Dalton Select Board Approves 19% Sewer Rate Increase

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board approved a 19 percent increase in sewer rates for fiscal 2023 on Monday.

With the current rate of $3.53 bi-annual metered rate per 1,000 gallons and an annual flat rate of $394, the town would be in an almost $172,000 deficit. Officials say this warranted the increase.

The bi-annual metered rate is estimated to be about $4.21 and the annual flat rate is estimated to increase by about $75.

"It's clear that there has to be an increase and this is due to the intergovernmental expense, the Pittsfield water treatment," Town Manager Tom Hutcheson said.

"This is actually the first year I think in a while we've got a hard estimate from the city and that's great, the problem being the estimate is a lot of money, about $230,000 roughly, so that's a substantial increase and that's what's leading to if we kept the same rate, that would be the $172,000 deficit."

In March, the Pittsfield City Council approved a 10 percent increase in water rates and a 12 percent increase in sewer rates per year for fiscal years 2022 and 2023. As the provider for Dalton's water, this raised the FY22 estimated bill to more than $1.1 million, which is a nearly $230,000 increase from FY21's around $938,000.

The city's rates last increased in 2019, when residents saw a 10 percent water increase and a 50 percent sewer increase.  

With the 19 percent increase, the town will have an estimated surplus of about $32,000, which is less than a third of what it expects to ask for its sewer stabilization fund that is intended to protect it against increases from Pittsfield or elsewhere.   

The finance team originally asked for a 20 percent increase and then dropped it down to 18 percent.  The Select Board decided on a rate that was in between.

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.