Clarksburg Keeping Municipal Buildings Closed to Public

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
12:54PM / Tuesday, November 03, 2020Print Story | Email Story

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The governor's orders issued this week restricting gatherings means that Clarksburg public buildings won't be reopening any time soon.

The Select Board, in a brief emergency meeting on Tuesday morning, voted to keep the library, Town Hall and Community Center closed indefinitely effective Nov. 4.

The board had worked with the Board of Health to prepare for reopening the buildings to the public on Monday. But Gov. Charlie Baker this week pulled back on gatherings as part of several orders made to address an uptick in novel coronavirus cases in the state.

The reopening had been dependent upon getting the square footage of the buildings to determine the occupancy levels. The governor's orders, effective Friday, Nov. 6, are that personal can have a maximum of 10 people and event venues 25, as along as 6 feet of social distancing is maintained.

Board member Danielle Luchi asked that the motion allow the library to continue its curbside operations.

"I know they like have their trustees help out at the library and now I just want to make sure, hopefully, that they're being cautious and keeping it under 10 people," she said.

Chairman Ronald Boucher did not see it as an issue since the library had been functioning this way for a while.

The Town Hall reopening would mainly have affected access to the Selectmen's Meeting Room since most operations are being done by phone, email and secure drop box. However, the Council on Aging had been hoping to reopen the Community Center for activities for small groups of seniors.

The date was set for Nov. 4 because of the general election being held (today) Tuesday; the polls are open at the Community Center until 8 p.m.

A message was sent to boards and department heads about the decision. Luchi asked that signs be posted as well.

"Town officials want to be sure we continue to remain cautious in order to keep everyone as safe as possible," the message reads. "Please share with members of your respective boards and committees."

"It's just better to be cautious, you know," Boucher said. "We've gone this long, a bit longer won't kill us."

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Clarksburg School Committee Considers Lowering Paid Time Off Payout Threshold

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
06:27AM / Wednesday, October 07, 2026

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The School Committee will review its paid time off payout policy and potentially lower the minimum service requirement for employees to collect a payout upon leaving.

The conversation began at an Oct. 1 meeting, where the committee requested that a recently retired employee receive his full payout even though he served 16 years rather than meeting the current 20-year threshold.

"I think 20 years is a lot for people," School Committee member Cindy Brule said. "I think we need a number that is more realistic."

Assistant Superintendent Tara Barnes noted that this is another instance where Clarksburg's municipal policy differs from the school's. Most municipal employees in Clarksburg can collect a payout after 10 years of service.

The employee in question was Mike Peters, a recently retired custodian who sought to cash in on 87 sick days and three personal days.

"If he had taken those days over the 16 years, it would have caused disruption," School Committee member Dan Haskins said after supporting the payout.

In Principal Kimberly Rougeau's report, she shared that the school year has started smoothly and that staff have completed several professional development sessions.

Rougeau added that the school is essentially fully staffed. She welcomed new physical education teacher Heather Gray as well as Pat Wood, the new Special Education and 504 Coordinator. She noted that Gray is also a speech-language pathologist who can assist with the school's caseload, adding that both hires have "hit the ground running."

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