Pittsfield Approaching Last Year to Spend ARPA Funds

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The last year to spend Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act funds is approaching; nearly $30 million of the $41 million has been expended. 

The city had until the end of 2024 to allocate all of the $40.6 million it received, and the funds must be spent by the end of 2026. By the end of June, $29,836,419 of the ARPA money had been spent, and 66 percent of the 84 awarded projects were completed, and several more are expected to wrap up by the third quarter. 

More than $17.3 million has been spent addressing negative economic impacts, $5.8 million on infrastructure, and nearly $4.6 million on public health. The rest was spent on revenue replacement and administration, about $2 million. 

The federal American Rescue Plan Act brought about $8.7 billion to Massachusetts through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.

The Pontoosuc Lake Park renovation was boosted by $690,000 in ARPA funds for picnic tables and benches, to improve handicap accessibility with a new promenade and paved paths, and to restore the wetland and bank area. 

That project is well underway, with a wooden boardwalk stretching across the shoreline and new stairs leading down. Water access points are planned for approximately 24 percent of the shoreline, following community members' assertion that bank plantings limited access for swimming and fishing. 

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.