Dalton Finalizes Town Manager Contract

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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Eric Anderson
DALTON, Mass. — Town Manager Eric Anderson will start in his new role Nov. 17. 
 
It was announced during the Select Board meeting on Monday that the town had successfully negotiated a three-year contract with Anderson. 
 
"The contract negotiations were as smooth as possibly one could imagine, and Eric Anderson was here yesterday for the signing of the contract,"  interim Town Manager Henry "Terry" Williams told iBerksires. 
 
"I met with him for a number of hours yesterday, and he and I are looking forward to his arrival, and it appears to me as though he's a perfect fit for the town going forward."
 
Earlier in October, Williams' contract was extended through Nov. 21 to aid in Anderson's onboarding to facilitate a smooth transition. 
 
Anderson's first year salary is set at $142,500, Williams said. During the search, the Select Board approved a salary range of $135,000 to $155,000 to attract more applicants in a competitive market for town managers in Western Massachusetts.
 
When Thomas Hutcheson announced his retirement as town manager earlier this year, the board planned ahead, establishing a flexible town manager budget to cover the interim town manager's compensation and onboarding for the new town manager, Williams said
 
If there are any shortages the town can cover it with reserve fund or interdepartmental transfers, he said. 
 
Anderson was hired for the town manager position in September, following interviews with the three finalists — Anderson, Lisa Blackmer, and Jonathan Elwell. 
 
The board emphasized that all the candidates were highly qualified; however, Anderson's well-researched answers and prior experience that aligned with the town's issues stood out.
 
Anderson has six years of experience as the town administrator of his hometown, Andover, Conn., which has a population of about 3,200 residents and a select board form of government. 
 
He said  he had experience dealing with circumstances similar to what Dalton is currently facing, including the concerns over Berkshire Concrete's mining operations and the discussions surrounding a new police facility stemming from the current facility's deteriorating condition. 
 
More information on Anderson here

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Companion Corner: Freya, Fudge & Charlotte

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — If looking for the perfect feline pet, why not triple the fun? There's a threesome at Berkshire Humane Society waiting for a family to call their own.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

We highlighted Freya, Charlotte and Fudge last month and they are still looking for their new home together. 

Kittens Fudge and Charlotte and their mother, Freya, have been at the shelter and in a foster home since April. All three have tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), often described as feline HIV/AIDS

Feline/small animal adoption counselor Alyssa Petell introduced us to them. 

"They originally were brought in from animal control. The conditions weren't the best in the home. But when they came in, they were tested positive for feline AIDS (FIV). We do send our kittens normally to foster programs to get socialized with the mom. So they got sent to a foster program for about two months to get socialized," she said.

The shelter preferably would like the three to as a family, and to a home with respectful children that will keep them inside.

"We would prefer if they could all go together, but they are a very sweet trio of kitties. They would have to be indoor only because of them being feline AIDS positive," Petell said. "It is OK for them to go into a home with other cats. We prefer if they go into a home with feline AIDS-positive cats, but even if they are negative for feline AIDS, as long as they're not actively scratching each other and biting each other to transmit it, then it should be OK."

Each cat has their own personality. The two kittens love to play with an abundance of toys; one is shy and the other is outgoing. They both like to curl up and sleep in your lap once they get to know you.

It turns out that Fudge is actually a girl. In our previous article, he was mistakenly identified as a boy. 

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