Lenox selectmen vote for events coordinator

In many communities, there are established groups that handle both their community events along with its development. Those communities are in sync with their elected leaders or vice versa.

Here in Lenox, there is an underwritten word: entitlement.

Everyone thinks there is an entitlement, and thus nothing of note gets done in terms of growth, new blood and to use the selectmen’s words: new revenue.

The Berkshire Beacon is not for uncontained commercial growth that is not allowed in the zoning bylaws. However, the selectmen along with the planning board could look at expansion of the historic district, a.k.a. commercial district, in town and also the expansion of the commercial district in Lenox Dale.

Yet, the selectmen and planning board have fooled around and done a poor job (fool’s errand) on signage without the benefit of either the Lenox Historic District or Mass Historic, and in a word, failed to adhere to the proper role of seeking change.

Today, the selectmen put out, with a 5-0 vote, their willingness to spend $8,000 for an events coordinator.

The Beacon would suggest the board increase it to $10,000 to make available tools to bring the commercial (business) and non-profits on board to garner “one-voice” support of intended goals to generate new income for the community.

Thus the word or community blast is: No more entitlements!

The Berkshire Beacon is willing to help elected leaders, the chamber and its members, home-operated businesses and the various non-profits seek a plan that will not only serve the community in the near future, but as we grow during the next decade.

And so it goes, in hand with entitlement is a plan to grow our industrial base from an empty, vacant mill to land adjacent to the Housatonic Railroad to the land in and around Willow Creek Road.

We need a development director part time, which we can share with Lee and help promote and develop the industrial sites in both towns. Change of vacant mill buildings to a vibrant growing tri-communities of Lenox, Lee and Stockbridge needs to be created.

There is one guy with the experience and know-how: Richard H. Vinette, Jr., an attorney who served on the Lee Development Corp. Another $10,000  for Lenox for a part-time agent with the goal for Lee to share in a like amount. It is do-able!

Stockbridge has an industrial park and can participate in underwriting a development coordinator for the tri-towns.

Lee and Lenox need to create economic growth from closed mills and stagnant industrial property where possible. Stockbridge shares in our collective tourist business along with its expanded industrial base of Country Curtains and the worldwide operation of the Marian Fathers.

Mr. Vinette could also be knowledgeable in the expansion of home office businesses to better serve each community.

Events and development can go hand-in-hand to ensure that our communities are able to continue to provide services and good will to our visitors and future homeowners.

Posted by George C. Jordan III on February 28, 2013. Filed under Editorials,Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry