The last-minute write-in campaigns for Planning Board resulted in higher than normal write-in votes — 306 — for Monday's election.
DALTON, Mass. — The unofficial results for the town's annual election indicate that Planning Board registered candidate William Striebel III and write-in candidate Richard Hall have secured the two seats.
Some 413 voters cast their ballots at the Senior Center on Monday. There were 82 mail-in ballots.
The Planning Board race began with just one candidate for the two available positions, leaving one vacancy initially unfilled, but as Election Day approached, two additional candidates launched write-in campaigns, transforming it into a competitive contest.
The Planning Board saw a significant number of write-in votes, totaling 306. Striebel secured 238 votes, Hall 163, and Mary Tresa Devereaux with 133.
Both Hall and Devereaux have been endorsed by the Dalton Clear Air Coalition, of which Hall is a member, and Democratic Town Committee.
Hall decided to run for Planning Board last Monday inspired by the Berkshire Concrete situation wanting to ensure that the company follows the town's zoning bylaws.
"Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I look forward to helping the town. It's a privilege being on the Planning Board," he said.
In the position, Hall hopes the board works as a team to update zoning laws and ensure zoning is properly followed.
iBerkshires called Striebel, also a newcomer, for comment, but at the time of publication had not heard back.
However, during his campaign, Striebel highlighted his experience running a small trucking business that hauls quarry materials and performs state snowplowing contracts. This experience, he said, taught him the value of hard work, responsibility, problem-solving, and collaboration.
In a Facebook post prior to the elections, Striebel shared his concern stemming from Berkshire Concrete's lawsuit against the town, cautioning that there is a "very small window left for meaningful negotiation, every word counts and each word needs to reach for common ground."
"Like many residents, I have watched from the sidelines as concerns over dust from the Berkshire Concrete Corporation gravel mining operation have grown into a major issue for nearby residents and for the Town," he wrote. "I also recognize that the resulting lawsuit will be quite costly and difficult for everyone involved."
Incumbent John Boyle and newcomer Jeannie Ingram have successfully been elected to the Select Board for the three-year positions. Boyle raked-in 294 votes and Ingram won 350 votes. The uncontested race had 41 write-in votes.
Results for other seats; all uncontested:
Moderator: incumbent Anthony Doyle, 364 votes; Cemetery Trustee: Mary Cherry, 372 votes; Finance Committee: Diane Lowe: 356; two library trustees: incumbents Max Ehrlich, 347 votes, and Fred Sears, 374 votes.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Pittsfield FY27 Budget Up Only 2.9%
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— On Tuesday, the City Council will refer the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget of $232,782,090.
It is about 2.9 percent, or a $6.5 million increase from the previous year. The budget public hearing will be held on May 19.
The FY26 spending plan, which was described as "best that they could," was a nearly 4.8 percent increase from the previous year.
Budget line items were separated by personnel and non-personnel costs to show the impact of salaries on the operating budget. For example, $1,335,684 of the finance and administration budget goes to personnel, $207,500 to non-personnel, and $14,565,313 of the police budget is for salaries, $1,874,108 for non-personnel costs.
The DPU water treatment enterprise has been budgeted $6,738,952, $1,255,584 for the sewer enterprise, and $11,796,683 for the DPU wastewater enterprise.
Also on the agenda for Tuesday is a request to use $2,000,000 to reduce the Fiscal Year 2027 tax rate, and a 5-year Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2027-2031.
The School Committee has approved an $87,200,061 school budget for FY27 that includes $68,886,061 in state Chapter 70 funding, $18 million from the city, and $345,000 in school choice and Richmond tuition revenues. It is an approximately $300,000 increase from the Pittsfield Public Schools' FY26 budget of $86.9 million.
Pittsfield's proposed 5-year improvement plan invests more than $455 million in important capital projects with a focus on roadway quality, parks and recreational opportunities, facility improvements, safe and functional vehicles and equipment for staff, and modern information technology.
"The proposed General Fund (GF) Capital Investment Strategy recommends a commitment of 6.5% of GF revenues for capital projects," the document reads.
"The plan also includes funds for all water and wastewater capital projects from enterprise fund revenues (i.e. water/sewer rates and retained earnings) and reflects the City's substantial efforts to seek State grant funds and other funding sources for capital projects."
The unofficial results for the town's annual election indicate that Planning Board registered candidate William Striebel III and write-in candidate Richard Hall have secured the two seats. click for more
Mount Greylock Regional School seventh-grader Scarlett Foley Sunday beat two opponents from Division 2 Longmeadow to capture the Western Mass Tennis Individuals Championship. click for more
The discussion will be held Monday, May 11, at 6 p.m. at Conte Community School in partnership with the public schools, Westside Legends and the Berkshire chapter of the NAACP.
click for more