Clarksburg Receiving $600K in Free Cash for Fiscal 2015

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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The Selectmen received good news about the town's free cash situation on Monday night.

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — After nearly three years of financial struggles, Clarksburg received an early Christmas present: $600,000 in certified free cash.

Town auditor Thomas Scanlon, of Scanlon Associates, reported Monday night to the Selectmen that the town's accounts are finally balanced.

Scanlon said the town will receive $485,662 in certified free cash and $163,723 for the sewer enterprise fund. He said the town's books are squared away.

"I know the town has been through some tough times the past couple of years trying to get their free cash certified," Scanlon said. "You have the finacial information now when before it was kind of like a guessing game.

"Now you just have to worry about balancing your budget."

Selectman William Schrade Jr. thanked the town's financial team for correcting the books.

"I think Clarksburg should start looking on the upside ... the books are in order, we have a Finance Committee that has worked hard on the budget, and those are all real numbers in there," Schrade said. "It should make a budget season a good discussion on how to spend money and how to save money."

Scanlon recommended putting the majority of the money into the stabilization account and use it to replenish any money used. He said to avoid using any more than 20 percent on recurring budget items because the town only generates $90,000 to $100,000 a year.

"Be aware that is from years and years of accumulating. The state has been penalizing and holding it back so you didn't generate that all within one year," Scanlon said.

He recommended using the free cash for one-time capital purchases. He said using it for recurring budget items could trigger a Proposition 2 1/2 override.

"You should be using free cash for those one-time things," he said. "You just don't want to build it into your tax rate, salary increases then have a bad year and you don't have your free cash."



Scanlon said although the books are mostly cleared, there is still some work to be done on things such as the town's Chapter 90 state highway aid account.

"There are still a few minor areas to go over to clean up the ledger, but they are small areas to have moving forward," he said.

In other business:

Town Administrator Carl McKinney told the board he anticipates a $7,500 deficit in the street light budget because of the 37 percent electricity increase.

He said the town should figure out a plan to remedy the situation before the special town meeting scheduled in December.

He added appropriating the $7,500 will not go over the town's levy cap.

The board renewed the Golden Eagles liquor and entertainment license.

The board set the new tax collector/treasure hours to Mondays and Thursdays from 8 to 5 and Wednesdays from 8 to 8.

The board appointed itself as the acting Zoning Board of Appeals until new members come forth.

The board set overnight parking ban, effective immediately, for the winter months. No cars will be able to be parked on town roads and streets from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. until April 15.


Tags: fiscal 2015,   municipal finances,   

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District Moving On From Allegations Against PHS Administrator

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The district is "moving on" from unsubstantiated allegations against two Pittsfield High School administrators, saying there is no threat.

Dean of Students Molly West returned to work last week after being put on leave in December. The Department of Children and Families has cleared West and Vice Principal Alison Shepard of misconduct claims that surfaced after another PHS dean was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine.

School Committee Chair William Cameron on Wednesday emphasized that when such an investigation finds no evidence of wrongdoing, fundamental fairness and due process prohibits taking punitive action simply because of allegations. Reportedly, West was also investigated and cleared in the past.

"The circumstances of Mrs. West being placed on administrative leave don't need to be recited here," he said.

"Social media allegations made against her in December, which then regrettably were widely publicized, were not new. They had been heard, investigated, and found meritless by other school districts many years ago, nevertheless, they were disinterred recently by someone providing neither evidence nor a credible source and then reinvestigated twice in the last three months."

Senior Emma Goetze said she was "appalled, deeply disappointed, and frustrated that an administrator who has been placed on leave, someone who has caused significant discomfort and distress to so many students, has been allowed to return to our building."

"I understand that there is an investigation and acknowledge that this individual was cleared but it feels incredibly unjust to me and to many of my peers that despite everything, this person is being given the opportunity to come back," she said. "It's important to recognize that even though an investigation may have found no wrongdoing, that doesn't change the reality of how this individual's presence makes many students feel."

Investigations led by DCF and retired Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup concluded that there is no evidence to substantiate the accusations.

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