Dalton Finance Looks to Form Contracts Subcommittee

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
DALTON, Mass. — The Finance Committee wants to create a subcommittee to review contracts presented to the town.
 
Chair William Drosehn brought up the idea to help bring focus to the many town contracts and should the committee be aware of them.
 
"This will be to review all of the contracts that are presented to us by the Select Board and our town manager," he said.
 
He noted how the committee had no input on use of the American Rescue Plan Act funds the last three years. 
 
"The Finance Committee was supposed to be involved, and they kept us out of it completely. We had no say or no talk of what was going on with the relationship to ARPA funds," Drosehn said.
 
The committee determined the subcommittee be formed with four members, including Drosehn. 
 
"I was hoping that I was going to be one of the volunteers for the committee, because the size of the job, having the chair seated on that committee is probably going to be a good thing, considering the size and scope of the work that needs to be done," he said.
 
Before voting to establish, the committee did think it needed a better draft of how the subcommittee would deal with contracts, what types of contracts and monetary thresholds, and what the members' roles would be.
 
Dresehn will write up a draft of objectives and policies and invited others on the committee to as well to prepare for a vote at the next meeting.
 

Tags: Finance Committee,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Peace Officer Standards Commission Strips Former Pittsfield Cop of Certification

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A former Pittsfield Police officer was one of five statewide who recently had their licenses revoked by the  POST Commission. 

Last week, the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission voted to strip five former officers of their licenses to work in law enforcement, including former PPD officer William Straub

The commission had determined that these workers were unfit to carry a badge and gun in Massachusetts; so far, 92 state police officers have been decertified by the commission. 

Records indicate that Straub faced charges tied to a 2024 incident, but details are redacted.  On Oct. 31, 2024, the POST Commission suspended Straub's law enforcement certification, and he resigned from PPD in April. 

"According to Pittsfield District Court records, Straub pleaded guilty in April to two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery tied to a 2024 incident," MassLive wrote on Monday. 

"Three other charges, including drunk driving and carrying a firearm while intoxicated, were continued without a finding. While that resolution allows the charges to be dismissed after a period of time if Straub abides by certain conditions, the commission treats them as a criminal conviction."

According to records, he was certified as a police officer in July of 2021, and recertified in July 2024.  

"The Respondent's appointing agency, the Pittsfield Police Department ("PPD"), submitted a final report to the Commission finding that the Respondent had engaged in criminal conduct and conduct unbecoming [of] an officer," the Aug. 20 final decision to decertify reads. 

"The Respondent resigned from PPD on April 9, 2026, prior to the imposition of any discipline." 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories