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Members from both the Williamstown and Lanesborough boards of selectmen along with the School Committee made the appointment.

Mount Greylock Replaces Another Committee Member

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Lanesborough Moderator Robert Reilly, right, explains to the committee what could happen in the next election.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A woman who spent a decade on the Lanesborough School Committee will join the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee.

Sheila Hebert was appointed to the vacant seat of Shari Peltier, who resigned earlier this month, by a joint committee of Selectmen from Williamstown and Lanesborough and the School Committee on Tuesday.

Hebert will finish out Peltier's term, which ends in November 2014.

Hebert was unavailable to attend Tuesday's meeting but provided a statement, which was read by School Committee member David Backus.

The letter outlined her history on the Lanesborough Elementary School Committee for the last 10 years, which included the formation of Union 71 — the agreement to mesh both elementary schools and the high school into one district.

"I have extensive knowledge of working with school budgets, building issues, negotiations etc. I was part of the process of forming Union 71 between the two elementary schools and also when Union 71 formed an agreement to share administrative positions with Mount Greylock Regional," the letter reads. "While the high school has some differences from the elementary, the experience that I have would make it easy for me to transition into the open school committee seat."

Her term on the Lanesborough School Committee ended in June. Hebert also has had two sons graduate from the high school and her daughter is currently in 11th grade.

She is already on the ballot for the November election, which creates an array of scenarios. Hebert will be in a race for a four-year seat against Chris Dodig and Mark Schiek. Dodig was already appointed to the committee to replace Jack Hickey, who also resigned earlier this year.

If Hebert wins election, she would then have to resign from the seat to which she was just appointed and the joint committee would have to appoint someone else to fill out the remainder of Peltier's term. Dodig's term will end in November so he will be campaigning for the seat in which he is currently appointed.

Schiek already interviewed with the board to replace Hickey and was expected to be Peltier's replacement. However, according to Lanesborough Moderator Robert Reilly, Schiek sent an email withdrawing his name from this appointment.

Hebert becomes the third appointed member this year: Backus replaced Abigail Reifsnyder after her January resignation and Dodig replaced Hickey.

The school also lost three administrators in Principal Tim Payne, who took another job in Bennington, Vt., Business Manager Jennifer Coscia and the elimination of the dean of students position, which was replaced with the hiring of Assistant Principal Christopher Barnes.

Tags: appointments,   MGRHS,   

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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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