Town of Lenox, Massachusetts

Town of Lenox Annual Town Report - 2008
will need to transcend the traditional boundaries that we normally put between towns
if we are to prosper under the changed environment we now confront.
Another perennial challenge we face is how to pay for the capital needs the Town
has. The value of the infrastructure that supports the town totals some $60 million. This
includes everything from our roads to our water and sewer pipes to the town vehicles to
town and school buildings. Maintaining all of this is expensive. The water and sewer operations
are supported by the fees charged to users. We strive to make these operations selfsupporting
without relying on general fund support. This is becoming particularly difficult
to do for the sewer operations as we face the need to replace old pipes and old pump stations
and upgrade the wastewater treatment plant to meet more stringent discharge requirements.
The cost of sewer improvements over the next 5-8 years could top $30 million.
Even with double digit sewer rate increases we need to subsidize the sewer operations at
least in the short term as we chip away at the improvements needed. Again, regional solutions
will be explored to see if there are less expensive ways for us to meet our needs.
Other projects, for example, road reconstruction, new roofs for town and
school buildings, need to be scheduled soon. As we retire previous bonds for school
construction we will need to secure new bonds to pay for these additional projects.
Again, we are looking at millions in capital improvement needs here as well.
Along with pursuing regional opportunities we need to review our internal structure
as well. A proposal to review our structure of government will come before voters at
the Annual Town Meeting by way of a citizen’s petition article. The Town’s Special Act
Charter that created our current structure was adopted back in 1991. A review of the structure
can be productive especially if it is all inclusive and looks beyond our town borders.
We need to be thinking long-term on how we best manage our municipal affairs.
There also will be a vote on whether to move forward with a consolidation of
our financial operations by replacing our Town Accountant with a Finance Director
as provided as a local option by state law. A Finance Director would assume the
duties of the Town Accountant as well as oversee the work of the Town
Treasurer/Clerk, the Town Collector, and the Assessors. Currently these four independent
departments serve under the supervision of the Town Manager. By consolidating
the operations we streamline our organizational structure and position ourselves
for further consolidation, including possibly with the school department.
Meeting the challenges of small-town government requires creative thinking
and collaborative efforts. Your ideas and input are welcomed, indeed, are needed as
we continue to work as a community on these challenges. I look forward to receiving
your good guidance.
Respectfully submitted,
Gregory T. Federspiel
Town Manager
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