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Daily DigestMeetings
The Drury High School Council meets Tuesday, Jan 13, at 6:30 in the conference room. Agenda items include AYP, school grant, laptop initiative and PowerSchool updates. |
Steve Decker cleans up in front of BankNorth on Wednesday.
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More Snow
The Berkshires received several inches of snow this morning, but not enough to close schools, unlike yesterday's sleety mess. Temperatures will drop into the 20s this afternoon. A few more snow showers are expected through the weekend.
We have reports that the roads are very slippery to take care in the evening commute. |
Duff'em If You've Got'em
 North Adams Regional Hospital went smoke-free Monday — so did all its sister sites, from Sweet Brook to Northern Berkshire Family Practice to the Women's Exchange. No ashtrays, no smoking: No butts about it. |
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Like to Write?
 iBerkshires accepts submissions about local events, news and opinion pieces. There are openings for freelance work, too, for qualified candidates. E-mail tdaniels@iberkshires.com to find out more. |
Wanted: Eagle Eyes
 MassWildlife's annual eagle count runs Dec. 31 to Jan. 14. Anyone sighting one of the regal birds in Massachusetts is asked to participate.
Send date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, number of birds, whether juvenile or adult and observer's contact information to Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us. |
RegionWhat's PlayingSales FliersColumnists | Independent Investor
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Obama TransitionOther StuffMars Rovers Mark 5 Years
 Spirit and Opportunity have been trekking the red planet for half a decade. Spirit hit the 5-year mark on Sunday; Opportunity will on Jan. 24. |
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North Adams Awaits State Regs on Wood FurnacesBy Tammy Daniels - September 24, 2008
iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS — The city is holding off on creating rules for outdoor wood furnaces until the state releases its own regulations, likely by the beginning of October.
The City Council declared a moratorium on the shedlike furnaces last month until in anticipation of regulations limiting their use. A number of other municipalities and states across the nation have begun regulating the furnaces, which have been cited as neighborhood polluters.
The Public Safety Committee recommended the delay after meeting with two owners of the wood-burning furnaces earlier this month and reviewing a rough draft of rules being considered by the Department of Environmental Protection.
"Mount Williams Greenhouses and Mr. [Richard] Sheehan are the basically the only two individuals the city who have those outdoord wood-burning furnancs right now," Councilor Ronald Boucher, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, told his colleagues on Tuesday night. "According to Mount Williams, they've had theirs for about four or five years, and burn somewhere near about 20 cord a year any without complaints."
Boucher did not know how long Sheehan had been using his furnace, but the East Main Street resident had said it had not been an issue.
Councilor Richard Alcombright, who submitted the resolution seeking a moratorium and regulations, said he'd like to see what the state came out with and maybe the city "could play around with that a little bit."
There are certain circumstances in which the city can be tougher than the state with regulations, said Councilor Clark Billings. "I'd like to see what the state has to offer first."
Alcombright agreed, adding, "I think there may be a need for us to look at something a little more restrictive."
Councilors had discussed at an earlier meeting the possibility of banning the furnaces in densely populated areas, or limiting their use to a minimum lot size.
Clarksburg has also suspended permits for outdoor-furnace installations until the state releases its code.
In other business:
- The council postponed action again on an ordinance amendment related to maintaining vacant and foreclosed properties because the city solicitor had not yet provided a legal opinion.
- Approved hookups to the city's waste-water system by two homeowners in Clarksburg: Kilian J. Flynn of 115 Fieldwood Drive and Mark and Robbin Simonetti of 105 Fieldwood Drive. Final approval for the hookups is up the Hoosac Water Quality District, which oversees the system owned jointly by Williamstown and North Adams.
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| Not true...The Mayor refuses to tie the OLD West Shaft Rd in to the sewer system. Parts of West Shaft and upper West Shaft are able to with some costs going to the homeowner, but the City will put them on a payment plan. No such option/offer to the houses on OLD WEST SHFT RD! | | from: Old West Shaft Rd | on: 09-26-2008 |
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To Old West Shaft Road:
It is neglected to say that those residents have to pay for their hookups - pipes, excavation, etc. There hookups are not free. If you are going to pay for the excavating, the piping, the meters, and the manpower (not to mention the increased sewer costs per quarter), then you too can probably tie in. Take it from someone who's already tied in. | | from: Already Tied In | on: 09-25-2008 |
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In other business:
Approved hookups to the city's waste-water system by two homeowners in Clarksburg: Kilian J. Flynn of 115 Fieldwood Drive and Mark and Robbin Simonetti of 105 Fieldwood Drive.
More Clarksburg hook-ups, but Old West Shaft Rd can't get tied in. UNREAL!!!! | | from: Old West Shaft Rd | on: 09-24-2008 |
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