Dalton Committee Seeks Funding for Invasive Species

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
02:37PM / Wednesday, March 27, 2024Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — The Open Space and Recreation Committee discussed addressing the invasive species at the Pines trailhead during its meeting last week.

There will possibly be a money article on the annual town warrant requesting voters allocate $20,000 from free cash so that the committee can apply for a Community Forest Stewardship program grant. The Select Board placed it on the annual town meeting warrant on Monday.

During a walkthrough of the Pines, Jess Toro, co-owner of Native Habitat Restoration, urged the committee to apply for the program.

According to Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson, although the grant would be reimbursed, the town needs to allocate the amount the committee is requesting in order to apply.

If approved, the first phase would be to hire a consultant and focus on cutting and painting large invasives and vines in the 17 acres, staying out of any wetlands and wetland buffers.

The committee has been thinking about how to address invasive species at the Pines since the start of the project and this year will be taking its first step into the long process of invasive species management.

However, finding a professional to help with invasive species has been difficult due to the limited number of experts in the field, said the committee.

In other news:

• The committee will contact Dan Esko to inquire about the status of his efforts to establish a skate park in town. More information on the endeavor here.

Tags: invasive species, outdoor recreation, trails,

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CBRSD Member Towns Will See Higher Assessments

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
02:43PM / Sunday, March 08, 2026

DALTON, Mass. — Despite budget cuts made by Central Berkshire Regional School District, its seven member towns can still anticipate higher assessments.

The district has decreased its initial operating projections from nearly 10 percent down to 4.9 percent. However, the town assessments range from increases of 7.3 percent to 15 percent.

Preliminary projections had the full budget at $40,284,107, however, it is now eyeing a significantly lower budget of $38,459,202.

Of the total $38.5 million budget, town assessments would cover 54.07 percent at $20,794,393; state aid would contribute $10,238,937, 26.62 percent; grant funds $2,353,097; revolving funds $2,338,645; state aid for transportation $1,246,797; an excess and deficiency appropriation $1,227,333, and local funds $260,000.

The project net town assessments are:

Becket for $2,948,432, an increase of 8.78 percent
Cummington for 684,628, an increase of 7.36 percent
Dalton for $10,702,857, an increase of 12.11 percent
Hinsdale for $3,412,948, an increase of 15.10 percent
Peru for $1,148,177, an increase of 12.42 percent
Washington for $861,996, an increase of 11.19 percent
Windsor for $1,035,355, an increase of 13.76 percent

The district is seeing the same decline in enrollment happening across the state, which is resulting in a decrease in Chapter 70 state aid.

That is somewhat stabilized as the district is now in the "held harmless" category, so for the first time the state is saying the district's need in aid for its students is less than what it got last year.

With the number of costs outside the district's control, even a zero percent increase would still result in higher town assessments.

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