Clarksburg Latest to Halt Outdoor Wood Furnaces

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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CLARKSBURG — Town officials have put the kibosh on permits for outdoor wood furnaces — at least until state decides how to regulate them.

The Selectmen last week declared a moratorium on any new installations of the furnaces, known as hydronic heaters. Homeowners can continue to operate existing furnaces for now.

"These furnaces can cost $12,000, $14,000," said Selectman Carl McKinney. "We don't want someone spending that kind of money to put one in and then find out they have to take it out."

Clarksburg is the latest municipality to consider regulating the use of the shedlike furnaces. Adams banned the furnaces last year and North Adams declared a moratorium on their installation until the city could formulate ordinances relating to them.

The boilers burn wood to heat water or anti-freeze that is piped into an existing heating system. The furnaces have raising concerns over air pollution and public health.

They've exploded in popularity as other fuels, such as natural gas and heating oil, have doubled and tripled in price over recent years. They come in a range of sizes and are priced in the thousands.

But states and municipalities have been cracking down on their use after neighbors have complained of smoke-filled homes and soot. Maine is considering a buy-back program for polluting furnaces.


"As more units have been installed, and installed increasingly in more urban or suburban areas, MassDEP has received many complaints from neighbors of OHH installations about the unhealthy effects of the smoke produced and interference with the use of their property," according to MassDEP in stating the need for regulations.

McKinney and Chairwoman Debra LeFave said the town did not want to discourage residents seeking alternative fuels, but it did want to make sure that public safety issues are addressed.

"But once the [Department of Environmental Protection] comes out with new regulations, we'll have to take them up," said McKinney.

The DEP held a number of hearings through the summer on the furnaces and has produced draft regulations that would limit their use, fuels, setbacks and emissions. The proposals are expected to be completed by Oct. 1, in time for the heating season.

McKinney said the several existing furnaces (the exact number is unknown) would hopefully be able to operate with minor adjustments, if any. "Maybe they'll have to extend their smokestack 20 feet."

For more information on air quality testing on outdoor wood furnaces, see Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management.
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Dalton Man Accused of Kidnapping, Shooting Pittsfield Man

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton man was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly kidnapping and shooting another man.

Nicholas Lighten, 35, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Friday on multiple charges including kidnapping with a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder. He was booked in Dalton around 11:45 p.m. the previous night.

There was heavy police presence Thursday night in the area of Lighten's East Housatonic Street home before his arrest.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Dalton dispatch received a call from the Pittsfield Police Department requesting that an officer respond to Berkshire Medical Center. Adrian Mclaughlin of Pittsfield claimed that he was shot in the leg by Lighten after an altercation at the defendants home. Mclaughlin drove himself to the hospital and was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries. 

"We were told that Lighten told Adrian to go down to his basement, where he told Adrian to get down on his knees and pulled out a chain," the police report reads.

"We were told that throughout the struggle with Lighten, Adrian recalls three gunshots."

Dalton PD was advised that Pittsfield had swabbed Mclaughlin for DNA because he reported biting Lighten. A bite mark was later found on Lighten's shoulder. 

Later that night, the victim reportedly was "certain, very certain" that Lighten was his assailant when shown a photo array at the hospital.

According to Dalton Police, an officer was stationed near Lighten's house in an unmarked vehicle and instructed to call over the radio if he left the residence. The Berkshire County Special Response Team was also contacted.

Lighten was under surveillance at his home from about 7:50 p.m. to about 8:40 p.m. when he left the property in a vehicle with Massachusetts plates. Another officer initiated a high-risk motor vehicle stop with the sergeant and response team just past Mill Street on West Housatonic Street, police said, and traffic was stopped on both sides of the road.

Lighten and a passenger were removed from the vehicle and detained. Police reported finding items including a brass knuckle knife, three shell casings wrapped in a rubber glove, and a pair of rubber gloves on him.

The response team entered Lighten's home at 43 East Housatonic before 9:30 p.m. for a protective sweep and cleared the residence before 9:50 p.m., police said. The residence was secured for crime scene investigators.

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