CHESHIRE, Mass. — The town has received high marks from the Department of Public Health for its high COVID-19 vaccination rates.
Interim Town Administrator Mark Webber told the selectmen Tuesday that the Department of Public Health is happy with the town's vaccination rates among residents 65 and older.
"Cheshire is doing darn well with their vaccines… these figures put Cheshire on the upper end compared to other Berkshire communities," Webber said. "You are way past a lot of them."
Webber said 68 percent of Cheshire residents between the age of 65 and 74 have, at least, received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 98 percent of residents age 75 and older have received, at least, their first dose.
Webber thanked the Council on Aging for helping seniors navigate the vaccination process
During the selectmen's continued budget review, they agreed to level funding the recreation budget.
Recreation Committee member Robin Poirot said the committee hasn't really supported any town events recently with COVID-19 grounding most events. She said they hope to be able to support some regular summer events
"I would like to keep some of the traditional things that we do in the summer...all depending on what we are able to do." she said. "....I would like to keep everything that we have done so far and just add something more...I would like to keep it [the budget] same if we could."
This would include the hopeful return of the Cheshire Cheese Fest.
She added that their budget is running a surplus and she saw opportunities to engage the community with town-wide projects such as planting flowers on the rail trail or improving park spaces.
She even felt some money could go towards installing a town beach, if possible.
Resident Eilleen Quinn called in and requested that the town use some of these funds, around $1000, to install a privacy fence at the Appalachian Trail Campsite.
"It would promote safety and minimize the attraction to the site to anyone else besides the hikers," she said.
In open comment, resident Ben Garner alleged that the town clerk violated election law by allowing Michael "Mickey" Biagini Jr. to return election papers four days after the deadline.
"It is obvious to me that there seems to be some sort of questionable alliance between the town clerk and Biagini where election law may have been violated," he said. "...I just hope it is something you will look into."
Biagini is running for selectmen.
Garner suggested that questionable activity had also happened in past elections.
Chairwoman Michelle Francesconi said she contacted the election board as well as town counsel. She said it will be a regular agenda item until solved.
Selectman Mark Biagini, a relative, left the room during the conversation.
• The town will no longer pursue the senior/veterans tax work-off program because few town departments actually indicated that they would use it.
"It's done," Webber said. "I think it is done."
The program, which has been adopted by other Berkshire County municipalities, allows eligible seniors to work or complete tasks for their community. Instead of receiving payment, an earned amount is subtracted from their taxes.
• The board accepted the resignation of Zoning Board of Appeals alternate Sean Conley.
• The selectmen voted to return two military surplus generators to the government
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Hoosac Valley High School to Stage 'Suessical'
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Hoosac Valley High School will showcase their rendition of "Suessical," a musical based on the tales of Dr. Seuss by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
The performances are scheduled for Friday, March 15 at 7 pm, and Saturday, March 16 at 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online via the provided link. Prices are $8 for students and $10 for adults.
Directed by Rebecca Koczela and Amanda Watroba, the production features around 50 students participating as actors, pit band musicians, and backstage and tech crews. Notably, this year's cast includes several middle school students who have joined the high school production, marking their first experience performing on stage.
Taylor Garabedian scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Abby Scialabba scored 16 points for the ‘Canes, who got 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists from Ashlyn Lesure. click for more
On Saturday afternoon at Lowell’s Tsongas Center, the Hurricanes will take aim at Division 5 State Championships in girls and boys basketball. click for more
Pittsfield High's Matt Dupuis and Lee's Bella Kotek Sunday completed a Berkshire County sweep at the State Bowling Championships at Bowlero.
click for more
Emily Holian’s strike to open the 10th frame of the Wildcats’ second game against Worcester Tech all but assured Lee a team title at Bowlero Chicopee.
click for more
Hoosac struggled to get into rhythm on the offensive end until Joey McGovern got the 3-ball working. McGovern finished the game with 21 points including a triple in the fourth quarter that cemented him in the record books. It took him nearly the whole game but he was able to join the 1,000-point... click for more
Pittsfield High's Eliza Mullen won state title and in the giant slalom and slalom, winning the former discipline by 1.6 seconds and the latter by nearly 2.7 seconds.
click for more