Permitting Calls For Reduced Greylock Glen Trail System

ADAMS, Mass. — The proposed trail system at the Greylock Glen is being scaled back to avoid wetlands crossings.

Harry Dodson, trail designer Dodson & Associates, said the Army Corps of Engineers is demanding that there be no impact in wetlands and the recent delineation of where those lands are has rendered the original design too expensive.

The original design would have required more than 100 bridges or other types of crossings to be constructed and cost more than the $3 million available.

"We have suggested that we look at downsizing and reorganizing parts of the trail," Dodson told the Greylock Glen Advisory Committee last week.

Dodson presented two ideas to the committee for a phased implementation — one option is 2.5 miles with a reduced amount of the largest trails and the other of 1 mile.

Eventually planners hope a full trail system of 32 miles will be built.

"Our goal is to eliminate wetland and stream crossings," Dodson said of the newest ideas.

Permitting, involving the Army Corps of Engineers, the town's Conservation Commission and the state Department of Environmental Protection has required additional consultants and studies over the last three years.

The trails will be constructed in two phases. The first phase would cost $2 million and the second $1 million. The designers are hoping to finalize the plan so that the entire construction can be permitted. The state money for the trail system will not be in place until fiscal 2015.

Cheshire Town Meeting Oks Budgets, Debates Potential Prop 2 1/2 Override

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
10:12PM / Monday, June 08, 2026

Moderator Carol Francesconi, left, and Anne Marie Furey were presented flowers in memory of the Rev. William Furey, their brother and husband, respectively. The town report was dedicated to him. 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Town meeting on Monday approved all 35 articles on the annual meeting warrant, including a total spending for fiscal 2027 of more than $8.5 million. 

 

Some 77 of the town's more than 2,500 registered voters filled the Cheshire Community House meeting room, debating on a number of articles during the meeting that lasted nearly three hours

 

The town dedicated its annual report to the Rev. William David Furey, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church and more recently Berkshire Union Chapel in Lanesborough. Furey died last year at age 77.

 

His wife, Anne Marie Furey, and his sister, Town Moderator Carol Francesconi, were presented with a bouquet of flowers in tribute to him. 

 

He was an exemplary member of the community who left a lasting impression in each and every life that he touched, said Town Clerk Whitney Flynn. 

 

Voters approved several warrant articles that make up an operating budget of $3,840,314 for fiscal 2027. Of this amount, $1,642,481 is allocated for the general government budget, which was approved after clarification of a few questions.

 

One item was the administrative assistant's salary. Prior to the annual meeting, the town eliminated the executive assistant salary of $54,309 in favor of a part-time administrative assistant salary of $27,155, to reduce costs considering the financial constraint the town is in.