DALTON, Mass. — Work on the Pines accessibility trail continues, with hopes that it will be completed within the next several weeks.
Since the last correspondence with Greenagers Conservation Director Elia DelMolino, work was anticipated to continue on Monday, Open Space and Recreation Committee Chair Brandon Quail said last week.
The trailhead, located behind the Senior Center, is a hidden gem in the area that needs to be protected, and more people should know about it, committee members previously said. Work on making the Pines trail more usable and accessible began last year. The town's owned the property for about seven years.
The project will make the trail accessible to those with mobility restrictions, including wheelchair users.
So far, it's about a quarter-mile long, and there are plans to extend it to approximately a mile to a mile and a half, Quail said.
The committee has contracted with the youth environmental community organization to develop the trail, utilizing a Massachusetts Trails grant in the amount of $49,450.
Greenagers hires five to eight youths who are paid to create the trail.
The committee also elected Mitch Salvini as its vice chair.
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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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