Lanesborough Police Department Moves to Temporary Location

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Lanesborough Police Department has officially moved to its temporary location at 545 South Main St., as the department still waits for a brand-new station. 

The department's been slowly transferring items in over the past days and, with Monday's installation of a landline, the police have officially moved in.

The move, official as of Aug. 1, comes after the $65,000 lease for the temporary space was approved by the Select Board in April. Necessary work for the location was minimal, meaning the department was able to begin the process of moving in soon after. 

"I'm very appreciative to everyone that contributed to this project," said Police Chief Robert Derksen. "And obviously, the officials and residents of Lanesborough for supporting us and giving us a much more functional and safer environment for the next couple of years, while we plan on building the new facility." 

The Police Station Building Committee proposed the space as a temporary location while formulating plans for a new station. The group made finding the department a temporary location, as it waits for the new station, a priority.

"We can pat ourselves on the back for what we've accomplished so far. It's a huge piece, but it's also a smaller piece of the picture of a new building," said Committee Chair Kristen Tool of the temporary station at a meeting last month. She noted signage for the building should be ready during August. 

Plans for the new station are still ongoing, as the committee recently got permission to explore other sites for the project, looking last week at the former Skyline Country Club. The group is also working with EMS Director Jennifer Weber to get the town's emergency services involved with the project, which could allow for more grant opportunities.

The future of the previous police station at 8 Prospect St. is still undecided. The Police Station Building Committee discovered in March the property has a deed restriction requiring the town to maintain it as a public park. 

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.