Pittsfield Hosts Open Houses on Integrated Water Resources Management Plan

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PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The City of Pittsfield's Department of Public Services and Utilities will be hosting two open houses on Nov. 10 in preparation of developing an Integrated Water Resources Management Plan (IWRMP).
 
The city is developing the IWRMP to evaluate the city's drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. It aims to balance sustainable growth, environmental protection, and affordability while identifying infrastructure needs and management strategies. The plan will provide a roadmap for effective long-term water resource management in the city for years to come.
 
Community members will have two opportunities to learn more about this work and provide feedback on how the city should prioritize its water infrastructure:
  • Monday, Nov. 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center, 330 North Street, Pittsfield
  • Monday, Nov. 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the former Community Design Center, 429 North Street, Pittsfield
The city received $1.2 million dollars in funding from the Clean Water Trust to develop this plan.
 
This investment will support the critical planning for the city's water infrastructure. For additional information on this meeting or on the IWRMP, visit Integrated Water
 
Resources on the city's website or email Commissioner Morales at rmorales@cityofpittsfield.org.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Police Facility Report Complete; Station Future Still Uncertain

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee's final report is complete but the future of the station remains uncertain. 
 
Several members of the committee attended the Select Board meeting last week, as co-Chair Craig Wilbur presented four options delineated in the presentation — build on town-owned land, build on private land, renovate or repurpose the existing buildings, and do nothing. The full report can be found here
 
According to the report, addressing the station's needs coincides with the town facing significant financial challenges, with rising fixed costs and declining state aid straining its budget. 
 
These financial pressures restrict the town's ability to fund major capital projects and a new police station has to compete with a backlog of deferred infrastructure needs like water, sewer, roads, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
 
In June 2024, Police Chief Deanna Strout informed the board of the station's dire condition — including issues with plumbing, mold, ventilation, mice, water damage, heating, and damaged cells — prompting the board to take action on two fronts. 
 
The board set aside American Rescue Plan Act funds to address the immediately dire issues, including the ventilation, and established the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee to navigate long-term options
 
Very early on it was determined that the current facility is not adequate enough to meet the needs of a 21st-century Police Facility. This determination was backed up following a space needs assessment by Jacunski Humes Architects LLC
 
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