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Nomination Papers Available for Clarksburg Town Election

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CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Nominations papers are available for the annual town election to be held in May. 
 
There are eight seats up for election, of which seven are currently held by incumbents. The single office open for the election is town moderator for a one-year term.
 
Longtime Moderator Bryan Tanner had indicated in the last few elections he was not interested in continuing his service and, last year, declined the office despite yet another write-in win. Temporary moderators were sworn in at the annual town meeting and later a special town meeting, with Ronald Boucher being elected at the special town meeting in August. He has continued to fulfill that role.
 
Boucher also serves as Select Board chairman and his three-year seat is up for election this year. He won his first term as a write-in in 2018 after moving to Clarksburg from North Adams. 
 
Also on the ballot will be two five-year seats on the Planning Board currently held by Erin Scott, who was elected in 2017 to complete a term, and Thomas Jammalo, re-elected in 2016; a three-year seat on the School Committee held by Cynthia Brule, first elected in 2018; and three-year seat on the Board of Health held by Norman Rolnick, who was appointed to complete the final year of a term in 2014 and re-elected twice. 
 
Other offices on the ballot are a one-year term for tree warden, held by Ernest Dix for many years; three-year term as library trustee, held by Debra Bua, and three-year term for War Memorial trustee held by Carlyle Chesbro Sr. 
 
Nomination papers are available until Friday, April 2, and must be filed with the names of at least 20 registered voters by Tuesday, April 6.  To schedule an appointment to obtain papers, contact the town clerk's office at 413-663-8255 or townclerk@clarksburgma.gov.
 
The last day to register to vote in the election is May 5 and the election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 25, from 10 to 8. 

Tags: election 2021,   town elections,   


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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 
 
The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.
 
"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.
 
"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 
 
Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 
 
Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 
 
Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.
 
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