Six People Displaced, Kitten Rescued After Pittsfield Fire

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Six people are homeless after a first-floor fire in their apartment building Saturday on South Atlantic Avenue. 
 
No one was injured and the cause of the blaze is under investigation.
 
Firefighters were called at about 4:11 a.m. on Saturday for a reported structure fire at 17-19 South Atlantic. They found heavy fire was showing from the first floor, according to Deputy Chief Matthew Noyes. 
 
A second alarm was called and, in all, in Engines 1, 3, 5 and 6 responded. Crews performed primary and secondary searches of the building and a
kitten was located and transferred to a medic crew for care.
 
The fire was brought under control in approximately 30 minutes. Six residents were displaced and were being assisted by the American Red Cross. 
 

Tags: structure fire,   

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Lanesborough to Vote on 34 Articles at ATM

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Voters will decide 34 warrant articles at the annual town meeting on June 11.

The Select Board endorsed a long list of articles during its regular meeting on Monday, most without discussion. 

A $11,846,607 spending plan has been proposed for fiscal year 2025, a 4.3 percent increase from the this year. The budget includes a net increase of $237,129 in education costs for the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School, less than the $271,478 increase in FY24. 

Three articles are related to short-term rentals, or Airbnbs: To impose a local excise tax of up to 6 percent of the total amount of rent for each occupancy, a 3 percent impact fee on "professionally managed" short-term rentals, and a 3 percent impact fee on short-term rentals in two- or three-family dwellings.

"These are the proposed language as provided by town counsel," Town Administrator Gina Dario explained.

Included in the 34 articles is one citizen's petition, which the board was not required to endorse. If passed, this petition would increase the Select Board from three to five members with an annual election of the chair. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes in that election would serve a three-year term, the candidate receiving the second highest number of votes would serve a two-year term, and the candidate receiving the third highest number of votes would serve a one-year term, with three-year terms to follow.

Two articles needed clearance from the Planning Board before coming to the Select Board, one being a request to amend the town's zoning bylaw to raise the cap on accessory dwelling units from 900 to 2,500 square feet.  

The proposal is in response to the lack of housing availability in the community and is the second go-around.

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