Letter: Comment to Ken Swiatek's Letter on Zoning Proposal

To the Editor:

Ready. Fire. Aim. That seems to be a common way of doing town business in Williamstown these days.

It may be a holdover from the Covid Crazy Days of Zoom-only discussion, where having an eye-to-eye, in-depth conversation was nearly impossible. And it is not just the Planning Board. Educating our townspeople on fact-based reasons for a proposal seems often to elude many of our public representatives. Opportunity for questioning and public comment BEFORE an idea or expensive new hire is officially put forth for a vote seems to have taken a back seat in town decision-making. And our out-dated town meeting is no place to hash out important issues. For many good reasons, the majority of eligible participants cannot participate.

Spring is a time of new beginnings. Haven't we agreed that we will make a special effort to make all voices heard? Even those who may feel or be marginalized? Understandably, our civic leaders are weary and battle-scarred. We must thank them for serving through a very challenging period. But now let them make a concerted effort to hear and value the many voices who wish to be heard on a number of critical issues facing our town. We will all be the better for it.

Donna C Wied
WIlliamstown, Mass. 

New Ashford Fire Department Puts New Truck into Service

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
07:35AM / Sunday, May 05, 2024

New Ashford Fire Department Chaplain J.D. Hebert gives an invocation on Saturday morning.

NEW ASHFORD, Mass. — With a blessing from its chaplain and a ceremonial dousing from a fire hose, the New Ashford Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday christened its first new apparatus in two decades.

 

The company purchased a 2003 HME Central States pumper from the town of Pelham earlier this year.

 

On Saturday, the department held a brief ceremony during which Chaplain J.D. Hebert blessed both the new engine and the company's turnout gear.

 

After the apparatus was sprayed with a hose, a handful of New Ashford's bravest helped push it as it was backed into the station on Ingraham Road.

 

Fire Chief Frank Speth said the new engine has a 1,500 gallon pump and carries 1,000 gallons of water. And it replaces a truck that was facing some costly repairs to keep on the road.

 

"We had a 1991 Spartan," Speth said. "When we had the pump tested, it needed about $40,000 worth of repairs. Being it's almost 30 years old, I said to the town, 'We put the $40,000 in, but then how many more years can we get out of it?'

 

"Once you get into the pump situation, you get into, 'This needs to be done, and this needs to be done,' and it could be more than $40,000. So do we want to spend that amount of money to repair that engine or get something that will replace it."