Dalton Historical Hopes to Send Historical District Data to State

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — The first phase in establishing the proposed second historical district is moving along nicely, Historical Commission co-Chair Louisa Horth said at Wednesday's meetings. 
 
The commission hopes to send its material to Massachusetts Historical for review and approval by the end of July. 
 
During its meeting last month, the commission divided the proposed district into multiple sections and assigned specific commissioners to each section.
 
The proposed district would run from the cemetery on Park Avenue down to Depot Street. Thus far, the district has pictures of all the historical homes from Park Ave to Depot Street. 
 
Massachusetts Historical has to review this material to verify that the area has enough historical significance to be considered a Historical District. 
 
In the first phase of this project, the commission is responsible for taking pictures of every building within the district that meets historical status.
 
In the first phase, the photos will include the building's address, age, and lot number. In the second phase of the project, the commission will have to complete documents for every building to provide more information, such as the buildings' historical significance and architecture.
 
Commissioners commented that they have been getting conflicting information on when some of the buildings were built but said they will confirm with the assessor's site. 
 
Horth said Massachusetts Historical did not guarantee it will approve establishing the district. If approved, the commission can hire a preservation specialist to start the process of getting this designation. 
 
The Cultural Council awarded the commission a $5,000 grant to hire a preservation specialist. The funds must be spent by December. 
 
It is unclear how long it will take Massachusetts Historical to review the preliminary information. 
 
If the district is not approved or does not hear back from Massachusetts Historical regarding the district's status, then the funds can be used for something else, co-Chair Debora Kovacs said. 

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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

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