Workers work the phones on why the electric supply — in the box at right — was shut off and locked up.
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Residents in Pine Valley Mobile Home Park found their water abruptly shut off Tuesday morning over an apparent billing disagreement between the park's owner and National Grid.
The water supply was disrupted shortly after 9:30 a.m. when an employee from the utility shut off power to a section of the park that turned off the well pumps. Water and septic are included in the lot rent but individual mobile homes are responsible for their own power, which was not interrupted.
The park was without water for more than six hours.
Dick Dodge, one of the residents in the park, said there was no notification and that the manager was also unaware of what had happened. The panel was unlocked, the power shutoff, and a new lock put in place that management can't open.
"The van was up there shutting it off," he said.
The shutoff left some 95 sites without water for washing, drinking or flushing.
Initially, there was concern that owner Morgan Management had shut down the water for some reason but the issue was apparently over an unpaid bill for $800. According to town officials, park management says it doesn't owe National Grid and believes that the utility was trying to shut off power to a delinquent tenant and ended up shutting off the park's water.
National Grid, on other hand, says the park does owe it money. Two utility workers who stopped by checked with their front office and confirmed that to officials, but would not speak to iBerkshires.
Town Administrator Edmund St. John III said he was aware of the problem and was in touch with town counsel.
In the meantime, Health Inspector CJ Garner said the community center still had water and working toilets.
A woman, who did not wish to be quoted, said there are some elderly and ailing tenants in the park who should not be without water.
There was a slow stream or residents bringing in water jugs and bottles until the matter was resolved. They were hoping the water would flow again by the end of the day. The utility had told Morgan Management it would take up to 24 hours to restore power.
However, the power was turned back on at 3:45 p.m. once the Board of Health informed National Grid that the residents could not be without water overnight.
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Hoosac Valley School Committee Defends Budget
By Daniel MatziBerkshires correspondent
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Hoosac Valley School Committee reaffirmed their support of the Hoosac Valley Regional School District (HVRSD) proposed $23 million budget.
On Monday night the school committee and school leaders defended the proposed school district budget that the Cheshire Select Board opposed at one of their own meetings in April. Dean backed the budget, which increased by $1,096,525 over this fiscal year, as being as fiscally responsible as possible.
"We're doing a lot of great work here, a lot of work that I'm proud of," Superintendent Aaron Dean said. "And I cannot in good conscience recommend doing anything other than moving forward with this budget."
During an April select board meeting, the Cheshire selectmen announced that they were hesitant to adjust their proposed municipal budget that included a level-funded HVRSD assessment.
The school district's proposed budget included a $148,661 increase to Cheshire's assessment.
The Cheshire selectmen voted to plan for a Proposition 2.5 override. If the HVRSD budget isn't lowered to their liking, the town will be poised for an override vote - essentially putting the school budget increase to a ballot vote.
Monday, Dean said he was confused why Cheshire took such a strong stance against the budget, especially after it had been openly discussed as far back as January.
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