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Pittsfield Lawn and Tractor has a New Name and Space

PITTSFIELD, Mass – Pittsfield Lawn and Tractor (PLT)  recently moved their location and changed their name to Western Mass Power Equipment.

The new location, 1685 West Housatonic Street, is just up the road from their former spot.

The business is still owned by the Wojtkowski brothers. The name, website, and phone number were bought by United Rentals, prompting Pittsfield Lawn and Tractor to rename.

"One of the owners has a niece that's in the advertising business out in Chicago, so she came up with name, logo, stuff like that. So that's where Western Mass Power Equipment came from. We are still owned by the Wojtkowski family. That the ownership has not changed, just the name has changed, the address and and the phone number," said the store's general manager, Chris Gingras.

United Rentals is also renting out Western Mass Power Equipment's former building. Because of the sale, Western Mass Power Equipment will no longer do rentals and heavy construction equipment sales. 

"Pittsfield lawn and tractor was founded by the Wojtkowski brothers in 1986, and grew over the years. And the decision was made last year to sell the rental portion of the business and the heavy construction equipment sales to United rentals," Gingras said.

The new building is built more for retail.

"This building was built for retail. You know, there's, even though we're currently only using one, it has two showrooms. It has gobs of space back there for parts and service. Has the ability to have us on one property and under one roof, which we were and we weren't before." Gingras said, "Sales, parts, and service was all on the property up the street. Service was in a separate building, but we had our trailer display law across the street, and so now we're going to be all under one roof. The guys are still servicing in the building we own across the street from the old PLT, that's where we moved our service department back in December. But that's not permanent."

The new building was bought by one of the owners three years ago with their son, making it the most logical place to move,

Western Mass Power Equipment started moving into the new location in December and about a month ago they were finally able to open their doors after securing a certificate of occupancy from the city. 

The store provides lawn equipment like mowers, chainsaws, snow blowers, ATVS and more. They also service equipment and vehicles.

The store is open Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm and 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.

Their new website is https://www.wmape.com/ the new phone number is 413-344-8777.

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.