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Great Barington approves $341,964 spending package covering lifeguards, public-safety programs and veterans’ leases
Summary
Voters at a June 12 special town meeting approved a bundled Article 1 appropriation from free cash totaling $341,964 (as amended) to fund seven line items including lifeguards, a skate-park monitor, legal fees for Husatonic Waterworks, a co-responder mental-health clinician, parking enforcement, and leases for the VFW and American Legion; most items passed by voice vote though some drew extended public comment about fiscal strain and ongoing litigation.
Great Barington voters approved a bundled appropriation (Article 1, amended) on June 12 to spend $341,964 from the town’s free cash on seven community programs and contracts. The package, taken line-by-line, funded lifeguards, a skate-park monitor, legal fees tied to Husatonic Waterworks, a co-responder mental-health clinician, a parking enforcement officer, and two veterans’ facility lease payments.
The moderator presented an amended motion that clarified the properties in line items six and seven but left the dollar amounts unchanged. After a brief hold/roll-call process and opportunities to speak, the meeting adopted each appropriation by voice vote.
Supporters and opponents debated both practical and fiscal considerations. Ray Matsuzaki, a local professor, warned that “our one 11.25 million in free cash … dwindled to just $1.4 million,” and urged voters to consider the town’s limited cushion going forward. Janice Lucy, representing Berkshire South (the contractor that runs the lifeguards program), described what the lifeguard contract covers — staffing, ongoing training, insurance and first‑aid supplies — and said those costs account for the requested $61,285 appropriation. The finance committee reported a unanimous recommendation for the lifeguard line.
Several residents recounted personal safety incidents to underscore the lifeguards’ value. Other speakers asked whether the lifeguard line might produce a surplus if the full seasonal complement is not used; officials acknowledged modest unspent amounts are possible and explained budget timing across fiscal years.
The skate-park monitor appropriation ($32,679) was supported by Eric Brun, president of Railroad Street Youth Project, which contracts to provide supervision and youth engagement. The finance committee and the select board largely supported the item (select board vote was 3–2 in favor) and the measure passed.
The $75,000 line for Husatonic Waterworks legal fees prompted the most contentious debate. Interim Select Board member Eric Gabriel urged the meeting to approve funds so the town can “continue the legal process that will allow the Supreme Judicial Court and the Department of Public Utilities to determine the true value of the system.” Opponents said the town needed more disclosure about the underlying litigation and possible remedies; the finance committee did not recommend funds on this particular line, but voters approved the appropriation by voice vote.
The co-responder program — an in-house mental-health clinician who co-responds with police — was described by Interim Police Chief Adam Carlado. Residents asked for evaluation metrics; Chief Carlado said qualitative outcomes and human‑centered examples show the program’s value, and the appropriation of $100,000 passed.
A modest $20,000 appropriation for parking enforcement was explained with revenue context and approved. The town also approved two veterans’ payments: $30,000 for the Great Barington VFW and $23,000 total for the American Legion/VFW shared facility in Husatonic (the latter clarified as two $11,500 payments).
Each line item was considered separately and approved by voice vote during the meeting; specific numerical tallies were not recorded on the transcript for most votes. The meeting proceeded after Article 1 to the items advanced on the agenda.
