Williamstown Trust Chairman Ready to Answer CPA Questions

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The chairman of the Affordable Housing Trust is looking forward to the opportunity to discuss the body's application for a Community Preservation Act grant at Tuesday's meeting of the Community Preservation Committee.

Stanley Parese said he was surprised that the CPC chairman suggested at the Jan. 9 meeting that the trust withdraw its application, but Parese is prepared to respond to that suggestion Tuesday night.

"I'm confident that we can respond fully to the chairman's concerns," Parese said on Monday afternoon.

He declined to get into the specifics of that response, preferring to keep the discussion limited to the meeting room and not carry on the conversation through the media.

Parese said he had not discussed the issue with CPC Chairman Philip McKnight since the Jan. 9 meeting.

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.