Dalton Election Results Are Accurate

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — The results of the annual election are not in question, Town Clerk Heather Hunt told iBerkshires, following rumors of nonresidents voting on May 12. 
 
"There's so many checks and balances that that would just never happen. I don't think that that happened. I'm not questioning the results of this election, not at all," Hunt said. 
 
The well-attended election resulted in Antonio "Tony" Pagliarulo winning one of the two seats in the four-way race with 577 votes for the board, outpolling the other three candidates by 107 votes, and incumbent Marc Strout retaining his seat with 486. 
 
Hunt did confirm that a "handful" of non-Dalton residents attempted to vote during the election, believing that they were permitted to because they own a business in town, which did "feel a little bit unusual." 
 
However, immediately after entering the voting center, they were stopped by the experienced election workers, either in Precinct One or Precinct Two, who verified their names and addresses.
 
If a voter was not on the list, they were referred to the town clerk, warden, or assistant warden, who explained that one must vote where they reside. 
 
Hunt said the situations involving non-Dalton residents attempting to vote were resolved without incident following clarification.

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Pittsfield Council OKs Underground Fiber Network

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — More underground fiber internet cables will be installed in Pittsfield. 

On Tuesday, the City Council approved Gateway Fiber's request to install an underground fiber network infrastructure within the city's right-of-way.  

The company was given the go-ahead for an aerial network last year alongside Archtop Fiber, marking the beginning of construction with a ribbon-cutting at the Colonial Theatre. Gateway Fiber will offer subscription plans ranging from $65 to $150 per month, depending on speed. 

Wards 3 and 4 will see the most work in the first phase, according to an underground fiber deployment plan.  Fourteen streets in Ward 4 will see underground fiber deployment; 13 streets in Ward 3.  

Ward 4 Councilor James Conant voted in opposition for personal reasons, as he signed up for Gateway Fiber briefly last year and said he had poor service and poor communication from the company. 

Some councilors and community members appreciated bringing competition to Spectrum internet services. Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey pointed out that it costs about $90 per month for 500 megabytes per second with Spectrum, and that all three fiber services that have come to Pittsfield are cheaper. 

Operations Manager Jennifer Sharick explained that they were seeking approval for underground fiber deployment as part of the next phase in Pittsfield. The city was found to be a "very" viable community for underground fiber. 

Gateway Fiber, she said, originally served a community of 250 residents outside of St. Louis, Mo. 

"Following the pandemic, we saw the need, and what people need for fiber and reliable internet service to bring residents and businesses the opportunity for connectivity," Sharick said. 

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