Lanesborough Board May Put Ambulance on Warrant

By Al HartheimerLanesborough News
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LANESBOROUGH — The Selectmen are considering a non-binding warrant article or a ballot question to find out if the townspeople are interested in having a full-time ambulance.

Town Administrator Paul Boudreau told the board at its March 10 meeting that Mr. Gaudette had called him to let him know how wonderful it was to have the town ambulance show up at his house.

There have been concerns that the part-time ambulance operated by the town can't provide enough coverage after one of the two backup ambulance services, American Medical Response, went out of business last year.

The town's part-time ambulance has been staffed by volunteers but officials say it has been harder to find volunteers for day duty. The town has approached the Berkshire Mall to chip in for equipment because of the number of calls there but mall officials have so far been noncommittal.

Two candidates have emerged for the vacant position of dog officer.

Michael McClay, who works 20 hours in Dalton, has offered to take the job part time; Ron Weider has also offered to take the job.

Two weeks ago, the Selectmen met with McClay and Dalton Police Chief John Bartels regarding sharing McClay's time.

McClay will meet with Town Administrator Paul Boudreau to discuss the possibility of working part time.

Discussions will be continued at the next meeting; no decision was reached.

William Decelles, road superintendent, reported that the recent storms had caused water problems on several town roads, including Ore Bed Road, Potter Mountain Road, North Main Street, Spring Street, Kessler Road and Silver Street.

 
The board also discussed accepting roads by "layout" or "prescription." To accept a road by layout, it has to be surveyed at town expense. To accept a road by prescription requires a trial before the Land Court in Boston for each road. For this the services of an attorney or some other individual would have to be at town expense. 

Boudreau will estimate the cost and details of each method and report to the board.

With respect to the unemployment insurance paid by mistake by the town to Doug Webb, a further investigation showed that the previously stated amount of several thousand dollars was wrong. He was paid only $381.

In other business:

  • Boudreau gave the board four job descriptions to review: town administrator, assessors' clerk, chief financial officer and animal control officer.
     
  • Boudreau reported that the new boilers in the Town Hall are using 25 to 30 percent less fuel than that used by the old boilers.
     
  • The work at Olsen Road will be put out to bid again as soon as White Engineering completes the new bid package.
     
  • The board approved the three-year contract with the Lanesborough Police Association.
     
  • Nomination papers are available at Town Hall for the following positions: Selectman, moderator, Sewer Commission, Planning Board, library trustee, assessor, cemetery trustee, Financial Committee and School Committee.The town election is Tuesday, May 20.
  • If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

    Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

    By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

    LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

    Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

    The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

    Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

    Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

    Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

    Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

    The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

    The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

    Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

    Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

    He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

    Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

    Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

    Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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