Mayor Tyer Cautions Residents Against Vaccine Line Jumping

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Linda Tyer on Tuesday voiced concern on an issue with line jumping for COVID-19 vaccinations to the City Council.

"I know you're anxious," Tyer said to the council and the general public during the Zoom meeting. "We all want to get vaccinated but there is a very specific process, especially as it relates to the timing of first and second doses. It's really important that we follow the protocols that are in place so that people who are eligible for a second dose are able to get into those appointments."

More than 200 people showed up at Saturday's second vaccination clinic at Berkshire Community College expecting to receive the first vaccination and were turned away because community members were sharing the private link for scheduling a second dose with friends and family, Tyer said.

When community members sign up for the wrong dosage, that is reportedly taking vaccination appointments from those who are eligible.

"What's happening is, understandably, because people are so eager and so anxious to get vaccinated, members of the community are sharing that link with their friends and their family," Tyer explained. "And so people are using that link to schedule a first dose, even though that isn't the intention of that link. And what that means is, for example, we had close to 200 people who tried to get a first dose on Saturday. That means, though, that there were 200 people who didn't, or couldn't get an appointment for their second dose for which they are eligible to receive."

Most doses being received in the Berkshires over the last couple weeks have been for people to receive their second shot of the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. 

The BCC site aims to have clinics on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays but this depends on the vaccine allocation that is received from the state. The clinics will continue to run those three days and if the time comes when they receive a larger allocation of the vaccine, they can expand days and hours.

"I think that is something for us to be really proud of, and I think it speaks to the organization that's happened around getting vaccines available to the people of our communities," she said.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

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.