Dalton Town Employees Gets ADA Training

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — Municipal employees will have the option to participate in Americans with Disabilities Act training. 
 
ADA coordinator Alyssa Maschino informed the ADA Committee on Monday that Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson approved the idea and is currently in the planning process. 
 
The virtual training will cover state ADA requirements, ensuring program accessibility for people with disabilities, and the reasonable modification process.
 
The training is led by Julia O'Leary, general counsel for Massachusetts Office on Disability. The Office on Disability "provides information, guidance, and training on disability-related civil rights and obligations," the state website says. 
 
A lot of people are used to being able to walk upstairs and being mobile, so they are not thinking about how their surroundings affect people with mobile disabilities, committee member Edward "Bud" Hall said.
 
This will give town employees a better understanding of what is compliant and what is not, 
 
"A lot of people are just used to the everyday walking upstairs, running into the building, not thinking about, what about the other person that can't do it. So this just will probably give them insight and hopefully helping 
 
Maschino and Hutcheson are considering holding the training during the monthly staff meeting on the third Wednesday of each month.
 
Although the training is an hour and "I feel like everyone should really take the time to do it" it is unclear if the town can make it mandatory, Maschino said. 
 
In other news, the committee signed a letter recommending the town install sidewalks on Orchard Road. 

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Pittsfield Council Approves 2.64% Tax Increase

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council has passed a 2.64 percent tax rate increase that will add about $145 to the average yearly home bill. 

On Tuesday, the council unanimously approved a residential tax rate of $17.88 and a commercial, industrial, and personal property tax rate of $37.95. This uses a residential factor of 0.8245 at a shift of 1.75. 

The average residential home, valued at $316,792 in FY27, has increased by about $1,500 from the previous fiscal year, and would pay $5,664.24 in yearly taxes. This is a 2.64 percent, or $145.88, increase.

The average commercial property worth $239,600 saw a $100 increase in value from the previous fiscal year, and would pay $9,092.82 in yearly taxes. This is a $255.27, or 2.89 percent, increase from the previous fiscal year.

Councilors pointed out that the tax rate funds the budget, which is set in June, and noted the importance of hearing from constituents during budget season. The national state of the economy was also a topic of discussion. 

Councilor at Large Kathleen Amuso said this is always the worst meeting of the year for her. 

"Every single household, probably, in the United States is paying more for everything. Everything," she said, explaining that there would have to be a significant decrease in the city budget to see any savings in the tax rate. 

"…I think we're trying to be conscientious with what we're spending and how we're spending it, but we are sitting here today. We have to pay for a budget, and it has to be done. It doesn't make it easy. It doesn't feel good, but we have to pay for what we already approved." 

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