Environmental Bond Bill Contains Earmarks for Dalton, Hinsdale

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BOSTON — State Rep. Paul W. Mark of Peru joined his colleagues in putting forth a comprehensive environmental bond bill containing more than $2 billion for improvements to air, water, parkway and trail quality across the commonwealth. Within this bill, Mark was able to secure $5.5 million dollars in earmarks for environmental revitalization and cleanup in Berkshire and Franklin counties.
 
"These funds will help our communities undertake important projects that will improve our environment and quality of life while also providing a path forward for sustainable growth," the Peru Democrat said.  
 
H.4559 allocates $1 million for the removal of hazardous materials and cleanup at the old Dalton High School site; $500,000 for flood and drainage improvements surrounding the Skyline Trail in the town of Hinsdale; and $500,000 for pond dredging and safety improvements at Highland Park in the city of Greenfield. 
 
The bill also re-authorizes a $1 million grant to the town of Greenfield for environmental remediation and brownfield redevelopment at the former Bendix site and $2.5 million for the building of a gravity-fed sewer connecting Main Street and Jacksonville Road to the sewage treatment plant in the town of Colrain through a former 2014 bond bill, effectively renewing these accounts until 2023.
 
The Senate will also debate an environmental bond bill in the coming weeks.

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Dalton Committee Seeks Funding for Invasive Species

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Open Space and Recreation Committee discussed addressing the invasive species at the Pines trailhead during its meeting last week. 
 
There will possibly be a money article on the annual town warrant requesting voters allocate $20,000  from free cash so that the committee can apply for a Community Forest Stewardship program grant. The Select Board placed it on the annual town meeting warrant on Monday. 
 
During a walkthrough of the Pines, Jess Toro, co-owner of Native Habitat Restoration, urged the committee to apply for the program.
 
According to Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson, although the grant would be reimbursed, the town needs to allocate the amount the committee is requesting in order to apply. 
 
If approved, the first phase would be to hire a consultant and focus on cutting and painting large invasives and vines in the 17 acres, staying out of any wetlands and wetland buffers. 
 
The committee has been thinking about how to address invasive species at the Pines since the start of the project and this year will be taking its first step into the long process of invasive species management. 
 
However, finding a professional to help with invasive species has been difficult due to the limited number of experts in the field, said the committee.
 
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