At its October 27 regular meeting [ CTSB VIDEO here], both the Chair and Vice Chair announced their resignations, Chair Sara Parker’s effective November 2 and Vice Chair Betsy Turnbough effective November 9. Sara said she had already spoken with most members privately, but neither leader offered reasons for their departures. No one else on the committee asked for a conversation on the subject.
As to who will take over HIC’s ambitious list of goals for the village generated over the past year or so, the meeting did not include nominations or names to take over leadership.
In response to a question about what comes next, Sara did describe the process for replacing leadership. A member nominates a chair, another member seconds, a majority votes and draft minutes recording the vote then go to the town clerk so the website can be updated. Only sitting committee members can be elected chair. A community member who wants the job would first need to be appointed to one of the newly vacant seats.
Chris Wiltshire raised broader questions, asking whether the meeting format, goals and scope of the committee should change after the leadership turnover, and whether its goals should be narrower. He said he’d bring ideas to the next meeting.
Frederica Sigel asked during citizen speak time what would happen to the cultural district application process given the shift in leadership. Sara said that at the moment, no one is in line to take it over. The application is due the first week of February.
Wylie Goodman offered to help on that, saying that BRPC (Berkshire Regional Planning Commission) has helped many towns create cultural districts, and knows the process well. She said she’d be “totally happy” to help steward Housatonic’s application through, though she’s not a committee member.
Earlier in the meeting Goodman had suggested inviting Guthrie Center staff — Mo Guthrie and Sarah Guthrie, she mentioned — to present at a future meeting, and also suggested the possibility of hosting some meetings there, since the library renovation may be delayed and the center, located at the corner of Van Deusenville Road and Divsion Street, has a stage and seating.
Jennifer Tabakin asked about a grant application to the Bekrshire Taconic Community Foundation on, she said, “start up funding.” Sara said the grant would now “fall outside the purview of my responsibility, having stepped away,” and the committee would have to determine whether to pursue it.
In other village news, the Housatonic Halloween parade and costume contest is Saturday at 4 p.m, starting at the library and heading down Main Street to the park, with a Thriller flash mob and contests for both people and dogs.
Sponsors are Lee Bank and Strawberry Hill Landscaping, plus a gift card prize from the Common Pub. The festivities will be followed up on Sunday by a village cleanup and pumpkin smash at noon at the park.
Chris Wiltshire is organizing volunteers to remove invasive plants along the new trail section near the parking area.
Donna Jacobs brought up the ongoing crisis with Housatonic Water Works, saying that $50,000 in state money secured by Rep Leigh Davis is awaiting the governor’s signature. (It is also awaiting Senate approval.) She also promoted withholding bill payments to HWW. “What we having going on now is civil disobedience….you don’t give your money to an entity that is being driven into the ground.” She said the witheld payments could be held until such time as the utility has secure management. Another attended said she’d tried that a couple of years ago and eventually got a letter claiming the company would shut off her water.
Deborah Herman warned ratepayers that the company can and will shut off water and has a record of winnning against non-payers in court.
The meeting was convend at 6:30 pm and adjourned at 7:05 p.m.