Williamstown Police Looking into Weekend Break-Ins

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Police are looking into a spate of crimes that were reported last weekend.
 
On Sunday, May 21, at about 10 a.m., police received a report of a break-in at Crisp Catering at 96 Water St., police files show.
 
The caller reported that two males and one female broke into the business and stole "cases of alcohol," according to the police call log.
 
The log indicates that there was video footage of the break-in.
 
Video of what appeared to be surveillance footage was posted in a local Facebook group over the weekend with a request for help in identifying the people seen entering a local business and stealing a large quantity of wine. That post and footage subsequently was taken down by the poster.
 
Police Chief Michael Ziemba on Thursday indicated the Water Street break-in is an open investigation.
 
One day earlier, police received three different calls from people reporting break-ins on Hoxsey Street.
 
The logs show calls at 9:30 a.m., 11:25 a.m. and 3:18 p.m. on Saturday, May 20.
 
The first reported that their vehicle door was unlocked and a shed door opened with nothing reported missing, the log reads.
 
The second, at 11:25 a.m., reported "vehicles being gone through." One of the vehicles had a laptop computer that was removed from the vehicle and placed on the roof, according to the log. The same caller reported a pickup truck was found with its tailgate down but all contents remaining.
 
At 3:18 Saturday afternoon, a third caller told police that their, "unlocked vehicle was broken into last night and was gone through, the doors left open," according to the call log.

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Williamstown Charter Review Panel OKs Fix to Address 'Separation of Powers' Concern

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Charter Review Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to endorse an amended version of the compliance provision it drafted to be added to the Town Charter.
 
The committee accepted language designed to meet concerns raised by the Planning Board about separation of powers under the charter.
 
The committee's original compliance language — Article 32 on the annual town meeting warrant — would have made the Select Board responsible for determining a remedy if any other town board or committee violated the charter.
 
The Planning Board objected to that notion, pointing out that it would give one elected body in town some authority over another.
 
On Wednesday, Charter Review Committee co-Chairs Andrew Hogeland and Jeffrey Johnson, both members of the Select Board, brought their colleagues amended language that, in essence, gives authority to enforce charter compliance by a board to its appointing authority.
 
For example, the Select Board would have authority to determine a remedy if, say, the Community Preservation Committee somehow violated the charter. And the voters, who elect the Planning Board, would have ultimate say if that body violates the charter.
 
In reality, the charter says very little about what town boards and committees — other than the Select Board — can or cannot do, and the powers of bodies like the Planning Board are regulated by state law.
 
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