Board adopts fire-EMS leave policy, weighs PACE opt-in
Select Board · Meeting of October 1, 2026
Stockbridge water chief confronts Select Board over longevity pay for new hires. Water Superintendent Mike Buffoni, a 33-year town employee, told the board handing incoming hires years of "earned" longevity credit disrespects veteran staff, saying "we're not talking hundreds of dollars, we're talking thousands of dollars." The board took no vote on longevity but unanimously adopted a holiday-pay and leave-time policy for hourly fire and EMS staff, retroactive to July 1. MassDevelopment's Connor Blason pitched the PACE Massachusetts energy-financing program, noting Stockbridge could become the state's 90th opt-in community and that two local projects are already waiting; the board continued that decision to October 15.
Separately, a resident warned that Housatonic Water Works, serving 24 Stockbridge homes, faces a $100,000 payment dispute with the Great Barrington Fire District, and the board appointed Bob Navin temporary tree warden after Lisa Pezzotto's resignation.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,245 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of October 1, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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