Letter: Williamstown Planning Board Proposals

Letter to the Editor05:00PM / Wednesday, June 08, 2022Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

How many citizens voted at the last town election? How many will vote at the town meeting? Town meeting is quaint AND irrevocably broken.

A holistic approach to town zoning is far preferable. Selectively passing one or two of the failed Planning Board's proposed zoning changes amounts to spot zoning. All related articles should be tabled or voted down.

Here is something to consider if you think the GR proposals, at minimum, are harmless. If you own land that can be divided into two or more now buildable parcels, guess what? Your property taxes will be jacked up because now, your property is "more valuable!" Voila!

These ill-thought out zoning changes have actually sucked the life out of any new real ideas as to how to create affordable housing in "The Village Beautiful." Sadly, instead, all our energy has been wasted on debating these ill-advised Planning Board proposals!

Ken Swiatek
Williamstown, Mass.

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Williamstown Board of Health Gets Update on 330 Cole Ave.

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:46AM / Monday, August 24, 2026

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Board of Health last Monday saw evidence supporting a tenant's complaint about ventilation issues at their 330 Cole Ave. residence.

Health Inspector Ruth Russell shared with the board a three-page memo outlining her department's actions since receiving a complaint from the occupant of Unit D6 at the property managed by Pittsfield's Hearthway Inc.

The memo outlined seven inspections that Health Inspector Ruth Russell has conducted at the unit since the complaint was received on March 10 of this year. On March 20, after her initial inspection, Russell cited five violations of the state sanitary code related to moisture in the unity.

Her Monday report also included photos taken during the most recent inspection of the unit's bathroom ventilation system on Aug. 3.

As recently as July 21, Hearthway's director of real estate development told Russell, "The fans in this unit have been checked multiple times by staff and contractors and found to be operating the same as in all other apartments," according to the Aug. 17 memo.

On July 24, Russell inspected the unit with a representative from the Berkshire Public Health Alliance after the occupant reported that the shower was used several hours before and, despite having the window open and the ventilator fan running, moisture was still present.

"Use of a vane anemometer in the bathroom demonstrated that there is insufficient flow going through the vent," Russell reported.

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