PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Lee Bank has joined in the support for the deployment of a gunshot detection system.
Lee Bank is donating $5,000 toward the ShotSpotter contract. The technology is eyed to be installed this year and is used to detect and pinpoint the sound of gunshot, letting officers know on the spot when a weapon is fired on city streets.
"Pittsfield is important to all of Lee Bank's stakeholders and is crucial to the success and stability of Berkshire County overall," wrote Lee Bank President Chuck Leach in a letter to Mayor Linda Tyer.
"We are pleased to support this program because I strongly believe it will help to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives and works in and around Pittsfield."
The bank is donating $2,500 to the program this February and then another $2,500 next year. Leach delivered the first check to Mayor Linda Tyer on Tuesday. The City Council will be asked to accept the gift on Tuesday night.
The city is looking to contract with the company for three years at a cost of $600,000. The company structured the contract to deploy the technology for 18 months based on the three-year price because that was the amount the city had secured after Berkshire Health Systems donated $300,000.
The plan, however, is to fulfill the three-year contract price and Tyer said she will be seeking private donations and federal grants to raise the needed dollars. Tyer hadn't ruled out spending city funds to close the gap but the preference would be for private gifts and federal grants for now. If the technology works well, the city would consider funding the program in annual budgets moving forward.
The technology is expected to be installed this spring in three square miles of the city. Microphones are set to record when an explosive device is launched, the sound is run through computer software and verified by ShotSpotter staff. Within 45 seconds, the location and type of explosion is relayed directly to police officers on the beat — pinpointing it on a map within 80 feet. ShotSpotter maintains and owns the equipment.
Currently officers are alerted to shots being fired via 911 calls. Often the caller has vague descriptions of the location or the officer has to drive right by the scene to get information from the caller and then circle back. Other times no calls are made at all and police have to start their investigation only after it is reported by the hospital.
ShotSpotter is hoped to get officers to the scene quicker and able to star the investigation quicker. Other cities which have deployed it in the nation have given mixed reviews about the effectiveness.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Central Berkshire School Officials OK $35M Budget
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee approved a $35 million budget for fiscal 2025 during its meeting on Thursday.
Much of the proposed spending plan is similar to what was predicted in the initial and tentative budget presentations, however, the district did work with the Finance subcommittee to further offset the assessments to the towns, Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis said.
"What you're going see in this budget is a lower average assessment to the towns than what you saw in the other in the tentative budget that was approved," she said.
The fiscal 2025 budget is $35,428,892, a 5.56 percent or $1,867,649, over this year's $33,561,243.
"This is using our operating funds, revolving revenue or grant revenue. So what made up the budget for the tentative budget is pretty much the same," Director of Finance and Operations Gregory Boino said.
"We're just moving around funds … so, we're using more of the FY25 rural aid funds instead of operating funds next year."
Increases the district has in the FY25 operating budget are from active employee health insurance, retiree health insurance, special education out-of-district tuition, temporary bond principal and interest payment, pupil transportation, Berkshire County Retirement contributions, and the federal payroll tax.
The students have also been able to build friendships and experience new things, such as dancing for community events, taking a trip to Ireland and participating in competitions.
click for more
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.
click for more
Independent Connections officially unveiled its Massachusetts branch on Thursdsay with a ribbon cutting. The IT solutions company's specializations include consulting, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
click for more
Taylor Garabedian scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Abby Scialabba scored 16 points for the ‘Canes, who got 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists from Ashlyn Lesure. click for more