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Select Board approves routine permits and appointments; residents raise trespass and procurement concerns
Summary
The board approved routine committee appointments and a conditioned driveway permit, adopted complaint ground rules for a July 28 hearing, approved a common victualler license for Riverside Café, and heard multiple public comments including allegations of trespass and sewage dumping and requests for records.
At its July 6 meeting the Great Barrington Select Board handled a slate of routine municipal business, adopted hearing ground rules, approved licenses and appointments, and heard an extended citizen comment period that included accusations of illegal town activity.
Routine approvals: The board unanimously approved a new driveway permit for 172 Division Street with a condition requiring a sprinkler system; it appointed Russell Simone Samora as a temporary library trustee through May 2027, approved a tree-committee appointment and a historic commission appointment, and reappointed members to the Ramsdale building committee. The board also approved the Riverside Café common victualler license for 401–405 Stockbridge Road (proposed hours 7:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m.).
Administrative items: Town Manager announced staff training with the Massachusetts Operational Services Division (OSD) on the COMMBUYS procurement platform to strengthen municipal procurement practices; he reported 16 applications for a new community care team pilot and reminded residents of preliminary FY27 tax-bill mailings and due dates. He also disclosed a personal real-estate-related financial interest under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 268A and said he would recuse from related town business until the transaction completes.
Complaint procedure: The board reviewed a complaint filed against a library-trustee member and agreed to reuse previously adopted ground rules (written submissions accepted, five-minute oral presentations) for a workshop hearing tentatively scheduled for July 28.
Public comments: Several speakers raised concerns. Resident Bar Eelsbach accused the town of trespassing on private property and of dumping raw sewage into the river and requested copies of communications under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 66 §10; the board directed him to submit the records request to the town clerk. James Garzone and others criticized delays on the 79 Bridge Street hotel project and contrasted development with neighboring towns. Other residents raised procurement-transparency questions, concerns about the CPA and housing options, and requested follow-up meetings with officials.
The meeting concluded by scheduling follow-up items and adjourning by unanimous consent.
