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Clarksburg Appoints Temporary Town Clerk; Sets Voter Registration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Select Board appointed a temporary town clerk, effective immediately, during a special meeting held on Tuesday.
 
Paul McLatchy III, town clerk and administrative assistant in Rowe, has stepped into the vacancy. 
 
The town has been without a town clerk with the departure of Carol Jammalo, who gave notice in mid-July. Officials have been scrambling to cover voter registration and the upcoming special town meeting set for Aug. 26. 
 
"A lot of people have stepped up to the plate to help out and that's why I'm recognizing Jeanne Moulthrop, who spent four hours of her time," Select Board Chairman Ronald Boucher said for aiding in covering voter registration on Saturday. "People like that, they make a difference."
 
Boucher also noted the work that Stone and Select Board member Danielle Luchi had been doing to prepare for the special town meeting and upcoming state primary. 
 
The town will vote at the special town meeting on Aug. 26 whether to make the elected town clerk an appointed position as the town accountant and treasurer/tax collector have been for nearly a decade. 
 
Stone said she had reached out for help. "We really have a tremendous amount of work that has to be done this week," she said, and that McLatchy had offered to help out.
 
McLatchy arrives just in time for a second voter registration to be held on Saturday, Aug. 22, for state primary on Sept. 1. Voters may register or change party status on Saturday between the hours of 2 and 4 p.m. and 7 and 8 p.m. at the Senior Center on West Cross Road. 
 
Other upcoming voter deadlines are: 
 
Last day to apply for an absentee/early vote ballot by mail is Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 5 p.m.
 
• Last day to apply in person for an absentee ballot for the state primary is Monday, Aug. 31, at noon
 
• The state primary is Tuesday, Sept. 1, and voting will be held at the Senior Center from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
 
• Early in-person voting for the primary can be done at the Senior Center on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 2 to 4 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 23, from 2 to 4 p.m. and Monday, Aug. 24, from 11 to 4 p.m.
 
Town officials are reminding everyone to remember to wear a mask and maintain social distancing if you plan to register or to vote in person.

 


Tags: interim appointment,   town clerks,   

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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly.  A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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