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Firefighters quickly contained a fire that started in the garage but its cause is under investigation.
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Pittsfield Firefighters Respond to Blaze on East Street

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A section of East Street was closed for more than an hour as firefighters knocked down a blaze at a building on the Haddad Subaru lot. 
 
The fire was in a former home turned office between the Ford and Subaru dealerships. It was called in just before 8 p.m.
 
"There was a fire in the wall in the garage," said Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Noyes, referring to the small two-car garage on the east side of the building. "The investigators are on scene trying to figure out what started it."
 
He estimated it took about 15 minutes to contain and douse the blaze but checking for extensions in the building "takes quite a bit of time."
 
The damage could be seen about the one-story garage where it connects to the two-story Dutch colonial. 

Tags: structure fire,   

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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

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.
 
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