Clarksburg Sets Hearing on Dilapidated House

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
02:25PM / Friday, November 13, 2009Print Story | Email Story

Update 11/16/2009: The public hearing has been postponed until Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. following the regular Selectmen's meeting because the legal notice sent to the newspaper was not published in a timely manner. (If only they could send those to us.)

The structure at 430 North Houghton St. is the subject of a public hearing on Wednesday night.

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 18, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. to declare a vacant residence a nuisance.

The hearing will immediately follow the Selectmen's meeting, the only meeting the board is holding this month. Normally, it meets on second and fourth Wednesdays; this month, the second Wednesday falls on Veterans Day and the fourth on Thanksgiving Eve.

The house at 430 North Houghton St. has been vacant for years and is in extremely poor condition. According to the Northern Berkshire Registry of Deeds, it is owned by Roger F. Daub.

The hearing is being held to allow the Selectmen to declare the property a public nuisance, giving the building inspector the authority to have it torn down. Once demolished the town hopes to take the property by tax title and sell the land at auction.

The town is also planning to auction two other properties this month that it took by tax title: a parcel on the corner of Brooks Heights and five acres on West Road that has an outstanding tax bill of $16,000 to $18,000.

Selectman Carl McKinney said at the Oct. 28 meeting that the land sales will be used to refresh town coffers in anticipation of the effects of Gov. Deval Patrick's expected 9C cuts. The town already reduced its budget drastically because of cutbacks in state aid for fiscal 2010.

"I would feel a lot more comfortable using free cash if I knew the money from the sale of those properties was going into free cash," said McKinney. "There's no money and nowhere else to cut."

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Your Comments

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HEY CLARKSBURG! I think you should get your priorities in line! We have had 4 breakin/burglaries of local CLARKSBURG homes in 10 days..... and you want to worry about this old house??? Does the board even care about the victims? Feels like a slap in the face to us.
from: PRIORITIES	on: 11-14-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

This is the most amazing story ever.... break-ins all over Clarksburg and the selectmen are holding a special meeting to talk about a dilapidated house? What a joke.... maybe they can hold another special meeting to talk about planting flowers next year at the beaver street dam. Editor: To clarify, they're not holding a special meeting; it's a public hearing as required by law about a house that, yes, poses a danger to the neighborhood.
from: Amazing	on: 11-14-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

No offense ... but a person breaking into Clarksburg homes seems more of a danger and immediate threat than an OLD house just standing still!
from: NO offense	on: 11-14-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

This is what Clarksburg Selectmen should be doing instead of worrying about old houses. RICHMOND, Mass. â€” In response to a recent string of break-ins within town, the Board of Selectmen has scheduled a meeting with representatives from the state police on Wednesday, Nov. 18, beginning at 6:30. The meeting is open to the public, which is encouraged to attend. "The Selectmen are concerned over these recent break-ins and want to gather as much information from the state police as they can about their investigation into these crimes," said Town Administrator Matthew Kerwood. The state police provide the town with police coverage and has recently published a request for the public's assistance in trying to gather information on these crimes. A rash of break-ins northward, in Clarksburg and Stamford, Vt., have residents there putting together a crime watch. "The Selectmen would encourage anyone with information to either come to meeting or to contact the state police's Lee barracks," said Kerwood. "They very much want to see those responsible for these crimes caught."
from: Get the Hint???	on: 11-14-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Ok residents of Clarksburg.... You were complaining at the meeting about your towns lack of help with the BREAKINS AND BURGLARIES.... Go to the next Town Selectman's Meeting THIS WEDNESDAY November 18th at 630PM at the Town Hall. Judging by the way things are..please leave at least 1 person home! The town needs to get serious. AND we need to get serious on the town. It's time to change WHO is on the board if they wont help the residents stay safe! What are their priorities???? An empty house near North Adams? While the middle of town gets robbed by the same person over and over???? GEZZZZ!
from: get there	on: 11-15-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Back on Novemebr 4th (berkshire eagle)the state police ask for help about break-ins dating back to September in Richmond and now they are having a meeting why? "The Selectmen are concerned over these recent break-ins and want to gather as much information from the state police as they can about their investigation into these crimes," said Town Administrator Matthew Kerwood. This is the only way they can find out what is happeneing sort of like Stamford who months latter after break-ins had a meeting. (increase the sheriff hours who do not do investigations or even get 911 calls but will write tickets to residents should help?) The police are investigating and hopefully there will be arrests (unless caught in the act it takes time to build a case). The Clarksburg Police are working on it and after the second break in spoke to the paper about what people could do to help. The selectmen in Clarksburg want to know what is happening they just call the chief.
from: Get the Hint??? Get a hint	on: 11-15-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Thank you iBerkshires for making us our own Crime Watch page to blog! You help has made a difference and you are quickly becoming a vital part of our community! Members click the link below... http://iberkshires.com/blog/index.php?bid=24#comments This is what is really important!
from: Thankful	on: 11-16-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Clarksburg residents attend your town meeting this Wednesday November 18th at 6:30PM at the Town Hall!- P.S. I would leave at least one person home.
from: in numbers	on: 11-16-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Important Update: There is a report that Elvis has left the building. The "Suspicious Fellow" reportedly has left town. God help them wherever he lands. Good riddence Clarksburglar....for now. If and when you come back, we will know and we'll be ready and waiting for you.
from: Benji	on: 11-22-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I didn't know that there were so many people who were willing to step up and serve on a town board and organize a crime watch or offer a "reasoned" solution. Will someone please turn on the buffoon filter?
from: Tech Support	on: 01-20-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Pittsfield Man Sentenced On Multiple Rape, Indecent Assault Charges

03:58PM / Thursday, May 16, 2024

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Wednesday, May 15 Douglas Agyeh, age 44 ofPittsfield, pleaded guilty to 23 charges.

Agyeh pleaded guilty to:

5 counts of Indecent Assault and Battery on a Person Over 14
9 counts of Rape of a Child with Force
9 counts of Rape of a Child, Aggravated by Age

The Defendant was sentenced to 10 to 12 years for the charges of rape and 3 to 5 years concurrent for the charges of indecent assault and battery. The Defendant will serve his sentence in state prison.

According to a report, in 2021 Agyeh was employed at a residential school for youth. Over a period of several weeks Agyeh was responsible for monitoring a student's safety as they (singular) slept. During this time, he raped the student. In a separate incident, Agyeh was also found guilty of sexually assaulting a student under the guise of helping the student fold their (singular) laundry.

The Defendant was originally set to stand trial on January 30, 2023 but fled to Canada in attempt to avoid justice. The Defendant was arrested as he entered Canda. The Berkshire District Attorney's Office worked closely with the United States Department of Justice and Canadian authorities to successfully extradite the Defendant back to Massachusetts. Authorities allege the Defendant was traveling to Canda in an attempt to return to Ghana, Agyeh's native country.

The Great Barrington Police Department served as the lead law enforcement agency in the case. The Department of Justice and Canadian law enforcement agencies assisted the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, including the State Police Detective Unit, in the extradition of the Defendant.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Giarolo represented the Commonwealth. Kristen Rapkowicz served as a victim witness advocate on behalf of the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. Berkshire County Kids' Place and Violence Prevention Center played a central role in the investigation. Emily Zoltan was the Multidisciplinary Team Leader in coordinating the law enforcement response.

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