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Election
Trying to remember who won what and why? All the information is right here. |
Daily Digest
This is Jake
He's been lost in Pittsfield for weeks but frequently sited. He was last seen heading toward the fire station on Peck's Road. He's tired, dirty and needs seizure medication. He's chipped. If you see him, call Julie at 413-537-5616, the vet 24/7 at 413-499-2820 or animal control at 413-448-9700. |
ObituariesSales FliersWhat's Playing
The popular anime character "Astro Boy" searches for acceptance on the big screen.
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BazaarsNov. 7:
VNA & Hospice, Community Room, North Adams
North Adams Elks
10-4; Nov. 8, 9-2
Crafters, Chinese auction, bake sale
For vendor information, Melanie at 413-743-5562.
Nov. 14
Berkshire Community Church, Richmond
10-4; Crafters, bake sale. Contact Evelyn Goggia at 413-445-5747
Lanesborough Elementary School annual Fall Craft Fair from 10 to 4. Free admission, huge variety of arts and crafts, raffles, food and more. Proceeds go to sixth-grade trip to Cape Cod.
Vendors can contact Deb at 413-738-5349 or debhutton@aol.com or Lori at 413-499-0065 or lorittod@yahoo.com to secure a spot.
Dec. 12-13
North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Contact Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.
Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here. |
Sports | Thursday, Nov. 06
Boys' Soccer: State Vocational Championship Game
McCann Tech 3, Keefe Tech 2
Girls' Soccer: State Vocational Championship Game
Blackstone Valley 8, McCann Tech 0 |
Related Stories |
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Clarksburg Board Raises Stink Over Sewer ScofflawsBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
12:09AM / Thursday, January 15, 2009
 | | Chairwoman Debra LeFave has a moment. |
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Property owners will see a 30-cent jump in their tax rate because the sewer enterprise fund has been flushed clean.
Dozens of residents owe more than $27,000 in sewer fees for 2008, which put the sewer fund $7,000 in the hole for the year.
Speaking to the television audience at Wednesday's videotaped meeting, Selectmen Chairwoman Debra LeFave said if scofflaws didn't pay up quickly the board would decide at its next meeting whether to prominently publish their names.
"Due to the fact that now people who aren't even on this sewer are paying this increase, by the next meeting I would like to have a motion to publish the names of the people who are delinquent on their [sewer bills]," said LeFave.
The town has been able in the past to handle a few thousand in delinquencies but this year found itself $7,000 in the hole. Two weeks ago, the state Department of Revenue ordered that the fund be replenished — to the tune of $30,000.
The fund has to have a reserve, said Town Administrator Michael Canales, and should have had $20,000 at this point.
While some people have been trying "diligently" to pay down their debt, others haven't, he said. "You don't just ignore it and hope it goes away."
"It isn't fair to people who pay their taxes, pay their sewer bill, pay their water bill," said Selectwoman Lily Kuzia, "and people don't have the sewer have to pay taxes for a sewer they don't have."
Once the revenue begins flowing back into the sewer account, a town meeting will have to set up a system to pay the funds back into town accounts over a period of time. "We've already lost on this year's tax rate. You're not going to change that," said Canales.
The town's tax rate was set to rise 10 cents on a $1,000 valuation; instead, it will jump a full 40 cents to $10.03 per $1,000. That means someone with a house valued at $100,000 will see her tax bill rise $40.
"We put in a lot of effort to not raise taxes," said Selectman Carl McKinney. "If this didn't happen our tax rate wouldn't really have changed much, considering how high everything has gone up."
But those tax troubles are minor compared to the damage that could be done when the state slashes local aid, as is expected. Canales said the town could lose anywhere from $40,000 to $170,000 depending how cuts are determined — and that's just the mid-year cuts for fiscal 2009.
He's held off asking for department heads to submit their budget needs until after Gov. Deval Patrick releases his plan to bridge a $1.1 billion budget gap in two weeks. There's no use starting a budgeting process until those numbers are released, he said.
McKinney urged residents to contact their legislator; LeFave said lawmakers shouldn't be offering to give their mandated raise to charity but giving it back to the towns.
People are having trouble making ends meet, said McKinney, urging residents who were having difficulties paying their sewer or other fees to contact town officials rather than waiting until it's too late.
In other action:
The board agreed to allow AFLAC to offer its short-term disability and other plans to town workers through payroll deductions. Michael Ryan, the insurance companies regional coordinator, said the plans would be employee paid and town would not incur any costs.
