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Dalton OKs Mail-in Ballots for Feb. 3 Special Election

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board voted to have mail-in ballots available for the Feb. 3 special election  to fill its vacant seat if more than one candidate is on the ballot. 
 
So far, two residents have taken out papers to run for the vacant seat — Richard Haley and Robert Collins. 
 
Haley has submitted his nomination papers and has 26 certified signatures, and Collins intends to submit his papers on Monday. 
 
Residents interested in running have until Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, to submit their nomination papers, which need at least 20 certified signatures. 
 
Candidates have until Jan. 1 to withdraw their names from the ballots. Then, the ballots will be sent to the town's census vendor for printing. 
 
If there is more than one candidate, the mail-in applications will be available online and in various town buildings, including the Senior Center, library, and Town Hall. 
 
Voters can submit their application by mail, drop it off at the clerk's office, or drop it in the dropbox in front of Town Hall. 
 
The vacant seat was left open when former member Joseph Diver stepped down on Oct. 1
 
One of the concerns board members had when deciding to take no action on calling for a special election on Oct. 15 was the proximity to the holidays and winter weather that could lower voter turnout. 
 
At the time of the meeting, board members felt mail-in ballots would improve voter turnout, especially considering older folks who don't go out in the winter, but would increase the cost of the special election. 
 
The anticipated cost of this special election is about $3,800, not including mail-in ballots, according to Town Clerk Heather Hunt. The cost for mail-in ballots is about $1.02 per ballot.
 
Just days after the board's vote to take no action on calling a special election, a citizen's petition led by Collins was submitted on Oct. 18 and garnered 237 signatures from residents calling for the election. The petition had 223 certified signatures. 
 
The board delayed calling the election during a meeting on Nov. 11 due to concerns regarding whether the proper legal procedures were followed.
 
Once the town’s legal counsel confirmed that the proper procedures were followed, the board called the special election on Nov. 25, setting it for Feb. 3. 

Tags: special election,   

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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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