image description — Children try out the new ADA-compliant picnic table installed at the Dalton Public Library. There is no fourth seat to allow for people using mobility devices.

Dalton Installs Seven Accessible Picnic Tables

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
06:17PM / Wednesday, June 26, 2024Print Story | Email Story

Six of the seven tables have been installed; the seventh is planned for the Pine Grove Park pavilion. The tables were purchased through a grant.

DALTON, Mass. — The Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant picnic tables have been installed at Greenridge, Pinegrove and Chamberland parks and at the library.

During the ADA Committee meeting last week, ADA coordinator Alyssa Maschino informed the committee that the seven ADA picnic tables from Massachusetts Correctional Industries had been installed.

They were purchased using a $6,414.31 Municipal ADA Improvement Grant.

The round metal tables have three seats with one open spot for wheelchair and mobility device users. There are two at Greenridge Park, two at Chamberland Park and one at the library.

One table has been installed at Pine Grove in the play area. After anti-theft measures have been implemented, another one will be installed under the pavilion.

The application for the fiscal 2025 Municipal ADA Improvement Grant has been submitted so the town can invest in ADA-accessible counters for the assessors, clerk, and tax collectors' offices in Town Hall.

The committee will know if it has been approved for the grant in September or October. If the grant is approved the deadline to complete the project is close to the Massachusetts Correctional Industries program's 35-week queue.

Committee members agreed to reserve a spot in the queue before being approved for the grant to ensure the counters arrive before the deadline.

The cost of the counters does not include the installation. However, committee Chair Patrick Pettit said he and committee member John Curro know a local carpenter who may be able to install them.

To cover the cost of the installation, the committee would have to utilize some funds from the building and grounds budget. Building Grounds Superintendent Jeff Burch is aware of this, Maschino said.

Massachusetts Correctional Industries sent plans for the counters, which were slightly off but could be resolved by moving the counter back. Pettit said this won't affect the price.

The committee originally proposed including ADA buttons for the assessors, clerk, and tax collectors' offices in the grant application, but the town did not receive a quote in time.

Tags: accessibility, ADA, picnic,

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State Auditor DiZoglio Pushes for Beacon Hill Transparency

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:29AM / Monday, September 28, 2026

The state auditor called on voters to support Question 1 on the November ballot, which would bring most legislative and governor's office records under the public records law.

DALTON, Mass. — Transparency is not a one-party issue, and democracy is also "under attack" here in Massachusetts, not just at the federal level, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio said during a presentation to the Dalton Democratic Town Committee.

More than a dozen people filled Nessacus Regional Middle School's auditorium Thursday as DiZoglio outlined her belief that power on Beacon Hill has become concentrated among a small number of House leaders, limiting legislative debate and creating what she described as a system of "rewards and punishment" to influence lawmakers.

"That system is really destroying democracy here in Massachusetts," she said.

The system was designed with a system of checks and balances, including giving the people a right to create laws at the ballot box, DiZoglio said.

"We have the right to vote for our elected representatives and senators to represent us and to be our voice at the state house. The people have constitutional rights in this commonwealth, but the people's rights are being ignored over and over and over again," she said

"This isn't about liberal, moderate, conservative. This is an everyone issue. That's why you see so many people coming out and supporting these transparency issues, regardless of party affiliation."

Since being elected in 2022, DiZoglio has been advocating for more transparency and accountability within the Legislature, specifically through the 2024 Question 1 ballot question which authorizes the state auditor to audit the Legislature.

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