The Great Barrington Select Board convened multiple executive sessions Monday to discuss litigation and real-estate strategy tied to Housatonic Water Works and later heard lengthy public comment pressing the board to finish negotiations and clarify the town’s acquisition plan.

Board members opened executive sessions under MGL chapter 30A §21(a)(3) and §21(a)(6) to discuss strategy with respect to pending Department of Public Utilities litigation (DPU docket 23‑65) and the town’s appeal to the Supreme Judicial Court (SJ‑2024‑0312), and to consider purchase/exchange/lease/value of real estate connected to the Water Works. The motions to enter executive session passed on roll-call votes and were unanimous.

The sessions preceded a wide-ranging public discussion during which several Housatonic-area residents and other town residents criticized the pace and the handling of the proposed acquisition. Resident Michelle Laverre told the board, “I have no patience. I know you're working on it, but the deal better get done one way or the other.” Resident Claudia Shapiro said she was “overwhelmed” by the special town meeting process and urged the board to move decisively.

Why it matters: Housatonic Water Works supplies drinking water to parts of town; residents described intermittent quality and long-running disputes over ownership, funding and backup supplies. In public remarks the board was reminded of a DBC Engineering valuation that placed the infrastructure value at $2,300,000, and speakers noted letters from Housatonic officers and state funding programs discussed in prior meetings.

What the board said and did: Select Board members Ben, Garfield, Eric and Beth (by first-name roll call) approved the executive session motions to discuss litigation strategy (DPU 23‑65) and the possible purchase or valuation of Housatonic Water Works property. The board also moved in executive session under MGL chapter 30A §21(a)(7) to approve prior executive-session minutes. Those motions carried on unanimous roll-call votes.

Public questions and context: Residents described the history of efforts to secure a reliable secondary water source and cited outreach on related projects by the Great Barrington Fire District and by other regional entities. One commenter summarized past public reporting and studies and urged the board not to delay: “This has gotta be resolved now.” Speakers cited a March 31 letter from Housatonic Water Works treasurer James Mercer supporting acquisition at fair market value and discussed state programs (referred to in public comments as the “Drinking Water Evolving Fund” and the Mass Clean Water Trust) that may contribute financing, though eligibility and amounts were not settled at the meeting.

Discussion versus action: The board’s public record at this meeting comprised executive-session votes to allow confidential strategy discussions; no final acquisition vote or binding contract was taken in open session. The public comments and the board’s remarks were discussion and political pressure, not formal board direction to sign an agreement. The board said it is continuing negotiations and legal strategy with outside counsel.

Next steps and outstanding details: Board members said staff and counsel are actively negotiating; specific terms, a final purchase price, funding sources and any timeline for Town Meeting or regulatory filings were not finalized at the meeting and were described as work in progress. Petitioners and residents referenced past special town meeting proceedings and precinct turnout numbers for that meeting (reported aloud by a speaker as Precinct B: 45; Precinct A: 120; Precinct C: 701; Precinct D: 114) and asked the board to accelerate a resolution. The board indicated it will continue work in executive session and report out when legally possible.