork for the walk outside of town hall for an extra $9,000. The board voted to hold repairs on 460 feet of sidewalk down to Trinity church, which would cost another $34,000, until next spring, when they can rebid the project and the contractor can work without time pressure. In January, renovations will begin on the inside of Town Hall. A Pittsfield Road land owner has offered temporary homes to some of the town offices. On similar philanthropic lines, the Taylors on Undermountain Road have donated 20 acres to the town, with the understanding that they will never be developed. The town quarterly budget came up for review and passed with no surprises. In other business, the board approved Rob McNinch for the conservation commission and the hire of two EMT custodians for the fire house. There are Lenox firefighters taking the EMT course now, but they will need another year to complete it. The Lenox Fire Department has won a $3,210 state S.A.F.E. grant for student education. Federspiel has drawn up his FY 2002 budget calendar. The town will hold a budget summit meeting Nov. 15, and Federspiel will meet with various departments into December. There will be a BOS budget workshop Dec. 6, and a draft of the budget by Jan. 3. For the first time, Lenox Library presented a quarterly budget to the board and Doherty’s accountant eye. He suggested that they change from a cash based budget, which records funds used, to an accrual basis, which includes money available and money owed — the cash based budget is more confusing for an outsider, he said. Field asked for updates on juicier matters than “the dry mundane numbers that only Tim likes to talk about”: A thumbnail account of the library’s recent events and news. The library is looking for a new architect for their upcoming renovations, and hopes to start work on them in the winter of 2002. Fund-raising has been successful so far this year — the Bacon Brothers concert went well, and Brett Lenehan won the car raffle — and the fall fund drive kicks off shortly. “Have you got any place for a town Christmas tree?” asks Doherty.
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Clarksburg Holds Information Session CPA Warrant Article

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — An informational meeting on the Community Preservation Act will be held on Wednesday, May 1, at 6 p.m. at the Clarksburg Elementary School.
 
Voters at the annual town meeting on May 29 will be asked to approve adoption of the state law which will allow the town to collect a 3 percent surcharge on property taxes for use for affordable housing, open space and recreation, and historic preservation. A percentage of the funds collected by the town are matched by the state.
 
The Historical Commission requested the question be placed on the town meeting warrant. Passage at town meeting would put the CPA on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. 
 
The slide presentation by commissioners will cover what the act is and what adopting it would mean to residents and the community. This will be followed by Q&A.
 
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