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Lanesborough Winterfest Returns, Work Planned for Route 7

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The town's winter festival will return, and the state plans to repave more than half mile of Route 7. 

Town Administrator Gina Dario delivered several town updates during Monday's Select Board meeting. The second annual Winter Fun Fest hosted by the Community Development Committee is on Sunday, Feb. 1, from noon to 3 p.m. at The Venue at Skyline. 

There will be food, kids' activities, a coffee and hot cocoa bar, a cash bar, and music by Lance Entertainment. The Community Development Committee launched the winter festival last year as a way to get people together the snow season. It is a smaller version of Lanesborough Day, which is held in warm weather. 

"We'd love volunteers," Dario said. 

Residents are asked to email Lanesboroughday@gmail.com with any questions or to volunteer. 

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has advised Lanesborough that a complete resurfacing of the road and sidewalk along 0.682 miles of Route 7 is proposed.  


The project extends from Town Hall north to Bill Laston Memorial Field, and work includes roadway resurfacing, new sidewalks, new guardrails, pavement markings, upgraded utilities and drainage, resurfaced driveway aprons, and erosion control measures. 

There is also movement on the town's effort to craft a new open space and recreation plan. 

The Open Space and Recreation Plan Advisory Committee is working with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission on the town's new plan. Hundreds of people responded to the committee's survey on local priorities, and a community conversation will be held at Town Hall on Jan. 27, where the committee will also discuss next steps. 

"They wanted to thank the community and everyone who responded to the survey. They got about 300 responses, which is a fantastic turnout, especially given other surveys that we've had," Dario said. 

Additionally, all-ages technology training classes will be offered on Tuesdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall. Dario explained that this is part of a grant from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, and the time has been adjusted to capture people who may work during the day. 

In other news, the Select Board voted to have joint meetings with the Finance Committee to review the upcoming budget and meet with department heads. Chair Deborah Maynard explained that this would allow department heads to present their budget to both entities simultaneously over two meetings on March 2 and March 16. 

"One of the agreements, as I understand, was that they would allow some of the standard agenda items for the Select Board and Finance Committee on that joint meeting so that we wouldn't duplicate unless absolutely needed," Dario explained. 


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Pittsfield Council OKs $15M Borrowing for Drinking Water System

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council last week approved borrowing $15 million for drinking water system upgrades, and heard a commitment from the Department of Public Works to consider solutions for the intersection of Onota and Linden Streets. 

Last month, the council supported the borrowing for the city's two drinking water plants during its regular meeting. 

Commissioner of Public Services Ricardo Morales explained that the decades-old filtration units need to be babysat "much more" than usual, and the city is due for new technology. 

Pittsfield's two Krofta water treatment plants were installed in the 1980s and are said to be beyond anticipated useful service and at risk for catastrophic failure that could result in a shortage of potable water. Krofta is a compact filtration system that Pittsfield will continue to use, with four new units at the Cleveland WTP and two at the Ashley WTP.  

"When the Krofta was built in 1980, I was there on the council, and here we are looking to repair or replace certain parts," Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren said. 

"So 40 years later, I think we need to do that." 

The full drinking water project is expected to cost $165 million over the next eight years, with $150 million for long-term construction and $15 million for near-term needs. The initial ask would fund the final design and permitting for Phases 1-3 and Phase 1 of interim updates. 

The $15 million borrowing breaks down into $9.2 million for the design and permitting, $2.4 million for the construction of Phase 1, and $1.4 million in city allowances, including owner's project manager services, land acquisition, legal fees, and contingency. 

Pittsfield's water system includes six surface water reservoirs, five high-hazard dams, one low-hazard dam, two water treatment plants, two chlorinator stations, and gravity flow from the plants to the city. It serves Pittsfield, Dalton, Lenox, and the Berkshire Mall property. 

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