Letters: Williamstown Official Urges Yes Vote on Spruces

To the Editor:

All Williamstown voters are encouraged to attend the special town meeting on Monday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at Williamstown Elementary School. Voting "yes" on all three articles is important to both the town of Williamstown and the residents of the Spruces Mobile Home Park.

A yes vote means that the town will begin the demolition and cleanup work required by the FEMA grant prior to assuming ownership of the Spruces in early 2016. A yes vote means that residents of the Spruces will have access to a "Relocation Advisory Agent" to assist them with relocation funding and replacement housing.

To learn more about the three warrant articles, please watch Citizens in League Presents: Preview of Special Town Meeting Warrant on Willinet. This program can be viewed on Channel 17 (or 116.2) or viewed anytime at www.willinet.org.

Jane B. Allen
Chairman of Williamstown
Board of Selectmen

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.