Cheshire Getting Bus Refund; Updated on Playground Efforts
 The Board of Selectmen learned they had overpaid for a bus services last year. |
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Cheshire will receive $37,000 from Dufour Bus Co. because of overbilling last year.
Town Administrator Mark Webber told the selectmen Wednesday night that he spoke to Dufour officials and resolved a billing issue for the transportation of Cheshire's McCann Technical School students to North Adams.
"We were essentially double billed, and he wasn’t happy about it," Webber said. "He chastised us for paying it, and he has a point. We never should have paid it, but he was gracious about it and he is going to send us a letter."
Webber said Dufour will pay the town back in four installments before June 30.
Webber said he was contacted by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and informed that the state is working on legislation that would force Central Berkshire, and similar areas in the commonwealth, to hire a full-time veterans agent.
"The theory is that a part-time agent servicing a bunch of little towns is not able to provide the full benefit that is required," Webber said.
Chairwoman Carol Francesconi said Cheshire was asked to form a "veterans district" in the past, but its portion of the salary would have cost nearly $10,000. She said part-time agent the town has now, Rosanne Frieri, costs $1,500.
"It ticks me off when the state forces you to do something, but doesn't come up with money to help you do it," Francesconi said. "We will wait until we are made to do it."
Webber said Cheshire’s portion will be based on population and he expects it to be at least $10,000.
Michele Whitney met with the selectmen to ask what she needs to do to get playground equipment at the elementary school replaced.
She said the playground committee has $3,000. The playground developer the committee is working with will donate half the amount needed for the nearly $23,000 playground equipment.
Webber urged Whitney to apply for a William and Margery Barrett Fund grant. The $100,000 in funds available for Adams, Cheshire and Savoy focuses on enhancing early childhood development. Webber said she may be able to receive up to $15,000 for the playground.
"If we could do one piece at a time that would be fine," Whitney said. "It's a process. Now we just have to figure out what we want to build."
Webber said he spoke to the Department of Environmental Protection about concerns over recent renovations to the Pine Valley Mobile Park. Resident Ron Lancia of the Pine Valley Homeowners Association was concerned about completion inspections and unpaved roads.
Webber said he found out that the final inspections are being scheduled, but the DEP is not responsible for the paving.
Lancia said the construction impacted the roads and he thinks they were part of the project.
“We just have to wait and see because I can’t see it being final without the roads being compete,” Lancia said. “It’s part of the job.”
Webber said he would contact DEP again.
Highway Superintendent Peter LeFebvre said the blacktopping of Wells Road and Windsor Road. He added that they were able to pave 5,000 feet on Windsor Road instead of 4,100 feet because they had extra asphalt.
He said the boat dock at Cheshire Reservoir will most likely be taken down at the end of the month.
Tags: mobile home park, playgrounds, school bus, veterans agent,
