Lenox chamber to vote on extending membership to outside businesses

LENOX – Efforts to open up the chamber of commerce to businesses from other communities may have hit a legal snag.

Currently only businesses and non-profits based in Lenox or Lenox Dale, non-Lenox-based cultural and artistic non-profits and non-competing businesses that aren’t based in Lenox can be chamber members.

Since she took office, Lenox Chamber of Commerce President Katherine “Kat” Lockridge has been working on an effort to open up chamber membership to non-Lenox businesses in The Berkshires.

“They want to change that bylaw to allow all businesses in Berkshire County to become members,” said Lenox Chamber of Commerce Director Ralph Petillo in comments to The Beacon. “Like most of the other chambers do.”

Whether or not the chamber will be opening itself up to outside businesses will be decided by the members themselves, at the chamber’s March 12 general membership meeting.

The decision to put it before the membership was made at the chamber of commerce’s board of directors meeting on March 5.

This is not the first time such a proposal has been discussed either.

“It’s been discussed for the past three or four years, and it’s always been voted down,” said Mr. Petillo.

Still, he said the recession, as well as social media, may have changed people’s perspectives on the issue, citing the need for greater cooperation between communities.

“It’s been determined it’s economically sound,” said Mr. Petillo.

Sound or not, opening up the chamber may also open up a legal can of worms.

That’s the view of Frank Newton of The Summer White House Inn.

“The selectmen occasionally appropriate money for events that take place in town,” said Mr. Newton, who noted how the chamber is generally involved in these events, and the money the town provides comes from Lenox’s rooms and meals tax.

“By opening the chamber to other town members…Lenox, in effect, would then be promoting those towns with Lenox town tax money,” said Mr. Newton. “This is obviously illegal.”

At the same time, Mr. Newton said if the town was to withdraw financial support from chamber activities, such a conflict would no longer exist.

“If the Town of Lenox gave them nothing, the chamber could then do what they wanted to do,” he said

Should Lenox open up its chamber, Mr. Newton foresees a town wide battle.

“It could become even more controversial than the Kennedy Park fiasco,” he said.

Mr. Newton sent a letter to the chamber of commerce’s board of directors with this concern. Although he said he hasn’t practiced law for decades, Mr. Newton believes the chamber and selectmen should seek a legal opinion to investigate his assertions. The Beacon has learned that the chamber is in the process of doing just that.

Another perspective on the proposed bylaw change comes from Kenneth L. Fowler, a member of the chamber of commerce’s board of directors and current chairman of the Lenox Board of Selectmen.

“I think it’s a good idea, if it serves our membership,” said Selectman Fowler. “This has to go both ways.”

He would like to see the bylaw change amended from the floor to include a reciprocity provision, where a business outside of Lenox can only join the chamber if that businesses town chamber allows for Lenox members.

Still, even if a reciprocity provision isn’t added, Selectman Fowler plans to support the change.

“I won’t vote against it,” he said, citing the need for communities in The Berkshires to work together to promote the region as a whole. “We do that [promote The Berkshires] as a united front.”

The March 12 meeting, the first general membership meeting of the year, will be held at Cranwell Resort, and will also mark the unveiling of Cranwell’s new ballroom. The meeting will start at 6 p.m.

“All members are encouraged to come and vote if they are members in good standing,” said Mr. Petillo, defining member in good standing as a member who has all membership dues in order.

In order for the bylaw change to pass, a quorum will be needed.

“I think it’s definitely going to direct the future of the chamber,” said Mr. Petillo. “Chamber members need to vote on it.”

As for his thoughts on the outcome of the vote, Mr. Petillo doesn’t see it going one way or another overwhelmingly.

“I think it’s going to be close,” he said.

Posted by Bera B. Dunau on March 7, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry