Dalton Finalizes Town Manager Contract

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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Eric Anderson
DALTON, Mass. — Town Manager Eric Anderson will start in his new role Nov. 17. 
 
It was announced during the Select Board meeting on Monday that the town had successfully negotiated a three-year contract with Anderson. 
 
"The contract negotiations were as smooth as possibly one could imagine, and Eric Anderson was here yesterday for the signing of the contract,"  interim Town Manager Henry "Terry" Williams told iBerksires. 
 
"I met with him for a number of hours yesterday, and he and I are looking forward to his arrival, and it appears to me as though he's a perfect fit for the town going forward."
 
Earlier in October, Williams' contract was extended through Nov. 21 to aid in Anderson's onboarding to facilitate a smooth transition. 
 
Anderson's first year salary is set at $142,500, Williams said. During the search, the Select Board approved a salary range of $135,000 to $155,000 to attract more applicants in a competitive market for town managers in Western Massachusetts.
 
When Thomas Hutcheson announced his retirement as town manager earlier this year, the board planned ahead, establishing a flexible town manager budget to cover the interim town manager's compensation and onboarding for the new town manager, Williams said
 
If there are any shortages the town can cover it with reserve fund or interdepartmental transfers, he said. 
 
Anderson was hired for the town manager position in September, following interviews with the three finalists — Anderson, Lisa Blackmer, and Jonathan Elwell. 
 
The board emphasized that all the candidates were highly qualified; however, Anderson's well-researched answers and prior experience that aligned with the town's issues stood out.
 
Anderson has six years of experience as the town administrator of his hometown, Andover, Conn., which has a population of about 3,200 residents and a select board form of government. 
 
He said  he had experience dealing with circumstances similar to what Dalton is currently facing, including the concerns over Berkshire Concrete's mining operations and the discussions surrounding a new police facility stemming from the current facility's deteriorating condition. 
 
More information on Anderson here

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Companion Corner: Princess at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There is an energetic girl waiting to find her new home at the Berkshire Humane Society.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.  

Princess is a six year old shepherd mix that has been at the shelter for just over a month.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Princess.

"She's very social, very friendly. When you're out walking her, she just wants to go say hi to every single new person. Loves to make new friends. She's a lot of fun. She's very active. She's very spunky. She's very playful, and she's going to need a very very active family who's going to do a lot with her." 

But Princess is no stranger to the shelter. She was a puppy five years ago and got adopted quickly, but now she needs a new family to take care of her.

"She was adopted out fairly quickly as a young puppy. She's been in the same home for the past five years. Unfortunately, they were moving out of state somewhere," Olivieri said. "They could not take her with them, so she ended up coming as a return to shelter, and she came back to stay with us."

Princess needs to go to a home as the only animal or with other male dogs that are her size or bigger.

"Her perfect home would be kids eight and up. No cats. No small animals. She has quite a prey drive. She could go to a home with another dog around her size or larger, preferably a male dog. She does a little bit better with male dogs, and she's looking for a home where people are home quite a bit, so that she's not left alone for too long. She has some separation anxiety," Olivieri said. 

She also needs a very active home that can let her use her energy every day, as she is very rambunctious. Especially with playing with her favorite toy, the flirt pole.

"She could use a home where people are going to give her a lot of attention and more than just a few walks a day; she's going to need lots of exercise, lots of playtime, lots of mental stimulation," Olivieri said. "She likes to learn, so someone who would be willing to take her to training classes or work on some training with her, as well as hikes, getting out and about, doing new things, different things. She is very athletic. She'd excel at things like agility, some dog sports. Just someone who is really going to want to engage and do a lot of different kinds of activities with her." 

Once you let her get her energy out, she is a cuddler who wouldn't mind being held like a baby from time to time.

"She's very sweet. She's very cuddly. She's very affectionate, but she is not a couch potato. She will stay on that couch with you for a little bit, and then she's ready to go off and do something else. So she's very busy. She's very active," Olivieri said. "Once all of her exercise needs are met during the day, she will settle down nicely, and she will want to be right by your side, cuddle with you at night on the couch, sleep with you."

Princess is very healthy but does experience some anxiety and is not fully potty trained and might have the occasional accident.

"She does have a little bit of anxiety, so she is on some medication for it right now," Olivieri said. "So a lot of structure, a lot of outlets, and familiarity, getting used to a new routine and everything is gonna be really good for her. I mean, she's just lovely. Like I said, she's very social. She likes to play with other dogs. She likes to meet new people."

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