North Adams Fire Department Opens Doors To Public

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Fire Department held an open house Wednesday during Fire Prevention Week to allow residents to meet their local firefighters and to promote fire safety.

Fire Director Stephen Meranti said the open house, which is sponsored by Papa Gino's and the National Fire Protection Association, allows the department to open the facility to the public for tours and to check out the equipment.

"We open up to the community and invite them to come down to see what we got for equipment and we let the kids check out the trucks," Meranti said. "It's a way for the community to see what we do and we talk fire safety."

Visitors were welcomed to pizza, refreshments, fire helmets, and were even allowed to spray the fire hose.

"I hope they take away from this a respect for the job some fire education ... This is more for the kids to get them down here so they can see what is going on. It is fun," he said. "But it's not just for the kids we hope the adults learn a few things too."

He said this year's theme is "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm." The program is focused on better educating the public about smoke alarms and the importance of having a working one in all bedrooms, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home.

Meranti said the open house also allows the community the interact with their local fire fighters.

"A lot of the times people see us when we are at our best and they are at their worst so this is a good time to come out and meet the guys and see what we have to offer," Meranti said.

On Saturday, Oct. 10, Adams Fire Department will hold its open house from 1 to 4 and Pittsfield from 11 to 2.


Tags: fire prevention,   fire station,   open house,   

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Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
 
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
 
The result is the town will have $571,000 in free cash on hand as it begins budget deliberations. However, town meeting last year voted that any free cash be used to replenish the stabilization account
 
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
 
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash. 
 
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund." 
 
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
 
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