CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town will once again see if town meeting will accept combining school districts with Stamford, Vt., with the same article tabled at the December special town meeting.
The Select Board signed off on a single-article warrant Wednesday that would see if town meeting would accept an agreement with the town of Stamford that would merge the two districts. Chairman Jeffrey Levanos shared his concerns over the redundant article.
"This is the same warrant ... so I guess my concern is ... we kind of got trashed for this so if this is verbatim are we just going back to get trashed again?" he asked.
Levanos was referring to the December special town meeting in which there was an obvious disconnect between the town and the School Committee about the presence of the question on the warrant. This led to the failure of the article.
Town Administrator Carl McKinney said both communities are under the gun and have to move on the merger, which is being driven by Vermont's Act 46 that calls for small Vermont school districts to begin consolidating.
"Th Vermont Legislature is only part time… and if we can't get this figured out before they are out of session that would set back the process rather considerably," he said. "Like maybe a year."
McKinney said a placeholder for the merger has been set on the Legislature's agenda and Stamford needs to make a determination by November.
"I think that this is imperative," he said. "I think that if we don't do this, I am not saying it will, but I am concerned that it could deal a fatal blow to this effort."
He added that passing the article would also allow the town to enable the $25,000 the late state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi was able to secure for the community to run a feasibility study. Vermont will also contribute.
Levanos agreed but said McKinney made the same presentation at the last town meeting and it didn't do any good.
"The speech you just gave is the speech we gave to the School Committee at that meeting," he said. "This aggravates me to no end because we just went through this and we have to do it again."
McKinney said he will ask the School Committee members to attend a future meeting and noted the consolidation will only be a plus for both communities because they will be able to share some resources.
The special town meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 5, at 6:30.
In other business, McKinney said state Sen. Adam Hinds filed legislation to secure $500,000 to go toward the replacement of the Clarksburg Elementary School roof.
He said the legislation still has to pass the House and be signed off by the governor.
"It is not a given by any stretch of the imagination, but it is still a solid first step and we are very grateful for that effort," McKinney said.
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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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