BHS Announces Final Traffic Plans for Medical Arts Complex

07:39AM / Friday, October 31, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) has announced that the final plans are in place for opening of a new entry and exit for its Medical Arts Complex (MAC) and the city's plans for reopening North Street in front of Berkshire Medical Center.

The new MAC lot entry and exit, which provides access from the new city rotary and the main BMC driveway, will open to traffic on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. This will allow patients to access the MAC parking lot from the rotary through the BMC driveway. Entry and exit will continue from Charles Street, as well.

The city has announced that on the same date, Monday, Nov. 3, the section of North Street in front of BMC will be reopened to one-way traffic – southbound only off the rotary and from the BMC driveway.

BHS reminds pedestrians to use extreme caution when crossing North Street in front of BMC with the reopening of motor vehicle traffic. Limited on-street parking in front of the BHS Bishop Clapp Building will continue, facing south only.

A traffic and parking map can be found on the BHS website.

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Dalton Fire District Seeks State OK for Permanent Chief

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
03:26PM / Wednesday, March 11, 2026

DALTON, Mass. — The Fire District is considering interim Fire Chief Christopher Francis Cachat for the permanent chief position, pending required state approval.

Cachat has been serving as chief since January 2025, with the duties being split between himself, Administrative Deputy Chief Charlotte Crane, and Capt. Dennis Tinker.

However, one challenge to making his appointment permanent is that Cachat is older than 65, the mandatory retirement age for firefighters in Massachusetts.

In 1987, the state eliminated the maximum age and mandatory retirement requirements for most public employees, but firefighters were exempt from this ruling.

The law requires the personnel administrator to study whether a firefighter can serve past the mandatory retirement age, considering job risks, physical demands, and the costs of injuries for older personnel.

Towns and cities can seek a home-rule petition from the state Legislature and governor to allow an individual to continue serving in a position past the age of 65, and the Fire District is in the process of doing just that.

State Rep. Leigh Davis filed a home-rule bill last March on the district's behalf to allow Cachat, who has been with the department for four decades, to continue serving until age 70, provided he remains physically and mentally capable of fulfilling the role’s duties.

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