09/01/12
The first meeting of the Egremont citizens
group went off with a bang. Better than 30 people showed up for the meeting and
there seemed to be a good response from all those attending. While most came
for their particular issue, everyone was interested in discussing the many
issues that affect Egremont.
We were pleased to see that many second
home owners took time out from their last summer weekend in order to attend. One
of the objects of forming this group was to give these nonresident taxpayers not
only a venue to find out where their tax dollars are being spent, but a place
to express their viewpoint about where they feel those tax dollars should
go. Since this is where many of these
second homeowners plan to retire, they are all future full time residents and
have a vested interest in what happens to their town. They may not yet have a
vote but at least we can give them a voice.
Much of the meeting was spent going over
the formation of the group. We somewhat followed the agenda and covered most points
outlined in the agenda including naming the group. The group decided to call itself “ONE EGREMONT,” which is fitting
because it reflects the spirit of the group. After all, we are all members of
the same community, that is the town of
Egremont. We are all equally vested in the town’s interests and as such we are
responsible for the town’s future.
After the organizational agenda was
cleared, the group agreed that discussion meetings should be held on high speed
internet and cell phone service, the town water department, our schools,
potential large capital expenditures, our zoning bylaw and the police
department. We briefly discussed some
of those issues, including technological
advances, or rather the lack thereof, the water company, and the police
department. Jonathan Taylor, the town’s representative to Wired West, was there
and answered many questions regarding the progress of wiring the town with
fiber optics. Fiber optics is the technology that may eventually allow every
Egremont household to have phone, television and internet service at the lowest
cost. In regard to the water company, many people did not realize that there
were any problems with the water company. This fact underscores why we need a
vehicle to get out the information. As
to the police department, there were mixed views, again underscoring that “One
Egremont” can engender productive discussions of issues in town.
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