Letters: Vote on April 24 & Make Your Voice Heard

To the Editor:

We, as Williamstown residents, owe it to our neighbors to get out and voice our choices at the special town meeting that was petitioned by a few residents. There is more at stake than the 10 acres of identified "pristine land." Part of our community, a small community within a community, is also at stake.  

I resided in that community for 15 years until Tropical Storm Irene flooded my home, which resulted in nearly a total loss of my personal possessions, in addition to my home. Where my home once was is now just a cement slab.

The Spruces, even now, is a place where neighbors help neighbors; they have safe space and freedom to ride bikes; have their own flower gardens; walk their dogs and socialize. Because of the flood, I lost that community and because of the housing shortage, I was forced to live outside of Williamstown for over a year. I am grateful to say I was finally able to find housing in Williamstown.

Are we going to allow the additional sacrifices of the Spruces residents to go unnoticed by removing options for development from the table? Do we want to limit the type of housing by limiting the type of land options?

It is too soon to determine what is financially feasible without due diligence. For example: replicating a community, constructing condominiums with an affordable housing component, or multiunit housing?

Phyllis Alcombright
Williamstown
April 16, 2013

Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Friday, April 26, 2024

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.

 

Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.

 

The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.

 

The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.

 

In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.

 

The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.

 

The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.