Letter: Thank You to North Adams Firefighters

To the Editor:

On Aug. 4, 2020, at around 4:30 p.m., I had an electrical fire in my house. I wanted to express my appreciation to Steve Meranti, fire chief, and all the firefighters that responded quickly to my home, Wire Inspector Mike Lescarbeau and Assistant Wire Inspector Mitch Meranti and electrician Pete
Milesi.

Pete was the only electrician that answered my calls for assistance. He was a tremendous asset. I would recommend him without reservation for any electrical work in your home. Special thanks to state Representative John Barrett, and his capable assistant, Lisa, for assisting in cutting through the endless bureaucrat "red tape."

National Grid was not as helpful. Frankly, they were not responsive and were completely indifferent to our requests to have the power shut off and turned back on so my electrician could reconnect my electricity without have to do it with the wires live. After speaking with many local officials, it appears the local office for National Grid isn't the issue. The issue lies with the corporate office in New Jersey. National Grid said they were too busy too deal my issue because they were dealing with a storm in New York. Since a British company purchased National Grid's local services hasn't been as good. I would suggest if National Grid is too big to handle needed responses in multiple states then it is time for local politicians to look into National Grid being too big to effective service its customers. It maybe time to consider competition for National Grid in the Northern Berkshires.

Their apathetic demeanor isn't worthy of a monopoly.

Jim Bergeron
North Adams, Mass.

Clarksburg OKs $5.1M Budget; Moves CPA Adoption Forward

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
08:44PM / Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Newly elected Moderator Seth Alexander kept the meeting moving. 

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The annual town meeting sped through most of the warrant on Wednesday night, swiftly passing a total budget of $5.1 million for fiscal 2025 with no comments. 

 

Close to 70 voters at Clarksburg School also moved adoption of the state's Community Preservation Act to the November ballot after a lot of questions in trying to understand the scope of the act. 

 

The town operating budget is $1,767,759, down $113,995 largely because of debt falling off. Major increases include insurance, utilities and supplies; the addition of a full-time laborer in the Department of Public Works and an additional eight hours a week for the accountant.

 

The school budget is at $2,967,609, up $129,192 or 4 percent over this year. Clarksburg's assessment to the Northern Berkshire Vocational School District is $363,220.

 

Approved was delaying the swearing in of new officers until after town meeting; extending the one-year terms of moderator and tree warden to three years beginning with the 2025 election; switching the licensing of dogs beginning in January and enacting a bylaw ordering dog owners to pick up after their pets. This last was amended to include the words "and wheelchair-bound" after the exemption for owners who are blind. 

 

The town more recently established an Agricultural Committee and on Wednesday approved a right-to-farm bylaw to protect agriculture. 

 

Larry Beach of River Road asked why anyone would be against and what the downside would be. Select Board Chair Robert Norcross said neighbors of farmers can complain about smells and livestock like chickens.