The move would also clear up a controversial situation in which a town official was selling the insurance at Town Hall. The town had requested an opinion from the state Ethics Commission on the matter. Ryan said that situation would cease and the plans redone through another representative.
LeFave asked if the seller, whom the board declined to name, would be able keep the commissions: "I don't want anybody to be hurt from this." Ryan said the seller would keep the commissions.
The board set a public hearing for Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 for renewal of a liquor license for the North Adams Country Club. The club's new management had apparently not realized an application for renewal had not been submitted when due for the December board meeting.
Canales submitted two projects, the final phase of the removal of the Briggsville Dam and the bridge on East Road, to the state for inclusion on the wish list being sent to federal government for a piece of the proposed $750 billion stimulus package being crafted in Congress.
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| Somebody grab his ankles and pull him out of the boards' backside. It's part of being a small town politician to get bashed once in a while. If you can't take it, and want to throw blame at other areas of town government, you ned to get out of the office. And what's with this other town official selling insurance to the town? So what if his boss took over the deal? The official is still going to make money off selling a product to the town. Still stinks, if you ask me. Is the Select Board getting a cut of the commission, too? | | from: Not Fooling Me | on: 01-22-2009 |
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| I agree with Deb here, bashing the town officials will not make money just appear. The Board is doing what is in the best interest of the town. Losing other funding would cost more in the long run than what is needed to replenish the reserve. I think the names should be published, I don't mind paying extra for certain things and to replenish this account is fine by me, just remember this by cutting the tax next year after these people pay what they owe. We should be glad that our tax base is low, spending an additional $40-$80 per year to make sure our services are met can be easily made up by adjusting other personal spending. People think of nothing when it comes to spending the same when they are on vacation, out for a dinner, or even ridiculous spending at the local wal-mart, so why, when our town is in need, do we think this is an outrage? I know having my street plowed, street lights on and a great school to send my daughter to, is worth a lot more than what I am paying to adjust some shortage in an account. I do feel for the people not on the system who are paying for it, but it's part of the entire package when it comes to our taxes. I have complete faith in the board to do the right thing once the shortage is made up in future years. Please remember one thing, they are not the cause of this problem and are doing the best with what they have. If you want to get mad at someone, lets see what a published list looks like. Maybe some people on the list just went out and bought a new car, maybe others are just having a tough time in an even tougher economy, whatever the case, lets show some compassion to our fellow residents, including the board, you never know when it's you that might need the help. | | from: Paul Renaud - Sensible Clarksburg Homeowner | on: 01-21-2009 |
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| If you have a problem with your taxes or your assessment, you need to bring it to the attention of the Board of Assessors or the tax collector. This could possibly bring a resolution to your problem. Bashing me or any other Town Official isn't going to help get your problem solved. GoodLuck | | from: Deb LeFave | on: 01-17-2009 |
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| FIRST OFF I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THEY CALCULATED ALL OF THESE FIGURES FOR US HOMEOWNERS??? MY HOUSE IS VALUED AT 200,000 THAT WOULD BE BY YOUR CALCULTAIONS $80 MORE...BUT ONCE AGAIN I AM FINDING MYSELF SREWED BY THE TOWN OF CLARKSBURG AND PAYING 400 DOLLARS MORE!!!! THIS HAS GONE WAY TOO FAR. THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN NEED TO STAND UP (ESPECIALLY US WHO HAVE PAYED RIGHT ALONG)!!! I HAVE LIVE IN CLARKSBURG FOR 20+ YEARS AND REFUSE TO TAKE IT ANYMORE, MISS THING DEBRA LEFAVRE YOU NEED TO FIND SOME OTHER WAY TO PAY THIS BEACUSE I AM NOT NOT NOT!! I AM ABSOLUTLY DICUSTED BY YOU AND THAT YOU WOULD EVEN DO THIS TO THE ONES WHO HAVE PAYED!!! | | from: MAD CLARKSBURG HOMEOWNER | on: 01-16-2009 |
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| what else in new the clarksburg residents always get screwed no matter what but yes they should publish the names of people who do not pay their bills !!!! | | from: | on: 01-15-2009 |
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The town's tax rate was set to rise 10 cents on a $1,000 valuation; instead, it will jump a full 40 cents to $10.03 per $1,000.
What?
Editor: I thought it was clear. The tax rate was going up 10 cents - from $9.62 to $9.72. Instead, it went up 40 cents, from $9.62 to $10.03, per $1,000 valuation. | | from: typo | on: 01-15-2009 |
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