Letter: Please Elect Tony Pagliarulo

To the Editor:

As we approach our town elections on Monday, I write to encourage residents to vote for Antonio "Tony" Pagliarulo for Select Board. My conclusion from attending both evening sessions of town meeting is that Dalton voters are looking for change — and that Tony will provide the change that they seek.

Tony is aware of the financial stress that many Dalton homeowners currently experience and has proposed new town policies that will provide tax relief. As a volunteer and elected member of town committees over decades as a Dalton resident, Tony knows the town problems that have persisted for years — and will tackle those issues through innovative approaches.

Tony hopes to ease current voter frustration with the status quo by proposing a town charter project (i.e., a "constitution" for Dalton) and a Select Board policy manual that will provide a code of ethics for our town leaders. If elected, he'll immediately set to work helping to resolve the sand mining pollution crisis that plagues Dalton neighborhoods and constitutes a health and safety threat for our entire town.

Because Tony knows Dalton and its residents — and has the best interests of the town as his goal — he will make a terrific Select Board member. Please vote for change on Monday, March 12. Vote for Tony Pagliarulo. 

Michele Marantz
Dalton, 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.