image description
The two opposing signs have been showing up on lawns all over town.

Hundreds Spent on Campaign For, Against Mount Greylock Project

Staff ReportsPrint Story | Email Story
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Former Selectman Robert Barton spent more than $500 opposing the proposed Mount Greylock Regional High School building project.
 
The project passed in Lanesborough by 134 votes on Tuesday and overwhelmingly two weeks ago in Williamstown. Both member towns had to pass debt exclusions for bonding the $64.8 million project before it could move forward.
 
According to a financial disclosure filed with the town clerk's office on Feb. 25, Barton has spent a total of $509.53 on lawn signs and the printing of literature handed out at the special town meeting. Meanwhile, the group Build Greylock has spent a total of $905.85 but has $2,515 in outstanding liability for signs in both Williamstown and Lanesborough, according to a disclosure filed on March 10.
 
On Feb. 18, The Build Greylock campaign had the Williamstown Print Shop design signs and postcards at a cost of $2,515. The group paid on that day $905.85 for postage — $629.52 for Williamstown and $276.33 for Lanesborough. The reporting period spans from Jan. 22 until Feb. 26 and no previous expenditures or liabilities were listed. The disclosure is signed by the group's treasurer James Mahon Jr. 
 
Barton's disclosure spanned from Feb. 15 through Feb. 29 and had two expenditures listed — $186 for Impress Printing in Pittsfield for packets and $323.83 to Reprosystems in Pittsfield for lawn signs. He lists no outstanding liabilities. In total, Barton had spent $509.53 as of Feb. 23.
 
As of Monday, those were the only two disclosures filed relating to the debt exclusion vote on Tuesday. The disclosures may not be a full reporting of what will ultimately be spent for either side, with the reporting periods having been closed some two weeks before Tuesday's vote.

Tags: MGRHS school project,   

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

Lanesborough to Negotiate New HCA With Only Dispensary

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. Due to evolving state regulations, the town must settle on a new or amended host community agreement with its only dispensary.
 
On Monday, Feb. 24, the Select Board voted to allow Town Administrator Gina Dario to work with counsel towards a resolution.  Dario felt that both parties were willing to come up with a practical solution.
 
Liberty Market, located on North Main Street, has requested a new host community agreement or host community agreement waiver in lieu thereof.  The town was sent a notice of non-compliance from the Cannabis Control Commission in January.
 
"The discussion for the Select Board is whether or not to proceed with either a redrafting of the current host community agreement or a re-negotiation of a new host community agreement that uses a more prescriptive template that is being provided by The Cannabis Control Commission," Dario explained.
 
A couple of years ago, the Canabis Control Commission (CCC) approved changes to the state's adult and medical use regulations including policies that implement the agency's oversight of host community agreements, new equity requirements, and suitability reform.
 
"The Cannabis Control Commission is taking the position that changes to the cannabis laws which went into effect in November of 2022 are retroactive and affect pre-existing agreements, such as the one that the town has with Liberty Market," Attorney Nicole Costanzo said.
 
"Of course, there are some novel legal issues presented as to whether or not the legislative changes do retroactively affect pre-existing host community agreements. It's my understanding that the town does want to work with Liberty Market nevertheless and try and get them a "compliant" agreement for purposes of the Cannabis Control Commission issuing them a license renewal to move forward."
 
View Full Story

More Lanesborough Stories