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Ericson has replaced the garage door with a new entryway.
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The police station building dates back to the 1880s.
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The new flooring in the southern portion is not yet complete because it will flow into the next phase.
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A drop ceiling still needs to be installed in the newly renovated section.
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A number of items have been in storage for a year and a half.
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The station is limited in space.
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The rest of the building building has a number of maintenance issues to address.
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There is only one bathroom for all officers and citizens.
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Over the years insulation was added in a number of places.
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The main entrance door is rotting out.
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The siding is not in good condition.
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There are holes in the siding in a number of places.

Insurance Company 'Upset' With Condition of Lanesborough Police Station

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Much of the work in the first phase has been completed, but not all of it.
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The town's insurance company has threatened to close down the police station, according to Town Manager Kelli Robbins.
 
Robbins told the Selectmen last week that an insurance representative toured multiple town buildings and was "very upset" with the conditions at the station. The representative apparently told Robbins that the building is now being placed into a "high risk" category, which will increase the cost to insure it.
 
The state's Division of Labor Standards has also been notified of the conditions, she said.
 
"It may result in the police station being closed," Robbins said last Monday. "They want things to be different up there."
 
The station is currently being renovated by Selectman Robert Ericson who has been volunteering his time. The funds have been coming from a Green Communities grant. At a special town meeting, voters approved allocating additional funds to move the project along. 
 
Robbins said she hasn't received anything in writing regarding the inspection but conversations with the insurance company cited issues with a lack of safety measures, licenses, compliance with U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, and certified plans for the renovation project. 
 
The renovations have been four years in the making and Police Chief Timothy Sorrell said the department has yet to gain additional workspace. On multiple occasions, the union has filed letters with town officials decrying the "unsafe and unprofessional" conditions there. 
 
Sorrell and the officers have both voiced a desire for a new station, saying the current building has outlived its life as a police station. State Sen. Adam Hinds toured the building and agreed to back such an effort. 
 
Hinds' involvement almost led to the stoppage of work as some officials, including Sorrell and Board of Selectmen John Goerlach questioned whether the town should put more money toward the building if the state would end up coming up with money for a new station.
 
However, the first step toward receiving any funding help starts with a feasibility study. At town meeting, some residents pushed to use the $13,000 eyed to finish the current phase of Ericson's project for a feasibility study but that was unsuccessful.
 
A new station was once eyed to be built on the town-owned parcel across the street on Prospect Street. The 19 acres there was purchased by the town to build a senior center, youth center, and police station. White Engineering provided an estimate of $717,000 for the police station in 2008 -- though that price has likely increased a significant amount since then.
 
That concept called for office space for the chief and five full-time officers, 10 part-time and reserve officers, locker rooms for both men and women with shower facilities, a witness interview room, bathroom facilities for both men and women, a reception area, booking area, evidence room, and a garage with space for two cruisers. Funding for that large project dried up and the plans have been sitting on the shelf. 
 
In 2014, Ericson set his mind to improving the 1880s building, feeling that even if the town eventually does something different for a station, the town will still own the building. The station was originally constructed by volunteers and the retired engineer wanted to keep the tradition alive. He believed by doing the work himself, he could significantly reduce the cost to renovate the station.
 
Ericson got an engineer on board to craft the blueprints to renovate the entire station. In June 2017, the work began and storage items were moved out of the department and into a storage unit in the parking lot -- costing the town $175 per month. Ericson has had some starts and stops but has made process in the southern end of the building, installing a new boiler and building and insulating walls. The former garage has since taken the shape of a new locker room, interview room, office space, and booking area.
 
In March, the process was still too slow for the officers who felt they have been working long enough in a construction zone. The union filed another complaint with the town and the Board of Selectmen pushed Ericson to move quicker. 
 
The more recent inspection could trigger the town to act even more quickly in deciding what to do with the station.

Tags: insurance,   police station,   

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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."
 
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