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Town Meeting authorizes Select Board to litigate on town’s behalf; bylaws and CPC appropriations approved
Summary
West Stockbridge voters granted the Select Board authority under MGL c.40, §2 to bring or settle suits on the Town’s behalf, approved Moderator and appointment authorities, and adopted Community Preservation Committee project appropriations and a membership amendment adding an Affordable Housing Trust designee.
At the Annual Town Meeting on May 4, 2026, West Stockbridge voters approved a package of governance authorizations, bylaw-related actions and Community Preservation appropriations.
Article 1 authorized the Select Board to act as agents of the Town under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40, Section 2, to bring suit or suits in the name of the Town and to adjust, litigate, defend, compromise and settle matters as the Select Board deems in the town’s best interest. The article passed by motion.
Other governance items approved included authority for the Moderator to appoint agents or committees (Article 4), authorization for the Select Board to appoint non-elected town officers where required (Article 5), and bonding requirements for the Tax Collector, Deputy Tax Collector, Town Clerk and Treasurer (Article 9). The minutes record motions as made, seconded and approved for these items.
Article 32 amended Chapter 8 (Community Preservation Committee) membership language to add a member of the Affordable Housing Trust designated by the Trust. The Community Preservation Committee then presented a set of FY27 CPA appropriations (Article 33) that were approved for open space and recreation upgrades, historical society electrical and alarm work at the Old Town Hall, and an accessible ramp for the Congregational Church, with specified sums and a housing reserve consistent with CPA rules.
Planning Board Chair Dana Bixby and Affordable Housing Trust Chair Chris Powell are recorded in the minutes as speaking in favor of Article 10 (designation of the town as a Seasonal Community under MGL c.23B §32(b)). The minutes show that voice votes carried most governance and CPA actions; roll-call tallies are not provided.
The minutes were signed and respectfully submitted by Veronica Barrett, Town Clerk. Approved governance authorizations now give the Select Board and other town officers clarified authorities to act within statutory limits; CPA appropriations may proceed per committee and statutory requirements.
