Town of Lenox, Massachusetts

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Town of Lenox Annual Town Report - 2008 June could bring significant new business to town. Another aspect of economic prosperity includes making sure our land use regulations are in line with what we desire as a community and provide clear guidance as to the development we want to see in the future. Toward this end, the Planning Board continues to work on amendments that make sure our bylaws are working for us, not against us. This past March a special town meeting was held to approve important changes to our zoning regulations. Part of our economic vitality depends on the natural beauty of the area. During the past year we have been heavily involved in monitoring the “Rest of River” cleanup plans by GE and the EPA along with advocating for the creation of the Upper Housatonic River Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC.) By Town Meeting time in early May we should have the decision from the state regarding the new ACEC. We believe the ACEC designation will help us work toward a clean-up effort of the Housatonic and its flood plain in Lenox in a way that minimizes the destruction of the natural beauty of the area. We are strongly opposed to any cleanup plan that leaves the river and accompanying lands looking like a war-zone with a heavily “man-made” feel and look to it. We will continue to engage in this important project and advocate for an outcome that is in the best interest of our town. One of the new committees that we have created is the Lenox Affordable Housing Committee. Having a range of housing options ensures that we remain a vibrant community with a diverse population. We need housing that is affordable to our municipal employees and to those who work in the tourism trade. A new housing production plan for Lenox has been approved by the state. A proposal will be before voters to approve the creation of an affordable housing trust fund which will be used to help create more affordable housing in Lenox. In conjunction with new inclusionary zoning we will have important new tools in place for creating the affordable housing we need. Of course, we continue to engage in the usual array of municipal work – making sure our operations run smoothly and that your tax dollars are spent wisely. We are extremely grateful to the wonderful men and women who work for the town. They proved once again their level of dedication to the Town as they have agreed to go without pay raises next year to help us deal with the fiscal challenges we face. And we are fortunate to be in a town that values citizen engagement and volunteerism. Lenox would be poorer without this rich tradition of civic participation. Yes, these are challenging times but we are resilient and capable of working to ensure a prosperous future. We are honored to be working toward this end on your behalf. 18 Respectfully submitted, Lenox Board of Selectmen Stephen Pavlosky, Chairman Roscoe Sandlin, Clerk Kimberly Reopell Flynn John McNinch Linda Messana
Town of Lenox Annual Town Report - 2008 REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Lenox: ADJUSTING TO A NEW “NORMAL” I am pleased to report that, despite the rather dire economic conditions that define these times, your local government remains strong. We are working harder then ever to deliver the services you demand within budgets that are lean and efficient. With the belttightening that we have achieved, we should be able to absorb the reductions in state aid and in our local receipts (notably our local room tax and the excise/vehicle tax.) Our town employees have stepped forward and agreed to no pay increases for FY10. All elected officials who have received an annual stipend in the past will no longer be receiving any pay. The resulting savings have played an important role in balancing next year’s budget. The belt-tightening will mean some changes in our operations. Expect the roads to be a bit more snow-covered. The Assessor’s office will be on a self-service basis for half of each day with on-line data available 24/7. There may be an occasional shift when one Patrolman will be on duty. These are some of the more visible changes being made for the new fiscal year that begins July 1, 2009. Balancing the budget beyond next fiscal year will likely require further changes in how we deliver municipal services. Our lowered revenue streams are likely to be the new “normal” for many years to come. With the help of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and state grant funding, we have embarked on two important projects that should result in even greater efficiencies. One project is to expand the purchasing power of cities and towns in Berkshire County. We currently have a group purchasing program for many of our DPW related supplies and services along with electricity and heating oil/gas. The schools also have their purchasing and service collaboratives. There is more that can be done here and the study will identify new opportunities for savings by maximizing the purchasing power of cities, towns and schools in the region. A second study is underway that is examining the opportunities for Lenox, Lee and Stockbridge to share various services. We already have a good model with the Tri-Town Health Department. We are exploring what other possibilities exist. We should position ourselves to take advantage of any openings that occur when someone retires or leaves their current position (with an older work-force we are likely to see an on-going stream of retirements.) Sharing services might allow for greater job specialization and job satisfaction – too often today many town employees have to handle an overly wide array of duties as we make do with fewer resources. Sharing specialists among a few towns might provide a good solution to this problem. Developing sound approaches for towns to consolidate services will be challenging but the economics we face are demanding new service delivery models. We 19
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Town of Lenox, Massachusetts

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