Fred Vos, a resident of 23 Meadow Lane and owner of WGI on Hudson Drive, addressed the board during the public comment segment. Vos introduced WGI as the largest employer in Southwick, specializing in high-tech aerospace manufacturing. He detailed the company’s need for expansion due to space constraints and the growth in their overhaul repair operations. Vos emphasized the importance of consolidating operations into a single location to enhance efficiency, stressing the need for specific environmental conditions like temperature control.

Vos expressed a strong sense of feeling unwelcome in the community, particularly criticizing the planning board’s decisions. He referenced a contentious situation where a fellow purchased a wooded area at the end of Meadow Lane to develop into an estate. Vos was dissatisfied with the planning board’s approval of this estate lot, citing clear-cutting of forested land and wetlands as issues ignored by the authorities. He stressed that while these actions might not directly impact property assessments, they affect community sentiment and property values.

Vos highlighted the planning board’s decision as disregarding the objections of Meadow Lane residents. He noted the requirement for a supermajority vote for approval and recounted the chairman’s reaction, stating, “I can see how the residents feel,” before ultimately voting against the approval. Vos described the chairman’s demeanor as “dumbfounded” and silent for an extended period when the vote failed to achieve the supermajority. This, according to Vos, illustrated a lack of accountability and responsiveness from local politicians.

Vos articulated his disillusionment with the political process, contrasting local governance to common political tactics where officials may vote in favor of unpopular decisions to appease constituents while knowing they lack the necessary support to pass. He emphasized that the community atmosphere plays a role in their business decisions, asserting that feeling unwelcome could influence their future choices regarding expansion.

Following Vos’s comments, another speaker expressed discontent regarding the handling of a recent proposal that had been previously voted down but brought back without sufficient discussion. The speaker raised concerns about the process, asserting that the new plan was pushed through without a proper review, and questioned the motives behind such actions. They suggested that an attorney involved, referred to as Mr. Dity, should have known better than to bypass standard procedures. The speaker expressed feelings of discomfort and distrust, noting the importance of honesty in their business dealings, where “people’s lives are at stake.”

The discussion then shifted towards the town’s financial responsibilities, with the speaker recognizing the town’s relatively stable fiscal situation and suggesting the consideration of lowering tax rates. They pointed out that the Department of Revenue determines tax rates based on the information submitted by the board regarding property values. While acknowledging that the board could theoretically advocate for a different approach, they stressed that it may not be within the board’s purview to make such changes unilaterally.

The speaker provided a personal account of their own property taxes, mentioning increases and perceived inaccuracies in the assessment of their property, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. They remarked on the issues with the initial assessment process and noted that, although the board did lower the taxes slightly, it was insufficient considering the changes in their neighborhood, including increased noise from a neighbor’s off-road vehicle and the loss of adjacent forested land. The speaker articulated a sentiment of frustration regarding the perceived decrease in property value due to these changes.

Concerns about the fairness of adjusting property taxes based on individual circumstances were raised, as the speaker desired a more equitable assessment process. They expressed a reluctance to escalate the situation legally to maintain good relations within the community while seeking a dialogue with the board about their concerns.