PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito toured the downtown Thursday afternoon before announcing grant funding for two southwestern Massachusetts bridges.
Polito had spent the morning signing a Community Compact agreement with Lanesborough and Windsor. She later joined Mayor Linda Tyer for a brief private meeting at City Hall. She left the offices and proceeded to the Onota Building with the mayor, City Council President Peter Marchetti 1Berkshire CEO Jonathan Butler, Downtown Pittsfield Inc. President Jesse Cook-Dubin, and Alfred "A.J" Enchill Jr. from state Sen. Adam Hinds' office.
At the Onota building, she met with Louis Allegrone, of Allegrone Construction, who recently renovated the entire building. Allegrone explained the federal and state support that helped create the market-rate housing units in the historic building.
Polito then went to the Beacon Cinema, yet another historic building that has benefited from state assistance in redevelopment. Polito met with staff there to hear about the theater, which had been a key aspect of the North Street redevelopment plans.
Tyer then led Polito to Hotel on North, showing off yet another historic building that has been completely renovated and fitting with the overall vision of redevelopment of North Street. The tour showed of the multi-year efforts to revitalize North Street and the city is now looking toward Tyler Street to do a similar project there. The concept is to focus on the redevelopment of anchor sites along the road as triggers for redevelopment.
Polito then moved her way south to Lenox. There she met with municipal leaders from Blandford and Washington, and the state Department of Transportation to announce the first two awards through the small bridge program.
The newly developed small bridge program, funded with $50 million, is eyed to help towns fix up bridges that are less than 20 feet long. Those small bridges are too short to receive federal assistance for repairs.
A total of $750,000 was awarded to the two towns Thursday. Washington received $250,000 for a bridge on Middlefield Road and Blandford received $500,000 for bridges on Blandford Road and Gore Road.
"We are committed to working closely with cities and towns throughout the commonwealth to achieve our shared transportation goals," Polito said. "This financial support will allow these two municipalities to proceed with construction of infrastructure which is a necessary part of the fabric of people's everyday lives, taking community members to homes, jobs, retail areas, schools and other destinations."
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Dalton Select Board Argues Over Sidewalk Article
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — A heated discussion concerning sidewalks during Monday night's Select Board meeting resulted in the acting chair calling a recess to cool the situation.
The debate stemmed from the two articles on the town meeting warrant for May 6 at 7 p.m. at Wahconah Regional High School.
One proposes purchasing a sidewalk paver for $64,000 so sidewalks can be paved or repaired for less money, but they will use asphalt rather than concrete. The other would amend the town's bylaws to mandate the use of concrete for all future sidewalks.
The article on concrete sidewalks was added to the warrant through a citizen petition led by resident Todd Logan.
The board was determining whether to recommend the article when member John Boyle took the conversation in a new direction by addressing how the petition was brought about.
"I just have a comment about this whole procedure. I'm very disappointed in the fact that you [Logan] have been working, lobbying various groups and implementing this plan and filed this petition six weeks ago. You never had any respect for the Select Board and …" Boyle said.
Before Boyle could finish his statement, which was directed to Logan, who was in the audience, Chair Joe Diver called point of order via Zoom.
Between disagreements about site design and a formal funding process not yet established, more time is needed before a decision can be made.
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The Ordinances and Rules subcommittee on Monday unanimously supported a pay raise for election workers, free downtown parking for veterans, and safeguards to better protect wetlands.
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A parking study of North Street will be presented at Tuesday's City Council meeting. The design maintains parallel parking while expanding pedestrian zones and adding protected bike lanes. click for more
Amy Schirmer was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year for creating a weekly therapeutic art class at the George B. Crane Center to help those in recovery from substance use. click for more