Cheshire Discusses Road Work, ADU Bylaws

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Bumpy Fred Mason Road is on the is on the Department of Public Works' project list for this summer. 

DPW Director Corey McGrath said the summer paving plans are being boosted by an award of $430,000 for the Fred Mason Road project. He told the Select Board on Tuesday that the initial quote for the project was $493,135 and that he will be doing a calcium additive to help with frost and better protect the road.

He also mentioned the DPW plans to shim and pave a portion of Reservoir Road as well as mill and fill a section of Church Street.

McGrath is asking for a total of $472,575 out of Chapter 90 road funds, which was approved.

The Select Board also reviewed bylaw proposals for accessory dwelling units and short-term rentals.

The Planning Board has recently been working with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission through District Local Technical Assistance funding to develop the ADU bylaw while also looking to allow short-term rentals and place them into the zoning table.

Some notable changes include defining an ADU as between 900 and 1,200 square feet with a special permit from the Planning Board; one parking spot per ADU; and requiring special permit for a second ADU.

The dimensional requirements will be the same as already established for principal buildings and structures.

The state allows ADUs by right in single-family residential zones but gives communities some control, such as over setbacks, sizes and permitting.

Select Board member Ronald DeAngelis asked if the planners could look into tiny homes, which tend to be smaller than 400 to 500 square feet, or about half the size of an ADU, and try to have something written for those.

In other notes, the town is preparing to auction of two parcels of land on West Mountain Road and on Shadowland Cove Road. 

Select Board members also held off on using a police chief search committee or consultants for the next chief of police to gather more information. 

Cheshire Town Meeting Oks Budgets, Debates Potential Prop 2 1/2 Override

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
10:12PM / Monday, June 08, 2026

Moderator Carol Francesconi, left, and Anne Marie Furey were presented flowers in memory of the Rev. William Furey, their brother and husband, respectively. The town report was dedicated to him. 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Town meeting on Monday approved all 35 articles on the annual meeting warrant, including a total spending for fiscal 2027 of more than $8.5 million. 

 

Some 77 of the town's more than 2,500 registered voters filled the Cheshire Community House meeting room, debating on a number of articles during the meeting that lasted nearly three hours

 

The town dedicated its annual report to the Rev. William David Furey, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church and more recently Berkshire Union Chapel in Lanesborough. Furey died last year at age 77.

 

His wife, Anne Marie Furey, and his sister, Town Moderator Carol Francesconi, were presented with a bouquet of flowers in tribute to him. 

 

He was an exemplary member of the community who left a lasting impression in each and every life that he touched, said Town Clerk Whitney Flynn. 

 

Voters approved several warrant articles that make up an operating budget of $3,840,314 for fiscal 2027. Of this amount, $1,642,481 is allocated for the general government budget, which was approved after clarification of a few questions.

 

One item was the administrative assistant's salary. Prior to the annual meeting, the town eliminated the executive assistant salary of $54,309 in favor of a part-time administrative assistant salary of $27,155, to reduce costs considering the financial constraint the town is in.