Dalton Planning Board Needs Write-Ins, 2 Run for Select Board
DALTON, Mass. — The town election is less than a month away and, unlike recent ones, all open seats are uncontested, with even a vacancy remaining on the Planning Board.
The town election will take place on Monday, May 11, at the Senior Center from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This year, the town is going to have to rely on write-in ballots to fill one of the two vacant Planning Board seats, which only has one candidate — William Striebel III.
In contrast to the last couple elections, this one has no contested races for Select Board seats, with only two candidates — incumbent John Boyle and newcomer Jeannie Ingram — running for the two open three-year positions.
Select Board member Daniel Esko has decided not to run again after serving on the board for six years.
"When I combine my Select Board service with my previous Planning Board service from 2015 to 2020, I have served the town for 11 years and feel it is the right time to step aside. My exit also opens up opportunities for future leaders to participate in town government," he said.
Boyle is a longtime public servant, having spent 27 years on the Select Board and six years on the Finance Committee, along with serving on numerous local and regional boards, including currently representing Dalton on the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority and chairing the Dalton Redevelopment Authority.
He aims to work with other government officials and bodies to maintain financial stability while supporting education and infrastructure, noting that the town’s biggest challenges is limited funding.
"I am hopeful I will be remembered for my common-sense approach to town government and my historical knowledge of town issues," he said.
"I would like citizens to realize we cannot please everyone all the time, but we try."
Although new to the area, Ingram has jumped right into the Dalton community, attending numerous meetings and taking notes.
"I believe that while the Select Board is the primary decision maker for the town, those decisions need to be respectfully informed, and always in service to the residents of Dalton," she said.
"While I may be new to Dalton, I am very much committed to helping the town navigate the economic challenges ahead and I’m eager to promote open communication and transparent decision making with professionalism and respect."
She has held a range of leadership and volunteer roles, including chair of the Hingham Historical Commission and Dalton Cultural Council, founding president of the Su Escuela Language Academy Parent Association, and a board member of Pittsfield's Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center.
Like many local officials, Ingram highlighted the financial challenges facing the town and residents making conversations about critical infrastructure improvements nearly impossible.
Exacerbating the issue is the reduced state and federal aid and increased taxes needed for fundamental services like education and public safety
"I fully support the new Capital Planning Committee and their work in helping identify and prioritize projects that will require difficult conversations and multiple perspectives in order to succeed," she said.
"Having spent my career in mission-driven non-profit organizations, many with limited financial resources, I understand the value of long-range planning and the need to create consensus around clear, logical, and actionable spending priorities."
She says her experience in fundraising and community engagement will help her support informed, transparent decision-making,
"As a fundraiser I am familiar with the need to set priorities and create a plan to financially support those priorities through private philanthropy, foundation, and government support," she said.
The most critical issue the town is facing in the next few years is keeping the level of town services while limiting the year-over-year tax increases, she said.
"Dalton’s footprint is limited, which means limited options for tax-base growth. I’m looking forward to working with the Planning Board, Town Planner, and Town Manager to help set priorities and find possible solutions to ease these tensions," she said.
Boyle and Ingram also mentioned other issues facing the town including the sand leaving the Berkshire Concrete dig site and relocating the Police Department to a safer facility.
Ingram specifically described her strong opposition to any plan to place a safety facility in the center of a residential neighborhood instead of a main thoroughfare and will actively join my neighbors in fighting against the proposed Senior Center-adjacent site.
Although the election is not contested, Ingram also expressed the importance of turning out to vote.
Other positions on the ballot include:
- One seat for moderator with incumbent Anthony Doyle running for re-election.
- One seat for Cemetery Trustee with Mary Cherry running.
- Two seats for the Library Trustees with incumbents Max Ehrlich and Fred Sears running for re-election.
- One seat for Finance Committee with Diane Lowe running.
Tags: election 2026, town elections,
