Extra Dalton Water Seats Stuck on Beacon Hill

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
06:21PM / Tuesday, March 03, 2026Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass.— The proposed amendment to the Fire District's Charter, which would expand the Board of Water Commissioners from three to five members, is still under state review.

With election season approaching, District Treasurer/Clerk Melanie Roucoulet said she has received several questions and concerns about when the Board of Water Commissioners will expand from three to five members.

During elections last May, voters approved a citizen's petition to change the board to five members in an effort to reduce the risk of Open Meeting Law violations. The change increases the number of members to have a quorum.

According to state Rep. Leigh Davis' office, the bill was passed to be engrossed in the House and is currently within the Senate Rules Committee, Roucoulet said.

State Sen. Paul Marks' office has written a letter to the committee asking for the bill to be released so it can continue through the legislative process. However, as of yet, there isn't an estimated timeline, Roucoulet said.

She said she was informed it could take up to two years.

Prudential Committee Chair Daniel Filiault explained that one challenge with the amendment is that it alters the charter, requiring a legal review to ensure it has the proper language .

"That did create somewhat of a bottleneck for a period of time, because they have to make sure that that's all done properly," he said.

The deadline to pull nomination papers for the upcoming election is March 22, which are available in Roucoulet's office.

Offices to be filled:

Prudential Committee: two seats, a one-year and a three-year term.

Water Commissioner: One seat for three years)

Auditor: One for one year.

Moderator: One for one year

This year's annual meeting will be held Tuesday, May 12, at the Stationery Factory.

Tags: legislation, water district,

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Crane Park's Mini-Pitch is Open for Fun

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:18AM / Wednesday, October 21, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Town officials celebrated the opening of the new Crane Parks mini-pitch on Tuesday.

Players from several local soccer programs, community leaders, and project partners gathered to kick the ceremonial first pitch into the goal on the new facility.

Back in May, the Parks Commission endorsed a project to place a mini-pitch over the aging, cracked concrete surface of Crane Park's former rink. A mini-pitch is a compact, modular field typically used for soccer, and it can also accommodate inline skates.

"The mini-pitch system will create a space that encourages physical activity and welcomes play through teamwork. The space will serve as a location for the community to gather for outdoor fun and recreation for many years ahead. They'll be able to put their cell phones down for a few minutes and actually engage in some great outdoor entertainment," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.

The project was funded entirely by grants. In June, the City Council accepted the gift of the mini-pitch facility, valued at over $100,000, and $10,000 from the Mill Town Foundation to ready the site.

The facility has a galvanized steel border with built-in goals and a rubber plastic surface that is clicked together. Cleats are not allowed on the surface, but sneakers and other sports shoes are.

The mini-pitch system came with a light tower and two LED lamps, but Crane Park does not have power, so it won't be illuminated. That could change in the future, officials said.

The pitch is open for the community every day, but Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath reminded users to be mindful as they play as well as to respect the pitch and the neighborhood it resides in.

McGrath said the idea grew out of conversations with Andy Wrba, program director for the Mill Town Foundation.

"There's been a deep, deep soccer community in Pittsfield and throughout the Berkshires for a long time. I've seen it as a multi-generational way for communities to connect and pass down lessons and connect families and everyone. And a big part of that has been the West State Soccer League," Wrba said.

He said the goal is to keep the space active and encourage outdoor recreation and youth engagement.

McGrath said that with the partnership from Mill Town and the city's park commission they were able to bring the pitch to the finish line.

"It's a testament to our ability to bring new and unique facilities into our city that accommodate youth sports. And it really, at the end of the day, is about promotion of soccer. And we are just so pleased that our partners all came together and that we were able to get this mini-pitch completed," McGrath said.

Other contributors as well were the U.S. Soccer Foundation, who provided the mini-pitch system, surface materials, and installation assistance at no cost to the city, as well as Massachusetts Youth Soccer who partnered with Pittsfield to bring the system to the city.

"All these contributions made this project possible, and highlights how our community continues through public and private partnerships to provide new facilities and amenities for all to enjoy," Marchetti said.

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