Letter: Affordable Housing Proposal

To the Editor:

An Affordable Housing Proposal

Units of affordable housing in Berkshire County need not be created with a one size fits all mindset. Affordable for who? Very often affordable housing is very costly, even excessively so for its creators or municipalities.

Here are some ground rules for a modest proposal taking these issues into consideration. First, not all units have to be built/completed at once. They can be put into place/built over a number of years, as budgets permit. Infrastructure costs should be kept low by using very close-by already existing infra structure.

Contract with a company like offsite B & B Manufacturing of Adams to build these affordable units, negotiating favorable prices based on volume and other cost saving methods. See: bbtinyhouses.com

These units will permanently be on wheels and tethered. They will have a downstairs bedroom and a second-floor loft. Suitable for a younger single person or young couple without children. Two-year leases between the municipality and tenant based on tenants' income, resources and family size. Municipality will map out lots and install all the site's hookups utilities at one time. New units can be added over several years.

Where? In Williamstown, the Spruces property with two or three rows directly along Route 2. I recall that an RV park was an allowable use of the property, and along the highway was outside the flood plain. However, the units could be moved during unlikely major flooding via their wheels. Units could even be color coordinated for a stunning effect.

Ken Swiatek
Williamstown, Mass.

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.