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The Licensing Board held a public hearing on Monday but nobody showed up. So, they will hold another one.

Pittsfield Licensing Board Considering New Processing Fees

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Lenco President Leonard Light said he is the only one to blame for an issue between his company, the Fire Department, and the Licensing Board and he took action to correct the violations.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Licensing Board is looking to add on a processing fee for alcohol license holders who make changes mid-year.
 
The fees would be tacked on to such transactions like changing of hours or changing of managers that are done outside of the annual renewal. Or the board is looking to up all of the annual renewal fees.
 
According to Licensing Board member Dianne Pero, none of the fees have been changed in nine years so a group began to compare them with neighboring communities and see if there is more to be made.
 
"We were conscious of the need to generate more revenue but balancing that with not overburdening the license holder," Pero said. 
 
The group identified that there are some licenses for which fees could be hiked. That reflects more of the administrative staff's time and increases in cost over the last decade. But, as an alternative, board member Dana Doyle offered the concept of processing fees as an alternative. That option seemed to have more interest among the board members.
 
"It isn't something that effects every premise. It is only when changes take place and it requires the city to respond to those changes," Chairman Carmen Massimiano said. "I think that is fair. If you are going to come in and doing, I think that is a legitimate cost of doing business."
 
City Clerk Jody Phillips said everything done through their offices typically have processing fees associated with it. But, not changes to alcohol permits. The board is considering between $30 and $50 per transaction as the charge.
 
Member Richard Stockwell first suggested that the new processing fee would just encourage licensees to put off making the changes and those operating illegally. He would rather have all of the alcohol license holders operating legally. But, at modest levels, Stockwell said that likely wouldn't happen. For $50, he said most businesses would rather spend that much to ensure legality.
 
"I don't think people would shy away from that as much as they would $200. They would rather be legal and pay the $50," Stockwell said.
 
The option of raising all of the fees is still on the table and that is estimated to raise revenues by some $13,000, Pero said.
 
However, no one showed up to the advertised public hearing to weigh in on either option. So, the board plans to hold a second hearing but this time will be sending letters informing license holders of the Nov. 28 date. Those letters will include the renewal packet sent out in early November.
 
"If we do that and nobody shows up, then there is no interest out there," said board member Thomas Campoli, who said maybe the required legal notice wasn't enough to get the attention of the license holders.
 
Doyle agreed, "if they don't say anything, we'll just do what we feel is right." The fees would likely be implemented for the 2018 fiscal year, when renewals wouldn't be done until that January. Nonetheless, the board hopes to make the changes before the start of that fiscal year.
 
In other business, Leonard Light, the president of Lenco, has fixed its parking issues and apologized for violating his license. Lenco was cited by the Fire Department for having too many vehicles, much more than its license allowed for and which limited access for firefighters in case of an emergency.
 
After the company initially failed to come into compliance, Fire Lt. Randy Stein took his complaint to the Licensing Board. Once the complaint became public, Stockwell said he had gotten the most response to that one out of all the cases the board has dealt with. He said residents were concerned that the board was creating an inhospitable environment for businesses. 
 
"After last month's meeting, I probably have received more comments about this situation from professional, business, and politicians from the city wanting to know why Lenco, the company that employees so many people and is a rising star is coming before the Licensing Board. It was a question I didn't have an answer for," Stockwell said. "There was a lot of concern and a lot of support for your company from a wide variety of people in the community."
 
While Light said he was glad there was support for his company, it would take lot more than a complaint about the number of vehicles to drive it away. 
 
"It would take a lot more than that to move us out of Pittsfield," Light said. "There is more to a company than a building."
 
Light agreed that the situation could have been handled better — on his part. 
 
"It could have been handled in a better way. If we had reacted quicker, then it wouldn't have gotten this far," he said. "He gave us an opportunity to correct it, he came back and it wasn't corrected."
 
After the complaint was taken to the board, Light said he quickly worked with Stein to craft a new parking plan — which was approved by the board on Monday — and reduce the number of vehicles on the property.
 
"We're gratified that it was done so quickly and so well," Massimiano said. "We appreciate the fact that none of these things are easy and we are pleased that it went so well."

Tags: alcohol license,   fees,   license board,   licenses,   parking,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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